Page 62 of The Banker's Bride

“Be careful.” Megan gave his hand a gentle squeeze, and then casually did as he had instructed.

Once Megan was safe, Dallas rose from his seat, straightened his vest, and walked to the front until he was standing in front of Frank. “I suggest you leave as the gentleman said.”

“Well, well!” Frank bellowed, staggering a bit. “Look who we have here! If it isn’t the man who killed my brother!”

All eyes in the restaurant were on them. “You mean, the man who robbed my bank.” Dallas took a step closer. “Your brothers were hung for what they did. And if you don’t watch it, you might join them.”

“Why, you—” he challenged, quickly drawing his gun and pointing it at Dallas.

Without thinking, Dallas grabbed Frank’s hand and banged it on the counter. Frank screamed in pain as he let go of the gun. Then he reared back his fist and swung, but Dallas ducked, moving out of the way. Then Dallas grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back. “Take his gun,” Dallas instructed the maître d’, holding Frank still as the women in the restaurant gasped. A few of the other men seated stood, obviously ready to offer their assistance.

The maître d’ did as he instructed, and then a few other male customers walked to the front, and one of the men helped Dallas hold Frank.

“I’ll get the sheriff!” another man yelled as he hurried from the restaurant and ran down the street.

Frank struggled against their grasp. “This man killed my brothers!”

“Well, if they hadn’t robbed his bank, I’m sure he wouldn’t have killed them,” one of the men replied.

“Be careful.” Dallas held Frank firmly, speaking to the other man helping him. “He has a lot of men traveling with him.” Infact, Dallas was surprised that he had come into the restaurant without his entourage.

They waited a few minutes, while Dallas and the other man held him.

“Let me go!” Frank yelled, struggling against their grasp. “Or my boys will make you pay!”

“Yeah, that’s what your brothers said.”

“Why you sneaky, low down—”

“Quiet you!” Dallas shook him. “There are ladies present.”

A few minutes later, the sheriff burst through the door. “Okay, that’s enough. You caused enough trouble for one day. Let’s go.”

“You can’t do this to me!” Frank yelled as they dragged him out the door. “Mark my words, banker! This isn’t over!”

Dallas stood back and watched as they took him away. “Oh, it’s over, all right,” he replied, hoping he was right.

When Dallas headed toward the back of the restaurant, Megan was standing against the wall across from their table, holding a steak knife that had been lying on the table. Several of the workers from the back were standing there, too. A big man wearing a white apron held a butcher knife, ready.

A crease formed between Dallas’s eyes as he slowly approached her. “It’s okay, Megan. I’m okay.”

“If he would have hurt ye—”

“I’m fine.” Dallas cut her off, gently taking the knife from her. “Megan, it’s okay.” He pulled her to his chest and laid the knife on the counter. When he looked over at the table, their steaks were at their place settings. “Hey.” He pulled back to look into her eyes. “Let’s eat, and then we’ll see if Charles is ready to go.”

Megan shook her head. “I don’t think I can eat. Not now.”

Dallas smiled, gently placing his hand on her cheek. “I refuse to let a thug like that ruin our evening together. Come on.” Heled her to their table and held her chair as she sat. “Please. Let’s try to enjoy the rest of the afternoon.”

She nodded as she took her seat. “I guess t’would be a shame to let such a fine meal go to waste.”

“That’s my girl,” Dallas cooed, smiling proudly. He cut his steak, took a bite, chewed, and swallowed, enjoying the burst of flavor. “Tell me one thing, Megan.”

She stopped eating to look up at him. “Anything.”

A devilish smile lit his lips. “Would you really have used that knife?”

Megan’s eyes turned serious as the smile left her face. “What do ye think?”

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