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?"

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 him and 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 Dallas could 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.

When they rode into town, Dallas pulled back hard on the reins, bringing Blaze to a stop in front of the livery stable and jumped off. Milo and the other men did the same, quickly jumping down off their horses.

Dirk came out of the livery stable. "Dallas? What's wrong?"

"Can you keep our horses for us?" Dallas nodded toward the hotel. "They got Megan."

"Yes, of course." Dirk raised his chin toward the other men, his eyebrows pulling together in concern. "Tie them off at the hitching post over there and I'll take care of them."

Milo, Bill, and the other men did as Dirk instructed.

Dirk took Blaze's reins and led him into a stall. "I'll be down in a minute." Then, he ran out and quickly untied another horse.

"Dirk, I can't ask you to do that. You have a baby on the way—"

"Nonsense! I'm sure you would do the same for me if it were Gabby."

Dallas nodded, knowing he would. "Thanks, Dirk."

He nodded toward the hotel. "You go do what you have to, and I'll be right behind you as soon as I take care of the horses."

"Thanks, Dirk. I appreciate that." Dallas ran into town and flung open the door to the sheriff's office, knowing someone was there… even though it was Sunday.

Colton jumped up and drew his gun quicker than Dallas would have thought possible and pointed it at him but held it up when he saw who it was, his long hair falling over his shoulder. "That's a good way to get yourself shot."

Sheriff Clark was on his feet behind his desk. "What happened?"

"Megan is missing."

"Hey, banker! I saw you go in there!" Frank yelled from outside in the snow-covered street. "I have your woman and I'm coming for you next!"

Dallas crossed the room in two strides and threw open the door with Daxton and Colton hot on his heels. "If anything happens to her, I'll hunt you down." Dallas gritted his teeth, moving his coat to the side, revealing his six-gun revolvers strapped to his sides. "There will be nowhere you can hide because I'll hunt you down…." Dallas stepped forward and stopped at the edge of the wooden walkway. "… and I'll kill you." Dallas planted his feet firmly on the porch. "Let her go and we can settle this like men."

Then a man wearing a black cowboy hat walked out of the hotel, the same one who had robbed the bank and got away. One corner of his lips curled into a menacing smile as he strode over to Frank, who was holding Megan, pushing his gun to her head. Three other men that Dallas recognized from outside the hotel flanked them.

"Dallas, I'm so sorry!" Megan yelled in her thick Irish brogue. "Don't get hurt because of me!"

"Ever since our last meeting…." The man wearing the black cowboy hat laughed at his own joke. Dallas knew that their last meeting was when he had robbed his bank. "I've been looking for a way to get even with you. Fancy my surprise when my brothers saw her yesterday… your wife." He smelled her hair, taunting Dallas, never taking his eyes from him.

Megan struggled in his grasp. "Let me go, or I'll kill ye myself!"

He laughed. "Now, that I would like to see."

"Let her go!" Sheriff Clark yelled from behind them. "You're under arrest for the robbery of the Whiskey River Bank, for the murder of Virgil Williams, and now for kidnapping! Let her go! You don't want to add anything more to the charges!"

"Oh, but I do… and I will." Frank walked up beside the man wearing the black cowboy hat. "Give me the man who killed my brothers, and we'll let her go."

Dallas heard Colton's spurs ring out behind him and stepped up beside him. "I killed one of them while we were chasing them down after robbing his bank."

"Well, then I'll get you, too."

Colton straightened, perfectly calm. "I'm right here."

Sheriff Clark walked up on the other side of Dallas. "As sheriff of this town, I'm telling you to let her go! This is the last time I'll say it."

"They killed my brothers!" Frank yelled, pointing to Dallas. "Are you going to let them get away with that?"

"Your ‘brothers' robbed his bank, and they were armed. They killed one of the bank guards, too." Sheriff Clark stepped forward. "Sorry to say this, but your brothers got what they deserved. Let her go and I won't kill you. Again, drop your weapons! You're all under arrest!"

Frank shook his head. "Not until I kill the men who killed my brothers."

"Then let me save you gents a lot of trouble," the man in the black cowboy hat interrupted. "Why don't we settle this like men, like the banker said? Let this gentleman here…." He nodded toward Dallas. "...face off with me in a true western gunfight. If he wins…." He shrugged. "Then my family here will leave peacefully."

