The Bounty Hunter and the Heiress by Carol Finch Page B

her satchels. “Make yourself useful. Carry your gear. Either that or leave it behind. I don’t care which.”
    â€œJust when I think I’m beginning to like you a little…you do something to annoy me to the extreme,” she muttered as she followed him through the cover of the trees. “I’m curious. Is there anyone on the face of this planet that you like or respect enough to treat with kindness and consideration?”
    â€œYes, my cousin, Blackowl, and Hoodoo.”
    â€œWho’s Hoodoo?”
    â€œThe man who keeps the home fires burning at my cabin while I’m on forays,” Raven explained as he ducked beneath a low-hanging tree limb.
    â€œYou have two friends in the world? That’s two more than I expected,” she taunted. “They must overlook your sour disposition because they’re desperate for companionship.”
    Raven halted so abruptly that Eva slammed into him. He pivoted to face her wicked smile.
    â€œYou should be a helluva lot nicer to me,” he told her. “I’m the only thing standing between you and lost .”
    â€œHas it occurred to you that this might be as nice as I ever get?” she countered, undaunted.
    He nodded pensively. “Yeah, that’s right. A man-hater. I almost forgot after you put on that sugarcoated act to fool the stagecoach passengers.”
    When he spun around to walk away she said, “I’ll pay you an extra five-hundred-dollar bonus to take this case.”
    â€œAre you made of money?” he asked as he sidestepped up the rocky slope then tossed his saddle onto the ledge.
    â€œI have a modest inheritance,” she replied. “I’ll gladly share it with you if you’ll help me put Gordon behind bars so he can’t swindle another unsuspecting woman out of money.”
    â€œThe Rocky Mountain Detective Agency is still your best bet. General David Cook is as a good man and so are most of his assistants,” Raven recommended.
    â€œStill not an option,” she mumbled.
    He pulled himself upon the ledge then stretched out his hand to hoist her up. “I don’t get it. Why me? ”
    â€œBecause you’re the best and that’s exactly what I want.”
    The comment inordinately pleased him. Damn if he knew why. After all, he was making a colossal effort to find fault with Eva at every turn so he wouldn’t like her too much.
    â€œLet me know if the pace is too rigorous. Nothing worse than dragging along a sissy girl,” he baited purposely.
    She slung her leg over the ledge and flopped beside him. “I love you, too, J.D.,” she cooed in a sticky sweet tone.
    He surged to his feet and turned away before she noticed his grin. “Let’s move, wife. We’re wasting daylight.”
    Â 
    Eva huffed and puffed her way up the winding footpath. They had been climbing toward the sawtooth peaks with their eroded cliffs and weather-beaten bluffs for what seemed like hours, but she vowed she would give out long before she gave up. Sissy indeed! Raven was testing her, pushing her to pinpoint her limitations, forcing her to admit she was out of her element and inferior to his strength and survival skills. She knew she was, but she wouldn’t give the infuriating man the satisfaction of hearing her admit it.
    Despite her willful determination, her feet were killing her and her arms ached from lugging the heavy satchels. She could see why traveling light in the mountains was important. Any extra baggage weighed you down and zapped your strength and stamina prematurely.
    Eva managed to keep walking for another half hour before her knees gave way and dumped her unceremoniously on the rocky path. She was on the brink of tears, knowing she’d have to beg for a short break. To her surprise, Raven halted. He dropped his saddle, grabbed her arm and boosted her onto a boulder.
    â€œOuch,” she mumbled, massaging her tender shoulder.
    â€œSorry,