by Bobbi Smith
"Maybe he's using that as an excuse because he cares too much for you. Maybe he's afraid, because he loves you and he doesn't want you to be hurt."
Glynna was thoughtful. "Remember the story Paul told us about him when he was young? Hunt told me more about it when we were alone together. Evi dently he was almost killed by the girl's brothers, and they told him to stay away from white women. But I'm not just any white woman, and I'm nothing like that Jenny. I love him. He's my husband." Her eyes were sparkling with emotion as she looked at Mimi. "By Comanche law, anyway."
"Go find your man, Glynna. Talk to him. Tell him that you love him and that you want to be with him no matter what."
"You're right," Glynna admitted, her spirits soaring as she finally realized what she had to do. "There's no way I can even think of leaving Texas until I've talked to Hunt and told him how I feel."
"I promise you, you'll never be sorry."
"You know me so well."
"I'm your mother." Mimi said it out loud and felt good about it.
"Yes, you are," Glynna replied, tears filling her eyes. "And I'm glad."
They embraced tenderly. There would be no more sorrow. There would be only joy in the future they would have together, making up for all the time they'd lost.
"Now, about Hunt," Mimi said. "What are you going to do about him?"
"I'm going to get dressed and go find him."
"Good girl. Let me know how it goes."
"I will, Mother."
Mimi hugged her again, then left her to get dressed. She felt at peace as she went back downstairs.
Charles was up, having breakfast with Tom. He started to confide in him the details of what had happened with Edmund. Tom stopped him, though, telling him that Hunt had filled him in on some of it, but that it was really none of his business. Charles appreciated his discretion. Tom was truly a gentleman. When Mimi came into the room, they both greeted her warmly.
"You're up early," Charles said.
"I wanted to have a talk with Glynna this morning.
"How is she?"
"She's fine," she said with confidence.
"Good. Do you want to join us for breakfast?" Tom invited.
"I'd love to," Mimi said.
A few minutes later Glynna entered the room.
"Has anyone seen Hunt this morning?" she asked as she found Charles, Mimi and Tom eating breakfast.
Tom answered, "He rode out last night."
Glynna suddenly looked crestfallen. "Do you know when he'll be back?"
"I don't imagine he'll be gone too long. Why don't you sit down and have a bite with us? Hunt may show up by the time we're through eating."
Paul came up from the bunkhouse just then to eat with them, and they enjoyed a companionable meal. When they'd finished, Tom rose to see about ranch business, and Glynna followed him outside to speak with him.
"Tom, I need to talk with you."
"What is it?"
"Well, I need to find Hunt. It's important that I talk to him as soon as possible."
"Is something wrong?" She sounded so intense that he was worried.
"No, something's right. I love Hunt, and I need to find him now, today, so I can tell him."
Tom grinned broadly. "I thought there was something special between the two of you."
"There is. I don't know if he's spoken to you about any of what happened while we were in the village, but we were married in the Comanche way. I consider him my husband, and if he thinks he can get rid of me this easily, he's sadly mistaken."
"I always did like a woman who knew her own mind." He was delighted that Glynna loved Hunt. His son deserved some happiness in life, and she was the woman to give it to him. She was spirited and stubborn enough to match him equally. She was perfect for him.
"Will you help me find him?"
"You feel like going for a ride? I can show you where he goes when he's got something troubling him."
"I'll go anywhere, but are you up to it?"
"For something as important as this, I'll make it. It's not too far. It'll do me good if we take it slow."
"Thank you, Tom."
"No, thank you, Glynna, for loving my boy."
She hugged him and returned to the house to tell the others their plans. Tom went to get their horses ready.
"Tom is going to take me to find Hunt."
"Good," Mirni said, glad that things were working out.
"So you do love him?" Charles asked. Mimi had been telling him and Paul about their earlier conversation.
"Yes, Papa, very much."
Charles went to give her a kiss on the cheek. "Then don't let him get away from you."
