Page 76 of The Banker's Bride

Mrs. Daly bit her lower lip, and then answered, “About an hour ago.”

“Which way did she go?”

“I… I don’t know….” Mrs. Daly grabbed the edge of her apron and dabbed at her eyes. “If anything were to happen to her….”

Dallas sprinted out the door and looked both ways. There were tracks in the snow that led to the left. He followed them for a bit, and then he realized where she had gone… to the lake. He sprinted over the field and into the barn, causing Bill to jump.

“Oh! I’m sorry, sir! You scared me.” Bill brought a hand to his chest.

Dallas paid no attention as he grabbed a lead strap, his heart pounding. There was no time to waste. He just hoped that Megan was at the lake and on her way back. He just prayed that Frank and his men didn’t find her first. But surely, they wouldn’t be brazen enough to come onto his property, but he wouldn't put it past them. Dallas grabbed the bridle from the nail next to Blaze’s stall and flung open the door.

The horse reared up a bit. “Easy, boy.” Dallas held out his arms. Once Blaze calmed, he hooked the lead strap to his halter, led him into the hallway, and tied him off at a post.

“Bill, could you get me Blaze’s saddle?” Dallas grabbed the saddle blanket and threw it over Blaze’s back. Blaze was his fastest horse and his best bet to get to Megan in time. Dallas just hoped that he was letting his imagination run away with himand that she was safe. When he turned around, Bill was there, holding the saddle.

“What’s wrong?” Bill asked, concerned.

“I’m not sure.” Then an idea hit him. “Did Megan come by the stables this morning?”

Bill shook his head. “Not that I know of. Why?”

Dallas threw the saddle upon the back of the horse and swiftly tightened the cinch. “She went for a walk an hour ago and she hasn’t returned.”

“I’ll tell the men.” Bill ran out the door toward the bunkhouse before Dallas could say more.

But Dallas was grateful. Until he saw that Megan was safe, he needed all the help he could get to find her. He would rather look like a lunatic running around looking for her rather than take a chance that one of the Yates boys had grabbed her.

Within minutes, the horse was saddled. Dallas quickly led Blaze from the stall and then mounted him as the horse's eyes flared.

“Easy, boy,” Dallas coaxed as he ran his hand along the stallion’s neck. The horse glared at him and laid back his ears. “Don’t even think about it.” After Dallas mounted, Blaze started to prance. “Ready to run?” Dallas patted the side of his neck. “Let’s go, boy!” He leaned forward in the saddle and yelled, “Yah!”

Immediately, Blaze reared up and lunged forward into a dead run with his ears perked and his tail extended, kicking up the snow as he elongated his strides and pressed on.

It had been a while since Dallas had run him like this, but this wasn’t for pleasure. Dallas couldn’t wait another minute as he pressed Blaze onward toward the lake. Within minutes, he neared the lake and saw a lot of footprints in the snow. He dismounted to look at the tracks, holding onto Blaze’s reins. He was barely winded and ready to run again. From what Dallascould tell from the tracks, there had definitely been a struggle. Then the human footprints abruptly stopped.

They had taken her.

He mounted Blaze and headed back toward the house at full speed, Blaze kicking up snow behind them. Within minutes, he pulled Blaze to a stop in front of the house. Then Dallas jumped off and tied him off at a nearby hitching post.

Milo saw him and yelled, “Hey, boss! What’s wrong?”

“The Yates Gang took Megan!” Without saying another word, he skipped up the stairs to the front porch, taking two at a time. He flung the door open so hard that it hit the wall, scaring Mrs. Daly. But Dallas didn’t stop. He ran up the stairs and into their bedroom. He hadn’t planned on wearing his guns today, especially since it was a Sunday, but he had no choice. He strapped his gun belt around his waist and then tied off the little straps of leather at the bottom of the holsters around his legs to hold them in place. Usually, he didn’t bother with that if he was just going to the bank. But now, against the Yates Gang, he knew he would need it. If he had to take them all on single handedly, then so be it. And if that happened, Dallas knew he’d need every advantage he could get.

When he was ready, he ran down the stairs and out the door. Mrs. Daly followed him out and stood on the porch, but didn’t say a word.

Outside, Milo, Butch, Bill, and Mr. Daly rode up on their horses, heavily armed.

“We’re going with you,” Milo announced, sliding his rifle in its holster strapped to his saddle.

Dallas’s eyebrows pulled together in concern. “I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t.” Milo smirked, his hand resting on his rifle. “But we’re going.”

“Let’s go.” Dallas raised his chin toward Milo and the boys, and then quickly mounted Blaze. Then he pointed him toward town.

Blaze ripped down the snow-covered road through the trees headed toward town, his hooves digging in, kicking up snow and dirt as he pressed onward. He hated pressing Blaze so hard in the cold, but the horse seemed to be enjoying himself. His tail was extended as he stretched his neck forward to gain more speed. Dallas held him back a bit so as not to let him slip and break a leg. But after a bit, he gave up and leaned forward, urging him on. He’d never forgive himself if anything happened to Megan.

He still couldn’t believe that they had the gall to come to his ranch and take her. Dallas’s blood boiled when he thought that they had bided their time, waiting for the chance to get back at him. When the outlaws saw Megan in town the day before, Dallas was sure it gave them plenty of ideas.

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