LITMIR.BIZ

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by blood, not marriage, as Melody was. Melody had had several days to remember and burn over his attitude. She was through being intimidated by him. He might be almost a generation older than she was, but he wasn’t going to walk on her feelings anymore.

      “Amy and Polk want to stay with you while I go to the airport,” Emmett said icily. He didn’t mention leaving Guy, because Guy disliked Melody as much as Emmett did.

      Melody cocked an eyebrow, and tried to stay calm. She was melting with fear inside, but she wasn’t going to let him know it. “Am I being asked?” she replied formally.

      Emmett’s pale green eyes glittered at her. “Yes, if you want the whole ten yards.”

      “In that case, Amy and Polk are welcome to watch TV while you’re gone,” she said, triumphant with her small victory.

      Emmett didn’t like the challenge in her dark eyes, or that tiny smirk. If those kids hadn’t been giving him hell all morning, he wouldn’t even be here. He was surly with bad temper.

      “You won’t help them run away or anything?” he asked, with a sarcastic, pointed reference to her part in his ex-wife Adell’s sudden departure with Melody’s brother, Randy.

      He wasn’t going to do that to her, she promised herself. She wasn’t going to let him play on her conscience. Her eyes settled on the tabloid and it triggered a memory; something Kit had elaborated on since her return from Emmett’s house in San Antonio. She smiled sweetly and picked up the tabloid. “Have you seen the latest on that ax murder, Mr. Deverell?” she asked, and stuck the gory front page under his arrogant nose.

      He turned green instantly. “Damn you…!” He choked before his mad dash to the restroom.

      Melody and Polk and Amy and Kit chuckled helplessly. Guy glared at them and walked out to find his father.

      “He has a stomach of glass,” Melody pronounced, recalling Kit’s revelations about how easily Emmett could be made ill with even talk of gory things. Amazing, for a rancher who was also something of a rodeo star. It was one of many paradoxes about Emmett that would have fascinated a less prejudiced woman. She took the paper and stuck it into her purse. She could use it as a talisman against future attack by Emmett. “Make yourselves comfortable, kids,” she told Amy and Polk.

      “That was a dirty trick.” Kit laughed.

      “He deserved it. Nasty, arrogant beast,” she muttered, glaring at the door into the hall as if he were hiding there waiting to pounce. “If he can’t take it, he shouldn’t dish it out.”

      Kit was trying not to laugh too hard. Logan joined them, affectionately slipping an arm around his wife. “If we can’t dish what out?”

      “Melody made Emmett sick,” Amy volunteered. “Look what’s on educational television, Melody! It’s Reading Rainbow!”

      “Good, good,” Melody said absently.

      “How did you make Emmett sick?” Logan asked curiously.

      “Never mind. We women have to have our secret weapons, especially when it comes to people like your cousin Emmett,” Kit told him. “Melody, I’ve given you a number where we can be reached if you need to contact us.”

      “I’ll only use it if there’s an emergency,” Melody promised.

      Kit smiled at her. “I know that.”

      “And don’t let Tom give you fits,” Logan told her. “He’s not a bad man. It was my fault. I should have told him he was being volunteered to handle my clients that afternoon, but I was in a rush to get married.”

      “I remember.” Melody chuckled. “It’s okay. I’ll manage.”

      “If you can’t, you might turn those kids loose on him,” Logan suggested.

      “Don’t give her any ideas. We have to leave, right now,” Kit said mirthfully, tugging at her husband’s arm. “Take care, Melody.”

      “Yes, and don’t let my cousin walk on you,” Logan added. “You’re my secretary, not his paid babysitter. Keep that in mind.”

      “I will.”

      “So long.”

      They walked out the door just as a pale, subdued Emmett was coming back in with Guy at his heels.

      “That wasn’t fair,” Guy said angrily, glaring at Melody.

      “You kids did it to him,” she pointed out. “Kit told me all about it.”

      “We’re family. You’re not!”

      “Yes, she is,” Amy argued. “She’s our aunt. Isn’t that right, Emmett?”

      He looked even worse. “I’ll be back for Amy and Polk about three o’clock,” he said without answering the question.

      “But isn’t she our aunt?” Amy persisted.

      “She’s our stepaunt,” Polk told her.

      “Oh.” She was satisfied and went back to watching TV. “Do take care of Emmett, Guy, and don’t let him get run over by any buses.”

      “I don’t need taking care of,” Emmett muttered. “But she might,” he added with a glare at Melody.

      “Watch it,” Logan advised sotto voce. “She slipped that tabloid into her purse.”

      “Turncoat!” Kit gasped, hitting her husband’s shoulder.

      “We men have to stick together,” Logan told her, chuckling. “In today’s world, there’s nothing more endangered than a male. Any day now, the women’s lib movement will start passing out hit lists and organizing death squads to wipe out men.”

      “Wouldn’t surprise me.” Emmett sighed. “The way it looks, we’re evolving into an Amazon society where men will be used to procreate the species and then efficiently be put to death.”

      Melody eyed Emmett. “What an interesting idea.”

      “Shame on you!” Kit chuckled. “Honestly, the radicals just get all the publicity. Most women’s libbers just want a fair shake—equal pay and equal rights. What’s so terrible about that?”

      “And there are men who are just as prejudiced against women.” Logan drew Kit close. “Haven’t you ever heard of the battle of the sexes? It’s been around since time began. It’s just getting better press.”

      “I suppose so.” Melody sighed. “Maybe men aren’t endangered after all.”

      “Thank you,” Emmett said tersely. “I’m glad to know that I won’t have to stand guard at my front door to ward off women death squads.”

      “Oh, I wouldn’t go that far,” Melody advised.

      “Wouldn’t you?” Emmett muttered. “And I thought you were a little shrinking violet.”

      “More like a Venus flytrap, actually,” she replied brightly. “I thought you were going to the airport to get tickets home?”

      “Notice how much enthusiasm she put into that question?” Logan asked with pure relish. “And you said women wouldn’t leave you alone. This must be refreshing for you.”

      Emmett didn’t look refreshed. He looked as if he might explode momentarily. “Let’s go, Guy. Have a nice honeymoon, you two,” he added to Logan and Kit. “I don’t think much of marriage, but good luck anyway.”

      “Our mama ran off and left him,” Amy volunteered. “Emmett doesn’t want to marry anybody.”

      “But he must,” Polk said with a serious frown. “Isn’t he always bringing those real glittery, pretty ladies home?”

      “Don’t be silly,” Guy said urbanely. “Those are good-time girls. You don’t marry them.”

      “What’s

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