"That's why I'm going."
"Does Tom know for sure where he's gone?" Mimi asked.
"Tom said he often rides out in the countryside when he wants to be alone."
"Well, come with me for a moment. After our last adventure in the countryside, I don't want to take any chances. You aren't going anywhere without some protection."
Mimi led Glynna into her room and went through her things until she found what she was looking for.
"Here," she said, handing her the derringer. `Be careful. It's loaded. Do you know how to use it?"
"Hunt gave me a shooting lesson while we were together."
"Then you know what to do with this."
"Yes, and thank you. I'll feel better knowing I have it with me."
"We don't want to take any chances with your safety ever again."
"Glynna!"
Tom's call interrupted them, and Glynna hurried outside.
Paul followed with Mimi and Charles, and Glynna turned to wave to them as she rode out at Tom's side.
"Was that a gun I saw you carrying when you came out of the house?" Tom asked, having seen her put something that looked like a derringer in her pocket before she'd mounted her horse.
"After all the trouble I had the last time I went out riding, it seemed like a good idea to have a gun, just in case."
"You aren't planning on using that on my boy, are you?" he asked, smiling wryly. "Hunt can be pretty stubborn at times, but I don't think shooting him would help you any."
Glynna laughed out loud at his comments. "Two days ago I might have been tempted, but not today. Don't worry; Hunt is safe with me. I'll protect him."
"That's good to know." Tom believed that she was a strong enough woman to do just that, if the need ever arose.
They rode for about an hour before they came to the crest of a low-rising hill. Below them was a rocky stream bed.
"There's Hunt's horse down there," Tom told her, pointing out the place where Hunt had tied up his mount. "You go on down to him. You don't need me to take you any farther."
"Thank you, Tom." Her words were heartfelt.
"You're welcome. Good luck with him."
"I hope I don't need it."
She put her heels to her horse's sides and made her way to the place where Hunt had camped for the night. Tom watched until she'd reined in; then he rode on, hoping everything would turn out all right.
The three riders reined in before the house, and Maria came out to meet them. She eyed them cautiously, for they were strangers to her.
"Can I help you?"
"Is this the McAllister spread?"
"Yes."
"We're looking for Hunt McAllister. We're old friends of his, and we'd like to see him again."
"Senor Hunt is not here right now, but Senor Tom was just going to find him. He rode out that way," she said, pointing out the trail Tom had taken. "If you hurry, you can catch him and ride with him."
"Thank you, ma'am."
Maria nodded, wondering for a moment who they were, then shrugged and returned to her housework. Senor Tom would handle it.
John, Chuck and Will rode away from the house smiling. Things were going right for a change. They'd kept watch over the ranch for a few hours before riding in, looking for Hunt, but had seen no sign of him. When the old man had come outside,
though, they'd recognized him and had known they were at the right place. Now all they had to do was find Hunt. The thought drove them onward.
Glynna dismounted and tethered her horse near Hunt's. She wasn't sure where he was, but knew he had to be close by somewhere. She considered calling out to him, but thought it would be better to surprise him.
Trailing along the edge of the stream, Glynna walked for about a half mile before she caught sight of him. He was standing ahead of her on the bank of the stream, watching her approach. He looked so handsome that her heart ached. This was the man she loved. This man was her husband.
Glynna wanted to run to Hunt, to throw herself into his arms and never let him go. She could see no welcoming warmth in his gaze, though, and so she held herself back. If anything, Hunt's expression was wary and cautious.
"Glynna? How did you get here?" Hunt asked as she drew near.
"I asked your father to bring me to you, because I needed to talk with you."
"About what?"
She smiled, hearing the defensiveness in his tone. "About how much I love you, Hunt McAllister."
