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Belinda.
    “You’d lose the ranch just because your nose is out of joint?” Hunter asked.
    “You have a higher opinion of yourself than I do. I’m not at all certain you can save the ranch.”
    “We’ll make a deal, Sassy.”
    “I don’t like that nickname.”
    “I’ll keep it in mind.”
    “But you’ll use it anyway,” she said.
    “Probably. Are you going to fire me over it?”
    “No.”
    Hunter narrowed his eyes, surprised again.
    “I believe you mentioned a deal,” Elyssa said. “What is it?”
    “I’ll round up your cattle and horses. You stop flirting with the men. It’s death on morale.”
    “I have never flirted with Mickey or any other hand.”
    “Mickey doesn’t seem to think so.”
    “Mickey doesn’t think at all.”
    Hunter made an impatient sound. “Men don’t thinkwhen their blood is hot. Women know that, and use it against men.”
    “You have a sour view of women.”
    “I have a realistic view of the fair sex,” he said ironically.
    “Rather like my view of the un fair sex.”
    “That being?”
    “If a man wants a woman and she doesn’t want him, it’s her fault. If a woman wants a man and he doesn’t want her, it’s her fault. If a man marries the wrong woman, it’s her fault. If a woman marries the wrong man, it’s her fault. If a man beats a woman, it’s her fault. If a woman—”
    Hunter held up his hands.
    “I surrender,” he said, almost smiling.
    “I doubt it.”
    The beginning of a smile vanished from Hunter’s face as though it had never existed.
    “You’re right, Sassy. I won’t surrender again to a girl. Ever. The price is much too high.”
    The contempt in Hunter’s voice made Elyssa flinch.
    “I’m not a girl and I never asked you to sur—” she began.
    “So if you’re planning on swinging your hips to see me come crawling, don’t hold your breath,” he said over her words. “Hell will freeze solid. If I ever marry again, it will be to a woman not to a spoiled little girl who doesn’t know her own mind.”
    Hunter’s words rang in Elyssa’s mind with dizzying force.
    If I ever marry again. Ever marry. Again .
    “You’re married?” Elyssa asked, stunned.
    “Not anymore. She’s dead.”
    “In the war?”
    “Close enough.”
    Elyssa opened her mouth to ask if Hunter had anychildren. Then she looked at his bleak eyes and decided it was time to return to the original subject.
    “I would rather Mickey drew his pay and got off Ladder S land,” Elyssa said.
    “You quit flirting and he’ll straighten out.”
    “As I never encouraged Mickey’s attentions in the first place, I doubt that he will ‘straighten out.’”
    So did Hunter, but he saw no point in discussing it with Elyssa. Hunter had seen other boys like Mickey during the war, young and randy and willing to ride roughshod over everything in their path. Brawlers like Mickey had their uses in battle, if they could be controlled.
    And the Ladder S was headed toward one hell of a battle.
    “If Mickey doesn’t work out, I’ll fire him,” Hunter said. “Until then, we need every hand.”
    Unconsciously Elyssa rubbed her upper arm where Mickey had grabbed her.
    “If he touches me again,” she said, “I won’t wait for you to fire him. I’ll do it myself.”
    Hunter glanced at Elyssa’s arm.
    “Quit teasing him and he’ll quit grabbing,” Hunter said roughly.
    Elyssa felt her temper sliding away. Rather distantly, she wondered what it was about Hunter that got beneath her skin like poison ivy.
    “Go to hell, Hunter.”
    “What?” he said, shocked.
    “Go. To. Hell.”
    Each word was cool, separate, distinct.
    “If you were a man—” Hunter began.
    “Thank God I’m not,” Elyssa interrupted curtly.
    “I’m tired of being held responsible for their damned childishness.”
    “Little girl, you’re asking to have your mouth washed out with soap.”
    “If you do it, don’t ever turn your back on me afterward.”
    Hunter gave Elyssa an icy, measuring glance. It