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Melanie tensed. "You did?" she said guardedly. "Where?"
Shane looked over at her, torment in his eyes. "He lives near our adjoining farms," he told her. "He sets traps for animals in the forest. He lives with an Indian woman!"
Melanie gasped. "What are you going to do?" she asked.
"I will take you home, then make plans for the trapper that will finally give my heart peace," he said, staring gloomily into space. "But I must spare the woman. She is not at fault for the evil the man has done."
Melanie could not help but think back to how she had found Cedar Maid, her brown eyes fixed in death. She shuddered at the thought, then looked slowly at Shane. "This Indian woman," she murmured. "Was she paid for also with a bride price?"
Shane nodded. "I am sure of it."
Melanie shuddered again, finding it hard to
envision any woman willingly marrying the man that she had seen. His vile stench and wild appearance had turned her stomach.
Shane crept an arm around her waist. He urged her to her feet and offered her her clothes. "It is time to travel onward," he said, again looking toward the sky. "The storm has passed. Soon the sky will be lightening with dawn."
Melanie hurried into her clothes that were still damp, but thankfully not clinging wet. A great uneasiness swept through her. She did not like Shane's mood. What did he have planned for Trapper Dan?
Why must he place himself in danger againand again, and again?
Chapter Twenty-six
Having worried about Shane the whole night, Melanie hurried into a long-sleeved blouse, a heavy riding skirt, and a buckskin jacket. She left her house without eating breakfast and walked determinedly toward the men who were milling around outside the bunkhouse, drinking coffee.
''Boys, I think I've got to ask for volunteers again," she said. The chill morning air stung her nose and the wind lifted her hair from her shoulders, whipping it around her face. "Shane Brennan is still without cowhands. Until more are found, he needs help at his farm. Chores are going undone now. That can't continue for much longer or the whole farm is going to suffer."
A coldness seized her when she saw most of the men turn their eyes to the ground, ignoring her.
Then she understood the reason why. Terrance was suddenly there at her side, looking down at her with utter contempt.
"What the hell are you doing, sis?" Terrance said in a controlled voice.
"You don't really have to ask, do you?" Melanie said, turning to talk up into his face. "And you're darn well going to try to stop me, aren't you?"
Terrance waved a hand into the air toward the men. "All of you get to work!" he shouted. "There's been enough horsing around here the past few days to last a lifetime! What are you getting paid for? Damn it, get to work!"
Melanie stared at the men as they splashed the remainder of their coffee from their tin cups onto the ground and walked away, grumbling beneath their breaths.
She then turned and stared angrily up at Terrance. "Why do you have to be soso mean?" she asked incredulously. "Terrance, you know as well as I that we can spare a few of the men. If not for Shane, at least think of Josh. Josh still owns a portion of the farm. He'll suffer losses, as well as Shane."
Terrance's lips lifted into a smug smile as he challenged her with a set stare, then turned and sauntered away from her.
Melanie's temper flared even hotter, and she rushed to him and grabbed him by an arm, stopping him.
"You hope they do lose the farm, don't you?" Melanie accused him. "You want to be there to take it off their hands, don't you? You won't even
have to force Josh on me anymore. That won't be necessary. You will have the farm and an unwed sister, to boot!"
She dropped her hand away from him. "Well, brother dear, you will find that you are wrong on both counts," she said. "Your sister is going to be married, but to the m
an you would least want her to marry! And I won't allow you to force the Brennan farm into bankruptcy. I'll do anything I can to stop you!"
She turned and began running toward the stable. She had to get to Shane and encourage him to go into town today and hire himself a new crew. Not one more day should be allowed to pass without filling his pasture with men branding the longhorns, herding the cows, and repairing the fences!
Even if she had to go into town herself and do the hiring, it would be done!
Quickly saddling her horse, Melanie swung herself up onto it and rode away. She looked at the sky, thankful for the rising sun giving warmth to the air. She looked ahead, seeing no smoke rising from the Brennan chimneys. Had the house servants also fled?