Hunt stared at her, struggling for control. When he'd first seen her coming toward him, he'd thought he was dreaming. All night she'd haunted his thoughts, and all he wanted was to have her with him. He'd told himself logically that it wouldn't work, that she should go back home and forget him. But his heart had overruled his mind. He'd finally realized how empty his life would be without her, and then he'd looked up and she was there, walking toward him, looking more beautiful than ever.
"You know this is crazy, don't you?" he asked.
"I feel a little crazy, yes." She smiled slightly.
"Glynna, do you understand how hard this is going to be?"
"I understand how hard it will be for me to forget you. I understand how hard it will be for me even to think of having a life without you. You're my hus band, Hunt. I want to spent the rest of my life with you. I love you."
Her words stripped away the last of his weakened defenses. He could deny himself no longer. He loved her. A life without her would be only bearable. A life with her would be ecstasy.
"Glynna..."
He took a step toward her, and it was all the invitation she needed. She flew into his arms, and Hunt crushed her to him, his mouth finding hers in a kiss of sweet promise.
"It won't be easy," he said between kisses.
"I love you. Nothing matters but that."
Hunt held her away from him, framing her face with his hands, gazing down into her eyes. "And I love you, Glynna. You mean everything to me."
"Oh, Hunt." His name was a whisper upon her lips. It was the first time he'd ever told her he loved her. The moment was perfect. She looped her arms around his neck and drew him down to her. "Kiss me, Hunt please."
Her lips sought his in an exchange that told him without further words just how much he meant to her. They clung together, kiss following rapturous kiss.
"Glynna, will you marry me?"
She smiled up at him, her eyes aglow. "But we're already married, aren't we?"
"I thought you might want to have another ceremony, so your family could attend," he told her with a sensual smile.
"Yes, Hunt, I'll marry you," she answered, rising up on her toes to kiss him again. "And you'll never be sorry."
"I know."
He wrapped her in his arms and held her to his heart. Glynna was thrilled. She had never known such happiness. Hunt loved her! They were going to be married!
"Well, well, well," a deep voice said loudly from behind them. "What do we have here?"
Hunt jerked away from Glynna to find himself facing his worst nightmare.
Glynna had had her eyes closed, and she gasped in shock at being interrupted. She spun around nervously to find three men on horseback looming over them, their guns drawn and aimed at Hunt.
"Who are these men?" Glynna whispered to Hunt.
"Jenny Ross's brothers."
She paled at the news.
"Looks like of Hunt here never learned his lesson, don't it, boys?" John Ross said venomously as he glared down at the two of them.
"It sure does, John. He's still going after white women, and I thought we done broke him of that," Chuck said.
"What are we gonna do about it?" Will asked, eager to have some fun with Hunt.
"What do you want?" Hunt demanded tersely.
"What do you think we want?" John countered. "You raped our sister, and-"
"You know that's a lie," he said without flinching.
"The hell it is!" Chuck said with a snarl. "You attacked our baby sister!"
"Didn't you ever listen to what she said happened that afternoon?" Hunt faced them without fear. "Where is Jenny? What happened to her?"
"It's a little late for you to be worrying about Jenny," John said angrily. The little slut had run away from home shortly after the incident with Hunt, and they'd never heard from her again, but the breed didn't need to know that. "Right now, we want to finish what we started that day. Throw your gun down, McAllister. We're gonna string you up."
"This is just between us, John. Let Glynna here go. This has nothing to do with her."
"Hell, no, we ain't letting her go."
"If she's that much of a whore that she wants to mess with a half-breed, then she can pay the price," Chuck said, his gaze upon her. He stared at her for a minute; then he suddenly smiled widely. "Damn, John, you know who we got here?"
"Who?" The oldest brother looked his way.
"This here girl is the woman from the stage robbery a few weeks ago. She's the one who had all them artist's supplies in that fancy wood box." He was laughing. "I bet you didn't think you'd see us again, did you, honey?"
"It is you!" Glynna exclaimed, suddenly understanding why something about them seemed familiar to her. Now she recognized them fully. "You're the Wilson gang!"
