Page 82 of A Whiskey River Princess

Gabriella let out a deep breath. “Dirk, you know nothing about me—”

“I know everything I need to know.” He cut her off as he took her hand in his. “Don’t go. Please. I want you to be my wife.”

Gabriella shook her head. “Dirk, you don’t know who I am—”

“Yes, I do. I know who you are deep down.” He held both of her hands, gazing into her eyes. “I don’t care who you are or what you’ve done. The only thing I know is that I love you.”

The men with her suppressed smiles, but Manfred shook his head as his eyebrows pulled together sternly, warning them. No one in town knew who she was, and he had told her before that he wanted to keep it that way.

“Umm,” Mrs. Carson interrupted as she stepped down off the porch and into the snow-covered street, holding the newspaper in front of her, her husband following. “Mr. Price, you should see this—”

“Not now, Mrs. Carson.” Dirk never took his eyes from Gabriella. “Gabby, please don’t go. I know that Whiskey Riverisn’t Paris or theCôte d’Azuror Monaco, but we can have a good life here, together, if you stay.”

Mrs. Carson turned pleading eyes to her husband and he nodded. “You really should listen to my wife,” he told Dirk, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Not now. Please!” Dirk shrugged away, searching Gabriella’s eyes for an answer. “Please stay. Marry me, and I promise to do my best to make you happy for the rest of your life.”

A tear rolled down her cheek as she shook her head. “I have responsibilities that I’ve spent my whole life running from. But I can run no longer.”

The men in her entourage raised their eyebrows in surprise.

“Mr. Price, there really is something you need to know,” Mr. Carson insisted.

Dirk let out a deep breath. “What is it?”

But Gabriella held his hand, claiming his attention. “I have to tell you something first.”

Dirk turned back to her with pleading eyes. “Gabby, you can tell me anything.”

She bit her lower lip, unsure how to begin. But she thought that the direct approach was best. “I’m Gabriella Grimaldi—”

“I know,” Dirk interrupted.

“Please, let me finish,” she breathed. “I am from the Grimaldi family in Monaco. Therulingfamily.”

He raised his eyebrows, confused, as the men around them tried to keep from smiling. Manfred held up a hand to silence them as he listened to Gabriella.

“My title is Princess of Monaco.” She waited for it to sink in.

Dirk’s eyebrows shot up.

“Iran away to Wyoming and then was kidnapped in Laramie by those men,” she continued. “But I never should have run away from my responsibilities. In fact, I’ve been running fromwho I am for a while. I was spoiled and shallow before, but now everything’s changed.” She bit her lower lip and released it.

Manfred’s eyebrows rose in surprise as he listened. The other men in their entourage looked at each other in disbelief. Gabriella knew it was because in the past she had never admitted when she was wrong.

She gave Dirk’s hand a gentle squeeze. “I don’t regret meeting you, Dirk,” she added as tears coursed down her cheeks. “I would stay with you if I could, but I have duties and responsibilities that I can no longer run away from. I’m grateful to have met you, Dirk. You changed my life. You changed me.” She placed her hand gingerly on his cheek, gazing into his eyes. “You’re the only man I’ve ever met who loved me for who I am and not for my title or fortune. I’m a better person for having known you. But I cannot stay. I hope you understand.”

Dirk nodded as a hurt look came into his eyes. “I do,” he replied, and then pulled her close to look in her eyes. “I’ll never forget you.” His lips descended upon hers in a kiss filled with desperation and love, but it was a kiss without regret.

“I hate to interrupt, but we must go. We have a train to catch.” Manfred took a step forward. “Princess Gabriella.” He waited, and then cleared his throat.

She pulled back and nodded. “I know. We have to go,” she said, her voice merely a whisper.

“I’m so sorry, princess. You know I’d let you stay if I could, but since you’re a royal, it’s not my decision to make,” Manfred said, his voice low.

“Yes, I know,” she replied, and then turned to Dirk. “I hope you understand that I’d stay if I could.”

Dirk nodded, looking into her eyes. “I have no regrets. I’m a better man for having known you.”

---