He began to kiss the side of her neck. She purred like a contented cat.

"We shouldn't . . . The marshal will be back soon. Oh, God, that feels good." She leaned back so she could see his eyes. "I see you received my telegram. Are the boys with you? " He kissed her mouth once again before he answered her. "Johnson's in Rockford Falls waiting for the opportunity to kill both those women. The others have gone on ahead to Red Arrow. If Johnson fails, they'll kill them when they get off the train. You are sure that's where the women are headed, aren't you? " "Yes, I'm sure, " she answered smugly.

"Have you figured out which one was in that bank? " "No, " she said.

"Both of them are as scared as mice and neither one confided in me.

It's a pity the fire didn't kill them, " she added as she slid her fingers through the hair at the back of his neck. "I went to a considerable amount of trouble."

"Don't you pout, " he crooned. "If Johnson can't get them, the rest of my boys will take care of them in Red Arrow."

"And then I'm the witness." Her throaty laugh inflamed him. "Yes, yes, " he whispered. "Oh, that's fine. Just fine." Her hand slowly moved down his chest and then lower still until she was once again stroking his arousal. She knew the effect she was having on him and thrilled with the feeling of such power.

He reached for her skirts. She shook her head. "No, we mustn't, " she whispered as he began to tear at the buttons. "There isn't time. It's too dangerous."

"We'll make time. I want you, Rebecca. Now." She gave in to his seduction and stepped back to strip for him. Her blouse was in tatters, and she quickly discarded it, then unbuttoned her skirt and let it fall to the floor. "We're fools to take such a chance, Donald, " she said as she unfastened her petticoats.

He was panting while he watched her disrobe. He waited until only a silk-and-lace chemise covered her golden body, and then impatience got the better of him. He rushed forward, thrust his hand between her thighs and roughly shoved her back on the bench. She peeled the undergarment down her body, kicked it aside, then stretched out along the length of the cushioned seat and spread her legs wide, beckoning him to take her.

He wet his lips in anticipation as he greedily stared at her breasts.

He knelt on one knee between her thighs. He couldn't wait another second, for he knew he would burst with his need if he didn't mate with her quickly.

"You know you drive me crazy, don't you, bitch? " She laughed. "Oh, yes, I know, " she whispered. "Who would have thought such a stuffy and prim gentleman could have such a violent appetite."

"How much time do we have? " "At least fifteen minutes, " she answered.

Donald was fumbling with the buttons on his trousers when he heard a knock on the door. Had he locked it? He couldn't remember. He jumped up and turned just as Cooper opened the door.

"Rebecca, I told you to lock . . . " he began as he pushed the door wide. He was so startled to see her naked, he stopped. He couldn't seem to take in the scene.

Donald stood behind the door, waiting for the marshal to come inside.

He frantically searched for his pistol in his pockets.

"What the hell? " Cooper muttered as he stepped forward.

She leaned up on one elbow, her heart slamming inside her chest, and stared at Donald, silently willing him to take action. Cooper saw where she was looking and turned just as Donald moved forward.

"Son of a bitch, " Cooper shouted.

Rebecca panicked. She spotted Donald's pistol on the bench an arm's length away from her and rolled to her side, grabbed hold of the weapon, and fired.

Cooper was going for his gun when the bullet struck him. The force was so powerful, he was thrown backward into the corridor against the windowpane. The glass shuddered from the impact.

Rebecca scrambled to her feet. To keep from screaming, she covered her mouth with her hand and fired once again. She'd aimed too high the second time. Cooper was already crumbling to the floor. The bullet missed him but shattered the glass. It rained down on top of his prone body.

"Oh, God . . . Oh, God, " she whimpered. "Did I kill him? Make sure I killed him. Hurry, Donald." Growling low in his throat like a cornered animal, Donald rushed into the hallway. His eyes darted from side to side to make sure no one else was coming down the aisle. "If he isn't dead, he will be, " Donald muttered. "Stop crying and get dressed. We have to get off the train."

"Yes, yes, " she whimpered before turning to do as he ordered.

Donald quickly dragged the unconscious lawman to the door connecting the cars, leaving a smeared trail of blood in his wake. The train was slowing to take the curved trestle above a yawning black lake when Donald opened the door. He could see a small town looming up in the distance on the other side of the lake. He bent down, half lifted Cooper, grunting from his weight, and then shoved and kicked him out.

He stood there watching as the train clattered on around the bend, smiling when the marshal hit the water.

No one had seen him. He was sure of it, and he doubted that anyone had heard the gunshots either, for the sound the train made as it thundered along the tracks muffled any other noises.

Once again he had gotten away with murder. Excitement surged through his blood, and he began to pant with euphoria. He thought he saw a movement out of the corner of his eye, but he couldn't be certain. He turned away as a precaution so that his face wouldn't be seen, and then took his time strolling back to Rebecca's compartment. The carpet had already absorbed the blood, and it looked as though the stains had been there for some time. No one would know how fresh they were unless he got down on his knees and felt the wetness.

Donald remembered to bolt the door this time. Rebecca hadn't gotten dressed yet. Her clothes were laid out on the bench, and she was frantically shoving her torn garments into her valise. He grabbed hold of her from behind, slammed her up against the wall, and violently took her.

No one heard her screams.

_arting wasn't sweet sorrow, it was agony. Jessica looked as though her heart were being torn apart when she said goodbye to Caleb. She didn't shed a single tear, however, and neither did her son. Her departure didn't faze him, for he'd taken quite a liking to Josey and Tom Norton.

He squirmed in Jessica's arms when she kissed him good-bye, couldn't be bothered with waving farewell, and didn't give his mama a backward glance when she walked out the doorway. He was busy wreaking havoc in Josey's kitchen.

Jessica surprised Cole. He knew she wouldn't make a scene in front of the baby, but he expected her to cry and carry on as soon as they were outside. He even had an "it's for the best" lecture all ready. But Jessie didn't carry on. She remained solemn, but dry-eyed, throughout the journey.

She deserved a reward for holding up so well. They'd pressed hard all day, only stopping twice to rest their horses for a short spell, and by sunset, she was clearly physically and emotionally spent.

At dusk, he stopped his horse alongside hers and silently berated himself for pushing her so hard. She wasn't a skilled horsewoman, and the long ride must have been extremely difficult for her, yet she never once voiced a complaint.

"We'll catch the train in Edwardsville tomorrow morning, " he said.

"The town's about five miles south from here. I doubt we'll find fancy accommodations there, but you would be able to sleep in a bed, " he explained. "Or we could make a little detour and sleep outside by the waterfalls."

"You aren't thinking about going back to Rockford Falls?

" she asked, already shaking her head.

"We're a long way from Rockford Falls, " he assured her. "The spot I'm thinking about has a little waterfall that spills into a clear, blue water basin. It's real secluded."

"How much of a detour is it? " she asked tiredly. She pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes and noticed the dust on her hands. A bath sounded luxurious to her.

"About a mile from here, " he said. "If we do sleep out, it means getting up a little earlier."

"What would you like to do? " He always preferred sleeping out under the stars, away from the noise and crowds and congestion of a big town, but he wasn't going to sway Jessica. It was her choice, not his.

"Whatever you decide is fine with me."

"I'd love to have a bath."

"I'm sure we can find a bath for you in Edwardsville."

"But I'd rather sleep outside. Is it really secluded by the waterfall?

" "Yeah, it is."