Mail-order Bridegroom Part 6

"If this is about Hunter, I don't want to discuss it." "It's about Hunter."

"I don't want to discuss it."

"Tough toenails. I have a confession to make and you're going to listen toevery last word, even if I have to wrestle you to the floor and sit on you."

The picture of her ninety-pound grandmother putting her in a headlock andforcing her to the tile floor brought a reluctant smile to Leah's mouth.

"Can we at least talk about the weather for five minutes while I drink mycoffee?"

"It's sunny and eighty-five, in the shade. Hope you swallowed fast.

Now. About Hunter. "

Deep purplish-blue eyes held Leah's in a direct, steady gaze. The eye colorand a relentless determination were only two of the qualities Leah sharedwith her grandmother. Unfortunately, Rose's determination included astubbornness even beyond Leah's. She gave up. She'd never won an argumentwith her grandmother, a circ.u.mstance unlikely to change any time in the nearfuture.

"What about him?" she asked with a sigh.

"What he said yesterday about the sheriff was true," Rose announced.

"Every word."

Leah straightened in her chair.

"You heard? You were listening?"

"I did and I was, and I'm not one bit ashamed to admit it. What I am ashamed to admit is that I betrayed your confidence to your father eight years ago."She twisted her thick gold wedding-band around a k.n.o.bby finger, the onlyexternal sign of her agitation.

"You warned Dad that I planned to run away with Hunter." It wasn't a question. Leah had already figured out what must have happened. The onlyperson she'd confessed to about that long-ago meeting sat across the tablefrom her. Not that she'd ever expose her grandmother's involvement to Hunter.

"Yes, I told your father," Rose confirmed.

"I told Ben because, selfishly, I didn't want you to leave."

"But I promised you I wouldn't go!"

Leah shoved back her chair and stood. Struggling to conceal her distress,

she made a production of pouring herself another cup of coffee. She'd told Rose about her meeting for one simple reason: she couldn't leave the womanwho'd loved and raised her without a single word of farewell. What she hadn't antic.i.p.ated was her grandmother's revelation that Leah's father wasdying of cancer. Once in possession of the grim news she hadn't had anyalternative. She couldn't abandon her father in his time of need, no matterhow desperately she yearned to be with Hunter. It just wasn't in her nature.

Leah turned and faced her grandmother.

"I told you I'd meet Hunter and explain about Dad's illness. I planned toask him to wait ... to return after... after..."Rose shrugged."Perhaps he'd have agreed. But I couldn't count on that--on his going away and letting you stay." She sighed.

"Listen, girl, the reason I'm telling you all this is because I've decided.I want you to marry Hunter."Leah stared in shock."Come again?""What are you, deaf? I said, I want you to marry Hunter.""But ... why?""Because..." Rose lifted her chin and confessed."Because I had a call from Conrad Michaels this morning.""What did he want?""Officially... to announce his retirement. Unofficially... to withdraw his offer of help. No bank loan in any circ.u.mstances was the message I got.""Hunter!" Leah released his name with a soft sigh."That thought occurred to me, too." Her grandmother's eyes narrowed.

"You suppose his pull is strong enough to force Connie's retirement?"

"Possibly. Though if Hunter is as ruthless as you suspect, I'm surprisedyou're so anxious to marry me off to him."

"Ruthless isn't bad ... if it's working on your side. And, right now, wecould use a whole lot of ruthless on our side."

"Could we?" Lean questioned.

"I'm not so sure."

Rose stared into her coffee-cup as though the answers to all their problemslay written in the dregs. Finally she glanced up, her expression as hard andset as Leah had ever seen it.

"You have two choices. You can sell or you can fight to win against LyonEnterprises. If you want to sell, say the word, and we'll give up and clearout. But if you want to win. Hunter's the man for the job. It took youyears to get over him. Fact is, I don't believe you ever did. Marry him ordon't. It's your decision. But my vote is to s.n.a.t.c.h him up fast. Men like that only come along once in a lifetime. You've gotten a lucky break. He's come through your door twice."

Lucky? Leah had her doubts. He'd loved her with a pa.s.sion that she'd neverforgotten and she'd let him down. He wouldn't give her the chance to hurthim like that again. She simply couldn't read too much into his return. If anything, he'd come back to wreak revenge. And, if that was the case, byplacing that ad she had indeed exposed her vulnerability and given him theperfect opportunity to even an old score.

And he'd been swift to take advantage.

One by one he'd cut off every avenue of escape until she faced two toughalternatives. Unfortunately, learning that any possibility of a bank loanhad been circ.u.mvented left her with no alternatives. if she intended to save the ranch.

Leah returned her mug to the counter, the coffee having gone stone-cold.

She looked at her grandmother and saw the hint of desperation lurking in Rose's otherwise impa.s.sive expression. No matter what she'd said, losing the ranch would be the death of her.

And to be responsible for her demise, when Leah had it within her power to prevent it, just couldn't be borne.

"I'll call Hunter," she announced quietly.

For the first time in her life, Leah saw tears glitter in her grandmother's eyes.

"Don't accept his first offer, girl," she advised gruffly.

"Bargain for position and you can still come out of this on top."

