Traye holstered his gun only after the buggy went down the drive. He didn’t know what the old man might have said to India, but it must have been something to frighten her. When he noticed her pale and fall in a chair, he hurried forward. He quickly bound up the steps and crouched down in front of her. “What the hell were you thinking letting the old man get close to you with a whip?”
India’s head snapped up and threw Traye a disgruntled look.
Quickly dropping his gaze from hers, Traye silently cursed when he saw her eyes shining with suppressed anger. He couldn’t help the reaction of his body and surging to his feet, he moved a few feet away, took of his hat and dragged his fingers through his hair. Lord have mercy, a man could drown in the fire that burnt hotly in those eyes. Breathing harshly, he fought desperately to gather himself together.
Finally having control over her emotions, India grew repentant. When Traye moved away, she realized how foolishly she behaved. “You’re right Traye, I acted thoughtlessly, but I never thought he would have used the whip on me.”
Slowly turning around, Traye grimaced and shook his head. “Men like King like to show how powerful they are. What did he say to you before he left?”
Unable to meet Traye’s intense gaze, India dropped her eyes to her hands twisting in her lap. “He ordered me to leave, and if I didn’t he threatened to punish me for hurting his daughter.”
“Son of a bitch.” Traye cursed he stared intently at India. “You ain’t going to leave are you?”
At Traye's question, India’s shot him a smug smile. “No damn way am I leaving, you and your brothers couldn’t get rid of me. If you think those two can, well you’re going to be sadly disappointed. I’m here to stay and you and everyone else better accept the fact.”
Unable to help himself Traye threw back his head and laughed, Dane’s wife sure had spunk.
India joined in Traye’s laughter; it felt good to laugh after such an explosive and tense scene they just shared together.
TWENTY-FOUR
The sun was setting when Dane, Tuff, his brothers and the hands rode into the yard. Dane noticed his wife, Traye, and the younger boys sitting on the veranda. He felt a twinge of jealousy at the family scene. He shook it away when he saw his wife stand up and stepped to the railing. He lifted his hand in greeting and when she waved back felt a kick to his heart. He forced himself to turn away and head inside the barn, now in a hurry to join his wife.
Her heart beat a little faster when she saw her husband ride in. India quickly rose to her feet. Even though she felt happy and excited to see him, she also needed to speak to him first, about what occurred today. She knew Traye would exaggerate what happened and no doubt, Dane would be in a rage and wouldn’t see sense.
After bidding the hands goodnight, Dane walked with his brothers and Tuff back to the house. He couldn’t help his wide grin when he saw his wife hurry down the steps and walk quickly towards him. When she reached him, he wrapped his arms around her and gazed down at her upturned face. He bent his head and whispered in her ear. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing you all day.”
India felt her heart race. “So have I.” She whispered back, and not at all surprised when his mouth found hers, she eagerly kissed him back.
“For God sake you two.” Tuff grumbled when he saw Dane and his wife smooching in the yard.
Reluctantly taking his mouth from his wife’s, Dane sighed and moved her out of his arms. Taking her hand in his, he led her up the steps. “There’s nothing wrong with a man greeting his wife.” He mumbled, embarrassed.
“Humph, I ain’t known anyone who greets his wife more than you do.” Tuff said sarcastically.
Everyone else laughed except Dane whose face burned with embarrassment.
India not at all ashamed laughed softly and squeezed her husband's hand when she saw his red face.
Traye stood up, moving forward he stopped in front of his big brother, hooking his thumbs in his gun belt his stance and attitude serious. “We had some visitors today. Seems your fiancé and her Pa are right mad at yah.”
His brow furrowing, Dane eyed Traye wondering what he meant by that remark. “What damn nonsense are you sprouting about now Traye?”
“Well now King and his daughter paid your wife a visit they’re not happy with her, in fact…”
Not wanting Traye to tell Dane the details, India quickly cut him off and gave him a good glare. “Oh it was nothing really they didn’t stay long but her father did…”
Traye quickly suspected that India would not tell Dane everything, and he took the first opportunity to interrupt her. “It damn well is not nothing. The damn bastard was going to use a whip on you woman. Hell, if I hadn’t fired that shot, he would have struck you.”
At first Dane was having trouble following the conversation as India and Traye kept interrupting each other in mid sentence. However, the mention of a whip caught his attention and when Traye finished his explanation he exploded. “I’ll kill the bastard.” He roared.
India cringed and threw Traye an exasperating glare. “Now look what you’ve gone and done you fool.”
Traye, not the least contrite, pulled his thumbs from his gun belt, folded his arms over his chest, and returned her heated gaze with a smug smile.
Everyone else held their breaths and waited to see what Dane would do.
When Dane looked as though he calmed down some, Traye spoke up again. “He wants you to hightail it over there pronto. I think he wants to discuss your engagement to his daughter.”
King's threat to his wife filled him with a killing rage. If the bastard had struck her, he would have killed the fool. Dane turned to her and saw how worried she looked. He forced himself try to calm down, but it still lay there buried deep inside of him.
“Are you all right sweetheart?” He took her in his arms and held her close; he buried his face against the side of her head. He shuddered to think what could have happened to her if Traye hadn’t been around.
