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"You're not out of the woods yet," Shane said. "If we don't get you to the doctor quick, you could lose more than your damn leg." He started to rise, but was stopped again by Terrance clasping onto his arm. His fingers dug desperately into Shane's flesh.
"Shane, there's something that needs to be said, in case I don't pull through this thing alive," Terrance said, swallowing hard. "It needs telling, Shane. Please take the time to listen."
Melanie placed her hands to her mouth, sobbing, as she looked down at her brother who was ready to confess everything to Shane.
Oh, what if he died? She felt as though she had failed her brother! She should have found a way to help him with his drinking and gambling. He had
seemed tormented, but never had she been able to understand exactly why.
Was it too late? Was the longhorn going to succeed at ridding the world of the man he had most hated after all? If so, a part of her would die along with him!
"We don't have time for talking, Terrance," Shane grumbled.
"We've got to take the time," Terrance said, grabbing at his leg as a crushing sort of pain shot through it. The hand that still held onto Shane clasped harder, desperate to purge his soul of that which could make him burn in hell if he didn't.
"Then, damn it, Terrance, get said whatever it is that needs saying," Shane grumbled.
"Shane, I'
m sorry for all the trouble I've caused you," Terrance said, swallowing hard. "I was wrong about you. Damn it, you could've stood by and watched that damn longhorn gore me to death. Instead, you jumped right in there, ready to help. I didn't deserve your help."
Melanie caressed Terrance's brow. "Terrance, this isn't the time," she pleaded. "You can tell Shane everything later."
Terrance looked up at her. "There may not be another chance," he said sullenly. "I've got to say it now." He looked slowly back at Shane. ''Shane, all that's happened to you lately? It's been me doin' it."
Shane gulped in a quick breath of air. He glared down at Terrance as he continued to speak, recalling his first impression of Melanie's brother. He
had thought then that Terrance was a coward! All these devious acts behind everyone's backs now proved his cowardice!
"I had help from someone else, but I am responsible for your barn burning and the stampede," he said, licking his parched lips. "Everything, Shane. Everything!"
He looked up at Melanie, then turned his eyes back to Shane. "But, as I said, I didn't work alone," he said weakly. "I paid Trapper Dan to help me. He was with me all along. If he wasn't actually helping me do the dirty deed, he was standing watch." He swallowed hard again. "He's as much at fault as I was.'' He looked over Shane's shoulder, at the Indian woman. He recognized her. She was Trapper Dan's wife! "What's she doin' here? She's"
"Yes, she lived with Trapper Dan," Melanie said, interrupting. "But she won't any longer. She's going to live with me and Shane."
Terrance's eyes widened. "You . . . and . . . Shane?" he said in an almost whisper.
"Yes, we're going to be married," Melanie said, smiling over at Shane. "Soon."
Then she frowned down at Terrance. "We've got to get you to a doctor," she said. She gave Shane a quick glance. "You mentioned building a travois. Perhaps you'd best get to it. I don't know how much longer Terrance can hold out."
Shane started to rise, but was stopped again by Terrance grabbing his arm. "I was on my way to warn Trapper Dan about you," he said shallowly.
"Seems you're too late," Shane said, easing his arm from Terrance's grip. "Just like you, he's met with an accident. But he hasn't got someone willing to see that he gets proper doctoring. He's going to die a slow, painful death, Terrance. The sort that he deserves."
"You probably think I deserve the same sort of death now that you know everything," Terrance said, wincing when he was flooded with renewed pain.
Shane glared down at Terrance. "Yes, perhaps I do," he said flatly. "But because you are Melanie's brother, I am forced to do what my heart does not tell me to do." He stood over Terrance, his doubled fists on his hips. "You are lucky. You are being given another chance.''
Melanie covered her mouth with a hand and cried softly as she watched Shane begin cutting the limbs off willow trees and putting together a travois. Never had she loved him more than now.
Melanie sat at Terrance's bedside in his bedroom, bathing his feverish brow with a dampened cloth. Doc Raley had come and gone. The amputation had been quick, yet gruesome. The leg had been removed from the thigh, and now hard times were ahead, whether or not Terrance's body could adjust to the shock it had just been put through. A fever now threatened him more than the longhorn bull during its most fevered pitch of anger!
Shane stepped to Melanie's side and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Have faith," he said reassuringly. "Your brother has a strong constitution."
Melanie placed a hand over Shane's and squeezed it affectionately as she looked up at him through misty eyes. "You are so kind," she murmured. "You don't have to be here, you know."
"I am here because you need me," Shane said, then turned with a start when someone else entered the room. He questioned the stranger with a forked eyebrow, seeing two mighty holstered pistols weighting him down at his hips.
