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building on this place.”
    “I don’t own this land, Coulter, she does. I’m not her husband. I’m Aaron Masterson, the new land agent in these parts.” It occurred to Aaron that it might have been wise to claim he was married to Kylie. It might make a difference in the treatment she could expect from Coulter. Now Coulter knew Kylie lived here alone. But Aaron was no liar. “I came out to check if Miss Wilde was following the law.”
    Coulter didn’t react to Aaron’s knowing his name. His arrogance was such that he expected to be known . . . and feared.
    “Miss Kylie Wilde homesteaded this property all right and legal.” Well, mostly legal. “You won’t be driving her off or burning her out. I operate under the authority of the United States government, and we won’t turn a blind eye to any crimes committed against homesteaders. Now, you’ ve got ten minutes to get your cattle out of here. You also owe Miss Wilde for damage done to her property.”
    A gasp of outrage told Aaron that Kylie was just now noticing what all the thirsty cattle had done. “My flowers! My rock garden! I hiked these mountains for days, digging flowers and transplanting them.”
    With an unexpectedly agile move, Kylie tore loose from Aaron’s grip, rushed past him, and stormed down the steps. She wore a dress now. A real pretty pink one. But her feet were bare, and there was still a little dirt on her face. That didn’t stop her from being beautiful to behold. And it made Aaron like her all the more that she hadn’t taken time to fuss with her appearance before she came out to defend her home.
    “Your cattle broke my porch railing. Do you know how long it took Shannon to make that?” The little spitfire marched right up to Gage Coulter’s tall stallion. “Get out, Coulter. You’re trespassing.”
    Her hand balled up, and if her head hadn’t come about to Coulter’s knee, she might’ve punched him.
    Coulter’s eyes flashed with annoyed amusement as he swung down off his horse. “Are you planning to use that fist, miss?”
    Aaron jogged down the steps to stand beside Kylie. The strength of the urge to step between Kylie and Coulter shocked him. He wasn’t a man to stand by while anyinjustice was done, and for certain he couldn’t let a woman be mistreated, but this need to take care of Kylie went deeper. It went to an instinctive, almost animal depth. Fighting back the desire to step between the two, Aaron tried to let Kylie handle this. Could she do it? It took toughness out West, and she seemed more inclined to blushes and weeping. Of course, in a standoff with Coulter, a pretty dimpled cheek and a few well-placed tears might be just the thing.
    Coulter’s eyes left Kylie, and he had to look up a couple of inches to meet Aaron’s eyes, which gave Aaron smug pleasure. Coulter was a tall man, but Aaron was taller. Coulter’s gaze went to the Sharps rifle in Aaron’s hand, then his eyes flicked back to Aaron’s. “How about you? Are you planning to use that gun, Masterson?”
    “This only turns into shooting trouble if you make it such.”
    The men riding with Coulter were busy tending the herd, but they were listening. They looked like tough western types, who rode for the brand. Aaron figured any shooting trouble that started here would end badly for him. Worse yet, Kylie would be right in the middle of flying lead.
    “Mr. Coulter, I own this land. Get your cattle and leave.” Kylie plunked her little fists on her hips. She stood there barefoot, her hair flying free.
    Coulter studied her far too long before he said in a voice far too friendly, aimed only at Kylie, “Call me Gage.”
    Aaron didn’t like the sound of that. “Coulter, you’ve got the reputation of a law-abiding man, and right now you’re breaking it.”
    Coulter’s icy eyes went back to the cabin and the barn.“My cattle are thirsty, and they won’t be driven away from that watering hole until they’ve had their fill.”
    “Your cattle