The Payment (9 page)

Weakly smiling up at Tuff India placed her
hand over his. “Please remember what I asked you earlier. I don’t
want Dane to have to choose between me and his brothers.”

“
It won't come to that gal, mark my
words those boys will come to realize that Dane cares for you and
won’t make him choose.” Tuff tried to reassure her, but he knew
deep in his heart, it would not be as simple or pleasant as he told
her.

India turned away so Tuff wouldn’t see
the tears in her eyes.
I wish it was going
to be as easy, but I know it’s going too very
unpleasant.

“
Would yah like to stop and change yah
clothes before we reach home?” Tuff asked as he looked over her
attire and grinned.

Her gaze going back to Tuff’s, India
shrugged her shoulders. “I did actually think about it, but if they
are going to accept me at all they may as well see me like this. I
don’t think a pretty dress would make that much difference to them,
do you?”

Tuff chuckled and nodded his head. “Yeah you
could be right; those boys won’t care what yah wearing.”

SIXTEEN

As each mile brought him closer to home,
Dane could feel the lingering happiness he felt earlier slowly
evaporate. He started to feel dread take its place. It sure isn’t
going to be easy; in fact, it is going to be nearly impossible to
have his brother’s accept India. He also knew she most likely would
be hurt over what would take place once they arrived home.

He could only pray that she would be strong
enough and at least cared for him a little. Cared enough to stand
beside him and fight for their marriage.

When the house came into view, India sat up
straighter as her eyes took in everything. As they passed through
the gates of the Bar M and moved down the long drive, she noticed
the huge two-story house. Painted white with dark blue shutters at
all the windows and on the front veranda, there were many chairs
and potted plants. Making it a welcoming haven. She noticed a huge
barn, a large bunkhouse and a cook shack, along with corals full of
horses. The place was so much bigger and lovelier than she ever
imagined and very well kept.

She could feel her nerves grow and the
sick feeling in the pit of her stomach intensifying.
Please Lord let things work out, don’t let me
loose Dane and please, please don’t let him have to choose between
me and his brothers.
She whispered the prayer over and
over in her mind until they finally pulled up under some large
trees in front of the house. She tried to smile down at Dane, who
came to help her from the wagon.

Dane saw the anxiety on India’s face and
tried to give her a reassuring grin but his own apprehension
increased by the minute. He reached up, placed his hands around her
waist and swung her down. When her feet touched the ground, he kept
one of his hands around her waist. “Try not to worry too much
sweetheart and no matter how much they upset you, don’t let them
see it. Just stay by my side, and I’ll do everything I can do to
make them accept you.”

India blinked back the tears, lifted her
hand and cupped his cheek. “I know you will but don’t be goaded in
to saying something you might regret. Things may take a few days to
settle so don’t act rashly. Promise me.”

Frowning over her words, Dane wondered why
she wanted him make such a promise.

“
Come on you two let’s get this
business over and done with. The sooner it’s all sorted out, the
better we’ll all feel.” Tuff came around the wagon and saw the
worry on both Dane and India’s faces.

Dane dropped his hand from around India’s
waist and grasped her hand in his. “Jasper it might be best if you
wait here for a short time. Then we’ll get you settled for the
night.” He said over his shoulder, turning back to the house he
drew in a long breath then led India towards the house.

Just as they stepped on the veranda, the
front door flew open, men and boys of all ages and sizes come
flying out of the house only to stop and gape in open mouth
shock.

India’s hand tightened around Dane’s as she
noticed the surprised looks on all the faces turn hostile.

“
Well I thought at least one of you
would be happy to see we’ve returned home.” Dane forced a grin, he
felt India tremble slightly beside him. Letting go of her hand, he
placed an arm around her shoulders.

Everyone one of the boys noticed their
brothers possessive action towards the woman at his side, and they
glared even more.

