The Payment

by Mysty McPartland

  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.

  FORTY-TWO

  Dane spent a sleepless night and for most of the day, he stood staring out the study window, praying and hoping his wife and family would return home. His eyes glued continuously to the long drive, he suddenly spotted a dark shape coming closer. His body stiffened and his heart started to race. Please, please let my wife come back to me, he prayed silently.

  When he finished, he spun around, raced out of the room and house, and stood waiting on the veranda anxious and frightened.

  Jesse pulled the buggy up in front of the house, he saw Dane waiting on the veranda. Now looking at him, he could not miss the anguish on his face or the hope in his eyes. He turned away and stared straight ahead, as he waited for everyone to get out of the buggy. He watched them walk to the house, about to drive towards the barn; his hand gripped the reins when Dane spoke.

  “Damn you Jesse you had no right to tell her.” Dane growled at his brother as tremendous torment filled him and a vice squeezed tightly around his heart.

  Jesse turned and sneered at his brother. “I didn’t tell her. The bitch you were so hot for yesterday and our Ma told her.”

  His brother’s words struck him hard, he should have known Jesse would never betray him, Dane closed his eyes unable to bear to see the scorn and loathing on his brother’s face, and he deserved it. He knew, but still it hurt. Hurt nearly as much as knowing he lost the woman he loved. He felt so torn and shattered to think of what he could do to get her to return to him.

  He heard the buggy move off, opening his eyes he stared brokenly at his brother as he headed for the barn. His shoulders slumped with defeat. He turned and slowly went back inside the house. In the study, he closed the door, moved behind the desk, sunk into the chair and buried his face in his hands.

  There were so many things happening and he desperately needed to pull himself together. He would have to put his own pain aside for the time being. The twins were in a terrible situation and needed his attention most of all. He also needed to find some way to bring his wife and unborn child home and hoped he could win her affection back again.

  Somehow, he must find a way to win the love and respect back from his family. More importantly, he needed to get rid of their mother before she could do any more damage to their already troubled lives. So many problems and he did not have any idea how to solve any of them, but he would somehow and he needed to start now.

  Upset, Tye curled up on the sofa, he could not understand why India did not come home with them and no one would tell him why.

  Mason moved sulkily around the parlor with his hands jammed in his pockets, he knew something bad must have happened and that is why India did not come home.

  Tuff sat at the large kitchen table and sadly told Chin Li what happened and why India remained in town.

  When Tuff finished telling all that happened, Chin Li went into an angry tirade in his native tongue. When he finished, he glared at Tuff. “What is wrong with the boy? I cannot believe he would behave in such a way. He brings big disgrace and shame upon all of us.”

  “Yeah well from the looks of him, he knows what a terrible thing he has done and is suffering mightily for it.” Tuff grumbled.

  With an angry sniff, Chin Li bought his hand down on the table slapping it hard. “We must find way to bring Missy home, longer she stay away make it harder. Besides babies need to be born here.”

  Tuff’s head shot up and he stared at his friend in shock. “Babies, did yah say babies?”

  “Missy has two babies and must come home where she belong.” Chin Lin grinned and nodded his head.

  “Whooey well I’ll be danged the gal never said a word.” Tuff said in amazement.

  Going over to the stove, Chin Li placed some kindling inside. “Missy does not know, we must say nothing until she comes home.”

  Tuff gave a quick nod in understanding. “Well I think that maybe we should just leave her in town for a few days until things calm down.”

  Chin Li let out a worried sigh; he stood a few moments thinking the matter over. “A week then we bring Missy home.”

  Tuff wondered if it might be as easy as they thought. He knew firsthand how stubborn the gal could be. Well, it didn’t matter; her place is here with her husband and family and especially now that she carried twins.

  Jesse waited for everyone to retire to their rooms before he went into the study; he stood in the open doorway and saw his brother staring dejectedly out the window. He came to a decision earlier today and thought now would be a good time to discuss the matter with Dane.

  Dane did not join the family for dinner, he felt too ashamed and heartbroken to face them. He continued to stare out the window. He sa
t for hours, thinking of how he could bring his wife back home. He wondered how he could face life without her, he needed her so much, and so did the rest of the family.

  Some sound behind him made him turn around; he saw Jesse and waited to find out what he wanted.

