She settled herself on the ground beside him, not near enough to touch him, more intent on watching him than the spectacular sunrise.
"Brandon—" She wanted to tell him how grateful she was that he'd broken up a scuffle the day before between Dickey and Jake. Dickey was sickly, an easy target for the other boys.
He reached to take her hand. "Shh. Let's not talk right now. Just watch."
At that moment, she'd realized she was in love with Brandon Gabriel. As the light broke over the horizon, she'd dared not look into his dark eyes for fear that he'd see how much he meant to her. It would ruin everything. He was just being kind to her, looking out for her as he had for Dickey. But, with his hand enfolding hers, Allie suddenly felt as if she had everything she could ever want.
Looking down at him now, all those old feelings roared through her like a freight train. She'd tamped them down so long, missed him so much. The thought of what almost happened to him this afternoon in town was too horrible to dwell on.
He felt he was bringing trouble down on her, but he couldn't be further from the truth. He was the answer to a prayer. She needed him; needed him badly, if her plan was to succeed.
Ever since those days she spent at The Benevolent Christian Home for Infants and Waifs, she kept the dream of doing something for other orphans close to her heart. The idea for what she could do had come to her after she rescued Jay. When they'd bought this house and land – a real home – it began to fall into place in her mind. She wanted to open a ranch facility that would be self-sufficient. At first, she'd have to take in older boys with no homes, and let them work the cattle herd she had on order. They'd learn a trade, then when the cattle were sold, they could reinvest in the home if they wanted, buy into next year's herd. Or, if they were ready, strike out on their own with their share of profits or cattle, whichever they chose. No matter what, they'd never be at the mercy of the world.
Eventually, she hoped to broaden her operation, but first, she had to get it up and running. She needed a foreman, and she needed him now. There would be no chance any of the townspeople would help. The boys would be here in three days; the cattle – two weeks – at the most.
She quietly gathered some of the bandaging strips and the open bottle of whiskey. She'd see to Big Mack, and then she and Jay would talk.
Tomorrow…tomorrow, she'd find a way to convince Brandon Gabriel to stay. For now, sleep was the best medicine for him. He was safe here. She would make sure of that.
****
Jay sat beside the bed they'd made for Big Mack in the corner, behind the settee. His hand rested on the dog's brown head. Big Mack whined, moving slightly. He'd gotten torn up before, Jay thought, but never this bad. Jay figured he'd lied when he told Mr. Gabriel he was 'almost' in as bad shape as Big Mack. Mr. Gabriel's wounds were even worse, but Jay hadn't wanted to say so.
Truthfully, he was scared for both of them. Big Mack was a fighter, and probably, Mr. Gabriel would be too.
Jay settled back against the wall. He would've given his right arm to see Mr. Gabriel run the Claytons out of Spring Branch. Listening to the other boys at school talking, making their plans to sneak down to the bluff overlooking the town to watch the gunslinger take on the gang, he'd felt so alone. His ears perked up when he'd realized the conversation had taken a gory, unexpected twist.
"Hell, no!" Jimmy's voice rose above the others. "I ain't talkin' 'bout seein' him run the Claytons out of town." He grinned, wide. "I'm talkin' 'bout what comes after."
"After?" Charlie Hayes had asked.
The circle of boys leaned close to hear Jimmy's explanation. All but Jay. He pretended not to care, sitting a few yards away on the ground alone, his lunch in the pail between his legs.
"Yeah. After. My pa and some of the other men have a little surprise for the gunslinger. A nice serving of 'knuckle sandwich'. Pa says they're gonna pay him in full – just not like he thinks."
The boys fell silent, shocked.
"What if he gets warned? Shoots your pa instead?" Brock Hastings was the first to recover enough to speak.
Jimmy shook his head assuredly. "He won't. He'll be dead before sundown, Pa says. No doubt about it."
Jay hadn't been invited to go with the boys, being Indian, and a bastard. But how he wished he'd followed, just to see what had happened! How did Mama get Mr. Gabriel away from the men?
Jimmy's pa was going to be sore as heck. His plan hadn't worked, after all.
If Jimmy knew the gunman was staying with them, he was liable to be as mad as his pa. Jay would have to fight Jimmy – and he always lost that fight. Jimmy was strong as heck, and two years older.
Jay's spirits plummeted even further. He stroked Big Mack's head.
"Jay?" Allie peered around the corner of the settee, her arms laden with supplies to treat the dog's injuries.