He yanked open the bunkhouse door, but there was no one there. Sonofabitch! The bastard was off working with the rest of the hands. If Ramirez thought for a minute he was getting out of this by running away, he was sorely mistaken.

Kade strode back into the house and went into his study. Alejandro would be back before dark.

Kade had plenty to say to him when he got there.

* * *

Ellie wiped a fresh tear from Maria’s cheek. “Everything’s going to be all right. I know how painful a broken heart can be, but in time you’ll get over it.”

“I have to leave. I can’t stay here and see him every day. I can’t face him after what I’ve done.”

Ellie caught Maria’s slim shoulders. “You didn’t do anything. You fell in love with him. That isn’t a crime.”

The younger woman looked up at Ellie with big dark, troubled eyes. “What must he think of me now?”

“Stop it! You stop that right now. Alejandro could have chosen differently. If he hadn’t wanted you, he could have refused. Whatever happened, he has always respected you. He cares for you or he wouldn’t have made love to you. That isn’t going to change.”

Maria glanced away, her face as white as the kitchen cabinets. “Supper’s ready to go into the oven. Do you think you could . . . could take care of it tonight? Just this one more time?”

“Yes, of course. We’re friends. Anything you need, you just have to ask.”

“I’ll be back in the morning. I won’t leave Señor Kade without a cook.”

Ellie leaned over and hugged her. “We’ll talk again tomorrow. Everything’s going to be okay.”

Maria just nodded. Hanging up her apron, she walked out of the house.

Ellie surveyed the kitchen, saw that everything was in order, and began to finish the last small tasks necessary to serve the meal when the hands came in that night.

As she worked, she thought of Kade and remembered the look on his face as he had stalked out of the kitchen. Kade had been running the ranch for years. He knew men. Ellie was sure he knew exactly what was going on with Maria and Alejandro.

Heading down the hall, she rapped lightly, then walked into his study. Kade sat behind his desk, his features hard, his jaw clenched tight.

“He’s not getting away with it.”

Ellie walked toward him. “He’s a man. She’s a woman. Things happen.”

“She’s a young girl, and he’s a full-gown man. He’s damn near as old as I am. He had no right to touch her.”