The Payment (20 page)

Before she could answer Dane, Jesse came
back in the room and Dane glared angrily at him. “Why the hell
didn’t you tell me the twins were gone? For the love of God, why
didn’t any of you try to stop them? Bloody hell Jesse you know how
hot headed those boys are.” In a terrible temper, because he was
scared witless for his brothers he lashed out.

India sat up, bit her lip and looked from
Jesse to her husband. “You can’t blame Jesse for Reese and Traye
sneaking away.”

Jesse threw his sister-in-law a contemptuous
look. “I can defend myself and damn it if I knew what they were
planning to do I would have stopped them. They damn well snuck
off.”

Roughly moving his wife out of the way, Dane
went to toss the covers aside. He intended to get out of bed, get
to town, and try to save his brothers.

Surprised at being shoved away, India jumped
off the bed. She placed her hands on Dane’s chest, keeping him in
bed. “For God sakes, Dane what are you trying to do? I know how
much you want to go to the boys, but you’re in no state. Please
just stay where you are.”

Dane growled. He could feel himself already
weakening. Seething, he fell back against the pillows.

“
I’ll go to town and see the boys and
Jeff.” Jesse spoke up once Dane lay back down. Spinning around, he
rushed from the room consumed with guilt that he never stopped the
twins from leaving.

When Jesse left, Dane knew the next time he
saw his brother; he would have to apologize to him. It isn’t his
fault the twins found themselves in trouble.

Not long after Jesse left Dane, fell asleep.
India stood gazing down at him with her arms wrapped around her
waist. Worried about the twins she wondered how any of them could
help them out of this horrendous situation. She knew Dane must be
going out of his mind with worry for them, and she hoped it
wouldn’t interfere with his recovery.

How could things become such a mess? What
would happen if the twins were found guilty and were hung? She
hated to think what might happen to the rest of them if it
happened. She didn’t doubt the first thing they would do would be
to seek vengeance, and she knew it would be in bloodshed. She
didn’t doubt it for a moment. Somehow, she needed to find a way to
prevent it if it came down to such a thing.

Her heart ached for them all, she only
wished she could find away to send their mother away. There isn’t
any doubt the woman caused all the problems they were suffering.
Somehow, they needed to find a way to be rid of her for the last
time. Sighing heavily, she turned away from her husband and with a
heavy heart left the room.

After supper, Jesse returned with Jeff.
Along with everyone else, except Mason and Tye, they were
cloistered up stairs with Dane. India tried to concentrate on her
sewing but her thoughts were on her husband and the twins. Though a
little hurt over not being included in the discussion-taking place,
she knew someone needed to be with Mason and Tye.

She sighed sadly and let her hands and
sewing drop on to her lap. The young ones were now in bed and
asleep. However, she knew they would most likely find their way
into her and Danes bed sometime during the night.

This latest catastrophe hit them hard, and
they have been upset since they returned from school. She wished
she could find some way to protect them from all this, but she knew
there would be no way to shield them. She prayed they would all
come out of this ugly situation without any of them being
destroyed.

Completely worn out, Dane lay back and
closed his eyes after everyone left his room. He felt so utterly
useless lying here. He also felt worthless knowing for the moment
he could do very little for the twins. He did not want to think
about what would happen if they could not find proof or prove the
twins were not responsible for the man being killed.

It would destroy them all if the twins were
found guilty, a harsh determined light filled his eyes. No, he
needed to find the truth and establish the twins were innocent;
never would he let his brothers hang. Never. If he needed to kill
to save them so be it, he would do whatever he needed to do. He
swore to protect his brothers no matter what.

THIRTY-SEVEN

Dane had done a heap of thinking since the
twins were arrested and everything inside him told him their mother
was behind all the trouble they were having. The bitch would use
anyone or anything she could to get what she wanted. She did not
care who she destroyed or what damage she did as long as she got
her way. Well, this time he would stop her.

This time she would find out she could not
have what she wanted and if the twins were sentenced to hang, he
would kill her with his bare hands. Mother or not the bitch is pure
evil, and he wanted her out of their lives forever.

