(Long, Tall Texans, #41) The Winter Soldier by Diana Palmer

Author:Diana Palmer [Palmer, Diana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

98

THE WINTER SOLDIER

DIANA PALMER

99

pens that Harley can't handle, Eb can be here in five minutes. You aren't afraid by yourself?"

"By myself?" she exclaimed. "Cy, have you noticed those fifteen cowboys who work for you...?"

"Only six of them work here full-time. And none of them are around the ranch house for most of the day, except early in the morning and late in the afternoon,"

he told her. "Harley's working on one of the cattle trucks, which is the only reason that he'll be nearby. If you need him, push the intercom button and he'll come right up." He indicated the button next to the wall phone in the dining room.

He hated having to tell her that. He hated the idea of Harley anywhere near her.

"And keep all the doors locked."

"You're worried," she gathered.

"I've heard a few things. Yes, I'm worried. Humor me."

She shrugged and smiled up at him. "Okay, boss."

His eyebrow lifted and he smiled back. "Oh, that sounds sweet," he drawled. "Pity I know it's just lip service. You smile and nod your head when I tell you, for your own good, not to do something. And then you go right out and do it the minute my back's turned."

"It always worked with Dad," she mused. "It's a waste of time to argue with some men," she added.

He reached for his hat on the wall rack. "And some women," he countered. "Watch yourself."

"You do that, too," she returned smartly. "You're not on Lopez's good list, either."

He propped his hat on his head as the back door opened to admit Harley. He glanced at Lisa from under the wide brim. "Yes, but Lopez doesn't like to take unnecessary chances, and he's already had one bad brush with the law," he began as Harley's footsteps became audible behind him. "He won't come here unless he gets pretty desperate..."

"Because he knows I'm here, Mrs. Monroe," Harley interrupted with an irrepressible grin at his boss and their

houseguest. "Nobody's going to lay a finger on you while I'm on the job."

"Of course," Lisa said and didn't dare look at Cy.

"I just came in to get a soft drink. It's thirsty work. You, uh, don't mind, boss?" he asked Cy warily.

"I don't mind," Cy lied. "But don't get careless," he told his young foreman, and with more than usual caution. "Lopez won't."

Harley dismissed Lopez and his entire organization with a flick of his hand. "All the same, he won't come around here."

Cy wanted to argue the point, but the younger man was in a concrete mind-set and he wouldn't listen to reason. He'd just have to hope that Harley wouldn't do something stupid.

"I'll be back late. Remember to keep the doors locked," he cautioned Lisa.

"You bet."

He left rather reluctantly.

Harley got himself a cold drink out of the refrigerator and paused at the back door. Lisa went to the kitchen counter and got out a bowl and a knife and some potatoes and began peeling them for potato salad. "I wanted to make sure I hadn't got you in trouble," Harley said sheepishly.

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