The Payment (19 page)

With a sniff of annoyance, India leaned over
Tye and kissed her husband. “I’m glad you're going to be all right
Dane, I don’t know what I would have done if I lost you.” She said
tearfully.

Her words went straight to his heart. Dane
lifted his good arm and hugged his wife awkwardly. “Hush sweetheart
I promise you nothing will happen to me or any of us. Now dry your
eyes and I suggest you hurry and do what you have to do before they
all come back.”

Reluctantly moving away from her husband,
India slid off the bed and hurried over to the screen in the far
corner.

Once his wife went behind the screen Dane
gazed at each of his brothers still sleeping peacefully in his bed,
poor little tykes. “India you’re not upset that the boys snuck into
our bed are you?”

India smiled sadly. “No of course not.
They’re frightened and need you so much. How could you possibly ask
me something like that?”

Dane reached out and stroke Tye’s head
lightly, his wife is right. They need both of them so much now.
“I’m sorry sweetheart, and you’re right.” He swallowed the lump in
his throat and looked up when his wife came around the screen tying
the belt of her robe. His gaze slowly moved over her and stopped at
the roundness of her stomach. “But sweetheart they don’t just need
me, they need you as well.”

With tears in her eyes, India nodded, Dane's
words filled her heart, and she could not have loved him more.
Ducking her head, she slipped back on to the bed, settling herself
and waited for everyone else to come back.

Just as she finished getting comfortable,
the door flew open and Chin Li and Tuff came in carrying trays. The
others followed behind. Mason and Tye woke up; both rubbed the
sleep from their eyes, embarrassed at being caught in their
brother’s bed. They scrambled off the bed and ran from the
room.

“
Poor little things. Ain’t good for
the boys to feel ashamed of needin a bit of comfort.” Tuff said
sadly, as he accepted a cup of coffee from Chin Li.

His throat filled with emotion, clearing it
Jesse blinked at the tears that burned his eyes. “Well let’s hear
what Dane has to say.”

Just before Dane started to speak, they
heard a horse ride up and Jesse moved over to the window and lifted
the curtain. “Jeff’s here.”

Reese put down his cup and hurried out of
the room to greet Jeff.

India sat on the bed with her legs tucked
under her. She felt a little wary about meeting another brother.
When the handsome man followed Reese inside the room, she noticed
he might not be as tall as her husband or his brothers. However, he
possessed the most stunning brown eyes, which were surrounded by
long thick dark brown lashes. Mercy me, he is a handsome devil and
those eyes, Lord help any woman who stared into them.

His eyes narrowing, Dane watched his wife’s
reaction to Jeff and felt a burning jealously sear his gut. “Wife,
you’re being rude staring at Jeff.” He snapped at her and ignored
his brother’s snickers. He grunted when his wife dropped her gaze
and blushed.

As soon as he heard that someone shot Dane,
Jeff rode out to the ranch full of concern. He also heard the story
about Dane’s wife, since he returned to town two days ago, and it
worried him. However, now seeing the beautiful woman sitting on the
bed, he thought Dane one hell of a lucky man. His eyes turned away
from her to Dane and grinned. “Now Dane I don’t mind your wife
admiring me. After all, I’m much better looking than any of
you.”

A growl rumbling in his chest, Dane snorted
in irritation. “Cut the crap Jeff.”

Biting the inside of his cheek, Jeff tried
not to laugh even though everyone else in the room snickered. Well,
all except Dane and his wife. He cleared his throat and tried to
look serious. “Since your husband is too much of a bore, I’ll
introduce myself. I’m Jeff consider me another of your
brother-in-laws.”

“
Ha you know damn well you’re one of
us, now let’s get on with it.” Traye growled out, having enough of
the nonsense.

Over her embarrassment, India tried not to
laugh at Jeff’s teasing Dane. It pleased her to know that he
accepted her and ignoring Traye’s request, she elbowed her husband.
When he turned to look at her, she glared at him hotly.

Dane growled softly, knowing exactly what
his wife wanted. Begrudgingly he gave it to her. “Jeff this is my
wife.”

A loud gasp of outrage at her rude husband,
India wanted to clout him over the head. Instead, she smiled
brightly. “You’ll have to forgive your brother; since he’s been
injured he has become a bit strange in the head. I’m India and it’s
a pleasure to meet you Jeff, and I’m very pleased to meet at least
one friendly member of the family and the most handsome one.”