Full of deadly rage, he sat up and tossed
the covers aside sick to death of lying in bed, and sick of his
wife hovering over him forcing him to remain here. Enough was
enough; he swung his legs over the bed and winced as pain tore
through his injured shoulder. Gritting his teeth, he stood up,
moved over to the dresser, and pulled open the draw.

He lifted out a pair of denims and with his
jaw clenched tightly pulled them on. Frantic to go to town and see
the twins, he would not put it off a moment longer. His head lifted
when he heard the sound of a horse. He moved over to the window and
lifted the curtain. When he saw who sat in the buggy cold lethal
rage filled him. Dropping the curtain, he quickly did up his pants.
He ignored the pain tearing through him as he hurried from the
room.

In the parlor, India tried to ignore her
growing worry over the twins and the hurt she felt over her
husband’s coldness. She continually told herself it was only
because of his worry over the twins, but still it hurt. She knew
also that she probably would not be able to keep him in bed much
longer. He grew more desperate each day to go town and see the
twins.

Worriedly she stood up when she heard the
sound of a horse. She patted her pocket and felt the little gun;
she kept it with her continuously now. She hurried out of the room
and pulled the door open. Taking one look at the woman in the
buggy, she hastily pulled the gun from her pocket, and hiding it in
the folds of her skirt, ready if she needed it.

Irene, about to step down from the buggy
when the front door flew open, decided to sit back down. She smiled
superiorly when she saw her son’s wife.

When the woman did not say anything, India
lifted her chin arrogantly. “What are you doing back here? I’m sure
you realize you're not welcome here.”

Irene turned to the Sheriff, fluttered her
lashes and looked dejected. “I tell you Sheriff Butt it breaks my
heart to know I’m not welcome in my own home.” She reached out and
placed her hand on his arm. “It seems I must insist you do your
duty Sheriff, since I am being treated so meanly.”

Sheriff Butt blushed and cleared his throat
as he felt himself fill with desire for the beautiful Mrs. Mathews.
“Ahem, I’m here to get the youngin’s. They belong with their Ma,
and I came to make sure she leaves with them, since she’s their
proper guardian and all.” He eyed the woman at the door warily,
remembering his last confrontation with her a few days ago.

Indignation filled her, India stiffened and
went to take a step outside, but she found herself being pushed
aside and watched as Dane charged out of the house bare footed and
shirtless. Her gaze shifted to the pair in the buggy, and she could
see the shock and worry on their face. She knew then they were
hoping to find her alone, making it easier for them to steal the
boys away.

Dane heard what the Sheriff said as he stood
on the veranda, his eyes burning and glittering with the immense
rage that filed him. His lip curled up in a sneer. “I warn you
bitch, if you try and take the boys you’ll live to regret it. Now
get the hell out of here.”

Irene dropped her lashes over her eyes and
tried not to let herself be affected by the powerful anger
emanating from her oldest son. She could feel the fury and hate and
forced herself not to tremble. For the first time, she could ever
remember she felt apprehensive and a little fearful. She drew in a
breath and pushed the feelings away, determined nothing would to
stop her getting this ranch. Nothing.

She lifted her lashes and lifted her head.
“Those boys belong with me, and I’m taking them. I have papers
signed by Judge Owens giving me custody. Now I suggest you run
along and fetch them, and then I’ll be on my way.” Smiling
confidently she knew her son would have no other choice but to hand
the boys over to her. Once they were in her hands, she would
finally have what she wanted and when she did, they could have the
little brats back.

Dane threw his head back and gave a chilling
laugh. He watched the self-assured smile die on his mothers face.
“That piece of paper is as useless as you are. Pa made sure that
you would never get your dirty disgusting hands on the boys and
gave me and Jesse guardianship until they turn twenty-one. If
anything happens to Jesse, my wife, or me the other boys, Tuff and
Chin Li would take over the guardianship. You’ll never have a
chance to ruin their lives.”