Her worry lessening, India nodded her head and cuddled closer to her husband.
Tuff sighed in relief, with a quick motion of his hand led the boys inside the house knowing Dane and his wife needed a few moments of privacy.
Once they were alone, Dane shifted his wife slightly away and stared down at her intently. “Tell me everything the bastard said to you India and by God woman don’t you dare leave anything out.”
She knew she did not have a choice but to tell him everything. India quickly told him all that happened. She cringed when she saw his golden eyes turn cold, and she felt a shiver run up her spine when she felt the fury emanating from them. It frightened her that he might do something foolish, she clutched the sleeves of his shirt tightly. “Dane please it’s nothing. I’m sure in a few days they’ll realize how foolish they behaved.”
Dane tore himself from his wife, pulled off his hat and slapped it hard against his thigh, breathing heavily he stood glaring up at the sky. He felt the rage consuming him, pulsing throughout his body; he intended to make King and his daughter pay for threatening his wife. With that thought in mind, he spun around and raced down the steps towards the barn.
Frightened at the waves of anger coming from Dane, India stood wringing her hands together as she watched him stride hurriedly towards the barn. She could not let him go of like this; Lord knew what foolish thing he might do. With that thought in mind, she picked up her skirts and dashed after him. There would be only one way she could think of that would likely cool the anger that consumed him.
Dane, about to lift his saddle off the railing, felt his wife’s arms slip around him; he dropped the saddle back down and turned around intending to free himself.
Time to be bold, India told herself when Dane spun around to face her. She moved her hand down and started unbuttoning the front of his pants. As each button came undone, she could see the coldness and anger start to leave her husband's eyes.
When he felt his wife’s hand drop to his crotch, Dane stilled
, his breath trapped in his throat. As each button came free, his heartbeat accelerated. He felt the blood pump through his veins. His groin started to throb as he started to harden and grow. When he felt the soft touch of his wife’s hand wrap around his growing hardness, only then did the breathe hiss out of him.
His anger disappeared and he was now filled with wild hot passion. A deep growl rumbling in his chest, he swept his wife up in his arms and carried her to a clean stall. Placing her back on her feet, his eyebrows shot up when he saw her tearing frantically at her clothing.
India sighed in relief but swiftly the feeling turned to intense desire. This might have started out just to calm her husband, but now she couldn’t think of anything else but having him buried deeply inside her.
TWENTY-FIVE
For a moment, Dane stood watching his wife remove her clothing. Then with another growl rumbling in his chest, he tore at his own. With only his denims left to remove, he watched his wife lay down on her skirt in the clean hay. My God, she looked so damn beautiful, and he could not wait to be inside her again. Shucking his pants, he fell down beside her. Unable to hold himself back any longer, he claimed one of her perfect breasts drawing it into his mouth.
India let out a lusty cry when Dane fell beside her and captured her breast inside his mouth. She lifted her arms and wrapping one around him, the other went to the back of his head and her fingers threaded through his hair. She never would have thought that seducing her husband would be so exciting.
After suckling at her breast, Dane knew he couldn’t wait a moment longer. He gently nudged her thighs apart and moved between them. For a moment, he gazed down into her passion-glazed eyes, before taking her mouth in a hot ravenous kiss; he arched his hips and drove himself deeply inside of her.
Tearing her mouth free from Dane’s, India let out an ecstatic sob. She lifted her legs and wrapped them around his hips as she arched to meet each of his powerful thrusts. She arched her head back as his mouth nibbled along her neck sending waves of pleasure through her.
Dane lifted his mouth, gasped for air, and powerfully thrust himself back inside his wife. He knew then he was close to exploding. Leaning down, his mouth hovered just above hers. “Darlin, oh God darlin I can’t hold back anymore.” He whispered harshly just before his mouth covered hers in a wild hot kiss.
India clasped herself tightly around her husband. When he kissed her so intensely, she couldn’t hold back the cascading waves of rapture that washed through her.
A growl rumbling in his chest, Dane felt his wife’s climax. As her heat surrounded him, he thrust into her again. When his seed shot out of him with such potent force, he tore his mouth free from hers and collapsed gently on top of her. He shuddered and buried his face in the crook of her neck and took deep raspy breathes. Closing his eyes, he let the maelstrom of ecstasy roll through him.
India moaned loudly into his mouth when she felt the potency of his hot seed fill her. It started another wave of rapture rushing through her and all she could do was hold on to him tightly and let it carry her away.
Once he fully regained his senses, Dane rolled off his wife. Lying on his back in the hay, he felt slightly embarrassed over his uncontrolled lovemaking to his wife. Turning his head he gazed at her from beneath heavy hooded lids, he expected to see disgust on her face. Instead he saw wonder and joy, he sighed in relief.
India could not help smiling over the wonder she had just shared with her husband. Rolling over on her side, her eyes shone brightly. “I think we’ll have to do this more often.”
Dane chuckled and pulled his wife into his embrace. “Now who would have thought that the snooty sophisticated woman I met at a ball would turn into a wild wanton who would brazenly seduce her husband and loves to romp in the hay.”