THIRTY-FIVE

Everyone broke in to guffaws of laughter and
Dane gave a strangled growl. He shot his wife a look of aggravation
when she sat smiling at him innocently. “Damn it India.” He reached
out wrapped his arm around her shoulder, drew her close and gave
her a hard quick kiss. “Handsomest, I’ll make you pay for thinking
so when we’re alone sweetheart, don’t think I won’t” He whispered
in her ear and smirked when he saw the blush cover her cheeks. He
turned away when he heard the angry growls of annoyance and grinned
smugly at his family.

“
All right let’s get on with it. I was
riding back from town when some sniveling coward bushwhacked me. I
didn’t see who shot me, but they must have been following me.” Dane
shrugged his good shoulder and knew everyone would be just as
frustrated as he felt at not knowing who had tried to kill
him.

Jeff stood, thoughtful, staring out the
window. “When I return to town, I’ll wire Devon.”

“
Hell Jeff it’s not necessary.” Dane
grumbled.

Angrily spinning around, Jeff threw Dane a
glare of anger. “Damn it Dane, I think it is. Someone tried to kill
you for Christ sakes.”

“
That ain’t all. Irene’s back and
threatening to take the boys.” Tuff growled out.

Stunned, Jeff’s gaze hastily moved from one
brother to the next and saw the anguish and fury on their faces.
“Damn that blasted woman.” He raked his fingers through his hair
his eyes chilling. “Well the bitch is wasting her time. She’ll
never get her hands on them.”

“
Yeah we know but we figure she really
wants the ranch.” Traye spat out in furious contempt.

Dane’s eyes filled with anguish at the
suffering on Traye’s face.

Jeff went over and put his hand on Traye’s
shoulder, and lightly squeezed. “Well she’s wasting her time. The
boys and the ranch are safe from her greedy clutches.”

“
Yeah but are we?” Traye hissed out
only loud enough for Jeff to hear and saw the understanding in his
eyes.

“
Come on. Let’s leave Dane to rest,
he’s looking mighty peaked.” Jeff suggested as he gazed at him and
noticed the paleness of his face, and the pain he could not hide in
his eyes.

Dane sent Jeff a baleful look and watched
everyone leave the room. When the door shut behind them, he turned
to his wife who sat laughing softly. “Damn it.”

India stopped laughing, lifted her hand and
cupped his bristly cheek. “Jeff’s right, you need to rest, and I
need to dress, you eat something then sleep. I need to check on Tye
and Mason.” Another tender smile she slipped off the bed and moved
behind the screen to dress.

As he gingerly settled himself, Dane felt
frustrated. He hated being so weak but his wife and Jeff were
right, he felt tired and needed to rest but hell, he detested
himself for feeling so puny.

It didn’t take her long to change. When she
came back from behind the screen, she was surprised to see Dane
already asleep. For a few moments, India gazed at him worried and
frightened. She came so close to losing this wonderful man, and she
sensed in her heart that all their problems were far from over.
With a heart filled with fear, she quietly left the bedroom, hoping
and praying that no one else would be hurt.

Late afternoon, India sat by the bed sewing
clothes for their baby as her husband slept, when she heard a horse
ride up and stop at the house. Curious, she put her sewing down,
stood up and going over to the window lifted the curtain. Her
eyebrows arched up when she saw the sun glint off the badge on the
overweight man’s chest. With a sniff of irritation, she dropped the
curtain and hurried back to the bed, she would have to wake
Dane.

Down stairs Jesse paced in worry, he knew he
should go up and tell Dane that Reese and Traye were missing and no
one had seen them since Jeff returned to town.

Tuff sat watching Jesse pace and shook his
head. “Damn those two hot heads, they’re more likely to start
shootin first before they get round to asking questions.” He
grumbled angrily and worriedly.

Jesse silently agreed and he knew he could
no longer put off telling Dane, leaving the parlor about to take
the stairs he stopped when he heard a horse ride up. Hurrying over
to the front door, he pulled it open hoping it would the twins
returning. When he saw the Sheriff, his lips twisted in contempt.
“Well Sheriff Butt we expected you earlier. I’ll take you up to see
Dane.” He said sarcastically, he did not have much faith in the
man. However being the Sheriff, they didn’t have any other choice
but to deal with the man. He closed the door when the sheriff
stepped inside the house then turning away, led him upstairs.

