The Payment (17 page)

THIRTY-ONE

While he and Traye rode home, Dane wondered
when his wife would finally tell him about the baby. It nearly
killed him to keep the knowledge to himself. Maybe she didn’t know,
hell maybe he should just broach the subject. It was becoming damn
near impossible not to show just how darn happy and excited he felt
over the prospect of India having his baby.

The thought of India carrying his child made
him feel so damn proud. He only gave a passing thought of having
his own children one day. Now he would have a child, and it still
amazed him and made him as ecstatic as hell.

Traye, unaware of his brother’s thoughts,
abruptly pulled his horse to a sudden stop and cursed loudly when
he spied his younger brother Mason riding hard towards them. “Damn
it, something’s wrong.” He warned Dane before he kicked his own
horse in to a run until he reached Mason.

His happy thoughts flew from his head when
he spotted Mason, Dane’s heart clutched in panic and he rode after
Traye, his body gripped with worry and fear.

At last, seeing his brother’s, he started
sobbing. Mason pulled his horse to a stop when he saw them riding
towards him.

When Dane pulled up with Traye next to
Mason, they looked at each other in dread. Each knowing something
terrible waited for them at home. When Mason spun his horse around
and rode hell for leather, they quickly followed him.

The three of them rode into the yard in
front of the house. Before the horses hardly stopped they were off
them and racing up the front steps. All three of them pounded on
the front door when they found it locked and started yelling.

Her heart in her throat when she heard the
sound of horses, India relaxed when she recognized the loud voices.
Gently, she moved the still sobbing Tye out of her arms, stood up
and hurried to open the front door. She quickly jumped out of the
way, as they fell inside the house, her lips twitched as they
tumbled over each other.

After nearly falling on his face, Dane
swiped his hat off the floor and straightened up. “Damn it to hell.
What is going on and why is the front door locked?" He grumbled
relieved to see his wife unharmed.

India was about to explain, but before she
could Mason cried out. “It’s Mama, she was here.” A sob tore from
him, and he threw himself against her, wrapped his arms around her
tightly, and sobbed. She lifted her arms encasing his trembling
body and led him back to the parlor.

When India took Mason away Dane met Traye’s
eyes. They were full of dread and cold murderous rage. He
understood exactly how he felt. He felt such violence coiled inside
him, it took everything inside him to control it. He drew in a long
shuddering breath. “Come on Traye.” He growled out.

“
Damn that bitch. Why in the hell has
she come back and what does she want? Hasn’t she done enough to us
already?” Traye spat out furiously. Slamming the front door shut,
he followed Dane to the parlor.

Chin Li’s hand resting on the back of the
sofa answered Traye’s loud furious question. “She come and speaks
ugly things to Missy but Missy pull gun and tell her to go. She no
go, she demands Missy give her the boys, so she can take them away.
Missy slam door in her face.”

Horrified, Mason pulled away from India.
“She can’t take us, she can’t. Don’t let her take us. Dane?” He
sobbed in panic and fear.

India quickly gathered Mason up against her
and her eyes met her husband’s worried eyes.

Dane tried to reassure his wife with a tight
smile; he crouched down in front of both his brothers and caressed
the top of their heads. When they lifted their heads from India, he
smiled encouragingly. “Sh both of you. Everything will be all
right. I promise you she can’t take you away.”

Mason sniffed and wiped his runny nose on
the sleeve of his shirt then leaned back against India still not
fully convinced that their Ma couldn’t take them away.

Traye felt his gut ripping at his younger
brother’s distress and hate boiled within him. “I’ll go and find
the others.” He mumbled and flew out of the room.

As she watched Traye, India felt a shiver
run down her spine. Never has she seen such cold merciless eyes.
She didn’t understand exactly what their mother could have done to
them but after meeting her, she knew it must be something
terrible.

After Traye left, Dane stood up and dragged
his hand over his face. He stood staring down at his little
brothers. His heart twisted in anguish at seeing how frightened and
upset they were. Why now? Why did that bloody woman have to come
back into their lives now?

