she felt—had to be aware of how much she gave away with that kiss, how her protective barrier lay in total ruin. At long last his arms closed around her, enfolding her in the sweetest of embraces, and she knew in that moment that she'd willingly give him anything he asked.
How much time passed, Leah wasn't sure. One minute she existed in a sensual haze, secure in his arms, the next Hunter thrust her from him, tumbling her to the ground. In a move so swift that she barely registered it he spun around, crouching protectively in front of her. To her horror, a wickedly curved knife appeared in his hand.
'You're trespassing, Jones. What's your business here?' Hunter demanded.
It wasn't until then that Leah noticed the foreman of the Circle P, mounted on a bay, not more than fifteen
feet away. She hadn't heard his approach. But Hunter had.
Tell your guard-dog to drop the knife, Leah,' Bull Jones called, his gaze riveted to the glinting length of steel in Hunter's hand. 'Or I'll have to get serious with some buckshot.' His hand inched toward his rifle. 'You comprende what I'm saying, hombrel You have no business threatening me. I'd only be defending myself if I was forced to shoot.'
The expression in Hunter's eyes burned with unmistakable menace. 'You'll feel the hurting end of this blade long before that Remington clears your scabbard. You comprende me, muchachol Play it smart. Ride out now.'
For a minute Leah feared that Bull would pull his gun. His hand wavered over the rifle butt for an endless moment, before settling on his thigh. 'Since you're new to the Hampton spread I'll cut you some slack,' he addressed Hunter. 'But nobody threatens me. Ever. Somebody'd better explain that to you pronto, because next time I won't let you off so easy.'
'Last warning.' The blade quivered in Hunter's hand. 'Ride. Now.'
'You'll regret this, Leah,' Bull hollered. Swearing beneath his breath, he sawed at his mount's bit and rode off.
'Oh, God,' Leah moaned, and she began to tremble. In one supple move, Hunter sheathed his knife in his boot and pulled her into his arms.
'It's okay,' he murmured against the top of her head. 'He's gone.'
She clung to him, unable to stop shaking, reaction setting in fast and hard. He didn't release her, just stood silently, enveloping her in a tight, inviolable hold. Yet she'd have had him hold her closer if she thought her ribs would stand the strain. Slowly the warmth of his
body and the strength of his arms calmed her, soothing her terror.
'He could have shot you,' she whispered, fighting to hold back her tears.
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. 'Not a chance. I had him dead to rights and he knew it/ His mouth brushed her cheek, her jaw, her lips. 'It's over, Leah. He's gone/
She melted against him, needing his touch more desperately than she'd ever needed anything before in her life. As though sensing it, he kissed her. But it wasn't like the passionate embrace they'd shared earlier. This caress was so gentle and tender that it nearly broke her heart.
'He frightens me, Hunter,' she confessed in a low voice.
He glanced at the thin cloud of dust disappearing to the south. 'Tell me about him.' It was an order.
She fought to gather her thoughts enough to give him a coherent answer. 'I've told you most of it. Although I can't prove anything, I suspect he's responsible for our fence-lines being cut. We've had a couple of suspicious stampedes and one or two of the wells have been fouled/ She shrugged. 'That sort of thing/
'He's the reason this place is so neglected/ It wasn't a question. 'You don't ride out here alone, do you? That's why you haven't seen the problems until now/
She bowed her head. 'I don't let the others come either,' she admitted. 'Unless they're in a group. I've been terrified of something happening.'
'Have you reported any of this to Lyon Enterprises?'
She flashed him a bitter glare. 'Who do you think he's getting his instructions from?'
'Do you know that for a
How much time passed, Leah wasn't sure. One minute she existed in a sensual haze, secure in his arms, the next Hunter thrust her from him, tumbling her to the ground. In a move so swift that she barely registered it he spun around, crouching protectively in front of her. To her horror, a wickedly curved knife appeared in his hand.
'You're trespassing, Jones. What's your business here?' Hunter demanded.
It wasn't until then that Leah noticed the foreman of the Circle P, mounted on a bay, not more than fifteen
feet away. She hadn't heard his approach. But Hunter had.
Tell your guard-dog to drop the knife, Leah,' Bull Jones called, his gaze riveted to the glinting length of steel in Hunter's hand. 'Or I'll have to get serious with some buckshot.' His hand inched toward his rifle. 'You comprende what I'm saying, hombrel You have no business threatening me. I'd only be defending myself if I was forced to shoot.'
The expression in Hunter's eyes burned with unmistakable menace. 'You'll feel the hurting end of this blade long before that Remington clears your scabbard. You comprende me, muchachol Play it smart. Ride out now.'
For a minute Leah feared that Bull would pull his gun. His hand wavered over the rifle butt for an endless moment, before settling on his thigh. 'Since you're new to the Hampton spread I'll cut you some slack,' he addressed Hunter. 'But nobody threatens me. Ever. Somebody'd better explain that to you pronto, because next time I won't let you off so easy.'
'Last warning.' The blade quivered in Hunter's hand. 'Ride. Now.'
'You'll regret this, Leah,' Bull hollered. Swearing beneath his breath, he sawed at his mount's bit and rode off.
'Oh, God,' Leah moaned, and she began to tremble. In one supple move, Hunter sheathed his knife in his boot and pulled her into his arms.
'It's okay,' he murmured against the top of her head. 'He's gone.'
She clung to him, unable to stop shaking, reaction setting in fast and hard. He didn't release her, just stood silently, enveloping her in a tight, inviolable hold. Yet she'd have had him hold her closer if she thought her ribs would stand the strain. Slowly the warmth of his
body and the strength of his arms calmed her, soothing her terror.
'He could have shot you,' she whispered, fighting to hold back her tears.
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. 'Not a chance. I had him dead to rights and he knew it/ His mouth brushed her cheek, her jaw, her lips. 'It's over, Leah. He's gone/
She melted against him, needing his touch more desperately than she'd ever needed anything before in her life. As though sensing it, he kissed her. But it wasn't like the passionate embrace they'd shared earlier. This caress was so gentle and tender that it nearly broke her heart.
'He frightens me, Hunter,' she confessed in a low voice.
He glanced at the thin cloud of dust disappearing to the south. 'Tell me about him.' It was an order.
She fought to gather her thoughts enough to give him a coherent answer. 'I've told you most of it. Although I can't prove anything, I suspect he's responsible for our fence-lines being cut. We've had a couple of suspicious stampedes and one or two of the wells have been fouled/ She shrugged. 'That sort of thing/
'He's the reason this place is so neglected/ It wasn't a question. 'You don't ride out here alone, do you? That's why you haven't seen the problems until now/
She bowed her head. 'I don't let the others come either,' she admitted. 'Unless they're in a group. I've been terrified of something happening.'
'Have you reported any of this to Lyon Enterprises?'
She flashed him a bitter glare. 'Who do you think he's getting his instructions from?'
'Do you know that for a
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