Part 37 (2/2)

She laughed again and snuggled against him. In a moment he put the swing back in motion. When he spoke, he sounded serious.”I guess we better discuss my terms, then.””Terms?””Well, I don't take a job unless I know what's expected of me. You need to know where I stand on certain things, too.”

”But, Winn, I meant ” He didn't let her finish.

”My word goes unless you can convince me I'm wrong. You won't hire or fire

anyone without discussing it with me.”

”Winn...” She tried to interrupt.

”I want it understood, right now, that I'll run this ranch a little

different. I don't want to hear all the time that Victor did this or Louie ”

Suddenly his lips were covered with hers. She gave up the kiss when he

started laughing.

”Will you shut up!” She sounded so exasperated, he almost felt sorry for her.

He tried to look innocent.

”Ma'am, I'm sorry, but I thought you were trying to hire me.”

”That wasn't exactly... Oh, never mind!” She was embarra.s.sed to admit it but

she had been asking him to marry her. She straightened and started out of

the swing.

His arms tightened around her and held her there. They could hear the m.u.f.fled sound of the clock inside as it chimed five times.

”It's nearly sunrise,” he said, tugging her arm a

little to try to coax her back to him.

”I was almost done with my terms.

There's only one more. ”

She turned toward him but kept a little distance, not ready to give in yet.

”One last term and then I'll have to think about it. I'm not sure you're what I'm loo king for, after all.”

Her tone wasn't very convincing but Winn didn't smile.”My last term, and this one's the most important. You'll have to marry me.”Cynthie turned to face him. In a second she threw her arms around his neck, causing the swing to rock crazily. He pulled her to him and kissed her.”I love you, sweet woman,” he whispered.”Would you wait here with me and tell me about the sunrise?””Yes, my love,” she said through happy tears. In a moment, with her head on his chest and his arm around her shoulder, she was curled up in the swingbeside him to wait for the sunrise.

end.

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