"Always cut with the blade angled away from you, " he instructed.

"Like this." He slowly glided the knife through the pickle toward the plate.

"It's safer that way." When he didn't let go of her right away, she stared down at his big hands and simply waited. "Thank you, Daniel.

I'll try to remember next time." He noticed the number of cuts on her fingers. "You aren't used to kitchen work, are you? " he asked as he let go and leaned back in his chair.

"No, but I'm learning." She once again bent over the pickle with her knife. Wrinkling her nose and biting her lower lip in concentration, she cautiously sawed at it until there were half a dozen thin slices neatly arranged on the plate.

Then, with a triumphant smile, she washed her hands and set her achievement before them.

Ryan couldn't take his eyes off her, so completely fascinated was he by this delicate woman. Even though she was unskilled and totally out of place, she was not deterred, nor even discouraged.

He had to force himself to get on with the business at hand. Pulling his notepad out of his pocket, he put it on the table and reached for his pencil. "Why don't we get started, " he began.

"Yes, of course, " she agreed.

"About what time were you in the bank on the day of the robbery? " She stared at the tabletop when she answered. "I was there at two o'clock, give or take ten minutes." Cole was about to take a bite of his sandwich when she gave her answer.

He put the food back on the plate and shot a glance at Daniel to judge his reaction.

"You're sure it was two o'clock? " Daniel asked, sounding only mildly curious.

"Yes, I'm sure. I noticed the time while I was waiting my turn in line.

There's a large clock on the wall behind the tellers' windows."

"Did you notice any of the other people in line? " Cole asked. She pondered the question for a long moment, and then shook her head.

"Actually, no, I didn't notice anyone else. I wasn't paying much attention." What in God's name was going on? Cole was about to ask Grace that question when Daniel shook his head at him. He obviously didn't want Cole to point out the fact that her answer was identical to Jessica's and Rebecca'salmost word for word. Had the three of them rehearsed what they would say while they were in that cell together, and if so, why?

Daniel closed his notepad and put it back in his pocket. "Did you notice anything unusual? " "No, I didn't, " Grace answered.

"You took your place in line . . . " "Yes, I did, " she said. "And I waited my turn, but I didn't look around. I was thinking about all the things I needed to get done." Daniel's frustration was mounting, but he was careful not to let it show. "The bag that Sheriff Sloan showed you, " he began, "it doesn't belong to you, does it? " "No, it doesn't. I never carry a bag. All of my dresses have pockets."

"The one you're wearing now doesn't, " Cole said.

"Excuse me? " She was obviously startled by his observation and was trying to come up with a suitable explanation. "The dress you're wearing doesn't have pockets, " Cole repeated.

"No, it doesn't, " she agreed. "But the one I wore to the bank does have pockets . . . two of them. Would you like some more tea? " Cole glanced down at his full cup and wondered where she thought she would put more. He shook his head, but she didn't seem to notice. She turned and rushed back to the stove, then carried the teapot back to the table and placed it next to Cole's cup. A look of acute relief crossed her face when Jessica walked into the kitchen.

Surprised to find the marshals still there, Jessica stopped short.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. I thought you would be finished by now, and I was going to help Grace clean the dishes. I'll do them later." She tried to leave, but Daniel called her back.

"Come and join us, " he suggested.

Grace frantically nodded. Jessica's gaze was directed on Cole. He looked irritated and out of sorts, and she thought it was because she had interrupted them.

"No, thank you. I'll just go back upstairs for a little while."

"We insist you join us." He wasn't going to take no for an answer. He stood up and pulled out the chair adjacent to him. Daniel also stood and asked Grace to sit down.

The two women exchanged a look before complying with the request.

Cole then took over the questioning. "Grace, you're planning to leave Rockford Falls tomorrow, aren't you? " "Yes, I am, " she answered.

She folded her hands on the tabletop and tried to look composed. "How did you know I was leaving? " "Just a hunch, " he answered dryly.

"Where are you headed? " "Colorado."

"Jessica told us she was also headed to Colorado, " Daniel interjected.

"Yes, that's right, " Grace said. "We're going to be traveling together."

"Did you come to Rockford Falls together? " Cole asked.

Grace smiled. "Good heavens, no. I came from London, England, several months ago. I stopped in Kentucky, Missouri, and Kansas before I came here. I was looking for property, " she thought to add.

"Property? " Cole asked.

"I'm hoping to start a ranching business, " she explained. "I'm looking for good grazing land . . . " "For the cattle she's going to purchase, " Jessica interjected. "Yes, for the cattle, " Grace agreed.

"But then Mr. Wells's family decided not to sell the property, "

Jessica said.

"Who is Mr. Wells? " Cole asked.

"The gentleman I corresponded with from London, " Grace said. "I had heard through friends who knew him that he wanted to sell his land and that it was just what I was looking for."

"But it wasn't? " Cole asked.

"Oh, it was, " Grace answered. "Acres and acres of lush green land.

It was as perfect as my friends had claimed. I had already made an offer sight unseen from London, but when I arrived in Kentucky to sign the official papers, I found out that poor Mr. Wells had passed on.

His son refused to honor his father's promise."

"Grace saw an advertisement in the Rockford Falls Gazette for available land near Denver, and we're going there together to look at it."

"Do you know anything about raising cattle? " Daniel asked.

"No, but I plan to hire men who do know how, " Grace answered. "And I will learn how. I know it's going to be hard work, but I'm not afraid of it." Cole was trying not to let Grace see how appalled he was.

"Ma'am, running cattle is a backbreaking business." He was diplomatic in his caution.

Daniel was blunt. "Are you nuts? You can't run a cattle ranch. "

Grace's spine stiffened. "No, I'm not crazy, and I assure you I will achieve my goal. I may not have the experience, but I'm determined. "

Daniel was too incredulous to argue. Cole shook his head. "How can you leave tomorrow? " he asked. "The coach doesn't come through here until the day after."