The Payment (8 page)

Dianne turned slightly when she heard the
door open, her eyes widened and a smile of happiness curved her
lips, with a squeal of delight she hurried over to Tuff. “Oh my
goodness I can’t believe you’re home already. How wonderful. Where
is Dane, Tuff? I can’t wait to see him, I missed him so much, and
there is so much to organize for our engagement party.”

India stood stiffly beside Tuff; her hand
gripped the sleeve of his shirt as she listened to the tall
blondish haired woman. She looked pretty enough but there seemed a
hard cold calculating look about the woman that made her instantly
alert. However, the word engagement immediately caught her
attention. Could it be true could Dane actually be engaged to this
woman? It made her sick to her stomach to think he might be.

Dianne waited for Tuff to answer her, but
when he didn’t her eyes narrowed, and only then did she finally
noticed the small woman at his side. Haughtily raising a brow, she
looked the woman over with distain. “Who is this child Tuff? Did
you and Dane pickup an orphan along the way?” She gave a quick
brittle laugh, smiling smugly in disdain.

Bristling with indignation India let go of
Tuff’s shirt and took a step forward before he could stop her.
Placing her hands on her hips, she eyed the other woman up and down
and with a toss of her head dismissed the woman as insignificant.
Her voice dripped with ice as she turned back to Tuff. “It seems
since my husband has been away his taste in women has greatly
improved. Wouldn’t you say Tuff?”

Tuff guffawed, took his hat off and slapped
it against his thigh.

FOURTEEN

Her lips twitching slightly at the sound of
Tuff’s laughter, India waited for the explosion to come from the
woman. She could see it building and cringed slightly when the
woman started screeching loudly.

At first, Dianne could only stare in
disbelief at the smaller woman, but the fury grew inside of her
when she thought of this woman calling Dane husband. The woman
could only be lying; all her plans were made around when Dane
finally returned home. She planned to trick him into an engagement
and then marriage. Her gaze blazing and an ugly sneer on her face,
she started screaming at the woman. “You damn lying little tart.
Dane wouldn’t marry a little nobody like you and besides his
engaged to me. Damn it Tuff tell me the truth, tell me that this
little bitch is lying.”

Dianne forced herself not to notice how
beautiful the woman looked, with her large violet eyes, heart
shaped face, the dark hair that fell in thick waves down her back
and a figure any woman would die to possess herself. The anger
boiled up inside her even though she tried to deny the truth, deep
down, she knew that Dane married this woman.

Quickly sensing things were about to
escalate Tuff stepped up next to India. “Now Miss King I don’t know
how come you think you’re engaged to Dane, he ain’t mentioned
anything to me or the boys about it. But this here is Dane’s wife
and if yah have any questions I suggest yah go and find him and get
yah answers.”

It took all the strength she could muster to
rein in her anger. Dianne gave them both a lethal look of contempt.
“Yes I’ll just go and find him and when Dane denies your ludicrous
lies, I’ll see you both punished for this.” With her nose in the
air, she quickly stepped around them and left the store.

Tuff let out a relieved breath when the
woman walked out the door. When he saw Dane, he intended to blister
his ears. “Don’t believe anything the woman says India. Dane would
never ever consider marrying the woman, now come on let’s get what
yah need, and we can go home.”

India didn’t know what to believe. In a way,
she felt a little sorry for the other woman. Dane must have given
her some reason to think they were engaged. Well, until she knew
the truth, she wouldn’t believe the other woman.

“
This here is Mrs. and Mr. Larkin, and
this here is Dane’s wife India.” Tuff introduced
everyone.

“
Hello it’s nice to meet you both.”
India forced a friendly smile and held out her hand to the
couple.

Both the Larkin’s witnessed the scene and
felt sorry for Dane’s young wife. “It’s a real pleasure to meet
you, and I hope you will be happy here in Sherman.” Mr. Larkin said
after shaking her hand.

“
Now don’t you listen to a word Dianne
said, none of us believed her about the engagement she’s been
bragging about and as my husband said it sure is a pleasure to have
you among us. Now what can do for you?” Mrs. Larkin liked this
young woman at once. Not only because she stood up to Dianne King,
but also she seemed to be a nice pleasant young woman.

