Bounty Hunter Proposal by Alix West

every day and every night by her side. Leaving her tore him apart, but he needed to hunt Darrell Hughes down and finish him off. If he didn’t, the man would go on to kill others.
    “Isabelle,” he whispered. “I promise I’m coming back to you. You’re all I want. You and the boys.”
    He kissed her, squeezed her shoulders and moved past her to the bedroom to dress. He moved quickly and minutes later he was outside the cabin, Arlo saddled and ready to ride. Isabelle stood on the porch dressed in a simple muslin dress, her hair loose and her feet bare.
    With a smile on his face he walked up the steps and took her into his arms. She clung to him silently. He drew a deep breath, taking in her scent and savoring the way she felt in his arms. He kissed her and turned away. With a heavy heart he swung into the saddle and rode away.

Chapter Fifteen
    The day passed slowly. Each time a horse or wagon went by on the road, Isabelle felt her heart race, and she’d hurry to the porch to see if Matthias returned. The only wagon that came up the path to the cabin was the Sutton wagon. Shorty drove the buckboard along with Savannah, Violet and the two boys.
    Shorty helped the women down, and the boys, too. Seth held the pup who wriggled in his arms. Both women were quiet, and it was Shorty who spoke first.
    “I could sure stay with you, Miss Isabelle. I’ll sleep on the porch or up in the hay barn if you like.”
    “I’d rather you come home with us,” Violet said. “Stay at our house. Matthias will know where to find you.”
    Isabelle drew a deep sigh. She didn’t want to let on how worried she was because the boys, Seth in particular, grew anxious any time they noted worry in her tone or demeanor.
    “I’m not worried a bit,” she said. “Matthias will be back when he’s done with his work. In the meantime, I’ll wait here for him.”
    The boys came to her side and she smiled at Violet and Savannah. “We’ll be just fine.”
    She saw the doubt in Violet’s eyes. Isabelle considered that if she were ever threatened, Violet Sutton would be as fierce a protector as Shorty.
    Even though Isabelle did her best to assure the Sutton ladies and Shorty that she’d be fine, it took a while to convince them. They lingered. Each of them seemed as anxious for Matthias to return as she. Isabelle invited them in, fed them a late lunch and several helpings of sweets before they finally agreed to go home.
    When they were gone, it was near dusk. She set a pot of water to heat on the stove and pumped water for the tub.
    “We’re going to have a proper bath,” she told the boys.
    The excitement that the bath caused made her forget about Matthias for a short while. As it grew dark, both boys climbed into the tub, and the puppy, Patch, joined them. The boys marveled at the hot water. They’d never had a hot bath, Isabelle realized.
    After she put them to bed, she kept herself busy with needle work. When the boys had been asleep for a few hours she heard hoof beats and the jingling of a bridle.
    She flew to the door and pulled it open. “Matthias, I’ve been waiting up for…”
    Her words died on her lips. It was a man she didn’t recognize. Scarred. Unshaven. Scowling.
    “Are you Matthias Hudson’s woman?”
    She stepped back. The man reeked of sweat and filth and some evil thing she couldn’t name.
    “I’m Mrs. Hudson,” she said. “Who are you?”
    The man’s face split into an evil grin. “I’m Darrell Hughes, and Hudson owes me something.”
    Her mind reeled, and she felt herself rooted to the ground. It was like a bad dream where it was impossible to move. He shoved her back not once, but twice. The second time, she upset a chair, sending it clattering to the floor.
    “I heard ol’ Matthias got himself married,” Hughes said. “Kinda funny considering he didn’t seem to be one to settle down.”
    Isabelle felt every nerve in her body light with fear. “He isn’t here. You best keep moving.”
    He backed her