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"He is my brother," Shane said hoarsely. "I am his. One day we will be of one heart and one mind. Until then, it is he who has to overcome the feelings that torment him. My heart is free of hatred for him."
Melanie jerked with a start from Shane's arms when the longhorns in the near pasture began to bellow loudly. She questioned Shane with her eyes, then drew the drapery aside again, to peer through the darkness. "Something is spooking them," she said. She watched some of the longhorns begin to move around restlessly, their long, curved horns picking up the shine of the moonlight.
"I'm sure it's nothing," Shane said, yet not convinced himself. He knew that he had many enemies and most were the sort that would resort to most anything to get even with him. There was his brother, Josh; Melanie's brother, Terrance; and Chief Gray Falcon.
But of all of the enemies that Shane could name, there was one who did not even know that he existed. Trapper Dan! It was Shane who hoped that their paths would cross. Shane had a debt to pay!
"I've got to leave, Shane," Melanie said, gathering up the dishes from the floor. "I'll look around outside and see what the disturbance is as I go."
Shane walked with her to the kitchen, where she placed the dirty dishes in a basin. Then she walked, arm-in-arm with Shane, from the house and to her buggy. The longhorns were no longer uneasy. The night was quiet, except for a slight breeze that whispered through the trees.
"I'll come bright and early tomorrow," Melanie said, standing on tiptoe to give Shane a soft kiss on the lips. She giggled softly. "You should be fit as a fiddle in the morning. You no longer have to sleep on the bed, though I would prefer it to the floor, myself."
"I'm going to accompany you home," he said, tilting her chin with his forefinger. "Things are much too quiet now."
"Darling, I'll be fine," she said, slipping away from him. She stepped up into the buggy and reached for the reins. "Now you just go back inside and get that good night's rest, for tomorrow I have lots planned for you."
She wheeled the horse and buggy around and
began to ride away, but then turned with a start when she heard a horse soon following behind her. When Shane rode up beside her and gave her a stern look, she smiled warmly at him, glad that he continued to prove to her just how much he did care about her.
Chapter Seventeen
White, fluffy clouds filtered the morning's first light along the rugged fence corraling the vast range. Pistols hanging low in holsters belted at his waist, Terrance stood on his porch, leaning against a tall column. Lifting a bottle of whiskey to his lips, he gulped down several mouthfuls, stinging his throat and then his gut. He peered across the land at two horses riding together and cursed low beneath his breath, recognizing Melanie and Shane as the riders.
Just as he had suspected would happen, the two were inseparable. Shane had succeeded not only at taking over most of the Brennan estate, but Melanie as well. Couldn't she see? He had blinded her with his wild charm! She'd been suckered in by him, hook, line and sinker!
Taking another drink, Terrance staggered down the steps. His footsteps were heavy in the dust of the road as he moved toward the stable. He ignored the watchful eyes of the cowhands as they busied themselves with the duties of the day.
''What'cha gawkin' at?" he shouted, finally realizing that he was being stared at. "Haven't you ever seen someone drunk before?" He motioned with the bottle toward the stable. "Someone get in there and ready my horse. I'm almost out of whiskey. I've got to ride into town and get me another bottle. If there's any of you ready to argue that point, speak up now or forever hold your peace!"
He laughed throatily, taking the last drink of whiskey from the bottle. Hiccuping, he pitched the bottle up into the air and quickly drew his pistol and fired at it. He cursed when he missed.
Spinning the pistol back into its holster, he reached
for his horse as it was brought to him.
"Sir, I don't think you're up to ridin' today," the cowhand said, looking guardedly at Terrance as he tried to fit his foot into the stirrup, only succeeding at falling down on the ground.
"I didn't ask your opinion," Terrance said, rising to his feet, trying again. "I got people to see." He swung his hand toward the cowhand. "Give me a hand, dammit."
Shakily, he finally managed to get in the saddle. Slumped over, he rode away, taking another lingering look at Melanie and Shane. "Yes, siree," he mumbled. "I've got people to see. . . ."
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Melanie's horse was moving in a slow, easy canter alongside Shane's as they rode across the wide pasture that separated Shane's land from Melanie's. Attired in a dark riding skirt and a white, long-sleeved cotton blouse, her hair drawn back and tied with a ribbon, Melanie clung to her reins. Giving Shane occasional troubled glances, she knew that he was aware of how the cowhands now under his employ had treated him earlier that morning when they left their bunkhouses. Their eyes cold, their footsteps heavy, they had gone on about their business as though he wasn't there. None had treated him with respect, gossip obviously having spread amongst them that Josh had left and that Shane was now in charge. To them, Shane was an Indian-lover. They acted as though they might get dirty by getting near him.
Trying to lighten his mood, Melanie swung her horse closer to Shane's. Where there were no cattle grazing, pink and white lady's-slippers graced the land, delicate in their loveliness. The sun was rising high in the sky, puffs of clouds scudding along the horizon.
"It's a beautiful day to be on horseback, isn't it, Shane?" Melanie asked. Her gaze moved over him. In his new dark, coarse breeches that fit against his muscled legs like a glove; a blue plaid shirt that was half unbuttoned in the front, revealing a froth of golden chest hair; and boots all shining and new thrust into the stirrups, wasn't he handsome?
His long blond hair was shining like summer wheat in the sunlight and was drawn back from his tanned face, hanging loose to his shoulders. His eyes were so blue, they seemed to be an extension of the sky.
With his gentlemanly demeanor, his politeness, he seemed the sort that anyone would trust at first sight. He was so clean and upright, how could anyone mistreat him? Why did there have to be so much injustice in the world? So many prejudices?
Shane did not respond. His jaw was tight, his eyes cold.
Sighing heavily, Melanie reached a hand to his arm. "Shane, I know how you must be feeling," she blurted out. "I'd feel the same. But those cowhands are fools. Don't let them get under your skin. If I know Josh, he's spread hatred among them purposely. He'd do anything to get you to leave. Please don't let him succeed."