After picking up the mail, Dane headed back
to the livery. As he strolled through town, he could feel the hairs
on the back of his neck bristle and his skin crawl. He stopped
walking and looked around sensing danger but as far as he could
see, there didn’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary. Still
the warning was there, and he wouldn’t ignore it.

From the hotel, upstairs window, a woman
stared down and watched the tall blonde haired man walk down the
street. Smiling, she sighed in relief, pleased he finally arrived
home. She impatiently waited over a week for him to return and now
at last she could put her plans into action.

Quickly dropping the curtain, she took a
step back when he turned to gaze up at the window. It would ruin
everything if he saw her. Her plans still needed to be finalized
and she still waited for her ex-lover, the Judge, to return to
town. No, she needed to stay out of sight until all her plans were
complete.

Dane leaned against the corral and waited
for India and Tuff to return. His hat rode low on his brow, but it
did not stop him from noticing everything and everyone around him.
When he saw the woman rushing down the street, he let out a loud
groan.

There is no doubt in his mind just who the
woman wanted to see. He stood up straight, pushed the hat back on
his head, and waited. The damn woman constantly plagued him before
he left town and by the looks of things, she intended to keep
pestering him. Well she is going to be in for a shock and he
couldn’t help grinning in anticipation of finally being rid of her
once and for all.

Dianne spotted Dane at once and hurried to
join him. When she reached him, she threw herself against him and
wrapped her arms around his neck. “Tell me Dane, tell me it’s not
true darling. Tell me that Tuff and that scruffy child are
lying.”

When he finished letting out a string of
curses under his breath, Dane pulled Dianne’s arms from around his
neck and pushed her away. “For God’s sake woman, what’s the matter
with you?” Of all the damn luck to have India run into this woman.
He could well imagine the confrontation.

Dianne bristled but threw herself at him
again. This time she kissed him, when he pushed her away once more
she became infuriated. “Is this any way to treat your fiancé after
being away for so long?”

Dane looked at Dianne, as if she completely
lost her mind. “What in the blazes are you talking about woman? We
both know I’m darn well not engaged to you.”

“
Don’t you dare lie Dane Mathews. We
had an understanding before you went away, and I have only been
waiting for you to return so that we can have our engagement
party.” Dianne spoke furiously and silently prayed her plan would
work and that the woman and Tuff were lying.

Dane took off his hat and ran his fingers
through his hair in aggravation. Out of the corner of his eye, he
noticed a small crowd starting to gather. He clenched his jaw and
turned his attention back to Dianne. “Listen to me Dianne not once
did I ask you to marry me and there is no damn understanding
between us.” He hissed out and wasn’t surprised to see how his
words only angered her further.

“
Why you no good bastard. How dare you
deny we’re engaged, and I suppose you’re going to tell me you’re
married to the little ragamuffin I met at the mercantile?” She
screeched at him.

Damn it to hell. What in
the hell is wrong with this woman? Is she completely dense?
Once again, Dane ran his fingers through his hair in
frustration. “Yes that little ragamuffin as you call her is my
wife.”

Dianne gasped in outrage. The overwhelming
anger welled up inside of her. Somehow, though she managed to
control it and instead broke into tears. “Oh how could you darling?
How could you do something so cruel to me? Please, Dane, tell me
you were forced into this marriage, and I might be able to forgive
you. I’m sure Mr. Harden will help you with the divorce.”

His jaw clenching even tighter, Dane tried
hard to keep his temper. “There will be no divorce and to set the
record straight I was definitely not forced into marrying my wife.
I wanted to marry her. As for this fictitious engagement, you were
damn foolish to think you could hope to trap me with it.”

FIFTEEN

As she stepped off the boardwalk, India
heard Dane’s words. She moved to stand beside him and smiled when
he turned to gaze down at her.

Dianne now knew that any hope of forcing
Dane to marry her were gone. When the woman who stole him came to
stand beside him, she flew into a rage. Screeching loudly she
lifted her hand and struck the woman across the face.

