"But that's exactly what I was trying to say. My honor is at stake. I must do the right thing."

"A man's word is more important in the United States than his position in society."

"Being responsible is extremely important to me, " she countered. "I have specific duties."

"Like getting yourself hitched to a man with money and power? " "If it will help my family, then yes.

" "You don't like it much, do you, Grace? " She refused to answer him.

"No, you don't like it much at all, " he said. "You wouldn't have asked for a stay of execution if you agreed with your parents. Do you love the man they've chosen for you? " "I'm sure I'll learn to love him. He seems a decent sort."

"Seems decent? " She blushed. "I don't know him well. In fact, I've only met him once.

I was introduced to him at a charity ball, and I'll admit he didn't make much of an impression on me. I shouldn't be talking like this, should I? " "There's nothing wrong with being honest, " he told her.

"You must have made quite an impression on him."

"It seems I did, " she said. "He sent a note to my father the very next day requesting an audience. Mother told me Nigel fell in love with me immediately, but I don't believe that nonsense."

"I'll wager it was lust at first sight.

" "I don't think we should talk about this anymore. It seems to upset you."

"I'm not upset, " he snapped. "It just seems so barbaric of your father."

"Daniel, arranged marriages are customary in some societies."

"And you're a dutiful daughter." Her spine stiffened.

"As a matter of fact, I am. It was quite wonderful of my parents to give me a year's . . . " "Reprieve? " "Sabbatical, " she corrected.

"They wanted me to have the chance of fulfilling my dream. They have tremendous faith in me." His blue eyes bored into her. "But you don't have much faith in yourself, do you, Grace? " "Of course I do.

" "Then why are you giving up so easily? " "Because I'm going to Texas, " she answered. "I cannot be in two places at once. I've already used up four months, and going to Texas might take as much as two more. I won't have much of a life until you've caught all of the members of that horrible gang, because you're going to insist on protecting me and that might take you months and months."

"You're giving up, " he repeated.

He was hitting too close to the mark, and she didn't like that one bit.

He was making her acknowledge what she had been trying to ignore. As soon as the road became bumpy, she was ready to quit.

"I'm not a quitter."

"It seems to me that you are."

"Oh, what do you know? Things are different for you."

"Because I live in the United States."

"Because you're a man, " she said. "You don't ever have to get married unless you want to, and I sincerely doubt that will ever happen. You aren't the type to settle down and raise a family." He shifted his position on the bench so his legs could have more room to stretch out.

"I was married." She was astonished. "You were? " He nodded. "For almost seven years. We had a daughter named Bridget." She didn't ask him any more questions, but the silence didn't make him uncomfortable.

He didn't know why he felt compelled to tell her about his past, but the words wouldn't stay locked inside of him any longer.

"They're both dead . . . two years now."

"I'm so sorry."

"Yeah.

So am I. " He sounded as though he had been talking about strangers, for all the emotion in his voice, but the pain was there in his eyes, and it was devastating. She wanted to go to him and take him into her arms and give him what small comfort she could, and the only reason she didn't was because she knew he wouldn't accept it.

She didn't want him to see how shaken she was, and so she turned to look out the window again.

She didn't speak again for several minutes, and then she asked, "What was your wife's name? " "Kathleen."

"It's a beautiful name. You loved her very much, didn't you, Daniel?

" "Yes, " he answered without hesitation. "I loved her. I still "Do you think you'll ever marry again? " "No, " he answered.

"In time . . . " He shook his head. "Don't tell me that time heals.

" She didn't understand why he had suddenly become so antagonistic. "I wasn't going to say that."

"Then what were you going to say? " "That in time you'll be able to smile when you think of Kathleen and Bridget because you'll remember the joyous times you had with them. The pain won't ever go away, but it will lessen."

"How the hell would you know? " She tried to ignore his hostility. "I don't know firsthand.

It's only a hope I have for you."

"It's hot in here, isn't it? " She agreed with a nod as she reached over to unlatch the lock on the window. She pushed and prodded but couldn't get the window up. "I think it's been sealed shut." Daniel reached over, gave the frame one good push, and the window opened. A hot breeze rushed into the compartment.

"Tell me, what was Kathleen like? " Grace asked.

"Why? " "I'm curious, that's all." Daniel propped his feet up on the bench next to Grace, leaned back, and closed his eyes. His arms were folded across his chest, and he looked as though he was going to sleep.

"She was the complete opposite of you, " he answered. "In appearance and in disposition."

"What did she look like? " "She was tall and had brown hair and brown eyes, and lots of freckles, " he added. "She worried about her weight all the time, but she didn't need to because she was perfect just the way she was. Kathleen was a beautiful woman, inside and out. So was our daughter. She looked just like her mother.

" Several minutes went by in silence before Grace asked another question.

"How did you meet her? " "I stopped by her father's farm on my way into Dillon, and she was working in the garden. She was down on her knees pulling weeds with the sun beating down on her, and all she had to do was look up at me and smile. I think I fell in love with her then and there."

"I love to garden, " Grace said, believing that she and Kathleen shared a common interest after all. "I had the most beautiful cutting flowers, all the colors of the rainbow." Daniel shook his head.

"Kathleen's garden was filled with vegetables.