Chapter 18

Megan

The next morning, Megan woke before sunrise. Moonlight streamed in through the window and a bluish cast filled the room. She glanced over and Dallas was still sleeping. For once, she had woken before him. Megan walked over to the window and moonlight was shining over the snow, sparkling silver and blue. It really was so beautiful that she had an overwhelming urge to go for a walk. Plus, she needed time to think. Since it was early yet, she had some time before she had to get ready for church. Also, the gang was staying in town, so it should be safe to go alone, as long as she stayed on their property.

As she dressed for the day, she wondered what would happen if she really did give Dallas her heart. Megan let out a deep breath. Could she stand it if he left her, or if he died and left her alone again? She had already lost so many people that she loved. Could she stand to lose him, too?

As she laced up her shoes and combed her hair into place, she wondered what Liam would have said about Dallas. She chuckled. Liam had always been so protective of her, despite her insistence that she could take care of herself.

But Liam would have also told her not to be afraid to love again. Megan knew she couldn't go through the rest of her life protecting her heart from being broken again. Love was a chance you took. You might get your heart broken, but then again, you might not. Love was a gamble and, win or lose, usually you were better for it. Even though she had lost everyone she loved, no one could take away the memories or the love she had for them. Knowing them, and her love for them all, had made her the woman she had become.

Megan slipped on her coat and headed down the stairs. She was almost to the door when she heard a voice behind her.

"Good morning, Mrs. King… er… Megan," Mrs. Daly greeted her happily, obviously remembering that Megan had asked her to call her Megan when they were alone. "Did ye sleep well?"

A smile spread across her face, feeling more content than she had in a very long time. "Yes. And ye?"

Mrs. Daly shrugged. "Tolerably." She took in Megan's appearance and then asked, "Where are ye goin'?"

"Fer a walk." Megan buttoned up her coat. "I won' be long."

Mrs. Daly's eyebrows pulled together in concern. "Do ye think it wise to leave the house alone before daylight? Ye should take one of the men with ye… or Mr. King—"

"No, don't wake him," Megan stopped her. "I'll be fine. I just want to take in the air and enjoy the sunrise. I'll stay on our property and will only be a few minutes. We're going to church today and I'll be in soon enough to get ready." Then she thought of something. "Would ye and Mr. Daly care to join us for church today?"

Mrs. Daly smiled, clearly touched, but shook her head. "No, not today. But maybe next week… if it's okay with ye."

A broad smile spread across Megan's lips. "Yes, that would be grand. Ye're welcome anytime."

When Megan headed out the door, a rush of cool air hit her, but she pulled her coat around her tightly and walked toward the back fields, wondering if she had enough time to find the lake that Dallas had taken her to. The sun was just beginning to rise in the distance, sending shoots of pink and orange through the dark blue sky. Even though it was cool out, it wasn't cold once she got used to it.

As she strolled through the freshly fallen snow, she thought of Dallas. She hadn't been comfortable in the life he wanted her to lead, but he had made a compromise. If he didn't mind her doing what she wanted to within reason, then she could act as he wanted her to when they had company. If he could compromise, then so could she.

At that moment, she realized that she loved him… let the chips fall where they may. Even though he could be controlling and demanding, he could also be loving, caring, generous, and compassionate. No one was perfect. He wasn't, but neither was she.

But if she gave him her whole heart, could he give her his in return? He had said that he loved her, but he continued to doubt her. But could he give her his whole heart if she loved him entirely? Now that they could find compromise, she knew they could have a wonderful life together.

Then she thought of Liam and her parents. If they had known Dallas, they would have loved him, too. She now knew that she couldn't go through life afraid to love for fear of losing them. How could she ever have a good life if she was afraid to love? Afraid to give her whole heart? At that moment, she realized that she loved Dallas nearly more than she had loved anyone else in her life.

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.