Page 75 of The Banker's Bride

Megan glanced up and she was at the lake, a big, barren oak tree growing beside it. But instead of looking dead, it looked alive as the sun rose behind it, sending shoots of orange and bright yellow across the sky, taking her breath away. She had walked farther than she had realized while she was thinking.

As Megan watched the sunrise, casting light upon the earth and in her soul, she realized that her heart had awoken, along with the sunrise. She had to tell Dallas. As quickly as she could,she turned and started running toward the house. She had to see Dallas right away; she had to tell him that she loved him. It was unladylike, but she lifted her skirts away from her ankles and ran as fast as she could toward the house, not wanting to waste another moment, not wanting to live another moment without telling Dallas how she felt.

All of a sudden, three men rode toward her, coming up fast, and she froze. “Who are ye?” Megan looked toward the house, but the house wasn’t in sight… and neither was the barn, the bunkhouse, or Mr. and Mrs. Daly’s little cabin. Without realizing it, she had gone too far.

One of the men sneered. “I think you know.”

Megan looked up and got a good look at the men… and recognized them. Under the dirt and grime, they were the men who had been standing in front of the hotel in town nearly every day. They were part of the Yates Gang.

She screwed up her courage and narrowed her eyes, determined not to show fear to these outlaws. “Let me pass.”

A sinister smile spread across one of the men’s faces as he slowly climbed down off his horse, not taking his eyes from hers, watching her every move. “I don’t think so, sugar.”

A shiver ran down her spine, but she donned her best Poker face. “Git out of me way!”

“Oooo, a feisty one!” the other man leered, climbing down off his horse, too. “Just how I like ’em.” He lunged toward her, but she ducked away and tried to run. But the other man caught her, wrapping his arms around her so tightly she couldn’t move her arms.

“Help! Someone help!” Megan yelled at the top of her lungs, kicking and screaming, hoping beyond all hope that someone would hear.

“Get a bandana, Joe!” The man holding her yelled, shoving his filthy hand over her mouth to muffle her screams. “We don’t need anyone hearing her.”

Megan bit his hand, drawing blood and he screamed in pain as he let her go and she was running again. But they quickly caught up with her.

Joe shoved a dirty bandana from around his neck into her mouth, smelling of sweat and body odor, and tasting of dirt as she thrashed her head about. “Hold her head, Hal! We gotta get out of here before someone hears her!”

Hal grasped her forehead and pulled it back hard against his chest, nearly breaking her neck, holding her head still. Joe tied the bandana into place behind her head, muffling her screams.

Megan thrashed so hard that she got away from Henry again. This time, she turned and punched him in the mouth as hard as she could, drawing blood, and ran.

But Fred was quicker. The pounding of his boots running behind her came up fast… too fast. Within seconds, strong arms grabbed her waist, and they both tumbled into the cold snow. Fred straddled her, holding her down, pinning her hands back over her head. Then he looked down at her and sneered. “If my orders weren’t to bring you into town, I’d be tempted to have a bit of fun with you first.”

“Get off her,” Henry ordered. “We have to take her back to Frank.” Joe got off her and pulled her to a sitting position on the cold snow. “Hold her hands.”

Joe held her hands together as Henry quickly bound them. Then he pushed her onto the front of his horse and slid up into the saddle behind her, pinning her in front of him. “Let’s go!”

Megan struggled, but to no avail. “Hold still!” Henry yelled in her ear, jerking her head back. They ran at full speed, going another way, not passing the main house.

Obviously, they had been waiting to catch her alone without her guards. Megan guessed that they were going to kill her since Dallas had killed their brothers. An eye for an eye.

The horses’ hooves kicked up snow as they sped away. But all Megan could think of was Dallas, wishing she could see him one more time… wishing she had one more chance to tell him that she loved him.

Chapter 19

Dallas

Dallas woke with a start, sitting straight up in bed. He had tossed and turned all night as thoughts of Megan filled his mind. He glanced over to her side of the bed, but she was gone. Perhaps she went downstairs to have breakfast and then get ready for church. He chuckled to himself as he sat up on the side of the bed.

Knowing her, she probably beat Jacques to the kitchen and fixed breakfast. He was going to have to speak with Jacques about his wife’s forays into the kitchen… and perhaps give him a raise to make it worth his while.

Dallas rose from the bed and crossed the room to the window, enjoying the sunrise, as orange and pink streaks spread across the sky. It had been a while since he had actually taken the time to enjoy the sunrise. But since Megan had come into his life, he was beginning to appreciate the little things in life. Since they had met, it was as if Megan had awakened a side of him that he hadn't known existed. He now saw beauty in everyday life, where he didn’t before. His life seemed richer now, with Megan at his side. Not wanting to waste another minute to see her, he dressed quickly for church and headed down the stairs.

“Mr. King! I’m so glad ye’re awake!” Mrs. Daly wrung her hands as she paced.

Dallas’s heart dropped as he ran down the staircase. “What is it? Where’s Megan?”

Mrs. Daly shook her head as tears came to her eyes, scaring Dallas. The elder woman was as tough as they come and if she was this upset, it was for a good reason. “Mrs. King went for a walk this morn’ and hasn’t returned.”

Dallas’s heart sank. “When? How long ago?”

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