The Payment (10 page)

She knew it would come down to this, knew
that Dane would have to choose and it left her with only one thing
she could do from stopping him making a terrible mistake. Tomorrow
she would speak to Tuff and demand that he take her back to town.
She would catch the first train home. With tears pouring down her
cheeks, she fell to her knees beside a small stream.

Her head bowed, she felt her heart breaking.
No matter how much she cared for Dane, she would not come between
him and his brothers. They could never build a future together when
it was built on choosing between the brothers he loved and a wife
who he won in a poker game.

She lifted her head and wiped her cheeks on
the sleeve of her shirt, she might have to give him up, but still
she would have this last night with him. Tonight she intended to
make enough memories to last her a lifetime. Not even those foul
mouth mean brothers of Dane’s would stop her.

Dane left his brothers and closed the door.
He stood outside for a few minutes feeling deeply hurt that it came
down to choosing between his brothers and his wife. It would be
nearly impossible to leave his brothers but what choice did he
have. None.

When the door closed behind Dane, Chin Li
spoke up for the first time. “I welcome little girlie into our
home, our lives, she will give our Dane fine sons.”

At Chin Li’s statement, everyone knew then
they would accept Dane’s wife in to the family. None of them wanted
their brother to leave, his threat to do so worried all of
them.

EIGHTEEN

While he waited for his brothers to decide,
Dane went up stairs to see his wife. When he saw the bedroom door
open, he frowned in worry. When he stared into the empty room,
dread tightened his gut.

Damn it to hell she
probably heard all the ugly things that the boys said.
He raced back down stairs and out on to the veranda hoping to
find her there. When he didn’t see her, he desperately looked
around as panic started filling him. Letting out a loud growl he
spun around and hurried back inside the house.

He threw open the study door and ignored the
loud bang as it hit the wall. “My wife is missing, she must have
heard what was said and decided she wasn’t wanted and left.”

“
Shit. She’s only been here five damn
minutes, and she’s already causing trouble.” Reese grouched as he
rose to his feet.

“
Shut up Reese,” Jesse stood up and
glared at the others until they all stood up. “Come on boys let’s
go and search for Dane’s runaway bride. She can’t have gone too
far.” As he walked past his older brother, he patted his shoulder.
“Come on Dane, we’ll find her. I hope when we do you’ll give her
hell for causing all this trouble.”

The boys spread out searching but as the sun
began to sink, they were all back on the veranda and started to
discuss where else to look.

“
I’ll go and look down by the river.
Dane why don’t you go back upstairs and see if she’s returned? The
rest of your search anywhere you can think of.” Traye shook his
head and headed for the river.
Damn women
were nothing but trouble.
But hell, he couldn’t blame
Dane’s wife for taking off, some nasty things were said.

He suddenly stopped walking when he
saw her sitting on the ground leaning against a willow tree.
Sighing in relief, he moved over to her and looked down on her
sleeping face.
Holly hell the woman is
beautiful.
He swallowed hard and quickly looked away
trying to fight the desire that started to crawl through him. Once
he managed to have it under control he knelt down beside her and
shook the woman awake, he quickly spoke when he noticed her long
thick lashes lift and saw the fear in her eyes. “Hey now don’t be
frightened, I’m Traye one of your new brothers.”

India woke up in a panic and cringed away
from the man kneeling beside her, when she took a good look at him
relaxed slightly when she saw the resemblance to Dane.

“
Come on it’s time to go home Chin Li
will have supper ready by now and if we’re not there he’ll have a
fit and throw it all away.” Traye stood up and held out his hand to
help her up.

Bristling at being spoken to like a child
India slapped the hand away. “Now why in the hell would I want to
back there amongst the lot of you? Are there some more nasty names
you all want to call me? Oh just go away and leave me alone.”