“
Boys this is my wife India.
Sweetheart these are your new brothers.” Dane tried to sound
cheery, but he could see his brothers were not listening. They were
too busy glaring hatefully at his wife.

India’s chin lifted, she stood proudly
beside her husband. She would not let these nearly grown men and
boys intimidate her, even though she could feel their hate and
hostility all the way down to her toes.

Jesse took a step forward, his eyes never
leaving the woman at his brother’s side. “Did you just say that
this woman is your wife? You’re joking aren’t you? Don’t tell us
you went and did a fool thing like get married?”

Only after Jesse finished speaking did all
hell break loose. Vile words and threats filled the air.

India tried not to shrink away, but she
could not help the tears that sprang in her eyes and she forced
herself to blink them away.

Dane’s tempter exploded. “That’s enough damn
it. All of you shut your mouths. India is my wife and I will not
let any of you speak so foully in front of her.” Pushing past his
brothers with his arm still protectively around his wife, he led
her inside and upstairs and into his bedroom.

Once inside his room he dropped his arm from
around her and closed the door, he took off his hat and tossed it
on the bed. With a heavy sigh, he ran his fingers through his hair
before he turned and gazed at his wife with worry and concern. “God
I’m sorry sweetheart. You understand that they were shocked over my
announcement, and once I talk to them again they’ll be fine.” He
hoped it would be as simple and easy as he made it sound, but he
doubted that his brothers were going to accept his marriage.

India gave him a weak smile; she knew it
would not be as straight forward as he thought it would be. “I’m
sure you're right.”

Grateful for her understanding, Dane wrapped
his arms around his wife and rested his cheek against the side of
her head. “Why don’t you have a wash and rest while I talk to my
brothers?”

With her cheek against Dane’s chest, India
wrapped her arms around his waist. For just a moment, she wanted to
hold on to him, worried that this might be one of the last times
she would embrace him.

After Dane and his wife left, Reese turned
to Tuff. “Is it true? Did Dane marry that woman?”

Tuff pulled off his hat and slapped it
against his leg. “The lot of yah have shamed me. How dare yah treat
a woman with such hostility and disrespect? Wong Li and I taught
you better than that. And as for the sweet gal being yah brother’s
wife, damn right she is, and he’s damn lucky to have her.”

All the boys dropped their heads in disgrace
knowing they disappointed Tuff.

“
She ain’t gonna live here is she
Tuff?” Mason asked horrified at the thought.

Dane heard his younger brother’s question as
he stepped outside. His mouth in a grim line, he held tightly on to
his temper. “Enough. We’ll go into the study and discuss this more
calmly.” He spun around and headed back inside. In the study, he
waited for his brothers to follow.

He grew determined that this situation would
be taken care of as quickly as possible. Either they accepted his
wife now, or if they didn’t he would only have one other choice to
make. He dreaded making that choice, but he didn’t want to lose his
wife. He just hoped like hell, he could convince them to accept her
as part of the family.

The alternative isn’t one he wanted to take
and all he could do is pray that his brothers will accept her. God
what a damn mess. Well he made it now he would do all he could to
fix it and try to keep everyone happy as well. At least he hoped he
could.

SEVENTEEN

Once everyone took up a position around the
room, Dane leaned back against the desk and folded his arms over
his chest. His gaze held a determined glint as he made eye contact
with each of his brothers before he spoke. “Now let’s get this over
and done with. Ask your questions and state your opinions and once
everything is said then everything will be sorted out and finished
with.”

The brothers quickly looked at each other
after Dane finished speaking.

“
All right, well the first thing we
want to know is who is she and just why in the hell did you marry
her?” Jesse spoke first.

“
I met her at a ball while I was in
Dallas and as for marrying her, I wanted her.” Dane stated matter
of factly.

Reese sneered in disgust. “Damn it Dane if
you wanted the woman why couldn’t you just amuse yourself with her
until it was time to come home? You know, bed her and leave her.
Good Lord you didn’t have to marry her. Don’t you realize you're
stuck with her now?”

