I've thought about this long and hard, and I think I've come up with the perfect solution to ensure they'll be left alone."

"And what's that? " Daniel asked.

"I'm going to tell the reporter for the newspaper that I'm the witness.

I'm certain he'll put the announcement on the front page of tomorrow's edition. I'll go over to his office as soon as I leave here." Daniel was shaking his head. Cole put his coffee cup down and took a step toward her. "We can't let you do that."

"You can't stop me, " she cried out. "I will protect Jessica and Grace as best I can. It's my fault they're caught in the middle of this nightmare. Hopefully, one of the Blackwater gang will see the interview and leave those poor innocent women alone."

"I can stop you, " Daniel countered. "You are not going to talk to any reporters. Do I make myself clear? " "But I must let everyone know Jessica and Grace weren't there. Don't you understand? They're being treated like lepers in this town, and they haven't done anything wrong." She sounded on the verge of hysteria.

Cole quickly tried to calm her down. "You didn't do anything wrong either, Rebecca. You were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

" "Do Jessica and Grace know that you've come forward? " Daniel asked.

"When Sloan locked the three of you in the cell together, did you tell them then that you were the witness? Is that why all of you told us the same story? " She seemed surprised. "They were both very frightened. I remember telling them exactly what I was going to say to you. Why? Did they say the very same thing? " Neither marshal answered her question. "Did you tell them you saw the robbery and the murders? " Cole pressed.

"No, I didn't, but I think they knew. They were protecting me by not telling you what they suspected. They're both very kind-hearted ladies, and they wanted to help me. I could pack and be ready to leave in an hour. I'd like to get going as soon as possible." With a tilt of his head, Daniel motioned Cole to step outside with him.

They left the door open but spoke in low whispers so Rebecca wouldn't overhear.

"She isn't going to get near the reporter, " Daniel muttered.

"I agree, " Cole said. "She's right, though, about leaving. We better get her out of town as quickly as possible."

"I wanted to wait . . .

" "For what? " Cole demanded.

"Marhsal Cooper and a couple of deputies are coming up from Salt Lake City to help. They should be here any time, and I'll let them take charge of Jessica and Grace, while you and I escort Rebecca to Blackwater."

"And if Jessica and Grace want to leave Rockford Falls in the meantime?

Are they going to be safe? " ''Yes, " Daniel answered. "Cooper and his deputies will go with them to make certain no one bothers them. "

"Do you trust this Cooper? " "Yeah, " Daniel answered. "He's a good man. I've worked with him on other cases. Trust me. He knows what he's doing." Rebecca drew both marshals back to her side when she burst into tears again. "They're going to come after me, aren't they?

" Cole wanted to lie to her, but Daniel was quicker and was bluntly truthful. "Yes, they'll probably come after you, but we aren't going to let them touch you."

"We have to leave. Now, " she demanded. "I won't stay here another minute. It's too dangerous, " she added in a panic.

"Before any decisions are made, you need to tell us exactly what happened from the minute you walked into the bank."

"No, we must leave now. I'll tell you everything you want to know on the train when I feel safe."

"Rebecca, we need to hear the details now, " Daniel insisted.

She was sobbing in earnest now and trembling. Gripping her hands together, she whispered, "It was horrible. I remember I was in a hurry, and I didn't like having to stand in line again. I didn't talk to any of the other customers while I waited. The bank was going to close and the tellers were very slow. I worried I wouldn't get all of my errands done.

Oh, God, Franklin helped me, and now he's dead. I met him at church and he was such a kind man." Before she could continue, a messenger from the hotel came rushing inside. He was a tall, lanky boy with pockmarks on his face. "Marshal Ryan? I'm sorry to intrude, but this message I'm supposed to give you is urgent." He stared at Rebecca while he handed the sealed envelope to Daniel.

"Why's she crying? " he asked.

No one answered him. "Ma'am, is there anything I can do to make you feel better? " he asked.

She shook her head. He shrugged in response, then asked Daniel if he wanted him to take back a reply.

Daniel read the contents before answering. "Tell Miss Winthrop I'll be along in a little while."

"She said it was urgent, Marshal, " the messenger repeated. "She wants to leave town. She told me so herself just before the doctor went into her room to check on her."

"Go back to the hotel and tell her I'll be there as soon as I finish up a couple of things."

"It ain't Miss Winthrop, " the messenger said as he started out the doorway. "It's Lady Winthrop. She's titled, " he added importantly.

"The night manager told me so." Daniel wasn't paying any attention to the boy. Rebecca was using Cole's handkerchief to wipe her tears away.

As soon as the door closed behind the messenger, Daniel began to grill Rebecca with questions.

"How many were there? " "Seven, " she answered. "There were seven men. I didn't see all of their faces."

"Start at the beginning and tell us everything, " Cole demanded.

She bowed her head, closed her eyes, and then gave a concise account of what had happened inside the bank. By the time she was finished, she was openly sobbing again and clinging to Cole's hand.

"Reliving the nightmare is almost as awful as being there . . . " Cole patted her. "We know how hard this was for you, " he sympathized.

"You've been a tremendous help, " Daniel said.

Cole agreed with a nod. "Do you have any more questions for her? " he asked Daniel.

"No, she's told us everything we need to know." Rebecca stood up, took a calming breath, and said, "You will get all of them, won't you?

Promise me you will."

"We promise, " Cole answered.

Daniel walked her to the door. "Why don't you take a few minutes to relax before you pack."

"Like it or not, I'm leaving this town today, " she threatened. "If you have any decency at all, you won't tell Jessica and Grace that I'm the witness because it would only upset them, and I don't want them to hate me for not coming forward sooner.

" "I'm sure they would both understand why you kept silent, but don't worry. Cole and I don't plan to tell them. And we will leave today, "

he promised.

"Thank you, Marshal. I shall be ready in one hour." The guard was waiting to escort Rebecca back to the hotel.

He suggested that they alter their route and take one of the streets parallel to the hotel. He was armed to the teeth with a pair of six-shooters and a shotgun. Daniel noticed the way he watched the street as he walked along and decided that Rebecca was in good hands.

"What does Grace want that's so urgent? " Cole asked him.