It took him a few seconds to answer. "Tom, he was the main one. The others – they joined in, but…they haven't been too helpful since…well, since all that happened." He waved a hand at his wounded leg.
"Let me tell you – exactly – what I expect, Smith, so there'll be no misunderstanding." Brandon's voice was hard-edged. He didn't want to have to do this – ever again. Once should be enough, to insure the safety of all of them…Allie and the boys.
"If I have one more piece of trouble from anyone in town, I'll come looking for you. And when I find you, I will kill you. When I say 'trouble,' I'm talking about this: None of the boys better be harmed. They'll be attending school, and I don't expect any problems from any one in town over that, including your son and his friends."
Smith nodded. "Anything else?"
Brandon gave a low chuckle. "Hell, yes. There's a lot else – I expect to come to Spring Branch to conduct my business. I don't want to have to consider the fact that I might have some two-bit son of a bitch hiding around the next bend in the road waiting for me or Allie or the boys. It's going to be your job to make sure everyone in town gets the message that you and I are on the same page, Smith. Anyone steps out of line, it's you I'll come looking for."
"That ain't fair!"
"Well, anyone you run across that can't understand the situation, you let me know, and we'll go visit them together. Otherwise, you'd better take care of it."
He nodded slowly. "I will. I guess."
Unspoken understanding passed between them. Without a doubt, Brandon knew everything would be made right, and soon. "Let's go," he murmured, turning for the door as he reached to take Allie's hand once more. Suddenly, he couldn't stay one minute longer in the confines of the shack with the smell of Tom Carver's blood and Arnie Smith's childish petulance. He wanted to be done with it all. He wanted to go home.
****
Allie glanced back at Doc as she followed Brandon out of the shack. He gave her a quick nod, reassuring her that all would be well. She didn't even meet Arnie Smith's eyes. Brandon immediately commanded her full attention, his grip tightening on hers as they stepped out onto the porch.
Carver's upper body and head was wrapped in a rug. The corpse lay on the ground, along the length of one side of the porch. Owen had already pumped some water and hastily washed the wooden slats that had been stained with Carver's blood.
Brandon took a long, deep breath of air as he led Allie down the steps and out into the clearing, his mouth set in a grim line. It couldn't be easy for him, Allie thought, physically or emotionally. He was trying not to show any weakness. It was important that he hide it, from her, but especially from Arnie Smith.
She lengthened her strides to keep up better with him. He'd slowed some, whether unable or simply unwilling to keep up the pace, she wasn't sure. It didn't matter. He needed rest. His face still bore the evidence of the beating he'd taken, his gun hand better than before, but not ready for what he'd had to do today.
Once again, worry rose up inside her. She couldn't stop him. He would do whatever he determined he needed to do. And now, he had more responsibility than he'd ever had before in his life – at a time when he should be recovering from what Arnie's town thugs had done to him.
Regret welled inside her along with guilt. It wasn't as if she'd planned for this to happen – but she couldn't deny the unmitigated relief she felt at having him back in her life once more. Still…she couldn't help wondering if he'd had other plans before she'd ridden into town and held off Arnie Smith's wolves.
"Brandon—"
He glanced at her, but didn't stop. He couldn't, she realized. He had pushed himself to the extreme limits of his endurance, and was just doing his best to see an end to it.
"Brandon, I'm sorry."
"For what?"
She let go of his hand, laying her palm on his upper arm to slow him even more. "Everything."
There was a flash of vulnerable questioning in his dark eyes when he turned to look at her. He came to a stop. "Allie? What are you saying, here?"
She took a deep breath. She had to offer him the choice. To let him understand that as much as he meant to her, it meant more to know he didn't feel obligated. That he was staying because he wanted to. Because he wanted her, Jay, and the dream.
She moistened her dry lips. "I don't want to be a burden to you – now or ever."
"You never have been," he answered solidly.
"I know…this idea of mine was – well, kind of sprung on you." She shrugged, not sure how to proceed. But she had to be honest. "Even seeing me again was unexpected."
"For both of us." The uncertainty in his smile nearly undid her.