She put her head down on his shoulder and quietly wept. He dug his handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to her. Hedidn't tell her to stop crying, figuring she needed to get rid of the tension inside her, but he hated knowing that he was part of the reason she was so distressed.

Long minutes passed before she was able to gain control.

Ole eld her close, noticing how soft she felt against him. now you didn't do anything wrong, " he whispered. "The Judge down in Texas wants you to come to Blackwater." But what about Rebecca and Grace, "

she cried out. "Are "Hush, you'll wake the baby, " he reminded her.

"I don't want you to worry about your friends. Daniel will watch out "How can I not worry? " "Trust me, " he replied.

"I'll try. But, I can't stop thinking about Rebecca and Grace.

They're in danger because of me, aren't they? " "Yes, they are. Your names were published in the paper as potential witnesses, and I don't think the men who murdered those innocent people will stop until they've gotten every one of you. I can understand why none of you would want to admit you were there, but . . . " She started crying.

The sight of her tears made Cole feel like a ee .

He started to reach for her, then stopped himself.

I on t like women who cry, " he said "Then you must hate me. I cry all the time. I don't cry in ront of Caleb, though. It would upset him.

Sometimes . . . Iate at dnight, I pull the covers over my head so no on h He put his arm around her and pulled her to his side "I on t like hearing that. What makes you cry ath ? " "Of what? " "Failing. "

"You have a hard life, Jessie."

"Oh, no, I have a wonderful life with Caleb, " she whispered I'm very content. I JUSt get . . . tired sometimes. Everything was going so well until the day I walked into the bank. I'm ready to tell you what happened if you want me to, " she added. "Then you'll believe me. I know I've lied to you. I shouldn't have told you I wasn't there, but I was trying to protect Caleb."

"I'm going to help you protect your son. I've found a safe place for him, Jessica. You can't take him with you to Blackwater, and you know you have to go." She finally accepted the inevitable. "Yes, I know.

Couldn't I leave him with Tilly? She loves him and would take care of him. Caleb knows her.

He wouldn't be afraid or feel abandoned." Cole wouldn't hear of it.

"Jessie, everyone here knows who Caleb belongs to, and it would be easy to get him away from Tilly. She's an old woman. I don't want to leave him in Rockford Falls."

"Why would anyone want to take him? " she asked.

"Holding your son hostage is a good way to make you keep silent during the trial."

"Oh, God."

"Jessica, the couple I've thought of will take good care of him. Let me tell you about them. They're older. .

. like grandparents . . . " He spent a good fifteen minutes telling her everything he knew about Tom and Josey Norton. He went into great detail about Tom's background, stressing the fact that he had quite a reputation with a gun and that he was now a lawman, but he didn't mention Josey's lack of skills in the kitchen. When he had run out of things to tell her, Jessica didn't seem to be quite as resistant to the idea.

"You said they always wanted children? " she asked.

"Yes, " he answered.

"If you had a son, would you leave him with the Nortons? " "Yes, " he said again.

"I'll have to meet them before I decide. If I don't like them and I don't feel that they'll take good care of Caleb, I'm not leaving him with them." She was determined to go with him, and nothing he could say would make her budge on that issue.

1 8 1.

"When do we leave? " she asked. "To go north with Caleb? " "Ah, Jessie, don't start crying again. It's going to be all right. You want to know that he's safe, don't you? " "Yes, yes, of course I do.

It's just that I don't know the Nortons, and I . . . " He started for the door. "Pack light, Jessica. One bag for you and one for Caleb. "

"I have to talk to Grace before I go anywhere."

"It's out of the question."

"Will we be coming back to Rockford Falls after we take Caleb? " "No, we're going directly to Texas."

"What about my things?

Everything I own is packed in Grace's wagon."

"I'll have it taken over to the livery stable. The owner can keep an eye on it. You can ride a horse, can't you? " "Yes, " she said, though she didn't add the fact that she couldn't ride well. "I'd like to purchase a gun before we leave, and I'd like you to teach me how to use it. I want to be accurate." He didn't like hearing that she wanted a weapon. "Just aim and shoot, " he said. "That's all there is to it. You don't need to carry a gun anyway."

"Yes, I do, " she argued. "Will you teach me how to use it? " You already shot York's gun."

"I want to be accurate, " she insisted.

He didn't waste time debating the point. "We'll leave as soon as Caleb wakes up. Now what? " he asked when she shook her head at him.

"He has to eat first."

"Fine, " he said. "After he eats, we'll leave. You might want to pack some food he likes, " he thought to add.

"How long will it take us to get to the Nortons' home? " "Not long, "

he promised. "And, Jessie, I don't want you to tell anyone where we're taking Caleb. Don't even say Nortons' name again, because someone might overhear. All right? " l "Yes." He was walking out the doorway when she called out to him.

"Cole? " "Yes? " "Promise me you won't let anything happen to my son.

" "I promise." And time remembered is gnef forgotten, And frosts are slain and flowers begotten, Rebecca sat on the stone bench in the small garden in the back of the hotel. Her packed valises were on the ground beside her. It was safe and quiet, and very secluded this time of day, for none of the other guests wanted to venture out into the hot afternoon sun. The garden was surrounded on all sides by a high brick wall and thick pruned evergreens. Spencer and Cobb stood guard by the door leading out from the atrium, while their superior, Marshal Cooper, paced in agitation.

Impatient to get going, he was waiting for the private coach they'd ordered to arrive.

She was concerned that Grace and Jessica would see her leave.

After checking the time, she glanced at the doorway. "I feel terrible not saying good-bye to Jessica and Grace, but I don't want them to know I'm going to Texas to look at the man they're holding. They'll worry about me, " she added. "I hope we don't run into them when we leave the hotel." You don't have to worry about that, " Cooper said.

"Neither lady will see you leave."

"How can you be so certain? " "Grace has been ordered to stay in bed until tomorrow, and Marshal Ryan has a guard posted at her door. He isn't going to let her out, and he isn't going to let her have visitors."

"What about Jessica? " "She left with Marshal Clayborne a couple of hours ago."

"What do you mean, she left? Where did she go? " Rebecca cried out.

"Did she have an errand to do? Will she be back today? " "No."