She thought their size and voices fascinated him.

"It's time for you to go to bed, Caleb, " she said, her voice a soothing whisper.

Shaking his head, Caleb pulled his thumb from his mouth long enough to put his arms up to Cole and let out a loud grunt to be picked up. When he spied his mother advancing, he dropped his doll to the floor, threw his arms around Cole's neck, and held on for dear life.

"I don't think this boy wants to go to bed just yet, " Cole remarked.

She stood close to Cole and tried to peel her son's hands away from his neck, but she wasn't paying much attention to what she was doing.

Tilly was right. The marshal did have beautiful eyes. She wished the dear woman hadn't made such a fuss over the lawmen's appearance because now all Jessica could think about was how fit the two of them were. If Tilly hadn't pointed it out, she surely wouldn't have noticed.

She wasn't in the market for a husband. The reminder helped her concentrate on the task at hand.

"Caleb always goes right to sleep as soon as I tuck him in with his baby doll, " she explained. "He's going through adifficult phase and seems to think he has to throw a tantrum at bedtime.

He's a very good boy, though. Aren't you, Caleb? " The baby nodded against Cole's neck. Cole stared at Jessica with a look of amusement in his eyes. She wondered if he knew he was making her uncomfortable.

She thought that maybe he did, and, oh, how could she have ever thought him menacing? His hands were big, yet so very gentle as he patted Caleb's back in a circular, rhythmic motion. Caleb rubbed his tiny fist against his nose as he nestled his head under Cole's chin.

The child looked blissful.

"You're very good with babies, " she remarked.

"Mrs. Summers? Would you mind asking Grace Winthrop to come out on the porch? " The intrusion of Marshal Ryan's voice startled her.

"Yes, of course, " she stammered.

"Is it Mrs. Summers? " Cole asked her. "Or Miss? " "It's Jessica, "

she answered as she turned away. "Grace is in the kitchen. If you like, you could go on in and sit at the table while you question her.

" "That would be fine, " Daniel answered. He moved ahead to open the door for her, and Cole followed behind with Caleb. He transferred the sleepy baby to Jessica's arms when they reached the stairs.

"The kitchen's at the end of the hallway, " she said.

While Daniel went on ahead, Cole stood in the entry and watched Jessica go up the steps. He liked the way she moved. It was sexy and feminine, and very alluring. He liked her voice too. It was a rich, husky bedroom voice.

He told himself it was all right to notice how good she looked and sounded. There wasn't any harm in appreciating such an attractive woman.

It certainly didn't mean he was going to get involved with her. He was a lawman now, and that probably meant that he couldn't and shouldn't dally with a potential witness. It just wouldn't be right. Besides, Jessica Summers came with strings attached. She was carrying one of them up to bed. Any man who became involved with her would have to make a lifetime commitment. Forever. The notion didn't sit well with him. He liked to move around, and no one was going to tie him down.

She was also innocent, and he had adopted a hands-off policy with inexperienced women. Their expectations were different. Jessica was definitely the marrying kind. He wasn't.

It was as simple as that.

"Cole, you coming? " With a nod, he caught up with Daniel at the end of the hallway. "What was that all about? " Daniel whispered with a nod toward the entry.

Cole knew what he was asking. He shrugged in response. "Just noticing.

That's all." c Li arace Winthrop was standing at the stove. She turned when they entered the kitchen. Daniel stopped cold, then took an involuntary step back, bumping Cole.

He quickly recovered. "Jessica didn't think you would mind if we .

. " "Oh, please come in, " she said. "I'm brewing tea. Would you and Marshal Clayborne like a cup? " "That sounds fine, " Daniel said, pulling out a chair at the table. Cole took the seat across from him, facing the door.

"Have you gentlemen had your supper yet? " she asked.

"No, ma'am, we haven't, " Cole answered.

"We aren't hungry, " Daniel said at the same time.

"Yes, we are, " Cole argued.

Grace went to the counter and returned with a plate of leftover ham.

She placed it on the table next to a basket of freshly baked bread and a crock of butter. A minute later she'd added plates and utensils.

Cole helped himself. Daniel didn't touch the food. He kept his attention focused on Grace, who was nervously brushing her hands down her apron. She wouldn't, or couldn't, look him in the eyes. The teacups rattled in the saucers as she placed them on the table. She poured a thick, black liquid into each cup that looked more like shoe polish than tea.

"Would you like sugar and cream? " she asked.

Cole was looking suspiciously at his cup, but Daniel was still looking at Grace.

"Is this tea? " Cole asked.

"Yes, " she rushed out. "Is something wrong with it? " "No, no, I'm sure it's fine." He took a drink and couldn't hide his reaction. It tasted like bitter hair tonic.

"It just needs a little sugar, " he lied.

"I boiled it too long, didn't I? " she asked. "That's what I did. I should have timed it. I'll make another pot right away."

"I'd rather have water, " Cole said.

Daniel was trying not to smile. He didn't want to embarrass her any more than she already was, for she had seen the grimace Cole made when he tasted her tea, and if Daniel laughed, her discomfort would only intensify.

"I don't think you're supposed to boil the tea leaves, " he told her.

With a gesture he found utterly feminine, she brushed her dark curls back over her shoulder. "Cooking is far more difficult than one would ever imagine, " she remarked.

"Who did all the cooking in your home? " Cole asked.

She seemed surprised by the question. "The cook did the cooking, " she answered. "And her assistants, of course. Sometimes the downstairs maids helped. At least I believe they did. Would you like some sliced pickles, Marshal Clayborne? They're quite good."

"That would be nice, " he answered. "Please call me Cole and call him Daniel, " he added with a nod toward Ryan.

"Then you must call me Grace. I insist." She proceeded to slice the pickle with a sharp butcher knife, pulling the sharp blade toward her wrist. The action drove Daniel crazy. He reached out and grabbed hold of both of her hands.