The Payment (16 page)

Very pleased with the new living
arrangement, Irene continuously worried that someone in town would
recognize her. Up until now, no one remembered her until today.
Well, she would not have to worry about such a thing happening any
more. Now in a short time, she would finally have what she wanted.
Rubbing her hands together, she could not wait to start her revenge
and take what should be hers.

TWENTY-NINE

Pleased, India sat in the buggy with a
defiant Mason and a happy Tye. Finally, she managed to talk Dane
into taking her to church. She tried her very best to persuade the
others in to coming but they adamantly refused. Now out the corner
of her eye she noticed her husband reluctantly walking towards
them. He definitely did not look happy about taking her to church,
not only his face told her but the way he moved and glared at
her.

With a sigh of aggravation, Dane swung up
into the buggy. He gave his wife a disgruntled glare. “Damn it
India, why do we have to waste a perfectly good day sitting in
church?” He grouched out and picked up the reins.

Her shoulders shook with silent laughter.
Her husband made one excuse after another, since he reluctantly
agreed to take her to church. Looking over her shoulder India
winked at the boys before she turned back to her husband. “It will
only be for a few hours and besides not only will it be good for
the boys, but I will meet some of the women. I’ve been surrounded
by men long enough.”

Dane thought taking his wife to church utter
madness and he envied his brothers being able to refuse. He could
understand her need though and knew she must be lonely for female
company after being stuck on the ranch with just him and the boys.
But hell, why church?

India saw the unhappy look on her husband’s
face, leaning closer put her hand on his thigh. “If you smile and
pretend that you are at least enjoying yourself, I promise I’ll
make it up to you later.”

A rush of desire shot through him at his
wife’s touch and the heated promise he saw in her eyes. Dane eyes
glittered devilishly, he grinned at her wickedly. “You better
sweetheart, at least I’ll have something to think about while I
have to sit through the service.” When his wife started laughing,
he gave her a wink and chuckled as he tried to rein in the lust
slithering through him.

After the service, the Minister introduced
her around and in no time at all, India met several young women she
liked. Without hesitation, she asked them out to the ranch for a
visit. Only when she heard her husband’s groan of dismay did she
frown, she moved her head to look at him.

While standing next to his wife Dane could
not help but be pleased, she started to make friends with some of
the women. However, when he heard her asked them out to visit, he
grew appalled. Lord help him when his brothers found out, they
would probably kill him for bringing more women into their lives.
When his wife turned to look at him with a puzzled frown, he forced
himself to smile. Slipping an arm around her waist, he led her back
to the buggy.

“
The boys aren’t going to be happy to
hear that a gaggle of females will be descending on their home.” He
told her as they reached the buggy; he lifted her up and placed her
on the seat.

India settled on the seat and sniffed in
annoyance, then thinking how the boys would react, she started to
laugh as she pictured how they would look when they came home one
day and found a house full of women. “They could always stay out on
the range with their cows. Now admit it, you didn’t mind being here
and that you found the service quite uplifting.”

Dane snorted. “If you say so sweetheart.
Myself, I was too busy picturing how you’re going to make it up to
me for making me suffer through such boredom.” He grinned when he
saw the fiery blush on her face. “And let me tell you darlin I
can’t wait to get home.” Turning away, he spotted Mason and Tye and
waved them over. It made him happy to see them running and laughing
with their friends. He would only admit to himself how pleased he
felt at giving in to his wife’s insistence in attending church. His
younger brothers looked so happy that he was almost reluctant to
stop their fun.

Her face warming at her husband’s words,
India couldn’t help the little flutters growing stronger in her
stomach. When he turned to find Mason and Tye, she couldn’t help
but admire his handsome profile. Lord the man is as handsome as
sin, and she loved him so much.

The week after attending church turned in to
a busy one for him and his brothers. Cattle were missing and fences
were cut; it kept them busy from dawn to dusk. Dane finished
mending one of the fences with Traye; he couldn’t help but feel
lighted hearted. He stared off into space thinking of his beautiful
wife and just how lucky he was to have her in his life.