  When Dane faced him, Jesse stepped inside the room and closed the door. “I’ve come to talk to you.”

  Dane stiffened. “There’s nothing you can say to me that I haven’t already said to myself a thousand times.”

  “That’s not why I’m here. I’ve come to tell you that when this business with the boys is cleared up and our Ma is finally gone for good I’ll be leaving.”

  Stunned Dane staggered over the pain lancing through him. “No, I’ll leave. I’m the one that’s let everyone down.”

  With a shake of his head, Jesse smiled grimly. “Hell Dane, it’s not because of what you’ve done even though I admit it hurt and disappointed me. I want to leave because I need to. I want to do something for myself.”

  Dane fell into a chair and stared sadly at his brother, he did not believe him. He knew deep in his heart that Jesse would be leaving because of him. He could also see by the stubborn glint in his brother’s eyes that there would be no talking him out of his decision. “I’m sorry Jesse, God you’ll never know how much, and I hope when all this is over you’ll change your mind.”

  “I don’t think I will. It’s something I want, something I need to do.” Jesse replied before turning away, he left his brother and went upstairs to bed.

  His head falling forward, Dane wondered how much more anguish he could suffer, not only because of his action he lost his wife, but now he drove his brother away. Because of him his family was falling apart, and he needed to do something fast to keep it together, he did not want to think what would happen to them all if he failed.

  FORTY-THREE

  Tye snuck into Dane's room and became frightened when he found the bed empty, with a sob of fear, he ran down stairs in search of him, he grew scared that he might have left as well. When he saw the light coming from the study, he ran across the room. Relieved at seeing Dane seated behind the desk, he threw himself at his brother, wrapping his little arms around him tightly. “I thought you left; I thought you left me like India did.” He sobbed wildly as he clutched him tightly.

  Dane’s head came up when he heard the slap of running feet on the wooden floor. When his little brother threw himself at him, he caught him up, wrapped his arms around him, and held him tightly. “I’ll never leave you Tye. I promise I’ll never leave and India hasn’t left you, she’s just staying in town for a few days.” The lie burned his soul, but he could not bear to tell his little brother the truth. That India may never come home and it was all his fault.

  Tye shifted slightly in his big brother's arms and smiled at him in relief.

  Ruffling his brother’s hair Dane stood up with him in his arms. “Come on little brother it’s time we were both in bed.” Turning the lamp out, he carried Tye upstairs, not bothering taking him to his own room. When he reached his room, he tossed him on the bed and grinned when he laughed. About to undress he watched as Mason walked in his room, he decided not to say anything and out the corner of his eye watched them both settle beneath the covers.

  He turned out the lamp, leaving on his jeans, he slipped beneath the covers to join them, and even with his brothers in his bed, it felt empty without India in it. He missed her cuddling up against him, missed her warm breath against his skin, and missed holding her in his arms. No matter what, he would find some way to bring her back home. Not just for himself but for the family as well. They all needed her.

  When Tuff and the boys left for school, Jesse followed Dane to the study. “I had a talk with Deputy Parks yesterday, and I’m sure tempted to believe him.”

  Dane seated himself behind the desk, arched a brow, and waited for him to continue.

  “Parks has seen our Ma and the Sheriff cozying up to each other. He reckons it’s too much of a coincidence that you were shot and the next day the twins were found with the dead stranger. He also said the Sheriff had been missing at both those exact times.”

  Thoughtfully rubbing his jaw, Dane dropped his hand and sneered. “Well it shouldn’t surprise us, she was always a whore. I think I’ll ride to town and see Jeff and the twins. Then I’ll try to see India, is she still at the hotel?

  Jesse thought his brother would not have much luck in seeing his wife but kept it to himself. “No she’s staying with Lisa and her husband.”

  Dane gave a quick nod and stood up. “I can see by the look on your face that you don’t hold much hope that she’ll see me. You’re probably right but Jesse, I have to try.”

  “I know Dane, I hope you can see her, and you can work things out between you.” Jesse watched his brother leave the room and sighed sadly. Hell he could hardly believe how everything is suddenly falling down around them, and he just hope they could stop anything else happening to them.

  The first thing he did when he hit town was go straight to Jeff’s office, walking through the door he took off his hat and held it against his thigh. “Jeff I don’t have to tell you why I’m here.” He said as moved across the room and took a seat in front of the desk.

