Page 64 of The Banker's Bride

Butch nodded. “Let’s go.” He glanced over at Milo and nodded toward the carriage and then turned back to Charles. Jake and Butch walked over to the hitching post where their horses were tied, and quickly mounted.

Dallas clasped his hand on his shoulder. “Thanks, Milo. I really appreciate this.”

“Don’t worry.” Milo looked over at Megan in the carriage. “We won’t let anything happen to her.”

“Thank you,” Charles added.

Dallas nodded. “Let’s go. I want to get home before sundown.”

Charles followed Dallas to the carriage and slid in next to Megan. She immediately slid her hand into his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. He looked into her eyes, knowing just how brave she really was.

No one said anything on the way back to Whiskey River. The journey started off slow, and Butch and Jake hung back, away from the carriage, just in case there was trouble. Dallas felt anxious, in a hurry to get Megan to safety.

Butch suddenly rode up beside them and yelled into the window. “Get out of here! Riders are coming up fast behind us! We’ll hold them off for as long as we can! Go!”

Dallas nodded once. “Bill, get us out of here!” he yelled to the driver, and then turned to Megan. “Lie down on the floor and don’t get up until I tell you!”

After she was safely on the floor, Dallas pulled out his gun and leaned out the window, while Charles did the same on the other side.

Behind Butch and Jake, several riders were coming up fast.

“Give me a gun!” Megan shouted over the sound of the pounding horses’ hooves.

“No! Stay down!” Dallas commanded, and then turned his attention out the window. He waited until the riders were closer, and then he and Charles started firing. They took down two, but the other riders were getting closer. Dallas leaned farther out the window and shot again, taking down another.

One of the riders shot and Jake slumped over onto his horse, nearly falling off, but he held on.

“Dallas, give me a gun!” Megan yelled, and then started patting down his suit.

“Do you know how to use one?” Dallas countered, and then leaned out and shot another rider.

“Now’s a good time as any to learn!” she shouted over the rumble of the carriage and horses’ hooves pounding into the snow.

“Megan, no! Reload for us! Do it like this.” Dallas popped open the chamber of the revolver, shoved in the bullets, and snapped it closed. Then, he gave her the bullets.

Megan stayed down low in the seat and reloaded the revolvers for both Dallas and Charles when they emptied, never faltering.

Butch turned around and shot another. “Hold on, Jake! Don’t you dare let go!”

Dallas shot and took down another, and so did Charles. When there were just two outlaws left, they pulled off and turned around.

Butch grabbed the reins of Jake’s horse while still going full speed.

“Bill, pull the carriage over!” Dallas shouted up to the driver when he was sure the riders were gone.

“Whoa!” Bill shouted, and the carriage started to slow.

As soon as it came to a stop, Dallas and Charles jumped out, and Milo jumped down from the top.

“Take him inside the carriage. I’ll ride out here,” Dallas instructed when Charles and Butch pulled Jake off the horse.

Charles shook his head. “No, I’ll ride Jake's horse. You ride in there with Megan and Jake.”

Dallas nodded once, knowing there was no time to argue. The men might come back at any moment.

When they carried Jake to the carriage, Megan was sitting as far over on one of the benches as she could. “Here! Lay him here.” She motioned for them to lay him on the seat beside her, and then laid his head on her lap. She immediately checked his shirt. He was shot on his side.

“We’ll take care of him,” Dallas promised Charles and Butch. Then he climbed into the carriage and sat on the seat across from her. Milo quickly climbed back on top of the carriage.

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