Only 05 - Autumn Lover

him.
    Without checking to see how dirty the weapon mightbe, Mickey jammed it into his holster and stalked off toward the barn.
    Hunter watched Mickey go by. The sullen cowhand didn’t even look his way. Hunter wished that he could simply fire Mickey and be done with his brutal presence. Unfortunately the Ladder S was too short-handed to let anyone go for any act short of drunkenness or cold-blooded murder.
    Besides, Mickey could be the Culpeppers’ spy. If so, there were much better uses for him than digging post holes.
    The sound of a shotgun being uncocked startled Hunter. He spun toward the sound.
    As he turned, he drew his six-gun.
    Elyssa’s breath came in sharply. One instant Hunter’s hands were empty. In the next instant he was holding a six-gun that was cocked and ready to fire.
    “Planning to use that on me?” Hunter asked.
    “I could ask you the same question.”
    With a smooth motion Hunter uncocked the six-gun and returned the weapon to its holster.
    “Glad to see that the shotgun isn’t cocked,” Hunter said. “You look like you’re planning to shoot me rather than Mickey.”
    “I’m thinking about it.”
    “Any reason in particular?”
    “I’m remembering when Mickey grabbed me hard enough to leave bruises, treated me like a prostitute, and all you did was tell him to quit wasting time and get to work.”
    Hunter waited, looking at Elyssa’s stormy eyes and her hands ready to cock the shotgun all over again.
    And shoot him.
    “But when Mickey takes a quirt to a bronc,” Elyssa said through her teeth, “you knock him into next week.”
    “The horse wasn’t doing anything wrong.”
    “And I was?” she demanded.
    Hunter’s bleak, dark eyes raked over Elyssa. As always, she was dressed in silk or satin. Sexy cloth that shivered and sighed and caught a man’s eye with every breath she took.
    “Yes,” he said coolly. “You were in the wrong.”
    “ What ?”
    “Men come to a point whenever you walk by. You know it, but you keep on walking by.”
    “What am I supposed to do? Stay locked inside behind curtains and veils?”
    “Yes.”
    Elyssa’s eyes widened.
    “You’re serious,” she said in disbelief.
    “Damned straight.”
    Rage whipped through Elyssa.
    “Tough luck, fancy man,” she said recklessly. “I’m not staying in jail just because I was born a woman instead of a man.”
    “I figured you would take it that way. Some females just don’t know they’re alive unless some man is admiring them.”
    The naked contempt in Hunter’s voice was like a slap.
    “I’m not like that,” Elyssa said. “I never have been.”
    “That’s what they all say.”
    “Damn it, I’m not like your wife was!”
    “Yell a little louder,” he drawled. “I’m sure the boys are hanging on every word.”
    With that Hunter turned his back and walked toward the barn.
    “Hunter!”
    There was no hesitation in Hunter’s stride. He just kept on walking.
    Elyssa was on the edge of yelling at him again whenshe became aware of Lefty and Gimp. The two old hands were standing just outside the barn, listening.
    With a combination of resentment and embarrassment, Elyssa turned on her heel and went back to the kitchen.
    This can’t go on , Elyssa promised herself. I have to make Hunter understand .
    Perhaps if I talk to him when there’s no one to overhear …
    The more Elyssa thought about it, the more the idea appealed to her. She needed privacy to discuss such personal things with Hunter.
    Obviously the memory of his unfaithful wife still hurt him deeply. Hunter didn’t want to risk his heart again.
    Once burned, twice shy .
    Somehow Elyssa had to make Hunter understand that it was all right to trust his heart to her care. She would cherish the gift of his love and have her own love cherished in return.
    If only she could make Hunter understand.
    Tonight, after Penny is asleep. I’ll talk to him then. I’ll make him understand .
     
    The door to Elyssa’s bedroom creaked slightly when she opened it. She froze in place, but heard no stirring downstairs or in the next room.
    Letting out a slow breath, Elyssa eased the door shut behind her. With trembling fingers she tied her pale blue satin wrapper more tightly around her waist.
    Fingers crossed for luck, Elyssa tiptoed down the short stretch of hallway that separated her bedroom door from Hunter’s. The floor felt cool through the thin satin slippers she wore, but not as cold as her hands. She was nervous about the coming