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Melanie went to Shane and linked her arm through his. She looked Mike square in the face. "Do you truly feel that Shane could be in danger staying here tonight?" she asked softly. "I've known Josh almost all my life, but I've never seen him as upset as he is now. Would you advise Shane to stay somewhere else tonight? Until Josh has a chance to cool off and accept what has happened?"
"I would highly advise this young man to sleep elsewhere tonight," Mike said, picking up his satchel. "I've never seen a violent side to Josh, yet under these circumstances, who can tell?"
Melanie firmed her jaw and looked up at Shane. "That settles it," she said. "You're going to stay at my place tonight."
Shane shook his head, his jaw set just as tightly.
"My father has given me part ownership of this house," he said flatly. "I will not be a coward and leave. My brother and I share the same blood in our veins. He will not harm me. You will see."
Melanie wanted to blurt out that she would stay with him to make sure, yet she could not take away his pride by showing her lack of faith in his ability to keep himself safe. He had lived under questionable conditions these past twenty-five years and he had survived. She could not believe that Josh could be more of a threat than those other dangers Shane had been forced to face and endure!
"I must take my leave," Mike said, picking up his wide-brimmed felt hat from a chair and hiding his bald head beneath it. "If ever you have need of legal assistance, Shaneor MelanieI shall always be there to serve."
Melanie broke away from Shane and escorted Mike to the door. "Thank you for everything," she murmured. "Have a safe journey back to St. Paul."
"Thank God it's not all that far," Mike said, glancing over at Shane. "You never know when a stranger is going to pop up out of nowhere."
Melanie blanched, then closed the door after him and went to Shane. She slipped into his arms and hugged him.
Many others would question the true reason for Shane's suddenly showing up at the time of his father's death. But she knew that he did not have a devious bone in his body. In time, everybody who
concerned themselves about his sudden appearance would know the truth.
In time. . . .
The saloon was dim with smoke. The tinkling of a piano and loud, boisterous laughter filled the room. Terrance sat beside Josh at the bar, his arm slung around Josh's shoulder.
"Seems we both got rotten bargains," Terrance said in a drunken drawl. "First my sister havin' to share everything with me on the farm like she's a man, and now you havin' to take less than your brother. There ought to be a law against it, Josh."
His eyes blurred, Josh attempted to pour himself another drink, but spilled half of the whiskey on the counter. "Damn it," he growled, shoving the bottle away from him. "I still can't believe what my father did to me. It's damn humiliating, Terrance."
Terrance patted Josh's shoulder. "It's damn unfair, Josh," he said, burping loudly. "What'd we do wrong to be treated so unjustly?"
"Just exist, I guess," Josh grumbled, tipping the glass to his lips and taking a quick gulp.
"I love Melanie so much my gut aches, but there isn't much I can do about her having an equal share of everything," Terrance said, slipping his arm away from Josh. He poured himself another drink. "But we can do something about your brother."
Terrance could tell that Josh was seeing his hopes fading. More important to Terrance, if Shane stayed on at the Brennan farm, Melanie
would more than likely end up marrying him, and Shane would get his hands on Melanie's share of the Stanton riches too.
Terrance had been thinking of how he could prevent that, to show up this man who had been raised by Indians. He had to find a way to make Melanie see how worthless he was!
"No matter what anyone says, Shane shouldn't be allowed to take charge at your farm," Terrance continued. "Perhaps there's something we can do about it. Are you game?"
"Do?" Josh said, looking quizzically over at Terrance. "Like what? What are you talking about?"
Terrance shook his head and sighed. He was right to see Josh as a bungler and expect that he would botch everything up. If he were smarter, he would narrow in on Shane and make friends instead of enemies, because Shane was now in possession of so much that he would like to own.
But Terrance didn't expect anyone could ever get anything out of Shane Brennan. He was a survivor. Hadn't he lived those many years with Indians and lived to tell about it?
Terrance moved his stool closer to Josh and placed an arm around his shoulder. "Josh, I've got a plan that could ruin everything for Shane, especially his relationship with Melanie," he said, chuckling. "I can't bear to think of her marrying up with that Indian-lover. But to guarantee that my plan will work, I need your help."
"What do you plan to do?" Josh asked, looking guardedly over at Terrance.
"I can't say unless you agree to help me," Terrance said, toying with h
is thin, black mustache.