"I'm not your granddaughter for nothing," Leah said with a teasing smile.

"He won't have it all his own way."

And he wouldn't. Very soon she'd find out just how badly he wanted the

ranch--and just how much ground he'd give up in order to get it.

Not until Leah had completed her list of requests for Hunter--she hesitated to call them demands--did she realize that he hadn't left her a number where

he could be reached. Not that it truly presented a problem. Preciselytwenty-four hours after their original meeting.Hunter phoned."What's your answer?" he asked, dispensing with the preliminaries."I want to meet with you and discuss the situation," Leah temporized.

"You mean discuss terms of surrender?"

"Yes." She practically choked getting the word out. He must have known, damhim, for a low, intimate laugh sounded in her ear."You did that very well," he approved."See? Giving in isn't so bad."

"Yes, it is," she a.s.sured him.

"You try it some time and you'll know what I mean."

"No, you handle it much better than I would. All you need is a little more

practice."

Married to him, she didn't doubt she'd get it, either. "Where are you

staying?" she asked, deliberately changing the subject. She knew when togive up on a losing hand. "Should I meet you there?""I'm in Houston. And no, I don't expect you to drive that far. We'll meet tomorrow. Noon. The line-shack."She caught her breath in disbelief."That's not funny, Hunter!""It wasn't meant to be." All trace of amus.e.m.e.nt vanished from his voice, his tone acquiring a sharp, cutting edge. "I'm dead serious.

Tomorrow meet me at the line-shack at noon. Just like before. See that youmake it this time. There won't be any second chances. ""There weren't eight years ago. Why should this occasion be any different?""It will be different," he promised."You'd be smart to realize that right from the start.""Fine. You've made your point and I realize it. Things will be different.""Very good. Lean. There's hope for you yet."She clamped down on her temper, determined not to be provoked."So, let's meet at the ranch-house instead. Okay? Hunter?" But she spoke into a dead phone. So much for not being provoked. She was thoroughlyprovoked.

Slowly she hung up. This did not bode well for their future together. Not well at all. She reached for her list. She wouldn't have that disaster at the line-shack held over her head like the sword of Damocles for the rest of her life. She'd done all the explaining she intended to do, but ap M parently he had more to say. Well, this meeting would end it once and for all. She wouldn't spend the rest of her life paying for something that, though her ultimate responsibility, wasn't her fault.

Early the next morning she headed for the south pasture to pay a visit to Dreamseeker, the stallion she'd recently acquired. At the fence she whistled, low and piercing, waiting for the familiar whickered response.

From the concealing stand of cottonwoods he came, a coal-black stallion, racing across the gra.s.s. He danced to a stop ten yards from the fence, pawing at the ground and shaking his mane.

"You don't fool me," she called to him.

"You want it. I know you do.

All you have to do is come and take it. " She held out her hand so he could see the lumps of sugar she'd brought him.

Without further hesitation he charged the fence, but she didn't flinch. Her hand remained rock-steady. Skidding to a halt beside her, the horse ducked his head into her hand and s.n.a.t.c.hed the sugar from her palm. Then he nipped her fingers--not hard, just enough to establish dominance. With a snort, he spun around and galloped across the pasture.

She cradled her palm, refusing to show her hurt. She wouldn't let herself be hurt. It was an indulgence that she couldn't afford. She'd made her decision--a decision that would protect the stallion, protect her ranch, and protect all the wounded creatures she'd gathered safely beneath her wing.

She also understood why Dreamseeker had bitten her. He'd done it to prove that he was still free--free to choose, free to approach or flee. It saddened her, because she knew he lived a lie. They had that in common.

For, no matter how hard they tried, neither was truly free.

Not any more.

Leaving the fence, she saddled a horse and rode to the line-shack.

The spring weather had taken a turn for the worse, becoming every bit as hot

and humid as that fateful day eight years ago. A sullen mugginess weightedthe air, filled it with the threat of a thunderstorm. Leah shuddered. The similarities between then and now were more than she cared to contemplate.

At the line-shack she ground-hitched her gelding. Hunter hadn't arrived yetand she stood outside, reluctant to enter the cabin. reluctant to face anymore memories. She'd avoided this place for eight long years. Thanks to Hunter she couldn't avoid it any longer.

Setting her chin, she crossed to the door and thrust it open.She stepped cautiously inside, looking around in disbelief. Everything wa.s.spotless. A table, two chairs, a bed-- everything in its place. A thin layer of dust was the only visible sign of neglect. Someone had gone togreat pains to restore the shack. But who? And why?"Reliving old memories?"Leah whirled around."Hunter! You startled me."He filled the threshold, a blackened silhouette that blocked the sun and caused the walls to close in around them.

"You shouldn't be so easily startled."

Searching for something to say, she gestured to indicate the cabin.

"It's changed. For some reason I thought the place would have fallen down by

now."

He shrugged.

"You can't run a ranch this size without working line-shacks. The men need

someplace to hole up when they're working this far out. Allowing it to fall

into ruin would be counterproductive."

She could feel the tension building between them, despite his air of casual indifference. She wouldn't be able to

handle this confrontation for long.

Best to get it over with-- and fast. She turned and faced him.

Unfortunately that only served to heighten her awareness.