India mumbled a curse and called herself a
fool for not having been prepared for some retaliation from the
woman. When she felt the stinging slap to her cheek, she staggered
slightly from the blow. “Damn it,” she muttered then straightening
up, she bought back her fist and let it fly. Her blow landed on the
other woman’s face. She felt some satisfaction when she heard the
woman cry out. Her eyes grew round when she saw the blood spurting
from between the woman’s fingers.

Out of the crowd that gathered, a young
woman raced forward took Dianne’s arm and led her away.

Dane’s jaw dropped in shock. He never
expected Dianne to attack his wife. He cursed himself for being too
slow to react and stop her, but he never predicted his wife would
retaliate and bloody Dianne’s nose. Yet he couldn’t help but be
mighty proud that she defended herself. He turned to face her,
grasped her around the waist, lifting her of her feet, and kissed
her soundly. After a few moments, he placed her back on her feet
and grinned down at her.

India felt terribly embarrassed over
her outlandish conduct.
Good Lord I’ve
only been here less than an hour, and I have already caused an
unlady like scene.
However, when Dane kissed her in
front of everyone she no longer cared. When he put her back on her
feet, a crowd suddenly gathered around them. She felt overwhelmed
by the concern from both the men and women.

Tuff witnessed the scene along with everyone
else. He started shaking his head when he saw the crowd gather
around Dane and his wife. He knew if he didn’t break it up, they
would never get home. Moving forward, he pushed his way through the
crowd until he reached the pair. “Now if you two have finished
making a spectacle out of yah selves I would like to go home.”

India pulled out of her husband’s hold and
grabbing Tuff’s arm, she let him lead her away. She was more than
ready to leave the crowd of strangers and her embarrassing behavior
behind.

Quickly Dane bid everyone a hasty goodbye
and followed Tuff and his wife. He reached them at the wagon, and
as he went to lift his wife up, he cursed when he noticed the
bruise forming on her left cheek. He rushed over to the water
trough, untied his bandanna dunked it into the water then hurried
back to her and placed it gently on her cheek. “I’m sorry
sweetheart I never expected she would become violent.”

India took the clothe from her husband's
hand. “Now I find that hard to believe. I thought all womanizers
like having their women fighting over them.” The teasing glint left
her eyes. “Is it true Dane? Were you engaged to her or not?”

Dane felt his face grow warm at his wife’s
teasing but his eyes snapped with anger at her question. “Hell no,
don’t ask me where she got the damn idea from but believe me
sweetheart I would never ask that woman to marry me.”

Satisfied that he told her the truth, India
laughed softly and cupped his cheek. “I believe you, now come on
let’s go home while I’m still in a fighting mood. I still have
another battle to win.”

Embarrassed over the whole ugly scene, Dane
chuckled. Placing his hands around her waist, he lifted her up on
to the wagon seat. “Well then sweetheart, we'd better get you home
real quick.” He said jokingly but he felt far from laughing, he
wasn’t looking forward to the meeting with his brother’s at
all.

“
By God, would yah look at the little
gal? She sure does pack a wallop, and I bet that Miss King has two
nice black eyes come morning. Yes sir Dane is one lucky man.” Pete
guffawed, slapped Tuff on the back.

Tuff was about to answer him, when he heard
Dane shout out his name angrily. He snapped his mouth shut.

“
Tuff, stop your gossiping old man and
let’s get home.” Dane mounted his horse and waited for Tuff to get
up on the wagon.

After throwing Dane a malevolent glare, Tuff
stomped over to the wagon and climbed aboard. “Damn the boy, I’m
going to blister his ears when we get home. Don’t think I won’t.”
He picked up the reins and slapped them against the horse’s
rumps.

India chuckled. However, it soon died when
they left the town behind. Her stomach grew full of knots knowing
that very shortly, there would be another angry scene to face, and
her future finally decided.

When India remained silent Tuff noticed how
her anxiety seemed to be building, he reached out and patted her
knee. “Don’t you worry gal you can hold yah own. I’m mighty proud
of yah. Yah sure didn’t let the spoiled snooty woman get the better
of yah, and I know yah can hold yah own with the boys.”