Delighted at her husband’s comment, India laughed. She lifted slightly away and gave him a haughty look even though her eyes still twinkled. “Oh I think there is a lot more to the woman than you know about.”
“Is that so? Well the next few years should be interesting then. It seems I made a real good choice in taking you as payment for the gambling debt rather than the money or your brother’s ranch.” Dane lifted his hand and tenderly stroked his wife’s cheek.
“Humph, is that right? Well you know you might regret it one day and wished you took the money or the ranch.” Even though she kept smiling, India saw something flash in Dane's eyes, but it swiftly disappeared before she could understand what it was.
Dane doubted he would ever regret his choice. “I don’t think so sweetheart. I’m right pleased I took you as payment but then again only time will tell. Now come on we'd better get dressed, you never know if one of the boys gets it in his head to come looking for us.” Sitting up he gave his wife a quick hug and a kiss on the brow before he let her go and stood up.
For some reason, his answer hurt, India turned away so he would not see the pain and disappointment in her eyes. It hurt to know Dane only cared about her but did not love her. Would he ever love her, she wondered sorrowfully. Would it be enough for her if he didn’t? Heart sore, she forced herself to push her thoughts and feelings aside, quickly rose to her feet and dressed.
Jesse stepped out the house, frowning when he didn’t see his brother or wife. He decided to go and look for them. He wanted to make sure Dane could control his anger and would not do anything foolish. Heading for the barn, about to step through the doorway, he suddenly froze. He could not help overhear the conversation between his brother and wife. It stunned and hurt when he learned Dane lied to them and never told them the truth about why he really married India.
Disappointment and anger warred inside of him. Spinning around, he left the barn. How could his own brother keep the truth from him and his brothers? Never before were there lies between them until now. He needed to be alone before he could face the others and decide whether they should know or not.
Once dressed, Dane saddled his horse. When he was finished, he turned to his wife. He reached out and pulled her into his embrace. “I’m sure you’re pleased to know that your tactics have worked sweetheart, and happy to know I’m over the worst of my anger.”
With a sigh of relief, India smiled warmly up at her husband. “I’m glad to hear, so I won’t stop you going.”
Chuckling, Dane shook his head. “I won’t be long,” he gave her a cheeky wink. “I wouldn’t mind if you waited here for me.”
With a shake of her head, India smiled. “Just get going and hurry home.”
His head dropping, Dane gave his wife a quick kiss before letting her go mounted his horse and rode out of the barn. He wanted this business over and done with.
When Dane left, India sighed despondently. At the moment, she didn’t feel like returning to the house and face all those inquisitive eyes. Besides, her heart still felt bruised over the knowledge that Dane did not love her. It upset her terribly to know he only cared for her, and she wondered if he would ever grow to love her.
The depressing thought hovering in her mind and heart, she went over and sat down on one of the bales of hay. Could she ever make Dane love her and what would happen in the passing years if he never did? Suddenly, she jumped to her feet, determined to put the horrible thoughts from her head. Dane would love her, she told herself firmly as she hurried back to the house.
TWENTY-SIX
Both Reese and Traye turned towards the doorway when India stepped inside the room. They quickly became embarrassed. There could be no mistaking what she and their brother had been doing. The hay in her hair and on her rumpled clothing gave her away. Also her flushed face and her swollen lips, her eyes shone brightly with satisfaction.
As soon as she stepped into the parlor India suddenly realized, from the way both Reese and Traye were looking at her, they knew what she and Dane were doing in the barn. Instead of being embarrassed or ashamed, she gave them both a saucy smile. “Is there something wrong with you both? The two of you are looking a little flushed. Are you feeling sick?”
Reese let a low growl out when he felt his face grow warmer.
Traye chocked and glared at her. “No, there’s damn well nothing wrong with us.” He jumped to his feet. “Come on Reese.”
With a soft laugh, India stepped out of the way and let them pass.
When hearing her laugh, Traye turned his head and glared at her. “I suggest you take the hay out of your hair and change your clothes before supper.”
“Oh, now I understand what’s wrong with you.” After the comment India couldn’t help laughing when she saw Traye’s face turn bright red. She heard him cursing as he rushed out of the room.
Reese waited for his brother out on the veranda. “Was she trying to embarrass us?”
“Damn right she was and the blasted woman succeeded. After supper tonight, I’m heading to town and the saloon. I don’t know about you, but I need some female company.” Traye said disgruntled as he moved past his brother.
With a grunt in agreement, Reese caught up with Traye. “She sure is something though, ain’t she?”
His fingers raking through his hair, Traye sighed. “Yeah she is and I can understand why Dane married her.”
“Do you think Jesse would want to go to town with us?” Reese asked as he spied Jesse across the yard.
A casual shrug of his shoulders, Traye also saw Jesse. “Let’s go ask him.”
Jesse saw his two younger brothers coming towards him and sighed.
“Hey Jesse, we’re going to town tonight, do you want to come with us?” Reese asked when they reached him.
“No there is something I have to have out with Dane.” Jesse turned away and leaned his forearms on the corral fence.
The Payment Page 10