The Payment (22 page)

His head turning after her question, he
stared wide eyed at India. “No, he never mentioned it. Why don’t
you tell me what happened?" As he listened to India softly tell him
all the ugly things said, he now understood why his brother got
himself drunk out of his head. No doubt, the anger boiled up inside
him and consumed him. However, it still did not explain or excuse
him for what he nearly did with Dianne.

The admiration he always held for his big
brother vanished, and he did not know if he could ever forgive
Dane. One thing he did know is that he would never let India find
out what happened.

The rest of the trip through town, he forced
himself not to remember what he witnessed. Relieved, Jesse pulled
up in front of the hotel. He tied the reins. Jumping down, he
helped India out. Once everyone else jumped out of the buggy, he
led them inside the hotel. He quickly booked rooms and let Tuff
take them upstairs to their rooms, while he went out for the
luggage and to take the buggy to the livery.

He hurried back to the hotel and collected
everyone to go to the jail. When they reached the jail, he ushered
them all inside.

Deputy Parks looked up from the papers he
studied and smiled when he saw Jesse come in with his family.
“Jesse I guess you’re all here to see the twins?”

“
Yeah thanks Parks.” Jesse said and
reached out and shook his hand.

Parks rubbed his jaw thoughtfully for a few
moments after shaking Jesse’s hand. “Well you’ll have to make it
quick, Sheriff Butt don’t want them boys to have any visitors.
Don’t understand it myself and can’t see any reason for it. Come on
I’ll take you back to the cells.”

They all silently followed the deputy to the
back room that held the cells for the prisoners.

Both Reese and Traye jumped up when the door
opened, and they grasped the bars and grinned when they saw their
family come into the room. Their smiles died when they noticed Dane
missing from the group.

India moved closer and smiled reassuringly
at the twins. “We’ll do everything we can to get you both out of
here so don’t worry.”

Both Traye and Reese grinned back at
her.

Traye cleared his throat. “Yeah well it
can’t be too soon for me.”

“
Traye, Reese yah ain’t going to stay
in here for long are yah?” Tye reached his hands through the bars
to take their hands.

Reese ruffled his hair. “Don’t worry Tye
we’ll be home soon.”

Concerned when seeing how upset Tye and
Mason started to look, Jesse thought it would be a good idea to get
the boys out now and gave a slight nod to Tuff and Chin Li. He
remained silent as he watched them all leave with India.

“
Where’s Dane, why didn’t he come? And
why the hell is India looking as if she’s been crying and looking
so damn miserable?” Traye asked as soon as the door closed behind
his family.

A furious look came over Jesse’s face and
quickly explained to the twins what happened. He watched Traye
closely and his heart broke as seeing the betrayal and
disillusionment in his eyes.

“
Bullshit, God damn it, you’re lying.
Dane wouldn’t do such a thing.” Traye yelled as his grip on the
bars tightened even more. His heart and soul ripping apart, and he
felt utter devastation to think Dane would betray him in such a
way. In a way he knew would poison him to his very soul.

“
Christ, what in the hell is wrong
with him? Damn fool.” Reese spat out.

Jesse jammed his hands in his pockets,
feeling more miserable by the minute. “I’m sorry Traye but it’s
true. Let’s just put it aside for now and let’s concentrate on
getting you both out of here.”

Traye remained quiet, still shaken and
sickened over what Jesse told them. He would have thought Dane of
all people would never have done such a thing and in his heart, he
did not want to believe it. He couldn’t.

Suddenly, the door banged against the wall
and Sheriff Butt stepped inside the room and sneered his contempt.
“Get the hell out Mathews. Those boys ain’t allowed visitors.”

Deputy Parks followed the Sheriff in and
frowned. “But Sheriff everyone’s entitled to visitors.”

“
Shut up Parks and get him out of
here.” Butt snarled.

Jesse shrugged, removed his hands from his
pockets and sauntered towards the Sheriff. “Don’t worry boys; you
won’t be in here for much longer.” He said over his shoulder and
gave his brothers a confident smile.

Reese grasped hold of the bars, his lip
turned up in a snarl. “How often is our Ma spreading her legs for
yah Sheriff? I sure hope she’s worth losing your job and honor
for.”

