Blackwater.'
'And if Jessica and Grace want to leave Rockford Falls in the
meantime?
Are they going to be safe? ' ''Yes, ' Daniel answered. 'Cooper and
his deputies will go with them to make certain no one bothers them. '
'Do you trust this Cooper? ' 'Yeah, ' Daniel answered. 'He's a good
man. I've worked with him on other cases. Trust me. He knows what
he's doing.' Rebecca drew both marshals back to her side when she
burst into tears again. 'They're going to come after me, aren't
they?
' Cole wanted to lie to her, but Daniel was quicker and was bluntly
truthful. 'Yes, they'll probably come after you, but we aren't going
to let them touch you.'
'We have to leave. Now, ' she demanded. 'I won't stay here another
minute. It's too dangerous, ' she added in a panic.
'Before any decisions are made, you need to tell us exactly what
happened from the minute you walked into the bank.'
'No, we must leave now. I'll tell you everything you want to know on
the train when I feel safe.'
'Rebecca, we need to hear the details now, ' Daniel insisted.
She was sobbing in earnest now and trembling. Gripping her hands
together, she whispered, 'It was horrible. I remember I was in a
hurry, and I didn't like having to stand in line again. I didn't talk
to any of the other customers while I waited. The bank was going to
close and the tellers were very slow. I worried I wouldn't get all of
my errands done.
Oh, God, Franklin helped me, and now he's dead. I met him at church
and he was such a kind man.' Before she could continue, a messenger
from the hotel came rushing inside. He was a tall, lanky boy with
pockmarks on his face. 'Marshal Ryan? I'm sorry to intrude, but this
message I'm supposed to give you is urgent.' He stared at Rebecca
while he handed the sealed envelope to Daniel.
'Why's she crying? ' he asked.
No one answered him. 'Ma'am, is there anything I can do to make you
feel better? ' he asked.
She shook her head. He shrugged in response, then asked Daniel if he
wanted him to take back a reply.