Irene jumped up, her face twisted in anger
and hate, making her look ugly and evil on the outside, just as she
was on the inside. “You dirty bastard you’ll never get away with
this. You’ll see. I’ll get those boys and this ranch, one way or
another, I’ll get them. This ranch should have been left to me.
After all I had to put up with, having one brat after another.
Having to give myself night after night to that pitiful man you
call father. I earned it and nobody will stop me from having it.”
She collapsed back in her seat unclenching and clenching her hands
in her lap.

“
Get her out of here Butt, and I warn
you to keep her away.” Dane warned in a deadly voice and watched
the Sheriff start the horse and turn the buggy around and head down
the drive.

India, still reeling over the horrible scene
she just witnessed, moved slowly outside and stopped when she stood
beside her husband. His anger frightened her; even now she could
see the cold deadly look on his face. She reached up and placed a
hand on his arm. She felt the muscle's bunch beneath her fingers.
When he turned to look at her, she dropped her hand and took a step
back alarmed at the deadly rage in his cold hate filled eyes.

For the first time, she truly felt
frightened of her husband, when he turned away and walked back
inside she sagged against the railing. Her heart beating like a
drum, she lifted a hand and covered her mouth stopping herself from
calling out his name. Never before did she ever see anyone look so
furious or deadly determinedly cold.

Unable to bury his murderous rage, Dane
shrugged his wife’s hand away. Even though he looked at her, he
didn’t see her. All he could see was his mother’s ugly evil face.
He stormed inside the house and into the study and slammed the door
shut. He ignored the pain rippling in his shoulder.

He pulled the top off the decanter and
lifting up the glass bottle drank deeply. Trying to dull the cold
deadly rage eating away at him, all he wanted to do when he saw his
mother was to put his hands around her throat and squeeze the life
out of her. “Bloody women they were all the same, cold blooded
bitches every one of them.”

Once more, he drank deeply from the crystal
decanter. When he emptied, he tossed it on the floor. Wiping his
hand over his face, he let out a loud roar, bending over he flung
the cupboard doors open. Spying a bottle of whiskey, he grabbed it
up and spinning on his heels stalked across the room and flung the
door open.

THIRTY-EIGHT

He needed to get away from here. He needed
to get away and calm down. Without thought or concern to the way he
was dressed, he headed back outside. When he stepped onto the
veranda, Dane ignored his wife’s soft voice calling his name and
headed for the barn.

India wiped the tears from her cheeks when
she heard her husband’s bellow of pain and anger. She wanted to go
to him and sooth him. She straightened up when she saw him come
outside with a full bottle of whiskey in his hand. She called his
name and it hurt when he ignored her and strode angrily towards the
barn.

A few moments later she watched him ride out
and away. She collapsed into a chair, covered her face with her
hands, and wept softly. The change in her husband frightened her,
and it hurt her to realize that he did not want to share his pain
with her. It finally took this to show her that he did not love
her. He may care for her, but love her, no.

Oh, he may be happy about the child but his
heart, he kept to himself. It devastated her to finally know the
truth. Now all she wanted to do is leave, but she couldn’t. The
boys needed her and she could not break their hearts. No, she would
have to wait until all the problems were solved and leave then. It
would hurt unbearably but she could not remain here knowing that
Dane did not love her.

Jesse arrived home and once he saw to his
horse, he headed to the house, when he opened the door and met with
silence he frowned. What now he thought? Didn’t they have enough
trouble? With a heavy worried sigh he moved into the parlor,
pulling off his hat, he spotted India curled up on the sofa weeping
softly.

Worried, he hurried forward and squatted
down in front of her. “What’s wrong? Dane’s all right isn’t
he?”

India lifted her head and tried to blink
away the tears that filled her eyes. “He’s fine. He took off over
an hour ago, just after your mother left.”

Rocked by what India told him, Jesse
shuddered when he heard about their mother being here. He could
well imagine the scene. When he heard India sob, he dropped his hat
and took her into his arms. “Hush India, he’ll be back soon.”