Part 36 (1/2)

”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, wis.h.i.+ng 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, wis.h.i.+ng 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