Traye raised a brow at her temper and
grinned down at her,
damn if she isn’t one
stubborn filly and feisty too.
He couldn’t blame her
though for not wanting to come back. “Now listen here Miss we have
just spent the last few hours looking for you. We’re all tired and
mighty hungry. Besides Dane is worried out of his head about you,
so get yah self up and let's go home.” Once again, he held out his
hand and growled when she slapped it away again.

“
I don’t care how hungry and tired the
lot of you is. You can all starve to death as far as I am
concerned. You and your brothers are mean nasty rodents. However, I
will return only to stop Dane from worrying and for no other
reason.” India stood up and brushed the back of her
pants.

When she finished her outburst, Traye
laughed. “I can see that you’re not going to accept our apologies
or forgive us any time soon. The boys will not like it, but we are
very sorry. You have to understand that it was a real big shock,
and we usually say things first without thinking, and then we end
up regretting it later.”

India lifted her chin and pushed past him.
She did not intend to accept his apology, or his brothers anytime
soon, he was right about that fact.

With a slight shrug of his shoulders,
Tray quickly caught up with her. Together they walked back to the
house.
Hell Dane’s wife is not only
beautiful, but she is as tempting as hell and he would have to keep
away from her until he could stop having lustful thoughts about
her.

Everyone waited on the veranda for Traye to
return. Dane paced worriedly. He suddenly stopped when he heard the
sighs of relief. Quickly turning he felt a tremendous load of worry
slip away. A moment later, he bounded off the veranda and rushed
across the yard, when he reached his wife he picked her up and
crushed her tightly in his arms, burying his face in the side of
her neck.

Every person on the veranda watched in
open-mouth wonder at their big brother's behavior, until Tuff’s
words sent them rushing inside. “Stop yah gawking and get
inside.”

Traye quickly stepped aside when Dane
came rushing towards his wife. There could be no mistaking how
relieved his brother looked or the happiness on his face. He sighed
and left the couple alone.
Looks like big
brother really does care for his wife, and he grew a little
surprised over the fact.

India was also surprised by her husband’s
actions but when he hugged her tightly, she wrapped her arms around
him and tried not to let herself cry.

After a few moments, Dane pulled away and
gazed at his wife sternly. “Don’t you ever do that to me again, do
you hear. I was frantic with worry, don’t you ever go off and leave
me again.”

Her heart fluttering over his concern, she
lifted her hand and cupped his cheek. “I’m sorry but I was upset
and needed to get away. Tell me, what did they decide?” Her heart
stared to beat frantically in her chest as she waited to hear.

Dane put his wife back on the ground and
cupped her cheeks. “It’s all right sweetheart they are willing to
accept you, and they’ll soon learn to care for you.”

“
Well only time will tell.” India
leaned up and placed her lips on his then pulled away. “They just
better hope that I’ll accept them.”

Dane threw his head back and laughed, when
he finished, he lifted her back up in his arms and kissed her
soundly. God this woman amazed him, he thought as he continued to
kiss her.

NINETEEN

Once Dane finished thoroughly kissing his
wife, they both went inside and joined everyone at the dining room
table. After helping her into her seat, he took his own at the
other end of the table. As soon as he sat down the food started to
being passed around.

India sat nervously at the table. As she
watched, her eyes grew wider and wider, never before could she
remember witnessing people eat in such a manner. It looked as if
they had not eaten for a very long time and could not put the food
in to their mouths quick enough. She jumped when she felt a hand on
her shoulder. Turning her head, she stared up wide-eyed at the
oriental man standing beside her.

“
Little Missy no like Chin Li’s food?
I make special welcome home dinner for you and Dane, but if you no
like it, I take away.” Chin Li nodded his head up and
down.

At hearing Chin Li threatening to take away
the food, everyone frantically grabbed the bowls and platters of
food. All except Dane at the end of table, who sat and laughed
softly.

Confused, quickly looking around at everyone
at the table then at her husband who still laughed. India saw him
shrug his shoulders at her unspoken question. She gave him a good
glare and turned back to Chin Li and smiled warmly. “I’m sorry I
was just overwhelmed by everyone’s superb table manners, and I only
waited until I could get some of the food away from someone.”

