Only 05 - Autumn Lover

Hunter pointed out.”
    “Bill wouldn’t steal Ladder S livestock.”
    “Unfortunately, he can’t keep the Culpeppers from stealing it, though,” Elyssa said. “The Ladder S is just about picked clean.”
    Penny closed her eyes and made a low sound.
    “What are we going to do?” Penny whispered.
    “Hunter will think of something,” Elyssa said.
    He has to . But she kept that thought to herself.
    “Are you feeling better now?” Elyssa asked after a moment. “Maybe you should lie down for a time.”
    “No need. Working takes my mind off…everything.”
    Elyssa smiled sadly.
    “Are you happy about the baby?” Elyssa asked, her voice soft.
    “Oh, yes,” Penny said, smiling for the first time. “I’ve wanted a baby ever since I can remember.”
    “All right. We’ll take care of the Culpeppers and then make arrangements for raising a baby on the Ladder S.”
    “You don’t think less of me for letting Bill…for being his woman even though we aren’t married?”
    Elyssa thought of how hot passion ran in her when she was in Hunter’s arms. If he had wanted to put a baby in her, she would have helped him every bit of the way and not counted the cost until it was far too late.
    Pregnant.
    Unmarried.
    Utterly alone.
    “No,” Elyssa said. “I think it’s very, very hard not to give yourself to the man you love. If he wants you.”
    Penny smiled again despite the tears still shining on her cheeks.
    “I was afraid you would throw me off the ranch,” Penny admitted.
    “Never.”
    “Many women would, and even more men.”
    “I won’t.”
    The certainty in Elyssa’s voice gave Penny more ease than she had known since she had discovered that she was pregnant.
    “Thank you,” Penny said simply.
    “Don’t be foolish. You and your baby are all that I have in the world, except for…” Elyssa hesitated.
    “Hunter?” Penny asked.
    “I was thinking of Bill. Hunter doesn’t want to love me. He doesn’t even want to like me.”
    “But he watches you the way Bill used to watch Gloria.”
    Hope raced through Elyssa.
    “Really?” she asked breathlessly.
    Penny nodded.
    “You watch him, too,” Penny added.
    “I can’t help it,” Elyssa whispered. “ I love him .”
    From the direction of the corral came the squeal of a frightened horse followed by a man’s raw shout of anger.
    Without hesitating Elyssa grabbed the shotgun that was never far from her reach these days and went to the back door.
    One of the green-broke broncs had just unloaded Mickey into the dust. He got up, grabbed the bridle close to the bit, and began whipping the bronc with a quirt.
    The terrified animal screamed again and threw its head up, trying to escape the whip. Mickey hung on to the bit and kept whipping the animal.
    Shotgun still in hand, Elyssa headed toward the corral at a run.
    Hunter was faster. He came out of the barn, saw what was happening, and yelled at Mickey to stop.
    Mickey ignored him.
    An instant later Hunter hit Mickey like a falling mountain. Mickey slammed into the corral bars with aforce that made the poles rattle and groan. Staggering back, he shook his head, saw Hunter, and made another bad mistake. He charged Hunter with all the finesse of an angry bull.
    Hunter stepped aside, stuck out his boot, and let Mickey’s own weight do the rest. The big cowhand went end over end. He landed in a sprawl of awkward limbs and dust.
    A few moments later Mickey made his third mistake. He went for his gun.
    Hunter kicked Mickey’s hand with enough force to send the gun flying in a broad arc. Then Hunter stood just out of Mickey’s reach and waited to see how stupid the other man was.
    The younger man shook his head, rolled over onto his hands and knees, and came to his feet. He swayed and cradled his right hand. Though he looked angry enough to kill something, he didn’t reach for the second gun he wore.
    Hunter nodded.
    “Take your temper out on digging post holes,” Hunter said flatly.
    “It’s nothing but a damned flea-bitten bronc!” Mickey shouted.
    “It was good enough to throw you.”
    Mickey’s face reddened with rage.
    “No man worthy of the name beats a horse just for throwing him,” Hunter said. “Dig post holes or get out.”
    Sullenly Mickey went to his hat, picked it up, and walked on to where his gun lay in the dust. He bent down.
    Hunter’s stance changed in a way that was unmistakable. If Mickey wanted to make a fourth mistake by trying to use the gun, Hunter would draw on