"Why, you old fake. How long have you been awake?"

"The first words I recollect was someone tellin' me not to move and I took

his advice. When I figured out what was happening' I decided it wouldn't be wise to go distractin' n.o.body."

Winn followed Cynthie's footsteps to his bunk.

"You were hurt pretty bad, there, friend," he said. "I sure didn't mean for this to happen."

"You've had us worried sick," Cynthie added.

"Would'a been worried myself, if I'd known it," Louie said.

Cynthie sat down beside the bunk.

"Can I get you anything?"

"Yeah. A shot of whiskey would be nice, then you can go away and let me sleep."

Peter stepped through the door, hearing the old man's words."Water," he corrected."Whiskey, son. You know where we keep it." He turned to Cynthie and added,"Medicinal purposes, you understand. If this ain't a medical emergency, there ain't never gonna be one."

Winn could hear Peter in the little kitchen setting a cup on the table by thestove. He felt Louie's gnarled hand close around his wrist."Mrs. Franklin," he said, "I think you need to be lookin' for someone a little younger to run this place for you. I'll be laid up a while and I got to admit I was slowin' up a mite even before this bullet caught me."

He dropped Winn's arm as Peter brought him the cup.

Cynthie stood and moved to Winn's side as the boy raised Louie's head and helped him take a sip. Louie's reaction was immediate.

"Doc said water," Peter said quietly."Well, I said whiskey, boy!"Peter was unperturbed."You'll wake Greg."Louie grumbled."The whole d.a.m.n world's tellin' me what to do. I quit.That's it. I just flat quit. "Winn chuckled and Cynthie struggled to keep from doing the same.

"I'll leave you in Peter's hands," she said. She didn't want to leave Winn,however. "Can I talk to you?" she asked, placing a hand on his arm.

He nodded and walked with her across the room and out the door.

Once she had Winn outside, Cynthie wasn't sure how to say what she wanted totell him. She kept him walking toward the house, wishing he would forgetthat he lived in the bunkhouse now. At the bottom of the porch steps, Winnstopped, and she had the distinct impression that he had just walked her home.

Deciding suddenly that she wouldn't settle for that, she turned and slippedher arms around his waist. She had expected a gentle embrace but he pulledher fiercely into his arms. She sighed as the warmth of his embrace kindledher desire.

"I don't like living so far from you," he murmured into her hair. The dream that had awakened him earlier came back to him along with all the anxiety ithad produced.

"What if I hadn't been awake and you had been the one to come up behindDempsey?"

Cynthie was fairly certain that Dempsey wouldn't have hurt her, at least notthat way. She had begun to suspect that he had different plans for her. But she didn't want to argue with Winn. Pulling away slightly, she asked, "Doyou think you've earned the right to love me yet?"

There was more temptation in the sweet angel voice than Winn could resist.

He chuckled but he knew his voice shook with more than mirth.

"Well now, ma'am, what do you think?"

Cynthie moved against him seductively. She lifted her face toward his, wishing he would kiss her.

"I think," she whispered, "that it's late and we should be in bed."There was no mistaking the invitation in her words. Winn loosened hisembrace enough for them to walk up the steps onto the porch. At the door heturned her into his arms again for a kiss.

"Invite me in for coffee?"

he whispered.

"Coffee?" Cynthie's lips sought his again. She didn't want coffee and she

didn't want to talk. They could talk in the morning.

Winn kissed her quickly on the lips twice before pulling away to open the door.

"Why, thanks, ma'am. A cup of coffee would be nice."

Cynthie let him lead her into the house and close the door behind them.

"I'm not ma king coffee in the middle of the night and you know that's not

what I invited you in for."

Winn chuckled.

"I know. Go light a lamp in the kitchen."

Winn's purpose finally dawned on Cynthie and she protested, "Winn, I don't

care what...""I do. Go light a lamp."Cynthie reluctantly moved out of Winn's arms. It felt cold and lonely just walking away from him, though the night was warm and he was only a few feet

away.

She hurried into the kitchen and found her hands trembled as she tried to strike a match. Winn wouldn't know if she lit the fool lamp or not, she decided, tossing the match on the table and heading back to him.

