Westward Dreams by Linda Bridey Read Free Book Online Page A

down.”
                  Owl removed his deerskin shirt and placed it on a chair before stretching out on the table.  Hannah warmed her hands and prepared to do his massage.  As before, she touched his scar and said, “This must have been a deep wound.”
                  “Yes.  I almost died,” Owl said.
                  Hannah suddenly felt tears threaten as she thought about Owl not being alive.  “I’m very glad that you didn’t,” she said and gathered his hair in her hands.  “Your hair is so soft,” she said without thinking.
                  Owl just smiled. 
                  She moved it to the side and began rubbing his back.  Hannah found the knot by his shoulder blade and began working it out.  Owl tried to contain the growls her ministrations provoked but couldn’t.  Hannah didn’t mind hearing them.  She found that they stirred a womanly part of her that she hadn’t known existed. 
                  Once again as each muscle was loosened and pain relieved, Owl felt as if he was growing lighter.  It was similar to when he’d gone on his spirit walk and had experienced a vision.  As she worked, something in his back gave way and the feeling was exquisite.  A huge sigh escaped his lips.
                  She rubbed his shoulders and massaged his arms.  When she worked on his right arm and neared his hand, Owl took hers and gave it a squeeze.  Hannah smiled at his action and squeezed back.  He let go and Hannah finished the massage.
                  Owl got up from the table feeling very relaxed and in much less pain than before.  “Thank you, Magic Hands,” he said with a grin.
                  Hannah laughed, “You’re welcome.  Feel better?”
                  “Yes.  Much better.  How much?”
                  “I don’t want your money, Owl.  In your case it’s free,” Hannah said.
                  Owl frowned.  “Why?”
                  “Because you did me a favor the other day when you scared off Clive,” she said.
                  His scowl turned very intense at the mention of the man’s name.  “I would, um, like to teach him a lesson. What he did was wrong.”
                  Hannah looked down in embarrassment.  “I shouldn’t have answered any of those ads in the paper.”
                  “Why not?  It not your fault he lied to you,” Owl said.  He took her hands in his and turned them so her palms faced up.  “If you not come here, you could not help me.”
                  His touch was creating havoc in her mind.  She was afraid to look at him in case he could see what she was feeling.  “I’m happy to do it.  I feel awful that you were hurt so badly.”
                  “It’s ok.  I feel bad for you, too.  Women to be respected and protected not tricked or talk to harshly,” Owl said.  “You are good woman.”
                  Hannah did look at him then and a fluttering sensation filled her stomach.  His beautiful dark eyes held kindness and she couldn’t look away.  “Thank you,” she said a little absently.
                  Jack’s question about whether he was attracted to Hannah came back to Owl and he thought about it while he looked at her.  Those pretty eyes of hers met his gaze and her fingers curled around his.  Her lips looked soft and inviting and her womanly figure would feel good in his arms.  He couldn’t deny that he was attracted to her.  It wasn’t good to be dishonest with oneself.
                  But did she feel the same way?  She certainly didn’t mind touching him even though he was Lakota.  She didn’t object to holding his hands.  There was only one way to find out.  Impulsively, he let go of her hands and ran a thumb over her cheek.  Hannah couldn’t