Furious over his brother’s callous words,
Dane was having a hard time controlling his temper. He slightly
shook his head trying to gain some control over his anger. “You
have just insulted my wife with your foul suggestions and you
better not dare speak about my wife like that again.”

“
Why didn’t you try and stop him from
marrying that woman Tuff?” Jesse growled out.

His mouth compressed in a tight line.
Leaning back in his chair, Tuff glared at each of the boys. “Now
the lot of you listen to me. That little gal upstairs didn’t want
to marry yah brother but Dane was mighty taken with her and neither
my arguments nor the gals would change his mind. Yah brother has
chosen a good woman for his wife, and I’m mighty pleased to have
her as part of our family.”

Dane wanted to go over and hug the old man
for his words and his support. However, he waited to see how his
brothers would react to Tuff’s words.

“
But why? Why did you have to go and
marry her?” Reese angrily tossed out.

Traye spoke up for the first time. “We
promised after Ma left that there would never be another woman
living in this house. Now just because you had a damn itch for a
pretty face we’re all stuck with the bitch.”

Only the knowledge that Traye suffered more
than any of them by their mother’s cruelty is the only reason Dane
didn’t take offence to his outburst. “I remembered what we agreed
upon but we were younger and still hurting from Ma’s viciousness.
Things change, we change, and we’re nearly all men now. Damn it I
want a wife, a woman at my side and hopefully one day perhaps
children of my own.”

He gave his brothers a weak smile and
continued. “One day you boys will feel the same, you’ll find a
woman you want to share your life with. Now though if you all feel
that there isn’t any way that you can accept my wife or have her
living here amongst you, well we’ll leave.”

The threat of him leaving bought on another
angry outburst and everyone started yelling at once.

Tye jumped up from the floor. He might not
have quite understood everything that had been said, but he did
understand that his big brother might be leaving again. He rushed
forward and threw his arms around him. “No, no, please don’t go
Dane, I won't let you leave. You just got back home, and you were
away for a long time and I won’t let you go again.” He started to
cry; frightened that he would leave again.

Dane reached down, lifted his little brother
up and hugged him tightly. “Hush now Tye everything will work out
just fine I promise.” He whispered.

Tye’s pleas to his big brother silenced the
room and everyone fell silent.

Jesse stood up and raked his fingers through
his hair. “Well that settles that, it seems the decision has been
made. What do you say boys?”

“
No it ain’t. I don’t want no woman
living here. I say we send her away and Dane stays. Cause if she
stays, she’ll be cruel and mean just like Ma, she’ll be a whore
just like Ma.” Mason jumped to his feet gripping his hands at his
sides his small body trembled in fury, as fear filled his
eyes.

Reese tried to reach Mason to stop his ugly
words from pouring out, but it was too late to stop them.

Dane put Tye down, moved swiftly across the
room, and grabbed his younger brother by the front of his shirt.
“Don’t you ever call my wife a whore again. She isn’t anything like
Ma. Do you hear me?” Letting go of his brother’s shirt, he turned
and eyed the rest of his brothers. “I’ll leave you alone to decide
what you all want. Just remember if you can’t accept my wife and
treat her with respect and as a part of the family then we’ll
leave. I won’t stay, unless you can accept her.” It broke his heart
to have to make his brothers decide. What other choice did he have?
He just couldn’t give up his wife.

India only waited a few minutes before she
followed Dane down stairs; she stood close to the partially open
study door and listened. She put a fist to her mouth as she
listened to the things being said in the room. As she continued to
listen, she wondered why her husband and Tuff left out the real
reason about the marriage.

By the ugly names they were calling her; she
knew that they would never accept her. When she heard Dane asking
them to choose she hung her head as tears filled her eyes. Spinning
around she hurried through the open front door. With a quick look
around, she started running towards the line of trees.