"Morgan, I've got this," Frank yelled.

Morgan rolled his eyes.

"Whatever you want. Just let her go!" Dallas started to step down off the wooden porch, but the sheriff put his hand out, stopping him.

"Morgan Yates," Sheriff Clark shouted, taking a step forward. "You're under arrest for robbery and for the murder of Virgil Williams, the bank guard you killed, and for kidnapping. In fact, you're all under arrest! Drop your weapons now and let her go! This is your last chance to surrender!"

Frank cocked his gun, pressed to Megan's head. "Hold it right there, mister, or she's dead."

"Stop!" Dallas yelled, stepping between them. "Let her go and I'll fight you. Just you and me, Morgan. Or I can fight you, Frank. Whom I kill makes no difference to me." He took a step forward. "One man can die just like another."

Morgan pushed Megan to the ground. "Why, you—" She rose to her feet and started toward him with her fists doubled but, to Dallas's relief, Mr. Carson pulled her back, holding a finger to his lips.

Morgan laughed. "You have yourself a real hellcat there, mister." He looked in Megan's direction and licked his lips. "I was really looking forward to having fun with her until you showed up." He shrugged. "But I'll have my way with her later… after I kill you."

"I'll face off with you!" Dallas yelled. "Just leave her out of this!" There was no way that he was going to leave Megan to the fate of these men. He vowed to do anything to save her… including giving his own life. His life meant nothing without her.

Sheriff Clark looked over at Dallas. "Is this what you want?"

Dallas nodded once. "Protect her if anything happens to me."

Sheriff Clark nodded and yelled, "No one interferes… unless you want to die!"

Frank glanced over at Morgan for his approval. Morgan nodded, and then they all stepped back, out of the way.

A sinister laugh exploded from Morgan as he backed down the street, putting some distance between them. "I've always wanted to have a good ol' western gunfight! Legalized murder, right?"

"Not quite, but I'll take my chances," Dallas replied as he stepped back, unsnapping the leather straps across his guns, preparing to fight.

"Dallas, don't do it!" Megan yelled as Mr. Carson held her back.

Rage filled Dallas as he looked down the street toward Morgan.

"Everyone, clear the street, and you men stay out of it!" Sheriff Clark pointed to the rest of the Yates Gang. "There's no reason for all of you to have to die."

Many onlookers ran inside, taking cover.

Dallas stood with his hands over his guns, ready.

"Draw!" Morgan yelled, his hand twitching over the guns strapped to his sides.

Excitement and rage filled Dallas as he pulled his guns and fired, unloading several bullets into Morgan. Morgan pulled his weapon and fired, too, but wasn't quick enough. Blood poured from his chest and the gun dropped from his hand as his lifeless body fell onto the street.

"You just killed my cousin!" Frank yelled, and opened fire, along with the rest of the Yates Gang.

Then, everything happened at once. Dallas jumped behind the watering trough and opened fire, taking down Frank. Quicker than Dallas would have thought possible, Sheriff Clark and Colton opened fire, taking down more. Dirk ran up and killed two as he dove behind a wooden barrel. Then Charles rode up, jumped from his horse, and fired, standing in full view. Milo, Bill, and Butch shot down more.

Then Harrison came out of the hotel with a rifle and shot down another. "And that's for scaring my customers away!"

One of the Yates men fired at Mr. Carson and shot him in the leg. His wife helped him out of the street and into the General Store, along with Megan. Colton dove for the ground, firing repeatedly, and took down several more.

To Dallas's horror, Megan came out of the General Store with a rifle, shooting wildly, but managed to take down two men. Where she got the rifle from, Dallas had no idea. "How dare ye kidnap me! Ye leave me husband alone!"

Knowing he had to end this quickly, Dallas came out from behind the watering trough and took down the rest, with the help of the sheriff, Colton, Charles, Harrison, Milo, Butch, Bill… and Megan.

When the smoke cleared, the Yates Gang was lying dead in the street.

The sheriff turned to a young man standing nearby. "Kyle, ride to Laramie and tell the U.S. Marshall what happened."

"Here," Charles said, handing him the reins of the horse he rode in on. "Take this one. It's fast."

"Yes, sir!" Kyle quickly swung up into the saddle and headed out of town at full speed.

Dallas searched the smoke, and his breath caught… when his gaze fell on Megan.