He was waiting where she had left him. Almost as

soon as she was through the kitchen door he spoke to her.

"Go back and light the lamp, Cynthie. I don't want people talking about you."

"How did you know?"

' "I would be able to smell the lamp if you had lit it," he said. When he heard her steps retreating again, he added, "Or at least I think I would."

She joined him in a moment."In other words, it was a good guess?""Well, I had my suspicions. I've got to protect you in more ways than one."Cynthie slid her arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest."Don't carry your protection too far. I don't want to be protected from what I feel for you."

Winn clutched her against him again.

"Sweet, sweet woman, I still can't believe you love me."

"I can prove it, Winn," she whispered.

He groaned, leading her into the bedroom and to the bed they had shared once

before. He held her in his arms again, not wanting to let her go even long enough to remove the clothes that had become a barrier between them.

"I kept telling myself I had no right to hold you," he murmured.

Cynthie laughed."I'm glad you didn't listen." Her fingers made short work of the b.u.t.tons onhis shirt and in a few minutes they stood amid a pile of discarded clothes.Cynthie came back into his warm embrace and thrilled at the feel of his skinagainst hers. She took his bearded face in her hands and raised herself onher toes to bring their lips together. She had promised to prove she lovedhim and she intended to do just that.

Winn molded her body against his and stroked her silken hair. After a slow, deep kiss he scooped her into his arms and laid her on the bed,tumbling in after her when she refused to loosen her arms from around hisneck. He chuckled softly and drew her against him, seeking her lips with his own.

Cynthie knew this was how it was meant to be. The joy she felt at the sightof Winn always turned to desire at his touch. And now, when they cametogether, pa.s.sion erupted inside her, filling her body and her mind andfinally, it seemed, her soul. In the end she knew she belonged to Winnforever and he to her. The knowledge was almost unbearably sweet.

Winn awoke from a peaceful sleep to hear the clock strike four times.

He should get up and return to the bunkhouse, or at least the bench in frontof it, before the other men began their day. But Cynthie's soft bodysnuggled against him and her silky hair lying across his chest made it hardto leave. He wanted to lie here forever.

He was conscious of how much she meant to him, more than his sight,evidently, or he wouldn't be thin king of himself as the luckiest man in theworld. He had been lost and almost desperate the last time Cynthie had cometo this room with him. Now he felt as if, after years of wandering, he hadfound his home.

This generous, loving woman deserved to be happy. He may have had his doubtsearlier but now he was prepared to avow that he was the man she needed.

When the clock chimed again, he knew he had procrastinated long enough.

He tried to slip his arm from beneath her but she stirred.

"Go back to sleep," he whispered.

Cynthie frowned when a cool sheet replaced the warm body. She came fully awake when she felt Winn leave the bed."Where are you going?" She rubbed her eyes as she sat up."It's still dark.""I have to go back," he said softly. He found the pile of clothes and began separating his from Cynthie's.

"Wait, I want to talk to you." Cynthie threw off the sheet and joined him.

She slipped on her gown and robe quickly and stopped him as he started to put

on his shirt.

"Cynthie," he pleaded, knowing how easy it would be to crawl back into the bed with her.

Cynthie giggled.

"I should let you wear it and give us away." She took it from his hand and

added, "It's inside out."

Winn laughed.

"The seams, of course. I was trying to hurry."

"Maybe you were distracted," Cynthie suggested, running her fingers down his

chest before placing the shirt in his outstretched hand."You know I was distracted. Now let me get out of here.""Winn, I do need to talk to you," Cynthie pleaded, trying to think fast."About what Louie said." She saw him hesitate and plunged on."Can we sit on the swing and talk?"Winn grinned."Not with you dressed like that.""They saw me dressed like this last night," she teased."What's the difference?"

"I wasn't sit ting beside you with a silly grin on my face." Cynthie giggled. "All right, I'll get dressed. Wait for me on the porch?" As Cynthie hurried away, Winn sighed. Peter or Jeremiah would come out of the bunkhouse early in the morning and find the two of them sit ting togetheron the porch and she was going to pretend they had been there all night. Or that she had just that minute joined him. She didn't seem to appreciate hisefforts to protect her reputation.