Sheriff Butt followed the younger man and
stared at his back with loathing, he clamped his mouth tightly
together.

A quick rap on Dane’s door Jesse heard India
call out, opening the door, he stepped inside, the Sheriff
following.

Dane watched Jesse come in and, he hid his
disdain for the Sheriff as he entered. “Glad you could finally make
it Sheriff.”

Stiffly standing in the middle of the room,
Sheriff Butt tried to hide his dislike, but he couldn’t help his
voice dripping with loathing. “See here Mathews, you’re not the
only one in town that matters. I don’t come runnin just cause I’m
told.”

Curiously studying the Sheriff, India took
an instant dislike to the man. His contemptible words annoyed her,
and she forced herself to hold her tongue.

Dane’s only reaction to the Sheriff’s words
was a twist of his lips in a mocking smile.

“
Now I’m here, just tell me why yah
wanted to see me.” Butt growled and shoved his thumbs in his
belt.

“
Some bastard back shot me after I
left town yesterday. The damn coward bush whacked me.” Dane replied
with anger.

“
Well now that’s some story, and if I
have time I’ll look into it.” Butt smirked. He pulled his thumbs
from his belt, raised a hand and rubbed his chin. “I don’t suppose
yah know anything about the stranger yah brothers shot dead earlier
today?” About to smile in triumph at the commotion his words would
cause, he could not hide his disappointment when he only received a
mild reaction.

His heart stopping at the Sheriff’s
statement, Dane shot his gaze to Jesse and saw the guilty look on
his face. “What the hell are you damn well saying?” He growled out
as his gaze swung back to the Sheriff.

Butt shrugged his shoulders “Well now as I
started to head out here earlier today I come across those two hot
headed twins. They were kneeling over a dead body with their guns
held in their hands.” He felt a great deal of satisfaction and
enjoyed bringing down these mighty Mathews.

“
So yah see I didn’t have any other
choice but to arrest them for murder and sent a wire to the
district Judge. Yep them boys are sure in one hell of a mess and
most likely will hang and there ain’t nothin yah can do about it.”
He openly smiled now.

THIRTY-SIX

So shocked over the Sheriff’s words, India
clasped the back of the chair tightly, her knees nearly buckling
beneath her. She could see his smirking face and the triumph
glittering in his pudgy eyes, her own eyes narrowing, she didn’t
believe a word he said. The man seemed to be enjoying himself too
much, and it set her senses on alert.

Filled with scorn and fury, she let go of
the chair and moved to stand in front of him. “Why you low down
sniveling coyote, those boys would never kill anyone, and you know
it. I warn you those boys had better get a fair trial and since
you’re such an imbecile and incompetent I’m going to hire someone
who can find out the truth. Because we both know, you do not intend
to discover who really killed that man. Now I suggest you
leave.”

Surprised at not noticing the pretty woman
in the room before now, when she came to stand in front of him Butt
licked his lips in appreciation. But the icy disgusted glare she
gave him, he stiffened. He felt lashed as she spoke to him with
such loathing and rage. It also infuriated him. “Now you listen
hear woman. I’m the Sheriff and nobody speaks to me that way and by
God, I’m going to make sure those boys hang for murder.”

India lifted her chin and sneered. “Jesse
get this pathetic loathsome creature out of my house before I kick
his fat behind all the way down the stairs.”

Butt choked and sputtered in anger, but
before he could retaliate and spill his anger, he felt himself
being dragged out of the room.

Dane didn’t even try to interfere when his
wife berated the Sheriff, in fact, he felt damn proud of the way
she defended Traye and Reese, and it filled his heart. After Jesse
hauled the Sheriff out, he could see his wife still steaming with
her anger and grinned. “Come here sweetheart.”

He watched her close her eyes, take deep
breaths to get control of her anger after a few moments she came
running to him, and fell on the bed burying her face in the crook
of his neck. He kissed the top of her head and held her tightly
with his good arm. “I’m so damn proud of you sweetheart.”