Only 05 - Autumn Lover

hard.
    “Running from you?” she asked tightly.
    “Hunter and I have been dogging their tracks since Texas, two years ago,” Case said.
    “I see.”
    She gave Hunter a swift look.
    “No wonder you didn’t ask about pay,” Elyssa said to Hunter. “You would have hunted Culpeppers for free.”
    “If you don’t think I’m earning my pay as ramrod—”
    “I didn’t say that,” she interrupted quickly.
    “What are you saying, then?”
    “You’re the best ramrod the Ladder S has ever had,” Elyssa said. “But you have no interest in the ranch beyond the fact that the Culpeppers want it.”
    Hunter started to say something, looked at Case, and shut his mouth.
    “Looks like I’ll need a new ramrod after the Culpeppers are taken care of,” Elyssa said, her voice strained.
    “No point in crossing a bridge before you get to it,” Case said. “We could all be dead before we ever get to the river.”
    Elyssa closed her eyes.
    “Yes,” she said softly. “We could die. All of us.”
    “Let’s not start hanging crepe,” Hunter said. “Once we figure out who the spy is, we’ll be all right.”
    “Maybe,” Case said. “But I have a bad feeling.”
    Hunter’s attention switched instantly from Elyssa to Case.
    “What is it?” Hunter demanded.
    “Those boys are getting impatient,” Case said.
    “They were born impatient and lazy,” Hunter said coldly. “That’s why they’re raiders.”
    Case nodded. “That means the Culpeppers might not wait until you have everything rounded up and greenbroke for them.”
    “I’ve thought about that,” Hunter said.
    “I figured you had. What preparations have you made?”
    “Enough water and food to withstand a siege,” Hunter said. “Gimp is filling burlap bags to soak up stray bullets.”
    “What if they burn you out?” Case asked.
    Elyssa’s breath came in with an audible rush. She hadn’t thought of that.
    “They wouldn’t,” she said.
    “They would,” Case countered matter-of-factly. “They’ve done it before.”
    “Are they planning to?” Hunter asked.
    “They haven’t said anything to the men about it either way.”
    “I’ve set up a place to retreat to, if it comes to that,” Hunter said.
    “Where?” Case asked.
    “A cave in the foothills about half a mile from the house. There’s a spring. I’ve laid in supplies.”
    “Who else knows about it?” Case asked.
    “You, me, Elyssa.”
    “Keep it that way,” Case said bluntly.
    “I don’t think we’ll need it,” Elyssa said.
    Case looked at her.
    “Why?” Hunter asked.
    “Gaylord said he was tired of being hunted, remember?” she asked.
    Hunter nodded.
    “They’re lazy,” Elyssa said. “They want the ranch intact, ready for them to move in. Ab even tried to buy the Ladder S from me this morning.”
    Surprise showed clearly on Hunter’s face.
    “Buy it?” he asked in disbelief.
    “Yes,” Elyssa said. “All nice and legal, Ab said. Nothing for the blue bellies to get upset about.”
    “I’ll be damned,” Hunter said.
    “Why didn’t you take it?” Case asked Elyssa.
    “The Ladder S is worth more than thirty Yankee dollars,” she said succinctly.
    “Yes, ma’am,” Case agreed. “It sure is. But it’s probably all the cash money that sorry swine has.”
    “The point is,” Elyssa said, “that the Culpeppers are looking for a nice, legal way to settle down.”
    “Guess they found out raiding isn’t all it was cracked up to be,” Hunter said dryly.
    “More likely they’re going to go at it the Comanchero way,” Case said. “Settle the clan in a stronghold and raid a few days’ ride away.”
    “The only raids those boys might make in the future will be in hell,” Hunter said.
    Elyssa shivered. It would have been easier to take if Hunter had said the words hotly, with anger vibrant in his voice.
    But he spoke the words calmly, with no emotion at all.
    Like Case.
    “Do they trust you?” Hunter asked Case.
    “As much as they trust anyone who isn’t a Culpepper.”
    “I hope that’s enough.”
    “I’ll give you all the warning I can,” Case said simply.
    The wind swirled again, making Elyssa shiver. There was a bite to the air that spoke of winter.
    “We better get you home,” Case said. “I’ll follow you as far as the barn.”
    “You might be seen,” Hunter said.
    “I’ll be careful, but I want to meet those dogs. No sense in having them set up a howl if I have to come to the ranch.”
    “All right.” Hunter turned to