"Then I don't understand." She came toward him but he went back to his work.

She watched him for a moment, trying to think of something persuasive to say.

"The bunkhouse isn't far enough away to make a difference," she suggested.

Winn laughed.

"Maybe not. But can't you see?" He stopped and took her shoulders. He hadknown exactly where she was by the sound of her voice."I don't have any right to even court a woman like you, let alone..."He let his voice trail away."What?" she coaxed, leaning toward him.He laughed again and let her go."You know exactly what. Cynthie, you need to let me try to earn the right."Cynthie wanted to ask if she was willing to grant him the right, what there was to earn, but she heard Greg running down the stairs. Winn heard him,

too, and stopped packing to wait for him.Greg paused a second in the doorway, taking in the bags on the bed. He ranin yelling, "Winn!" and collided with the man's leg. He locked his handstogether around Winn's thigh, determined to keep him where he was.

Winn chuckled.

"Good morning to you, too."

Greg knew he was being teased and didn't like it. "You said you wouldn't

leave unless you said goodbye," he accused.

Winn pried the boy's arms loose and went down on his level to talk.

"I'm only moving as far as the bunkhouse."

Greg took a moment to think about that.

"I want to move to the bunkhouse, too."

"No, baby," Cynthie said before deciding to stay out of it. She didn't need

to help Winn explain what he was doing. Maybe Greg could be on her side."You remember when I came here, I was sick? Well, I'm not sick anymore so Ineed to go back to work."

"I need to go to work, too," said Greg, puffing out his chest to show how strong he was.

"You'll have to stay here to look after your mama."

Greg scowled at Winn and then at his mother.

"I'll still get to play with you every day, won't I? Will you have time to play?"

"I'll make time for you, Greg. Now help me get my things together. I think there's a comb on the standby the bed."

Greg went to get it and in his hurry to bring it back to Winn he dropped it.

"Oops," he said, getting down on his hands and knees to retrieve it.

"What's this?" He started to crawl under the bed and came out with the wooden figure.

"It's a bunny!" he yelled in delight, bringing it to his mother to see.

"Where did this come from?" She took the rabbit in her hands and looked atthe detailed carving. She was as delighted as her son.Winn realized what Greg had found."It must have fallen out of my saddlebag sometime," he said, mustering a casual shrug. He remembered dumping the contents of his bags on the bed and

suppressed a cold shudder at what he had been considering.Cynthie brought him gratefully back to the present. "Did you make this,Winn?" He thought her voice expressed more wonder than the little figuredeserved. He nodded and went back to his packing.

Cynthie caught his arm and stopped him."Winn, have you tried to do this since...""No!" In a moment he added more calmly."I haven't thought about it. I've tried not to think about it."

"But Winn, how much of this is done by feel anyway?" She placed the little

figure in his hand. "Maybe you could still do this."Winn held the rabbit, hardly daring to think about what she said. In amoment he smiled. After last night, he might dare a lot of things.

"Can I see the bunny?" Greg was standing back, wondering why the adults were

acting so funny over a toy.

Winn turned toward the child's voice and went down on one knee. He held out the figure and Greg took it, climbing up on his lap the way he had done so often.

"You can have the bunny," Winn said.

Greg gave Winn a quick hug and ran off to make the bunny hop across the

porch. Cynthie picked up the comb her son had forgotten.

"I think that's everything," Winn said.

"If I find anything else, I know where to find you."

She had tried to sound seductive but Winn only nodded and began gathering up

his bags. She made one last try."If this is to protect my reputation..." she began.Winn laughed."Maybe it's to protect mine." He waited for her to step aside. When she didn't, he started around her.She stepped in front of him again, placing a hand on his chest."I love you," she said.Winn smiled. He bent toward her and she rose to kiss his lips."I know you think you do," he said softly."Let's make sure it isn't pity you're feeling."Cynthie thought about it for a moment before she stepped aside. She watched him walk out of the room and out of the house.

* * * Greg stopped playing to go with his friend to the bunkhouse.

Inside, Louie stood near the stove stirring up batter. At the table, Peter

sat with a book open in front of him. Greg greeted them both as he came in and Winn nodded his h.e.l.lo.

Louie took in the knapsack and saddlebags and grinned at Greg.

"Show him Emery's old bunk," he said.

Louie and Peter exchanged a look as Greg led Winn toward the back of the

bunkhouse.

"Betts ate early and relieved me at the herd," Louie said.

"I'm just fixin' breakfast for myself and Peter, here. Care to join us?"

Winn had dropped his things on the bunk and let Greg lead him back to the

other two.

"That would be fine," he said.

"Greg, you better get back up to the house for your own breakfast."

Greg let go of Winn's hand but made a side trip over to Peter and Louie on

his way to the door.

"See the bunny Winn made?" He showed them quickly, not wanting them to tryto hold it."It's mine," he emphasized just before he left.Winn cleared his throat as he came forward, reaching for a chair."I hope you don't mind, Louie.""Nope," the older man answered."Not my place to mind anyway."Winn nodded. He had located the chair and moved around it to sit down."That's not exactly right. Cyn ... Mrs. Franklin says you do the hiring. I can't imagine I'll be worth much, but I can try."Louie nipped a flapjack over. He grinned at Peter and said thoughtfully,"I heard about the fence. I reckon we can take you on, on a trial basis."

After breakfast Peter said, "I've been riding Lullaby."

' "Oh?" Winn sat up straighter, revealing his interest.

"How's she doing?"

"Good," said Peter, nodding thoughtfully. "He's been riding her about every day," Louie said with pride in his voice."She hasn't thrown him yet, has she, son?"Peter shook his head."Tried, though." Winn knew what that was like."Will she ever be safe for anyone else to ride?"Louie laughed but Peter answered, "Sure." He grabbed the last flapjack, rolled it up and took it with him as he went to do the morning ch.o.r.es.

"Peter's taken a likin' to that horse," Louie said. "So did I, when I was

young and foolish." Louie laughed.

"Are you old and wise, now?" Winn shook his head.

"No, I'm afraid not. I still fall for the unpredictable ones."

Louie chuckled.

"But we were talking about horses, weren't we?"