Unobtrusively Traye watched his oldest
brother and shook his head. “You moonin over that wife of yours
again brother? She sure has you hog tied.” He mumbled in
disgust.

Dane turned to his brother and laughed.
“Well now little brother I don’t know about being hog tied. You
boys heading to town tonight, or you going to give those poor
peckers a rest?”

His face burning, Traye sputtered. “Hells
bells, what’s wrong with us going to town tonight? It’s been a week
since we were last there. It ain’t like we go every damn night. You
and your wife sure don’t make it easy on a man yeah know?”

Slapping his brother on the back, Dane moved
to mount his horse. “Well hell, why don’t you boys all get
yourselves a wife then? It would solve your problem.” He teased his
brother and roared with laughter as the look of shock, horror and
revulsion move across his brother’s face. He shook his head and
swung on to the saddle. “It’s not as bad as you think Traye.”

Horrified, Traye could only stare at his
brother in utter disbelief. Just because his brother found a decent
woman doesn’t mean the rest of them would be so lucky. He shook in
revulsion, swung up on to his horse and rode after his brother.
Nope he did not intend to find a wife, ever!

He would rather spend the rest of his life
visiting the whores at the saloon than be tied to a lying conniving
woman. His brother Dane might have been lucky, but he doubted he
and his brothers would probably be so lucky. Nope it’s a ridiculous
suggestion, and he wouldn’t waste another damn moment thinking
about it.

THIRTY

As she sat in the parlor in front of the
fire mending one of the boy’s shirts, India looked up and smiled at
the boys as they sat engrossed in a game of checkers. Her attention
caught when she heard the sound of a buggy arriving. She frowned
wondering who could be calling. She watched Mason jump up, fly to
the window, and lift the curtain. When she saw his little body
stiffen and his face turn pale she knew who ever came to visit
frightened him terribly.

“
Who is it Mason?” She asked as she
put her sewing aside. When he didn’t answer her, she quickly rose
to her feet and went to him, touching him lightly on the
shoulder.

“
It’s her. The bitch has come back.”
Mason whispered in fear and horror as he turned to stare out the
window again.

Her eyes growing wide, India didn’t have any
idea who he could be talking about, but she did know who ever was
outside frightened him terribly. It only took her a moment to make
a decision. “Listen Mason, I want you to go out the back door and
find Dane or one of your other brothers. Do you understand me
sweetheart?” When he nodded, she sighed in relief. “All right, off
you go.” Grateful when he took off, she felt her stomach flutter
worriedly.

Mason raced away frightened and tried hard
not to cry, but seeing his mother after so long all the horrible
memories and unhappiness came racing back. He needed to find his
brothers quickly.

Tye sat on the floor in front of the fire
not understanding what made his brother so scared, but he knew that
whoever came to visit seemed to upset his brother. He stared at
India with big frightened eyes and fought back his tears.

Once Mason left, India turned to Tye and
wanted to cry herself. He looked so terrified and close to tears,
she wanted to take him in her arms and hold him close. Instead, she
forced a smile. “Tye I want you to stay here and don’t be
frightened sweetheart. Everything will be all right I promise.”
Silently she prayed it would be giving him another reassuring smile
she quickly left the room.

She raced to the study, took out a handgun
from the gun case, and checked to make sure it was loaded. Relieved
to see the bullets in the chamber, she tucked it into the pocket of
her skirt. She prayed she wouldn’t have to use it, but she would if
she if she needed to. Taking a deep breath, she squared her
shoulders and hurried out of the room just as someone started
knocking on the front door.

With her chin in the air, she moved forward,
turned the handle and swung the door open. She came face to face
with a woman she never saw before. One look at her though she could
understand why Mason became so frightened. The woman, in front of
her, stared back at her with the same golden eyes and the same
golden hair as her husband and his brothers. The woman could only
be their mother.

