She grinned at his teasing. "I'll get them."
"I'm going to head on over to Hobart to pick up my new partner here in a bit," she heard him tell Brandon as she left the room. "We'll check back by here on our way to Spring Branch, see how you're getting along this evening."
Allie couldn't hear Brandon's muffled reply, but a feeling of unease settled over her at Doc's words. For today, at least, she would have to stand between Brandon and the men who wanted him dead; whether that meant the remainder of the Clayton gang, or the townsmen who had hired him.
This time, if they came, she would not be aiming for a kneecap.
Chapter 10
Jay rose from the floor and pulled on his overalls. Doc Wilkins had gone inside the bedroom to see about Mr. Gabriel. When Big Mack had stirred in the night, Jay had immediately come wide awake, rolled off the makeshift bed and crawled over the rough wooden floor to lay eye-to-eye with the dog. He'd slept there all night.
Jay cast a last quick glance at the sleeping dog. Mama had gone into the kitchen and he could hear the sounds of breakfast being prepared. "Jay?" she called. "I need some eggs."
"I'm goin'." He headed for the door.
In the barn, he patted the gunslinger's horse as he tossed some hay into the stall. "Wonder what your name is?" He fed their two horses and the doctor's, then returned to the black that Mr. Gabriel had ridden in on. "I have to go get the eggs now. But…I'll come back later."
A sound from behind him caught his attention. He stopped himself from turning, moving steadily for the door.
Someone was in the barn. He'd felt that prickle of fear a moment earlier, as if something just wasn't quite right. Stealthy footsteps sounded behind him. His heart pounded. He kept moving, knowing whoever was there didn't mean to let him make it out the door.
The rough shove just below his shoulder blades sent him sprawling just inches from the open door. A low, familiar laugh came from behind him. He'd heard that laugh often enough in his nightmares to know exactly who it belonged to – Jimmy Smith.
He tried to get up, but Jimmy fell atop him, pressing his face into the dirt and straw, knocking the wind out of him.
"Eat some of that dirt, you little half-breed bastard," Jimmy taunted. His hand pushed at the back of Jay's head.
Jay tried to turn to his side, but there was no way he could unseat the bigger boy.
"Fight all you want. You ain't gettin' up 'til I'm good and ready to let you. My pa said he made that breed gunslinger beg. Let's hear you beg…breed."
Anger overrode Jay's fear. "He did not! Mr. Gabriel never begged your pa for shit! You're a liar—"
Jimmy twisted Jay's arm behind his back. "He said he did, and I believe him. Are you sayin' my pa's a liar too?"
Jay blinked back tears of pain. "Mr. Gabriel didn't beg your pa for anything! He wouldn't."
"How do you know?" Jimmy increased the pressure and Jay gasped. "How do you know what my pa did? You don't even have a pa."
The old taunt still hurt worse than his arm. "I do, so! I do have a pa!"
****
Brandon sat up slowly, swinging his legs to the side of the bed. So far, so good. Doc had left him a few minutes ago to see to Big Mack. Brandon needed a quick trip out back, disdaining the discreet placement of the chamber pot within easy reach. He'd rather try to make it to the outhouse than use one of those things. He grasped the night table to give himself some leverage and came to his feet, surprisingly steadier than he thought he'd be.
He took a slow step toward where his saddlebags lay in the corner. It felt good to be up, but he knew this first time, he'd have to make it brief. He pulled a clean pair of jeans from the leather bags and slowly worked them on, unable to manage all the buttons at the placket. Enough, though. He was decent. And his right hand hurt so that he was not going to do any further damage to it in trying to button everything up. He shrugged into a shirt, leaving it unbuttoned, and opened the bedroom door.
Allie turned quickly from where she stood at the stove. "Brandon!" Concern and relief mingled in her expression.
She hurried over to him, wiping her hands on her apron, then reached to touch his cheek. "Are you sure—" she broke off.
Brandon laughed and took her hand in his, kissing her knuckles. "You mind if I take that brand new Henry along with me for company? I think, if push came to shove, I could manage it left-handed."
She shook her head. "Take it anytime. It should still have a few shells in it. To tell you the truth, I can't remember how many I loaded yesterday."
He kissed her forehead. "One was all it took, sweetheart." His lips curved as their eyes met. "Back in a minute."