"You've no right to be running sheep in this part of the state," she said. "This is cattle country."

A dangerous smile tugged at a corner of his mouth, underscored by the dance of lightning in the dark sky behind him. "This is open range. And only a cattleman's woman would talk like that."

Rachel had to raiser her voice to be heard above the echoing thunder. "A cattleman's daughter!" she snapped. "And if you so much as lay a finger on me ----"

His cold, bitter laughter interrupted her. "I'm aware of who your father is, Miss Tolliver. I've even heard a few tales about his spoiled, redheaded hellion of a daughter. Believe me, I'd just as soon pick up a live rattlesnake as lay a finger or anything else on you...!"

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