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
