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She glanced at the small, lumpy bed then looked at him with alarm. "Surely you don't mean to
sleep here?"
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He shrugged. "We slept beside each other last night, this won't be any different.
Victoria pressed her lips together tightly. She wanted to argue more but couldn't think of
anything to say.
Hawk seemed not to notice. "I want to catch the lawyer who'll handle the land deal, before he
leaves his office. You can rest until I get back, then we'll get something to eat." He turned to leave,
then looked back at her. "There's a bathing room down the hall, if you want to take a bath or
something."
Victoria decided a bath would make her feel better. She searched through the luggage he had
brought in and found a two-piece, gray and white stripped, walking dress with a modest bustle,
which she hoped wouldn't be too showy for Magdalena.
She was back in their room, brushing her hair dry, when Hawk returned. He looked at her with
approval, then asked, "Can you wait for me to get cleaned up?"
She nodded.
After selecting clean clothing from the few articles he had stuffed in his saddlebags, he left the
room. He came back clean shaven and wearing the black shirt he had worn the night he rescued her.
She had to admit that he looked rather dashing in it.
The Silver Heiress Sarah Winn 266
On the way out of the hotel, they stopped to knock on Jack's door. There was no answer. "He's
keeping company with a widow who lives in town. Probably gone to see her," Hawk explained.
They bypassed the hotel dining facilities. Victoria wondered if Hawk wanted to avoid the overly
friendly Mattie. Victoria had taken no more then five steps on the wooden sidewalk when she saw a
husky man with a droopy mustache walking briskly toward her. The tin star pinned to his vest sent a
jolt of fear through her. Had someone connected her to the alcalde's death?
He smiled broadly and extended his right hand to Hawk. "Welcome back to Magdalena."
Hawk warmly shook the man's hand. "Good to be back, Orin." He gestured toward Victoria.
"This is my wife. Victoria, Sheriff Tate."
She managed a smile and a nod.
"Your wife? Well, you're full of surprises, Hawkins. I thought you'd gone to Fort Sumner to
sell cattle. Then the newspaper over in Socorro printed a rumor that you'd rescued a woman down
in Mexico. Now here you are with a wife." The sheriff paused, obviously expecting some sort of
explanation.
Hawk looked at Victoria and back at the Sheriff. "Ah--you haven't received any wanted posters
on me, have you?" he said with raised eyebrows.
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The sheriff chuckled. "Not yet, and since there's no law against being surprising in this county,
guess I'll have to let you go this time." He faced Victoria. "Welcome to the area, ma'am. If your
husband gives you any trouble, gimme a holler. I'll straighten him out for you."
Victoria returned his warm smile. "Thank you, Sheriff. That's good to know."
He tipped his hat and Hawk pressed lightly on Victoria's elbow. They managed to take a few
more steps before stopping to meet the Henderson's. After introductions, Mrs. Henderson invited
Victoria to join the Ladies' Aid Society of the local church.
A few yards after the Henderson's came a rancher named Lester, then a Mrs. Wallace who, after
introductions, told Victoria she ran a millinery shop out of her home.
They passed a bank just a doorway down from the cafe. A well-dressed man tapped on the
inside of the bank's plate glass window. He waved them to a stop and rushed out to greet them.
Ignoring Hawk, he beamed at Victoria. "You must be the new Mrs. Hawkins. I'm Louis
Fedderson, president of the Magdelena Bank and Trust Company. I'm glad to welcome you to our
community. I like to say, 'What we lack in size, we make up for in friendliness.'"
"Thank you," Victoria murmured, not knowing how else to respond to the man's effusive
speech.
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Mr. Fedderson finally acknowledged Hawk's presence. "I've already received notification of the
transfer of funds from the San Francisco Bank. Even though the money hasn't reached here yet, you
may begin to draw on it if you like."
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