Only 05 - Autumn Lover

mere music.”
    “I lost the habit of dancing during the war.”
    Hunter looked past Elyssa to Penny.
    “However, ma’am,” he said to Penny, “if a waltz makes you smile like that, I’d be glad to attempt a turn or two around the kitchen with you.”
    The words went over Elyssa like ice water. Hunter’s refusal cut her as the haughtiness of aristocrats never had.
    In England she had become accustomed to being snubbed by men because her fortune was lacking. Or worse, she had been pursued because titled men thought the funny little Colonial would be an easy conquest.
    Elyssa had hoped it would be different in America.
    It wasn’t.
    “By all means dance with Hunter,” Elyssa said softly to Penny. “I wouldn’t want to interfere with your pleasure.”
    Before Penny could answer, Elyssa turned and went out through the back door into the autumn night. Cool air swirled as she shut the door behind her.
    Penny gave Hunter a speculative look.
    “Since you no more want to dance with me than with the milk cow,” she said crisply, “why turn Elyssa against me?”
    The surprise on Hunter’s face told Penny that he hadn’t thought of his actions in that way.
    Hunter said something impatient under his breath and raked his fingers through his clean, collar-length hair.
    “I’m trying to break Sassy of flirting,” Hunter said after a moment.
    “Why?”
    Again, Hunter was surprised.
    “You could do a lot worse than Elyssa,” Penny said calmly. “She is the sole owner of the Ladder S, young, healthy, pretty, and obviously smitten with you.”
    Hunter’s mouth turned down in a grim line.
    “She’s smitten with anything in pants,” he said curtly.
    “No. Men are smitten with her . It’s hardly unexpected. She has her mother’s looks.”
    “I married one pretty little flirt. It’s a mistake I’ll never make again.”
    Sighing, Penny closed her eyes. For a few moments she looked much older than her thirty years.
    “Men,” she said. “Why did God make them in the first place?”
    “I could say the same about women.”
    “Yes, I suppose a man would.”
    Penny’s eyes opened. There was a sorrow and disillusionment in them that made Hunter wince.
    “What about Bill Moreland?” Hunter asked, changing the subject.
    The shock on Penny’s face was as clear as her wide, dark eyes.
    “What do you mean?” she demanded.
    “I heard you two talking about Bill. How he used to come here but doesn’t anymore. How he wanted the Ladder S and Elyssa.”
    “He wanted Gloria.”
    “Maybe he did, once. From what you say, he’s got Elyssa on his mind now.”
    Penny’s fingers clenched in her skirt. Hearing Hunter speak her worst fear aloud was like having a knife turning in her soul.
    “I know how it can be when a neighbor gets an itch for a girl,” Hunter said flatly. “If she’s a little flirt in the bargain, you can be damn certain that itch will get scratched no matter what it costs everyone else.”
    The dismay on Penny’s face told Hunter that she was afraid he was right.
    Well , Hunter told himself sardonically, that explains the web of ghost paths between the Ladder S and the B Bar .
    Just like the paths between my ranch and my neighbor’s back in Texas, paths made by two people meeting in secret .
    The explanation for the web of trails through Wind Gap didn’t make Hunter feel any better. The thought of Elyssa sneaking away to shiver and cry out with passion in another man’s arms nettled Hunter in ways he didn’t want even to think about.
    Someone really ought to teach that little flirt a lesson. From the looks of those footpaths, she already has one lover—why the hell do some women have to seduce every man in sight ?
    There never had been an answer, no matter how many times Hunter had asked. To this day he didn’t understand why Belinda had pursued men as relentlessly after marriage as she had pursued Hunter before.
    “I’m sorry,” Hunter said to Penny. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I know you’ve been under the weather lately.”
    Penny smiled wanly.
    “Don’t worry,” Hunter added in a gentle voice. “Morgan and I will fix those Culpepper boys for you. No one will take your home away.”
    Again Penny smiled, but the lines of strain on her mouth didn’t ease.
    “If you’ll excuse me,” Hunter said, “I’ll be checking on the horses. Lord knows we’re desperately short of mounts. If someone leaves a door or a paddock open, we’ll all be afoot.”
    “Of course. Good