His face turning molten red, Butt sputtered
turned around and stormed out of the room.

Reese let go of the bars and turned to face
his brother and his shoulders sagged at seeing Traye so devastated.
He wished he could find some words to say to him that would help,
but what could he say.

Outside, Parks looked over his shoulder and
saw the Sheriff must have gone out back. “Listen Jesse, I’d like to
talk to you. How bout we meet at the Redeye in ten minutes?” He
whispered hurriedly

“
Yeah sure thing Parks.” Jesse quickly
replied as he watched Parks step back inside the jail. He wondered
what he wanted to say. With a shrug of his shoulders, he headed for
the saloon to wait.

FORTY-ONE

India slowly walked down the hotel stairs,
tired and fearful. She stayed awake all night waiting for Dane to
arrive. It broke her heart when he never arrived; she hoped he
would come today, prayed that he would. Entering the dining room,
she forced a smile and quickly joined her family at the table.
“Good morning everyone.” She thanked Jesse as he helped her into
her seat.

“
You’re looking a bit peaked gal. Are
you sure you’re all right?” Tuff asked her with concern.

“
I’m fine Tuff don’t worry about me.
After breakfast, I intend to see the doctor and do a bit of
shopping.” India replied and patted the older man’s hand, smiling
reassuringly at him.

“
Well then Tuff and Chin Li can take
the boys, and I’ll accompany you.” Jesse said and sipped his
coffee.

India sighed. “I’ll be fine Jesse and it
would be better if you concentrate on getting the twins out of
jail.”

Jesse noticed the determined light in her
eyes and gave in. His brother was a damn fool, and if he lost this
woman, he would have only himself to blame. If he ever found a
woman like India, he would treasure and love her all his life. Yep
his brother is definitely a damn fool.

“
Right then we’ll all meet back here
at noon.” He stood up and headed out of the hotel. He would go and
see Jeff and see if he came up with anything that might help get
the boys out of jail.

As she left the doctor’s, India felt a
little lighthearted knowing that her pregnancy seemed to be
progressing well. She headed for the mercantile; pushing the door
open, she stepped inside and smiled warmly. “Good morning Mister
Larkin.”

“
Why now ain’t you a pretty sight Mrs.
Mathews.” Mister Larkin finished wiping the counter and smiled
brightly.

Before she could answer, from the corner of
her eye, India spied not only Dianne King but also Dane’s mother. A
shiver of apprehension skidded up her spine as she saw them both
smiling smugly.

As soon as she heard the shopkeeper greet
her son's wife, Irene knew it would be too good of an opportunity
to pass up. “Well now look who’s here Dianne. The sight of his wife
must sicken him now that she’s growing so fat.”

Dianne, without hesitation, quickly took her
cue. “Oh yes he told me yesterday when we met at the river how ugly
he found her increasing weight. Did I tell you he was in such a
hurry to see me he didn’t even bother to put on his shirt or
boots?”

Distraught over the words India turned away,
grasped hold of the counter, she tried not to let their words tear
her apart. Her chest ached and she could not seem to draw in a
breath. The words just kept swirling around inside her head.
Somehow, she managed to turn around and hurry out of the store,
tears burning her vision and anguish shooting through her heart.
She tried to keep herself together until she reached her room at
the hotel.

Lisa, about to enter the mercantile stopped
when she saw India rush outside, one look at her pale tortured face
she rushed to her side. “India are you all right?”

India grasped the other woman’s arm in
desperation. “Please, I have to get back to the hotel.”

Worried, Lisa put her arm around her and was
about to lead her away, when Dianne King and another older woman
stepped outside.

“
Oh dear I think the poor little thing
is upset.” Irene commented and laughed.

Titling her head to the side Dianne could
not keep the smugness from her voice. “Yes well, I suppose when one
learns her husband prefers another woman she would be upset. I must
say Irene your son is magnificent. Not only is he handsome but has
such a perfect and marvelous body.” Once again, both women laughed
before they walked off down the street.