"That's right, sugar," John told her, his gaze narrowing dangerously. Now that she'd recognized them, they couldn't let her live. "And I'll just bet you're the one who helped the sheriff in Dry Creek with those drawings for the wanted posters, aren't you?
"I was glad to help him," Glynna declared, hating these men with a passion. She had thought them horrible when they'd almost killed Hank during the robbery, but after learning that they were the ones who'd tried to murder Hunt, she despised them with all her might.
John grinned at her. It was the most frightening look she had ever seen, but she did not show her fear. Instead, she gave a defiant lift of her chin as she glared back at him.
John ignored her and looked back at Hunt. "I thought I told you to drop your gun, breed!"
He deliberately fired a shot at Hunt's feet.
Somehow Glynna did not scream, but her fear turned to deadly determination. Her mother had given her the derringer, and she was going to use it. She would not stand by and watch Hunt be murdered, and she didn't doubt for a moment that these men were capable of shooting him down in cold blood. She slipped her hand into her skirt pocket ever so slowly.
"Why don't you just shoot him and get it over with, John?" Chuck said. "Then we can have some fun with the woman."
"Hell, why don't we just tie him up and let him watch us doing her?" Will asked, almost foaming at the mouth in anticipation of what was to come.
John chuckled at the two of them. "I like the way you two think."
"Forget all that, John," Hunt demanded, wanting to distract them from their thoughts of Glynna. "Let's fight just you and me. Like men."
"You ain't a man! You're a breed, McAllister!" John turned on him, his trigger finger itching for action. "Now drop the gun!"
Glynna knew it was now or never. She watched as Hunt slowly reached for his sidearm. The moment his hand was on the butt of the gun, she went for the derringer. Her movement was fast and sure as she pulled the small weapon from her pocket and fired at John, hitting him in the shoulder. His gun flew from his grip as he almost lost his seat. Complete chaos erupted.
/> "Kill them!" John screamed at his brothers.
Hunt was a fast draw, and he fired off two rounds at Chuck and Will. Their horses bolted. Chuck and Will tried to return his fire, but they were fighting their mounts and missed. Hunt fired at them both again, and the two outlaws fell to the ground dead. John was scrambling toward his gun, but Glynna ran to pick it up. She stood over him and pointed the deadly weapon straight at him.
"Don't move or I'll finish what I started!" Glynna promised, tempted to end his miserable life right then and there. "Hunt McAllister's more of a man than you'll ever be!"
John looked up at her and knew he was looking death in the eye.
"Here let me have the gun," Hunt said, coming up behind her after checking to make sure the others wouldn't be causing them any more trouble.
Glynna handed it over. Then she looked up at Hunt, and started to tremble as the realization of what had just happened sank in.
"Oh, God, are you all right?" she asked, her voice unsteady.
"I'm fine, thanks to you." He gave her a quick, hard kiss that left her breathless. He had never seen such courage in a woman before. Glynna had been magnificent--a far cry from Jenny. Glynna had fought for him. Glynna had saved his life!
Hunt quickly tied John's hands behind him. He didn't trust the man even though he was wounded not to try something if he got the chance. Hunt wasn't going to give him the chance.
"What are we going to do?" Glynna asked when he'd finished restraining John and came to where she was standing a short distance away.
"We're going to take him in and turn him over to the sheriff," he told her. "I think the sheriff might have a few questions to ask him about the robberies and Eli Wilson's whereabouts."
"It will be good to know they're not going to rob or hurt anyone ever again."
"And then..." Hunt paused to look down at her. All the love he felt for her was shining in his eyes.
She looked at him expectantly, not sure what he was going to say next.
"And then we're going to get married."
"Today?"
"I can't think of a better time."
Tears filled her eyes as she gazed up at him. "If anything had happened to you, I wouldn't have wanted to live."
"I think I know just the clergyman to perform the ceremony. I don't think we'll have any trouble convincing him to marry us today, do you?"
