Page 80 of The Banker's Bride

They all laughed.

Sheriff Clark shrugged again. “That will be our testimony when the U.S. Marshal gets here.”

Dallas shook his hand, a smile lighting his lips. “Thanks, sheriff. I’ll never forget this.”

The sheriff clasped his shoulder. “Think nothing of it. I’m just sorry it came down to this.” Dallas started to turn away, but the sheriff stopped him. “I got a wire earlier that the Yates Ganghad a pretty hefty price over their heads, dead or alive. I was going to arrest them and then this happened.” A crease formed between his eyes. “It’s yours.”

Dallas looked over at Megan, and she nodded. Then he turned back to the sheriff. “Donate it to the school and the church. Maybe buy some new books for the children. Giving the students a good education is important.” Then, Dallas thought of something else. “And buy food for anyone in the town who needs it. No one should go hungry… ever.”

“I will.” The sheriff shook his hand. “You’re a good man, Dallas.”

He nodded. “Thank you, but I intend to be better.”

Sheriff Clark grinned. “Well, I’m going to check on Mr. Carson to make sure he’s all right.”

“I’ll send for Doc Morgan.” Dallas glanced over at Butch, and he nodded, then headed toward the doctor’s office. Dallas looked down at Megan and smiled, still speaking to the sheriff. “I’ll go check on him later. Please thank him for me.”

The sheriff nodded and then walked away.

Megan looked up at Dallas and a thought occurred to her. “There’s just one more thing: I want to be treated as an equal.”

Dallas chuckled, nodding his head. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“And another thing….”

Dallas waited, one corner of his lips curling into a smile.

“I’m sorry I went out this morning, unattended.”

Dallas’s eyebrows pulled together in concern. “They didn’t hurt you, did they?”

She shook her head. “No, they didn’t.” She didn’t tell him that she’d probably have bruises all over her body from the struggle, though. But a thrill ran through her body when she touched her lips to his, for she knew that their life together had truly just begun.

Epilogue

Megan

Later that day, Kyle came back with the U.S. Marshall. When he saw the carnage and heard the stories of what had happened, he ruled that the gang was responsible for wreaking havoc on the town. Then he went back to Laramie without incident, taking the bodies with him.

Mr. Carson was going to be all right. He would be off his feet for a while and needed to rest but was no worse for wear. Dallas sent Milo and Butch over to the General Store to help out until Mr. Carson was on his feet, and Mrs. Carson enjoyed ordering them around a bit too much. Milo and Butch couldn’t wait until Mr. Carson came back to work.

Jake was back at the ranch and no worse for wear. True to his word, Dallas had brought him into the main house so Jake could be better cared for. But soon, Jake had enough of the special attention and wanted to go back to the bunkhouse. Megan suspected that he was ready for his life to get back to normal, too.

True to his word, Dallas donated the reward money to the school. New books and slates were purchased, along with a new blackboard, and there was even enough money to purchase a curtain to cover it when church services were held.

Dallas also bought food for those who needed it and he and Megan enjoyed delivering it discreetly. They also vowed to starta food pantry for anyone who needed it. Megan was glad that no one else in Whiskey River would go hungry again… not if they could help it.

Over the next two weeks, Dallas had treated Megan as an equal, turning them into the best weeks of her life. She and Dallas spent every waking moment together. He was courteous and slow to anger, as if something inside of him had changed.

And Megan knew that she had changed, too. After she had surrendered her heart to Dallas, it was as if a weight had been lifted from her. She was no longer afraid of losing those she loved… and she was no longer afraid to love.

In celebration, Dallas and Megan decided to have a Christmas party on Christmas Eve. He had stepped back and let Megan plan the party just as she wanted it. Dallas had insisted on her buying another dress, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She had plenty. This time, Dallas didn’t argue with her. She wore a burgundy dress with black shoes, perfect for the holidays. Then she swept the sides of her wavy auburn hair up away from her face, letting the back fall into loose waves. Dallas had dressed in his best black suit, combed his hair into place, and was as dashing as ever.

After the incident with the Yates Gang was over and things settled down, Charles had decided to stay through Christmas, much to Dallas’s and Megan’s delight. His father wasn’t happy about it, having sent a wire, but Charles was his own man and had decided that it was time he took control of his own life.

Everyone in the town had been invited to the party, and they all came. Charles, Dirk, and Gabriella, Wyatt and Madison, Colton and Ella… and even Mrs. Jenkins had come. Gabriella and Dirk came by in their sleigh, dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Claus for the children. Gabriella looked cute with her full, round belly ready to deliver at any time.

“It looks like your party is a success,” Dallas approved as he whirled Megan around the dance floor, more relaxed than she had ever seen him.

---