Allie looked up at him, a question in her beautiful features. What would he do about Arnie Smith?
Owen stepped forward and laid a hand on Brandon's arm. "Marcus and I will take care of this, Brandon. Why don't you and Allie go back and see to the boys…build those pens." He gave a wry smile. "I can handle a dead body as well as the next man, and leave Marcus to oversee his querulous patient in there." He cocked his head toward the doorway.
Doc shook his head, running a gnarled hand through his thinning hair. "I'd say you'll have a more pleasant task than I will, Owen. Good Lord... He's in there bawling." He turned away to go through the door to the dim interior.
Brandon's lips curved at Owen's offer. "I'll head back in a minute. First, I've got a word for Arnold Smith."
Owen grinned. "Thought you just might. Shall I send Jimmy over to your place, or home?"
Brandon hesitated. He didn't want Jimmy at his place. Jay's place. He didn't want Jay to ever have to deal with Jimmy again. But it wasn't in him to send Jimmy home alone. Arnie would have to go into town, to Doc's office.
Had Carver acted alone? Or did he have an accomplice? Would Jimmy be safe? He needed some answers before he sent the boy away by himself. It was best that he was among other people for now, as long as he could behave.
"Our place," he murmured.
Relief flooded Allie's face.
"At least, for now." He turned away and started after Doc.
Allie took his hand, almost shyly, and he stopped. "I want to go with you," she said.
"You might not like what I have to say."
She squeezed his hand. "I won't interfere."
He turned away from her and walked through the door just as Jimmy stood up to leave. Doc shot Brandon an exasperated glance, then turned back to Smith, who lay sprawled on the dirty mattress in the corner of the shack.
Brandon laid a palm on Jimmy's shoulder, and the boy looked up at him.
"No problems, Jim. You understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Head back over to our place. If you hurry, you'll catch the others. Sam and Ben are in charge."
Jimmy nodded, all trace of animosity wiped from his expression. He hurried past Brandon and ran after the other boys.
Brandon slowly raised his gaze to Arnie Smith. Doc was putting a new bandage over the wound in Arnie's side.
"You gonna kill me now, Gabriel?" Fear wore a thin track in Arnie's voice, and Brandon let the satisfaction slide through him.
"I should."
"You would, if there were no witnesses," Smith whined.
Brandon's smile was cold. "Well, having witnesses didn't stop you. You had the whole damn town helping you, there at the livery stable."
Arnie winced as he tried to move. From outside, they could hear Owen dragging Carver's body off the porch to the ground.
"Allie fixed that." Smith waved a hand at his wounded kneecap. "Busted me up good."
Doc snorted. "Luckily, she was in a charitable mood. It could've been a lot worse." He started for the door.
"Reckon you'll want me to pack up and move," Smith muttered, meeting Brandon's gaze.
"No," Brandon replied flatly. "I don't want you going anywhere. I want you in Spring Branch where I can keep an eye on you."
"But—"
"No buts, Smith. You're going to be a model citizen from here on out. You're going to have a talk with your friends, and end this hostility between us."
"Don't have any friends," Smith said. "After…what happened, they—" He broke off, clearing his throat. "They all left me pretty high and dry. Only friend I had left, I thought, was Tom."
"What about his partner?"
"I can deal with him. He ain't all that smart."
Brandon regarded him in silence for a moment, then, "I'm not killing you, Smith, because you have a son to finish raising. But I have a son, now too – and a passel of boys that are counting on me. If it comes to you or me, that this place is too small for both of us, you'll be the one to go. If that means I have to kill you to protect my boys, my woman, my land… I'll do it."
"I know."
"Don't forget."
Arnie looked past Brandon to where Allie stood. "I really did want you, Allie. Not just the land."
"It doesn't matter, Arnie. I'm with the only man I've ever loved."
Brandon glanced at her when she spoke, the truth of her words rolling over him in her tone and her look. She meant it. In that moment, Brandon knew they would never be separated again, if Allie had any say in the matter. Her unconditional love and acceptance was a gift he never thought he'd have. She was handing it to him – telling the world they belonged together and let the nay-sayers be damned.
Arnie nodded, looking down. "I see that." After a moment, he met Brandon's steady gaze once more, understanding in his expression.
"Who else was in on your plan – other than Tom Carver?"