Everyone blushed and looked sheepishly at
her. All except Mason, who glared at her with animosity.

In a more civilized fashion, the bowls and
platters were passed around.

“
You’ll have to forgive our table
manners India; we’ve been without a woman’s company for a long
time.” Dane shrugged his shoulders as everyone started to eat
again.

Mason threw down his cutlery and jumped to
his feet, his little chest swelling with anger. “I don’t care for
no manners and I don’t want no woman’s company.” He yelled and
glared hatefully at India before he raced out of the room.

Immediately jumping to his feet, Traye
reached for a chicken leg. “I’ll go and have a talk with him.” He
turned to India and was about to wink at her, but stopped. He was
struck dumb for a few seconds, overwhelmed by the pure perfection
of her face. Her large violet eyes shone brightly with tears, and
he swallowed hard. Tearing his gaze away, he rushed out of the
room.
Hell and damnation if Dane possessed
any sense, he would keep his wife locked up in his room and never
let her out.

India felt her face grow warm from the
lustful light in the eyes of Dane’s brother before he rushed out of
the room. Her gaze went to her husband and saw the knowing smile on
his face.

Dane could understand Traye’s response to
his wife’s beauty; he still felt the same way. However, his brother
better get over his reaction to her and fast. Not his brothers or
any other man would be lusting after his wife.

Her gaze falling to her plate India’s
mouth tightened.
Dane’s brother better get
over his licentious thoughts quickly. If he didn’t it would make
things uncomfortable, and she just might have to clout him over the
head until he did.

After dinner, Dane carried buckets of hot
water up to his room so his wife could have a hot bath. When he
finished he reluctantly left her alone and rejoined his family in
the parlor. However, as they talked about what happened since he’d
been away he paid little attention to what they were saying. His
thoughts were on his wife he knew would be now having her bath.
Suddenly, he stood up. “If you boys don’t mind I’m going up stairs
to bed, it’s been a long day.”

Before anyone could stop him, he hurried out
of the room; he took the stairs two at a time. By the time he
reached the door of his room, he was already rock hard and erect
just thinking about what he would find when he opened the door.
With excitement thrumming through his blood, he reached out and
opened the door, stepping inside he quickly closed it behind
him.

He looked over at his wife. She was just
starting to rise up from the water. Moving further into the room,
until he reached her, his eyes devoured every perfect inch of
her.

India just finished her bath when the
bedroom door flew open and Dane stepped inside the room. The heat
in his eyes made her tremble with anticipation. She remained
standing in the tub until he joined her.

Dane’s hand came out and cupped one of her
breasts; he stared down at his hand as he kneaded the damp silken
flesh. “Do you know how beautiful and desirable you are
sweetheart?” Before she could answer, he bent down, drew the tight
nipple inside his mouth, and suckled gently.

Arching into Dane’s mouth and her hands
threading through his hair, India moaned softly as pleasure swam
through her blood, sensitizing every inch of her body.

Dane tore his mouth away from her breast and
stepping back, he tore at the buttons on his shirt, once undone, he
took it off and tossed it on the floor. He bent over and pulled off
his boots, dropping them loudly on the floor, all the while his
eyes gloried in his wife’s naked beauty. Straightening up, his
hands went to his pants, when they were undone shoved them down and
stepped out of them. Now finally naked, he stood proudly before his
wife unashamed of the unmistakable proof of his need for her.

India stood breathlessly and licking her dry
lips, she watched as her husband’s nakedness was being revealed to
her. Lord, how glorious he is, so powerfully built all hard sinewy
muscles. When he finally stood naked, she stepped out of the tub.
She reached out and ran a hand down his massive chest, down his
flat stomach until she reached his hard protruding arousal.
Wrapping her hand around the pulsating length of him, she stroked
it up and down. Her hand fell away when she felt herself suddenly
swept up in his arms and carried to the bed.