Lisa wanted to slap Dianne and the other
woman but feeling India slipping from her hold turned to her with
concern and tightened her arm around her. “Come on India, I’ll take
you back to the hotel. Don’t you pay any attention to those two
wicked and nasty women.”

Jesse, the boys, Tuff, and Chin Li met on
the corner and were about to cross the street to the hotel.
Suddenly Tye cried out and started rushing wildly across the
street, just missing being hit by a wagon. Cursing, Jesse gave a
quick look before he took off after him; he spotted Tye and then
India being helped along the street. His worry grew and he raced to
meet them.

One looked at India’s face when he reached
her he knew something terrible must have happened. Without a word,
he swung her up in his arms and carried her quickly to the hotel
and up to her room. Gently, he placed her down on the bed and
turned concerned eyes to his family who were now came rushing into
the room.

He dragged his hat off his head and tapped
it against his leg. “Can you tell us what has upset her Lisa? Do we
need to send for the doctor?”

Lisa took a quick look at everyone before
she turned back to Jesse and down to India’s distraught face. “I
don’t think it is something I can say in front of the others.” She
whispered softly for only Jesse to hear.

Jesse motioned for Tuff and Chin Li to take
the boys out. When they left and the door closed behind them, he
turned back to Lisa. “What happened Lisa?”

Worriedly wringing her hands together, Lisa
dropped her gaze from Jesse’s. “I was just about to go into the
mercantile when I saw India rush out. I could see at once how upset
she looked. I was about to bring her here when Dianne King and
another woman stepped out. They said some terrible things and
hinted that Dane and Dianne were intimately involved.”

Jesse tossed his hat against the wall. “Damn
those bitches.” He growled out furiously.

Still reeling and shattering from what she
heard, India forced herself to sit up and stare at Jesse. She had a
terrible premonition that what those two vicious women said to her
might be true. “It’s true isn’t it Jesse? You saw Dane and Dianne
down at the river didn’t you and that’s why we came to town?”

Reluctantly Jesse turned to face India, and
he knew that without him saying anything she knew the truth.

The anguish rushing through her grew
tremendous. India slipped off the bed and stood up. “Lisa, would it
be all right if I stay with you for a few days?”

Lisa looked from India to Jesse and seeing
how beaten he looked, turned to India again. “Of course, you can
stay with Mark and me for as long as you like honey.”

Without another word, India went to the
dresser and picking her carpetbag off the floor, quickly packed her
few possessions.

“
Please India don’t do this, come home
and talk to Dane.” When she did not answer, Jesse tried to persuade
her again. “What about the boys? What will I tell them? They’ll be
heartbroken.” He worried that if she left, she would never return
home.

With her brush gripped tightly in her hand,
India spun around and threw it at Jesse, watching it glance off his
shoulder. “Don’t you dare use those poor boys to force me to stay.”
With her bag clutched tightly in her hand, she turned away and
hurried to the door, pulling it open she walked out of the room.
She could not bear to look at Jesse a second longer because he
reminded her of her husband’s betrayal.

Lisa raced after India and caught up with
her at the top of the stairs.

With a sinking heart, Jesse watched India
and Lisa leave. Once the door closed behind them both, he sunk down
on to the bed and wondered miserably how he could explain India’s
leaving to the rest of the family.

Tuff heard the door across the hall slam
shut, he left Chin Li with the boys and went to find out what
happened. When he opened India’s door and saw only Jesse he quickly
stepped inside the room shutting the door. “Where is she and what
happened?

Jesse lifted his head. “Gone, she’s gone and
I don’t know if she will ever come back. Those bitches, Dianne King
and our Ma, were at the mercantile. They didn’t waste time telling
India about what happened down at the river.”

Shaken, Tuff collapsed into the chair. Oh
the poor, poor gal.

Slowly rising to his feet, Jesse moved over
to Tuff and placed his hand on his shoulder. “Come on. We may as
well head home. You get the boys ready, I’ll drop by and see the
twins and collect the buggy.” When he saw Tuff lift his head and
look at him, he wanted to cry at seeing the unhappiness and
disappointment in the old man’s eyes. Now all he wanted to do is
beat Dane senseless for all the heartache his actions caused.