Through lowered lashes, she studied the
woman, and even though she looked beautiful, she sensed something
evil and saw the cruel hardness in her eyes and on her face.
Keeping her hand in the pocket of her skirt her fingers tightened
around the butt of the gun. “Is there something I can do for
you?”

Irene calculatingly eyed the young woman in
front of her and quickly dismissed her as any threat. “So this is
the little slut my son married? Why Dianne dear, I don’t think you
have anything to worry about at all. I must say she isn’t much to
look at, and I’m not surprised to see she didn’t waste any time at
breeding another little bastard.” She turned to Dianne and
smirked.

Her spine stiffening, not only from the
woman’s condescending tone but also from her rudeness, at the
mention of Dianne’s name India felt the anger boiling within her.
Moving her gaze, she took in both women and out the corner of her
eye, she noticed a man. She felt a shiver rush down her spine
knowing that all three of them were here to cause trouble for Dane
and his brothers.

Irene turned her attention back to the woman
in the doorway. She reached out to push the younger woman aside,
but when she wouldn’t budge, she glared at her with cold loathing.
“Get out of my way. I intend to enter my home.”

When the older woman tried to shove her
aside, India slipped the gun from her pocket and held it
threateningly in front of her. “I don’t believe you were invited
inside, and if I recall this is no longer your home.”

Irene went to take a step forward but froze
in place when she noticed the gun pointed right at her. She became
incensed that this woman would dare to threaten her. “Why you damn
little bitch. Get out of my way. I have every right to be here, I
am here to take my two youngest sons, and you have no right to stop
me. Now put the gun away and step aside.”

India nearly dropped the gun when she looked
at the woman’s face. It wore an expression so ugly and evil that
for a moment she felt truly frightened. She gathered up her courage
and regained her composure, when she suddenly felt Tye tugging at
the back of her skirt. “Do you really think I would turn those two
innocent boys over to someone like you? My, you must be truly
demented if you think I would. I suggest all three of you leave
this instant before my husband and his brothers return.”

She tried not to tremble when she saw the
woman’s face contort in hate and fury. She could feel it emanating
from the woman so strongly. Wanting this confrontation over with
she reached for the edge of the door and taking a quick step back
slammed it shut and quickly locked it.

When the door slammed in her face, Irene
became irate. “You damn little bitch, open this door. I want my
sons and I demand that you hand them to me at once.” She banged on
the door, and only when she found herself dragged away did she
stopped screeching.

After locking the door, India dropped to her
knees and wrapped her arms around Tye. She felt his little body
tremble as he sobbed against her shoulder. Hearing a sound
worriedly, she quickly looked up and sighed when she saw Chin Li
standing a few feet away clutching a meat clever in his hand. It
almost made her smile; it relieved her to know that he was close by
and willing to protect her and Tye.

Now that everything seemed to be all right
for the moment, mumbling in Chinese, Chin Li headed back to the
kitchen.

When she heard the buggy leaving, India
stood up. Taking Tye’s hand, she returned to the parlor, and taking
a seat on the sofa cuddled the little boy close as he cried.
Stroking his head, she prayed her husband or one of his brothers
would return quickly. She looked up when Chin Li came into the room
carrying a tray.

Chin Li put the tray down on the low table
and poured tea. “You did good Missy, sending evil Mama away. You
must tell Dane about the baby soon, better to do it quick Chin Li
think.”

India nearly dropped the cup Chin Li handed
her; she gazed at him with wide surprised eyes. “How did you know
I’m going to have a baby?”

Chuckling Chin Li bowed and left the
room.

With a small shake of her head, it seemed
Chin Li isn’t the only one who knew. Dane’s mother somehow knew.
Well, it looked as if it might be time to tell her husband, but she
would still wait a few days. They now faced a more pressing problem
and that is to find away to stop that woman from taking Tye and
Mason.