  Jeff looked up from his papers and smiled, but it quickly died when he saw the torment in Dane’s eyes. He knew something other than the twins being in jail was responsible for the torture he saw in his brother’s eyes. Jesse already told him what took place down at the river. Dropping the papers in his hand onto the desk, he leaned back in his chair. He sensed Dane needed to talk about what occurred. “Out with it, what’s happened now?”

  His jaw clenched, Dane turned away from Jeff’s probing eyes. “Hell where do I begin?”

  Half an hour later, Jeff could only stare at Dane in complete and utter disbelief. Hell, Jesse sure left out a lot of the story. When Dane finally finished telling him everything that happened since they last saw each other, he could only shake his head. Whew, Dane sure made a hell of a mess of things, but he could also see how much he suffered from his actions. “Well it will be easy enough to keep an eye on the Sheriff and work on a defense for the twins. But Dane I don’t know how the hell you can fix things with your wife.”

  Dane’s mouth drooped; he stood up and placed his hat on his head. “Nor do I brother, nor do I, but I’m not going to stop trying though. Now I best go and see the twins and see how they’re doing.”

  Jeff sighed sadly, as he watched Dane walk out of the room; he would pay India a visit himself later today. First though he would go through Mr. Mathews papers and see why King suddenly became so insistent that there would be a marriage between the families.

  Full of determination, Dane walked into the jail. “Deputy Parks I would like to see my brothers.”

  Parks nodded and stood up. “Sure thing Dane just go in back to the cells.”

  A curt thankful nod at the Deputy, he headed to the cells, taking a deep breath, he opened the door and stepped inside the room. One look at the twin’s faces and he knew what they were thinking, and what they felt. However, the look in Traye’s eyes filled him with sorrow and guilt. “You boys doing all right?” He forced himself to say as he stepped up to the cell.

  Reese looked from Dane to Traye and sighed when he only saw his back. Turning back to Dane, he shrugged his shoulders. “Yeah we’re fine, just damn bored.”

  “Yeah well I can understand. I know what you’re both thinking. I’ll understand if you can’t forgive me, but I want you to know that I love India and I can never forgive myself for what I have done to her. But I am going to do everything I can to bring her back home.”

  He stopped talking for a moment when he saw Traye stiffen. “As for getting you boys out of here, we’re doing everything we possibly can, and hopefully you won't be in here for much longer.”

  Reese reached through the bars and placed his hand on Dane’s shoulder. “I wish you luck in bringing her home brother, and I know that you’ll get
us out of here.”

  Dane gave Reese a tight smile of gratitude then turned his gaze back to Traye who still refused to look at him. He felt heartbroken knowing he let this one brother down in the most disgusting and ugly way. “Either Jesse or myself will be here tomorrow, Jeff will drop by later today.” With nothing left to say, Dane reluctantly left his brothers.

  Once Dane left, Reese turned to Traye. “Don’t be too hard on him Traye, he’s hurtin something bad.”

  Tray spun around and snorted in derision. “If she’s smart she’ll never go back to him.”

  “Damn it Traye, he was drunk, full of rage and most likely hurtin. I know it’s no excuse, but he’s suffering and frightened, give him some compassion.” Reese tried to get his twin to understand but seeing the coldness in his eyes knew he only wasted his breath.

  Nervous and worried Dane moved up the steps and on to the porch of Mark and Lisa’s house, he dragged off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. He felt sick to his stomach and his heart ached painfully in his chest. Drawing in a deep breath, he lifted his hand, knocked on the door, and prayed like hell that India would not refuse to see him.

  Lisa opened the door not at all surprised to see Dane on her doorstep, one look at his face; she could see how terrible he felt. She wished she could ease some of his pain. “Before you ask Dane I’m sorry, but she doesn’t want to see you. She said if you called to tell you she needs time to decide on what she wanted to do.”

  When she saw the anguish fill his eyes, she reached out and clasped his hand. “Just give her time Dane; I’m sure that in the end everything will work out.”

  Lisa’s words tore at his already aching heart, even though he expected India would refuse to see him, he held some hope. Now though it was torn away and with a sad defeated smile, he pulled his hand free from Lisa’s and placed his hat on his head. “Will you tell her that I love her and that I’m truly sorry for what I did to her and I will regret it for the rest of my life?”