Free Dangerous Heart by Tracey Bateman Page A

knew Lane was sweet on her or not, he still didn’t have any call to sneak around and gawk at her without her knowing. It just wasn’t right.
    â€œDid you hear me, boy?” he said. “What was you doin’, staying back when the rest of us moved on?”
    A lazy smile collected at the corner of Lane’s mouth. “That’s my business, I reckon.”
    In a flash, Web snatched the front of Lane’s shirt and yanked him forward. Fear replaced insolence, and the younger man’s eyes widened.
    â€œI’m makin’ it my business, you two-bit idiot.” A wave of nausea swarmed his gut, but he fought it back.
    Elijah stepped forward and spread his hands. “Let’s not fight amongst ourselves. I’m sure it hasn’t escaped anyone’s notice that James and Murray are ailing. I’m guessing cholera. Do you think we ought to be concentrating on not spreading it?”
    Web turned Lane loose with a jolt. “Elijah’s got a point. Now, I don’t want to hear any more. A half-day’s ride is plenty far away. Anyone else what to challenge me?”
    Web knew he was on dangerous ground when someone like Lane, who had ridden with him since he was just a boy,could go against him for no good reason. The other men would lose confidence if he didn’t do something quick.
    He turned to the rest of the men, who stood in silence, waiting, watching to see what he would do. “Now, you men know me. Have I ever led you into anything that wasn’t for the good of the entire gang?”
    Murmurs of assent buzzed around the group. Confidence surged through Web. “All right then. I have my reasons for not riding away just yet.”
    Lane seemed unable to let well enough alone. “Seems to me, if we’re going to risk our necks for your so-called reasons, you ought to come clean to the rest of us.”
    Web knew if he gave in to Lane’s demands he would be in danger of losing his command of this ragtag bunch of misfits that he had pulled together and made into a family. And he couldn’t let that happen. His biggest regret at the moment was ever treating Lane like a son. Still, he figured he’d best remind the men just why they’d left Missouri and followed the wagon train. It was his only defense against Lane’s poison.
    â€œRemember why we hit the wagon train in the first place?” He leveled his gaze and scrutinized the whole lot of ungrateful idiots. “Who joined the wagon train the same time as Grant Kelley?” He hesitated a moment for effect. “Harrison. Charles Harrison. Richest fella in Kansas. And ain’t we lucky that he packed up, lock, stock, and barrel, and decided to head west with that idiot son of his, a pretty wife, and young daughter? How many of you got enough brains to figure out what he probably didn’t leave behind?”
    â€œHis money?”
    Poor Yuley. He was as slow as Harrison’s son. His big grin flashed proudly.
    Web clapped the simpleton on the shoulder with parental approval. “That’s right, Yuley. His money. Now, how many of you want to ride off and leave all those thousands of dollars that I just bet are under a false bottom or in their supply wagon, locked away in a box?”
    No one raised a hand. He turned in triumph to Lane. “I guess you got your answer. If you ever go against my word again, I’ll put a bullet in you.”
    Lane’s eyes darkened further. “I don’t like threats.”
    â€œAnd I don’t like my leadership questioned. Now, this was my outfit from the start, and I don’t mean to hand it over to the likes of you before I’m good and ready.” He paused for a breath. “Unless I change my mind and hand it over to someone else.”
    â€œAll right. Your point is taken. But tell me, how do you plan to get us close enough to find the box and then steal it?”
    â€œI’ll let you know