"I'll take good care of him for you."
"I know you will." Doc glanced at Brandon, then gave Jay a serious stare. "I want you to promise to look after Mr. Gabriel, here, too. Lots of checkers, lots of water, and make sure he gets a little something in his stomach again later on this afternoon."
Jay nodded solemnly. "I will, Doc. I'll see to him. Don't you worry."
As Jay's eyes met his once more, Brandon felt something crack inside his heart. Jay's look was worshipful almost, and it hit Brandon in that instant that Jay actually cared about him.
Always a realist, he shook his head, refusing to minimize what he saw in the youngster's face, what he heard in his voice.
Jay loved him. Already. How this had happened, he wasn't sure. And he didn't much like it. It made him damn uncomfortable. It reminded him again that Jay and Allie were depending on him, now. God, what had he gotten himself into?
He let his breath out slowly, then shifted in the bed. Jay's expression became uncertain. Seeing it, Brandon smiled at him. "How're we gonna set up the checkerboard, Jay?"
Jay's face relaxed. "Mama has a little table I can bring in here."
Brandon nodded. "You think Big Mack's well enough to join the rest of us men folk?"
Jay glanced at Doc. The older man gave Brandon a wink, a laugh escaping him. "I'll help you move him in here, Jay. I think he'd welcome the company. Even if he's not much of a checkers player." Doc laid a hand on Brandon's shoulder. "I'll see you this evening. Rest, and don't overdo it."
"I won't. Not with Jay in charge."
Doc laughed and followed Jay out the door.
Brandon watched them go, feeling a little easier about things. What would be so bad about having someone depending on him? Having…a son. A wife.
Allie and Jay.
He sighed heavily, wincing at the long pull in his injured ribs. He saw himself in Jay every time he looked into his face. Jay needed a father. But what did he know about that? He'd never known his own father. Never been a father. Or a husband. That might be easier to learn, he mused.
He imagined Allie's gentle smile, her green gaze looking through him, into his very soul. She was the only one who could. The only one who ever had cared enough to, back when they'd been at the orphanage.
Now, she had come up with this crazy scheme…bringing orphans and cattle together, and him – right in the middle of it all. Right where he had no business being – except, dammit, he owed Allie. She'd shot Smith to protect him, and now, there'd be no peace for her at all, whether he stayed or moved on.
Setting things straight was a virtual impossibility now. Smith would hate her for what she'd done. He wasn't above killing her to get what he wanted. And what chance did a bunch of orphans stand against Arnie Smith and the town of Spring Branch?
Like it or not, Allie's intervention on his behalf was the thing that would save this ranch, the boys that were hoping to make a home here, Jay, and Allie herself. She'd made a lifelong enemy of Arnie Smith for sure, but Brandon knew now from talking to Doc that her situation had been desperate even before she'd put a bullet in Smith's kneecap.
Either way, he figured, he was all that was standing between Allison Taylor and Arnie Smith.
And he knew Smith would be figuring it the same way.
****
Allie stayed out of the bedroom as long as possible. Twice, she started to go in and join Jay and Brandon as they concentrated over the checkerboard. Jay's giggle was sweet to her ears. How long had it been since he'd laughed like that? He was genuinely happy – and it was Brandon who had brought that magic into his life again. She just had not realized how badly Jay wanted – needed – a man in his life.
She might've said the same for herself, she thought ruefully, turning her attention to tidying up the front room. Her body ached for Brandon's touch. During the night, she'd slept as close to him as she dared, not wanting to make full contact with him for fear of hurting him. But somewhere in the night, he'd reached for her and pulled her close, flush with his heated skin. She'd awakened, the unnatural fevered burning of his skin against her.
His left hand held her close to him possessively, even though he slept. And that had started a well of desire in the pit of her belly that grew quickly to a burgeoning need. She had dug her nails into her palms, reminding herself that he was hurt. He had a fever. She was in bed with him to offer comfort of a completely different nature.
Besides, the doctor was asleep in Jay's room just down the hall.
She reached up to lay a hand across Brandon's forehead, pushing back the fringe of dark, sweat-damp hair. Opening his eyes, he looked at her in the moonlit darkness of the night.