Page 20 of Lake's Legacy

“That won’t be a problem because I won’t marry a woman from the tribe. I see my future, and that future includes Olivia. If she’ll have me, she’s the only woman for me.” I glance up at Lake and take in the set of his jaw. He casts his eyes down to me and gives me a sheepish grin. “I know we haven’t discussed marriage, but I can’t deny how much I want a future with you.”

“You can’t marry her! She’s not one of us. Annette is for you. She’s our Medicine Woman. The tribe sent her to medical school. She’s to stand at your side like your mother did for me. Your mother would be ashamed of how you’ve turned your back on us.”

The gasp from the pretty and, until now, the silent woman standing next to Toff draws our attention. Coyote’s face reddens as he sends her an apologetic look. “Annette…”

“Annette Solon?” Lake asks, leaving me and moving to the woman. She nods. He chuckles before lifting and swinging her around before putting her back on her feet. “I never would have recognized you. When was the last time we saw each other? You were what? Sixteen?”

“Yes,” she says with a sweet smile. I feel a twinge of jealousy toward the lovely girl. Her long, straight hair is gorgeous. Light brown eyes stare at Lake out of a heart-shaped face. She’s almost fragile in appearance with her slight body and short stature. I’m not a large woman, but I have curves—more curves than I want. Annette is like a perfect little doll.

I hear a growling noise and glance around. Thinking it’s coming from Coyote, I glance at where he stood, but he’s gone. My attention returns to Lake to see him watching his brother. He chuckles. “I see how it is. Don’t worry, bro. I wasn’t hitting on your woman. Just happy to see an old friend.”

Lake backs up until he’s next to me. He slides his arm around my waist and pulls me close again. I keep myself stiff, uncomfortable with everything that has transpired. However, Lake slips his thumb under my shirt to brush against my skin. His touch is intimate and conveys his message, mine.

“So, you’re Dr. Annette Solon now?” Lake asks.

Annette shakes her head. “I just graduated from medical school. I still need to do my residency.”

“Congratulations! You and Olvia can talk shop. She’s training to be a nurse practitioner.”

“Um, about what Coyote said. I didn’t know he expected me…to you know…be…”

“Offered to me as a bribe?” Lake finishes for her.

Annette blushes and looks down. “Right. God, I’m so embarrassed.”

“Don’t,” Lake and Toff say together.

“You have nothing to be embarrassed about,” Toff continues.

“He’s the one that should be embarrassed.” Lake jerks his chin toward Coyote’s front door. “Coyote is embarrassed. It’s why he disappeared. He knows he has crossed the line but hides instead of saying he’s sorry. He believes saying sorry makes one weak.”

“He’s only doing what’s best for the tribe,” Crow defends his brother.

“Is he? Because what’s best for the tribe is Toff,” Lake argues.

“But you are the firstborn. Leading the tribe is your legacy,” Crow persists.

“The order of my birth isn’t what makes a man a leader. It’s something inside him. I don’t have it, but Toff does. He has made himself into the person this tribe needs to succeed because that was his calling. At the same time, I’ve found my place with the Demon Dawgs. The United Huoma Nation will always be a part of me, but it is no longer my driving force.”

Crow glances at me. “Because of her?”

“No. She’s another reason, but I decided when I joined the army. I decided again when Hex started the Demon Dawgs. Olivia is the final piece. You know I’m right about Toff. As Coyote’s second in command, you can help him accept the truth. Will you?”

Crow gives Lake an exasperated look but nods. “I’ll see what I can do. Maybe this is for the best. Many in the tribe believe your club is responsible for our problems. ”

“When did these problems start?” Lake asks after a long moment.

“Two weeks ago,” Toff responds.

“I was in Ireland with my club for the last two weeks. We returned yesterday. It wasn’t us, but I’ll try to help you figure out who. However, this further proves why Coyote needs to stop forcing the issue. Why would the tribe follow a leader they believed terrorized them?”

Crow bows his head in agreement before leaving us.

“I didn’t know your mother was your tribe’s Medicine Woman. Is she why you became a medic in the Army?”

Lake chuckles. “Kind of. I hadn’t signed on to be a medic. In BCT, I made a tincture out of marigolds to heal blisters. My mom knew everything there was to know about healing with herbs and plants. She taught me. I used that information to help my squad through training and deployment. When our medic got hurt, I took over.”

“Is it a tradition for the chief and the Medicine Woman to marry?” I ask.

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