Only 05 - Autumn Lover

moment when he realized that he would be too late to save Elyssa from the murderous Culpeppers.
    Nor had Case found out who did save her.
    That ghost is going to be the death of us , Hunter thought grimly.
    “That’s the way,” Elyssa encouraged the girl. “The baking soda will ease his rash.”
    The Indian girl gave her a brief, shy smile and resumed washing her baby in the shallow basin.
    Penny bent over the little scrap of humanity and made cooing noises. The baby watched her with curious black eyes.
    “How old do you think he is?” Penny asked.
    “Barely two weeks,” Hunter said.
    Elyssa’s hands jerked. She hadn’t realized that Hunter was in the kitchen.
    Lately it seemed that every time she turned around, Hunter was there, watching her with stormy gray eyes.
    “What about her family?” Penny asked.
    “Ute, as Sassy suspected. Right, Sassy?”
    The tone of Hunter’s voice told Elyssa that he was using the nickname to get under her skin.
    The more she avoided him, the more he dug at her.
    “Right,” Elyssa said tersely.
    She shook out a fresh diaper with a vigor that made the cloth snap. In front of other people she couldn’t ignore Hunter as she wanted to. He took advantage of that, forcing her to speak to him when she plainly didn’t want to.
    “Sassy thinks the girl is related to a chief,” Hunter continued, “because of all the beads and shells on her clothes.”
    “So I heard,” Penny said.
    Elyssa finished folding the diaper and reached for another. Not once did she look at Hunter.
    “I’ll do that,” he said, reaching past Elyssa. “I’ve folded more diapers in my time than you have.”
    “It’s not necessary,” she said tightly.
    Elyssa flinched when Hunter’s hand brushed over hers.
    “It’s very necessary,” he said in a low voice.
    Before Elyssa could retreat, Hunter deliberately repeated the small, tender caress. Shocked, she looked up at Hunter.
    Angry words died on her lips when she saw the bleak memories in his eyes. She knew he was thinking of his own dead children.
    The realization stripped away Elyssa’s anger at Hunter, leaving only her raw hurt and vulnerability.
    I was truly a fool to think that my love would make a difference to Hunter , Elyssa thought sadly. His heart is buried with his children .
    I’ve been a fool about him from the very first, seeingwhat I wanted to see instead of what was right in front of my face .
    “I’ll work on supper,” Elyssa said, turning away.
    “I’ll do that, Sas—er, Elyssa,” Penny said, correcting herself quickly. “The girl is more comfortable when you’re around.”
    Elyssa started to object, but it was too late. Penny was already on her way to the kitchen. Elyssa and Hunter were alone but for the Indian girl, who knew no English.
    Or admitted to knowing none.
    Hunter shook out a piece of soft cloth and folded it deftly.
    “You’re better at it than I am,” Elyssa said, determined to keep the conversation impersonal.
    “I’ve had more practice than you,” Hunter said. “Belinda didn’t have a whole lot to do with babies.”
    “Just one more way I’m like your late, unlamented wife,” Elyssa said bitterly before she could think better of it. “That must comfort you no end.”
    Hunter shot Elyssa a narrow, sideways glance.
    “Does that mean you’re finally ready to stop running and talk to me about the night we—” he began.
    “Did Case find out any more about the girl?” Elyssa asked quickly, talking right over Hunter.
    The last thing Elyssa wanted to do was talk about the unsettling night when Hunter had taken her virginity in a storm of lust.
    I offered , she reminded herself harshly. Much as I’d like to heap all the blame on him like a hail of stones, I can’t .
    “The Culpeppers happened on a small Ute hunting camp,” Hunter said. “Most of the warriors were off fighting the army. Damned hotheads should have been home protecting their own women and kids.”
    Elyssa looked at the Indian girl. If she understood what was being said, she didn’t show it.
    “The Culpeppers shot up a few boys,” Hunter said, “grabbed the girl, and ran off before the hunters could return.”
    “Did Case learn her name?”
    “The Culpeppers never asked it,” Hunter said.
    “Not surprising. Men with lust on their mind don’t much care about the name of the girl who—”
    Elyssa’s words stopped on a sharply indrawn breath. Hunter’s fingers were clamped around her wrist with a force just short