"The right man will change your mind.

" "The right woman might change yours, " she countered.

He stared at her for several seconds, then turned his gaze to the fire.

There was a brooding expression on his face that puzzled her, and she wondered what he was thinking about now.

She got up and put her brush away, dug through her valise for one of her ribbons, and then went to sit on the blanket next to Caleb.

"I've decided I'm going to tie my son's wrist to mine. If he tries to get up, he'll wake me."

"Jessie, that isn't necessary. I'll hear him." She wasn't willing to take the chance. She looped the yellow ribbon around Caleb's left wrist and secured it to hers. Then she lay down and closed her eyes.

"I won't sleep a wink worrying about him." She was sound asleep less than a minute later. Cole added some twigs to the fire, then reached over and untied the ribbon from Caleb's wrist.

Jessica had left a long strip of ribbon between them so that Caleb could move, but Cole was concerned that in his sleep the baby would get the ribbon around his neck. He wasn't about to take the chance.

Besides, he would hear the baby if he stirred. When Cole was away from home, he never slept straight through the night, and he always heard every little sound.

Jessica sighed in her sleep and rolled on her side, facing him. He stared at her lovely face, knowing in his heart that if ever there was a right woman for him, Jessie was the one, and that realization made him angry.

It could get complicated, and he hated complications.

He stretched out on his back again, closed his eyes, and let the cool night air soothe the fire inside him while he reminded himself of his basic philosophy of life.

No strings.

t_) heriff Tom Norton and his wife, Josey, lived in a two-story gray clapboard house on Grant Lane, just two blocks east of Middleton's town square, where Tom's jail was located. Three stone steps led up to the front door, and there were recently painted black wicker chairs on the porch. Two large black flower pots filled with pink and red summer flowers flanked the top step. Tendrils of ivy trailed down the sides.

The house, though small, was charming.

It was dark out, but Cole still insisted on going around to the back door. He carried Caleb in one arm and half dragged Jessica with his free hand.

"I'm sure they've gone up to bed. It's late."

"It isn't that late, " he argued. "And they wouldn't have left all the lights on if they'd gone to bed. Come on, Jessie. We have to do this." She pulled on his arm as he tried to lead her forward on the cobblestone path.

"If I don't like these people, I'm not leaving Caleb with them.

Agreed? " He held on to his patience. "We've been over this. I agreed two hours ago, remember? " "I just didn't want you to forget.

" He put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed. "It's going to be all right, just like I promised." He was just about to knock on the back door when she asked him to wait a moment. Then she reached up and threaded her fingers like a comb through Caleb's hair. The baby promptly dodged her hand.

"You ready? " She took a deep breath. "Yes, " she answered. "I hope we aren't disturbing them. It's late, " she stubbornly added once again.

The Nortons were thrilled to have company and weren't at all put out.

Josey had just finished the supper dishes when Cole knocked on her back door, and Tom Norton was still sitting at the table, having his second cup of coffee.

Cole had to gently nudge Jessica to go inside as he followed with Caleb into the brightly painted kitchen.

Josey was already making over the baby, who was overcome with a sudden bout of shyness and tucked his face into the crook of Cole's neck.

"My, he's a handsome boy, and just look at those curls, Tom. I didn't know you had a family, Cole, and this pretty lady must be your wife.

It's right nice to make your acquaintance, " she added.

"I'm not his wife, " Jessica explained. "But this is my son. His name is Caleb." Tom Norton stepped forward to shake Cole's hand, then pulled out a chair for him and one for Jessica.

"Sit down and tell us what in thunderation you're doing back in Middleton. You don't think there's going to be another robbery, do you? " "No, " Cole answered as he sat down and perched Caleb on his lap. "We came here to talk to you."

"Is that right? " Tom asked.

"I was just thinking about you the other day. Yes, sir, I was. I see you're still wearing the star. Have you taken to the notion of being a marshal then? " "For the time being, " Cole answered. He thanked Josey for the cup of coffee she placed on the table in front of him, and then turned back to Tom.

"I haven't been a marshal long enough to know if I like the job or not.

" After making the comment, he glanced at Jessica. She was watching Josey closely and seemed to be weighing every move the older woman made.

Caleb reached for the hot coffee. Before either Jessica or Cole could react, Josey moved the cup out of his reach.

"Can the little imp have a cookie? I just made some fresh. They've got nuts in them, though, and some babies don't like nuts. What about some ilk? I've got plenty."

"I'm sure he'd like some milk and a cookie, " Jessica answered. "But he'll make a mess. Will you mind? " "No, of course not. He's too young not to be messy, " she added.

"Have you folks had your supper yet? I could fry up" "No, we've eaten, " Cole hastily interjected. "But thanks for offering.

"I'm not at all hungry, thank you, " Jessica answered.

"Tom, could I have a word alone with you for a minute? " Cole asked.

The sheriff led the way into the living room. Caleb was still a little suspicious of his strange surroundings and wouldn't let go of Cole. He handed him to Jessica, winked at her, and then left the room.

Jessica wrapped her arms around her baby and held him protectively against her. The kitchen was clean. She noticed there wasn't a speck of dirt anywhere. Josey was obviously a good housekeeper, but if she and Tom agreed to look after Caleb, would she be able to keep up with him?

And would she be patient?

She wished there were more time for her to find out everything she needed to know. She was relying on Cole's judgment, but he was a man and he wouldn't have the concerns a mother had. He trusted the Nortons. She didn't, at least not yet, and she wasn't going to leave an innocent baby in the hands of fiends.

They weren't monsters, though. The kindness in Josey's eyes told her she loved babies. She'd already taken to Caleb, and he was quickly warming up to her. Granted, his thumb was still in his mouth, but he was smiling at her.

What did he know? He was just a toddler. It was up to her to make certain he was well cared for, and, oh, God, how could she leave him with anyone? No one could love him the way she did.

Josey put a plate of cookies on the table. She poured two glasses of milk, the taller one for Jessica and the smaller one for Caleb, then sat down across from her and let out a loud sigh.

"It sure was hot today, wasn't it? " "Yes, it was, " Jessica agreed.

She smiled at Josey and tightened her hold on Caleb when he tried to scoot off her lap. "You have a lovely home."