The boys were just starting to behave like
little boys and each day they started to trust India more and more.
Even now, they went to her for comfort. He prayed that the return
of their mother would not destroy what finally started to mend in
all their hearts.

India soothed the boys as best she could.
She watched her husband and could see how tortured and upset he
looked. She wished she could take him in her arms and soothe him as
she did the boys.

Lucky to find his brothers and Tuff close to
home; Traye stopped his horse and waited for them to join him.

Reese could feel the enmity coming from his
twin long before he reached him; he knew that something bad must
have happened. When he reached him, he saw his grim face and his
hands tightened on the reins. “What’s happened?”

His eyes shining brightly with suppressed
rage, Traye told them. “The bitch is back and is threatening to
take Tye and Mason.”

“
Jesus holy hell, damn that bloody
woman. Come on let's get to the house.” Jesse cursed; he heard Tuft
and Reese cursing as well as he rode fast for home with his
brothers and Tuft.

As soon as they reached the yard in front of
the house, pulling their horses to a stop, they jumped off and
rushed inside the house.

Jesse dragged his hat of and threw it
violently across the room when he saw both Mason and Tye in tears.
“Tell us exactly what happened.” He growled out as he continued to
stare at his young brothers crying and being comforted by
India.

His fists gripped tightly at his sides,
Dane's eyes turned chilling. “It’s seems our dear mother has
decided after all these years that she now wants Mason and
Tye.”

Reese hit the wall with his fist and didn’t
even notice the pain. “Damn that woman, she can’t take them, can
she?”

Dane shook his head and smiled grimly. “No
Pa made sure that if anything happened to him that both Jesse and I
were their guardians. So she has no way of taking them away at all.
However, while I’ve been waiting for you, I’ve been thinking that
it’s not what she’s really after. I think she is after something
else.”

Hitting his fist in his hand Jesse growled.
“You could be right, what with all the trouble, we’ve been having
my guess is she’s behind it.”

India gasped softly and her eyes grew wide.
“I forgot to mention she was with Dianne.” She cringed as the large
parlor erupted with loud angry curses.

THIRTY-TWO

Dane waited for the room to quiet down.
“Well now seems to me, I think I know what our mother wants.” When
he had everyone’s attention, his top lip curled up in a sneer. “The
woman doesn’t want the boys, she wants the ranch. It’s the only
thing that makes any sense. With her coming here with Dianne, she
wants revenge and no qualms about it the bitch wants money.”

“
Yeah it makes sense. Why else would
that bitch return? It isn’t love for her sons.” Traye spat out
vehemently.

Reese moved over to his twin, placed a hand
on his shoulder, and shared an understanding look.

Once again, Dane felt his heart twist with
pain as he watched the twins. He wished there would be some way he
could go back in time and save his younger brothers from all the
pain and suffering, they endured at their mother’s hand, especially
Traye.

Tuff, consumed with rage as he watched the
boys suffering all over again, he moved over to a chair and sat
down. His heart was full of pain for his boys. “Well, now we know
what she wants, we’ll just have to put a stop to her and old man
King’s plans.”

Everyone, now over their initial anger, Chin
Li lit the lamps and left the room to make something to eat while
they discussed what they were going to do. He prayed that they
would find a way to stop the evil woman and get her out of their
lives once and for all.

His boys had suffered enough at that woman’s
hands, and he would not let it happen again. Somehow, he would find
a way to stop her evil plans. Now with young Missy in their lives
the boys at last understood what a true woman’s love could be.
Especially Tye and Mason, the poor little boys were starting to act
like little boys instead of imitating their older brothers who
treated women with contempt.

A smile on his face, Chin Li chuckled even
those boys were changing slowly; yes Missy was changing them,
overall, for the better.

Curled up in her husband’s arms India could
still feel the tension and anger inside of him. She felt like
weeping for him and his brother’s for all the pain and suffering
they must have endured. When she felt him nuzzling her neck with
his cheek, she twisted in his arms, maybe now would be a good time
to tell him about the baby. Somehow, she felt it might help him and
his brothers. “Dane what would you say if I became pregnant?”

