Only 05 - Autumn Lover

men.”
    Penny smiled wanly.
    Elyssa gave her a quick hug, then set off for the barn with a determined stride. The movements made her wince slightly.
    The memory of Hunter lying between her thighs speared through Elyssa like lightning. Memories of thepleasure that had come before the pain expanded through her body in shimmering waves.
    In the dark pauses between pleasure, shame bloomed.
    Fool .
    Bloody idiot .
    But no matter what names Elyssa called herself, the embers of a very sweet fire smoldered beneath her anger. Hunter might have hurt her when he took her maidenhead, but he had also brought her a shocking pleasure up to that point.
    If marriage was so bad, do you think women would put up with it ?
    Hunter’s question had both mocked and lured Elyssa, telling her that there was more to sex than what she had just experienced.
    Last night she had been too angry to respond to Hunter’s confidence with anything but greater fury. Now the echoes of his sensual confidence went through her, unsettling her.
    You’ll want it, too. I’ll see to it .
    Elyssa shivered as Hunter’s words rang through her mind, through her body.
    “I said, ‘Morning, Miss Elyssa. You must be feeling better.’”
    Elyssa blinked and focused on Gimp.
    “Hunter said you were feeling poorly,” Gimp explained, “and wouldn’t be riding today.”
    Bright spots of color burned on Elyssa’s cheeks. She was indeed a bit tender in unexpected places. Realizing that Hunter knew she would be was embarrassing.
    And infuriating.
    “Hunter is wrong,” Elyssa said crisply. “But then, he’s wrong about me a lot. I’ll be riding Leopard.”
    “Uh…”
    “What is it?”
    “Hunter doesn’t want you riding alone.”
    “Hunter can go to hell.”
    Leaving a shocked Gimp in her wake, Elyssa went to Leopard’s stall. A few minutes later she rode the stallion out of the barn and right over the paddock fence.
    “They’re working the north marsh,” Gimp called after her.
    Elyssa waved.
    “Watch out for Injuns! Morgan said he saw some!”
    She waved again.
    Leopard’s long legs stretched into a lope that ate distance quickly. After a while Elyssa’s thighs quit protesting and settled into the familiar rhythms of riding.
    The land flew by in the tawny shades of autumn. The windswept sky and brilliant sunlight had a soothing effect on her spirits.
    All too soon Elyssa found herself at the edge of the marsh, no longer alone. Two armed men cantered briskly toward her, cutting off her advance.
    “This is Ladder S land,” Reed called out curtly. “We don’t take to strangers.”
    “No, we certainly don’t,” Elyssa said evenly as the men rode up. “Good morning, Blackie, Reed.”
    Reed stared, half-swallowed a profane remark, and uncocked his shotgun.
    Blackie did the same.
    “It’s you, Miss Sutton,” Reed said. “I, uh, I didn’t recognize you underneath all that, uh…gear.”
    “Didn’t you recognize Leopard?” she asked tartly.
    “No, ma’am. Some of the Culpepper raiders ride spotted ponies.”
    “Have you found any cattle?” Elyssa asked Reed.
    “A few head. Breeding stock, mostly.”
    Elyssa grimaced. “Well, better that than nothing.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” both men mumbled.
    They kept sneaking sideways glances at Elyssa, as though assuring themselves that the sweet, husky femalevoice was actually coming from the mound of men’s clothing atop Leopard.
    “Where do you need another rider most?” Elyssa asked.
    “Uh, well, uh…” Reed said.
    Elyssa waited. She suspected what would be coming next.
    “I better ask Hunter,” Reed said.
    “Hunter,” Blackie confirmed, relief clear in his voice.
    Might as well get it over with , Elyssa told herself bracingly. The longer I wait to face him, the harder it will be .
    “Get him,” she ordered in crisp tones. “Until then, I’ll be working along some of the marsh trails I know.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” Blackie said.
    He reined around and put his heels into his wiry little pony. With frank envy Reed watched his partner leave.
    “Go with him,” Elyssa said. “You’ll only be in my way. The trails I know are quite narrow.”
    “But Hunter said you weren’t ever supposed to be alone,” Reed objected.
    “Hunter isn’t the owner of the Ladder S. I am. Do keep it in mind.”
    “Uh.” Reed swallowed. “Yes, ma’am.”
    Unhappily he reined his tough little pony around and headed after Blackie.
    Elyssa turned Leopard north and trotted along the edge of the marsh.