Chapter 20

Megan

Megan looked through the gun smoke and found Dallas. And she was never so happy to see someone in her life.

She and Dallas ran through the gathering crowd and into each other's arms. Then his lips crushed down onto hers as he placed his hand on the back of her head. She wrapped her arms around him, engulfed in the safety of his arms.

"I'm so sorry," he breathed, kissing her face over and again, virtually anywhere his lips could reach.

"I'm sorry, too," she replied, feeling him all around her.

"I thought I'd lost you." He kissed down her neck.

"Never." She pressed against him, surrendering her heart to him.

Finally, he pulled back and gave her one last sweet kiss. "I love you, Megan, and I always will."

"I love ye, too, Dallas. Forever."

Then he swept her off her feet and twirled her around, hugging her tightly.

When he set her down, a pained look filled his eyes. "Take care of yourself, and I'll come for you when I get out."

Megan's heart sank. "What are ye talking about? Those men kidnapped me… they came after ye—"

"Shh." He stroked her hair away from her face as he pulled her against his chest. "Don't worry. I'll be out soon."

"No," Megan sobbed against his chest. "If they take ye, then they'll have to take me, too."

"No. They came after me and I took care of it. You're not to blame for this." He held her for what seemed like an eternity, and then pulled back and gently kissed her lips. "Knowing that I have your love and that you'll be waiting for me is enough."

She nodded, forcing a smile. "Ye'll always have it."

Then he turned around and held his arms out to the sheriff, holding his wrists together.

"What?" Sheriff Clark asked, feigning confusion.

Colton bit his upper lip to keep from smiling.

"You're going to arrest me, aren't you?" Dallas asked, confused.

Sheriff Clark shrugged. "I don't know what you're talking about. If I arrested you, I'd have to arrest Dirk, Harrison, and Charles, too. As far as I could tell, it was self-defense." Then he turned to Charles. "Don't you think so?"

One corner of Charles's lips curled into a smile. "Looked like self-defense to me."

Dirk shrugged. "To me, too."

Harrison held up his hands, smirking. "Hey, I was just defending my property."

They all looked over at Colton, who held up his hands. "Don't look at me! Those men attacked first! In my book, we had every right to defend ourselves."

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 Gang had 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.