She held her breath when she felt him
stiffen and her heart thundered in her chest as she waited
worriedly for his answer.

Lying in bed full of fury and worry, Dane
didn’t dare make love to his wife, too frightened that he may hurt
her in her delicate condition. Feeling her stir in his arms, he
gave her a gentle squeeze. At her question, he froze for a moment
and then his heart raced with excitement. His hand soothed over her
back, and he felt his anger drain out of him. “Are you trying to
tell me something sweetheart?”

Apprehensively nibbling on her bottom lip,
India sat up. “We’re going to have a baby in five-months time,
please don’t be angry.” Nervously she waited for his reaction.

Dane couldn’t help his broad grin that
spread across his face as his heart filled with joy. Reaching up,
he drew her back down and stared into her glorious eyes. “Oh God
sweetheart I’ve been waiting forever for you to tell me. And
sweetheart how could you ever think I would be angry that you're
carrying our child?” He pulled her closer and kissed her tenderly
letting her know just how much he cared for her and how happy he
felt over the baby.

When his wife fell asleep, he wished he
could find peace so easily. His mind filled with anguish and worry,
over how he could protect his brothers, his wife, and unborn child.
No matter what it took, he would not let that woman poison them
with her evil any more.

His thoughts fled at the sound of the door
whispering open, he lay alert and turned his head slightly. From
the stream of moonlight coming in to the room his heart broke as he
watched his baby brother looking scared and upset sneaking inside
the room. Keeping his breathing shallow, he pretended to be asleep
as he watched Tye lift the covers, climb beneath them, and curl up
next to India, who in her sleep instinctively pulled Tye in to her
embrace.

He felt tears sting his eyes at the emotions
squeezing his heart. Protectively he drew both of them into his own
embrace and thanked God for the sweet loving wife he had been lucky
enough to find.

India’s eyes fluttered open and stretching,
she knew Dane already left the bed. Sighing, she went to leave
herself, but as she moved to get out, she felt a movement at her
side. Frowning she turned and saw Tye in her bed sound asleep.

She smiled tenderly and reached out and
brushed the lock of hair off his brow, poor little mite. Leaning
over she placed a kiss on his brow then swung her legs over the
edge of the bed thinking it best to let the little tyke sleep.

After seeing to her personal needs, she
quickly dressed, tied back her hair, and left the room. She just
reached the top of the stairs when she saw her husband about to go
out the front door.

“
Dane.” She called and sighed when he
stopped and turned to look up at her with a tender smile on his
face. She watched him quickly rush up the stairs and when he
reached her, she lifted her hand and cupped his cheek. “Are you
going somewhere?"

At the sound of his wife’s voice Dane felt
his heart warm, spying her at the top of the stairs he raced up
them. The sight of her filled him with happiness, he sighed at her
question and bought her hand from his cheek and kissed the palm. “I
have to go to town sweetheart.”

Worry filling her, India tried to bury it
knowing that her husband already had enough to cope with. “Make
sure you take care of yourself and hurry back home.”

Dane gathered his wife up in his arms
drawing her close. “Don’t worry sweetheart, I’ll be fine and be
back before you can even miss me.” He leaned down and kissed her
tenderly.

“
For God sakes let the man go, or
he’ll never get back.” Jesse grumbled when he spotted his brother
and his wife at the top of the stairs kissing. Damn it every time
he turned around those two were in each other's arms. It gave man
ideas, and he knew he would be heading to town tonight to find a
willing woman. With a growl, he turned around and headed back to
the parlor.

Traye and Reese saw the look on Jesse’s
face, it didn’t take a genius to know what upset him, and they
shook their heads in understanding.

“
I gather those two are at it again?”
Reese mumbled in disgust.

Before Jesse could answer, Tuff came out of
the dining room. “Who’s doing what boyo?”