Page 35 of The Banker's Bride

“Dallas, I need to speak with you… privately,” Charles replied, anger leaking into his voice.

“Dear,” Megan interrupted, sliding her hand onto his arm. “Let’s take this outside. Shall we?”

“In a moment.” Dallas patted her hand condescendingly, ignoring her, focusing only on Charles.

“Dallas, don’t do this,” Charles whispered, glancing around the room.

“But—”

“Dallas, let’s go outside… now.” Charles looked around. “Let’s not make a scene in front of your guests.”

Dallas looked around the room, noticing that they were starting to attract attention. “Yes, of course.” He turned to Wyatt. “If you’ll excuse us.”

Wyatt nodded, his eyebrows pulling together in concern. “Yes, of course.”

At that moment, everything came to a head… the years of him being poor then struggling to make it to the top. Well, now he was at the top and by golly he was going to prove it. As he followed Megan outside, he knew he was flaunting his wealth and that of Charles before his guests, but he just couldn’t help himself. He had to prove his worth, that he was now worthy of his success. Until this moment, he hadn’t realized what a toll the years of struggle and hard work had taken on him.

Outside, Charles looked over and a few people were mingling. “Leave us, please.” The people nodded and then walked inside without incident. Charles walked away from the house and Dallas and Megan followed. Charles stopped, out of earshot.

When they were alone, Dallas grabbed Megan’s arm. “Don’t you ever embarrass me like that again!”

“Let me go!” she yelled.

Rage welled up within Dallas’s chest. “How dare you refuse to do as I’ve asked! We’re in the middle of a party!”

Megan jerked her arm away. “No, ye’re in the middle of trying to impress Charles!” She flung her hand toward Charles, who was waiting patiently to the side. “Ye were making a fool of yerself in there! Was that what this party was all about? To flaunt yer wealth at the feet of Mr. Whitfield? Is that why ye married me? To bring me out and show me off like a dancing bear when it suits ye?”

Anger welled up within his chest. “I was just trying to make him feel comfortable–”

“Comfortable?” Megan asked. “Ye call that comfortable? Ye were nearly embarrassing yerself, him… and me, too!”

Dallas took a step back as if he’d just been slapped. “So, I’m an embarrassment to you?”

Megan sighed. “No, not at all. But ye nearly embarrassedyerselfin there!”

“How?” Dallas asked.

“Ye were trying too hard to please Mr. Whitfield and to impress everyone else.” Megan lifted her arm to touch his, but he pulled away. “Just be yerself and stop trying so hard. Don’t worry so much if everyone will like ye or not. People will like ye even if yer poor. I was poor, too, But I’m still going to be me… whether I have money or not. And ye were in there flaunting me! I’m not one of yer possessions that ye can—”

“I merely offered Charles a dance with you. Nothing more.” Rage filled his chest. “I thought he might like to dance–”

“But why with me?” Megan asked as her eyes filled with tears. “I’m not a trophy that ye can bring out and flaunt when the time suits ye!”

“You’re not a trophy but you will do as I ask.”

“Like hell I will!” Megan placed her hands defiantly on her waist.

Dallas took a step toward her, but Charles stepped between them.

“Dallas, I think you need to calm down,” Charles interrupted. “This isn’t really about Megan, is it?”

Dallas stood there, his eyes flaring.

Megan stepped to the side, giving them room.

Charles took a step closer to him. “Dallas, what was that all about in there? You know I don’t like to discuss my family, my wealth. Why did you do that? I thought we were friends, and I came here to seeyou!” Charles let out a deep breath and then lowered his voice. “But besides that, one of the reasons why I like coming to Whiskey River is because everyone treats me like I’m a normal person. No one treats me differently because of my status, or because of what family I come from, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

“I’m sorry, Charles.” Anger filled Dallas’s chest, even though he was trying to calm down. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

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