Daniel read the contents before answering. 'Tell Miss Winthrop I'll be
along in a little while.'
'She said it was urgent, Marshal, ' the messenger repeated. 'She wants
to leave town. She told me so herself just before the doctor went into
her room to check on her.'
'Go back to the hotel and tell her I'll be there as soon as I finish up
a couple of things.'
'It ain't Miss Winthrop, ' the messenger said as he started out the
doorway. 'It's Lady Winthrop. She's titled, ' he added importantly.
'The night manager told me so.' Daniel wasn't paying any attention to
the boy. Rebecca was using Cole's handkerchief to wipe her tears
away.
As soon as the door closed behind the messenger, Daniel began to grill
Rebecca with questions.
'How many were there? ' 'Seven, ' she answered. 'There were seven
men. I didn't see all of their faces.'
'Start at the beginning and tell us everything, ' Cole demanded.
She bowed her head, closed her eyes, and then gave a concise account of
what had happened inside the bank. By the time she was finished, she
was openly sobbing again and clinging to Cole's hand.
'Reliving the nightmare is almost as awful as being there . . . ' Cole
patted her. 'We know how hard this was for you, ' he sympathized.
'You've been a tremendous help, ' Daniel said.
Cole agreed with a nod. 'Do you have any more questions for her? ' he
asked Daniel.
'No, she's told us everything we need to know.' Rebecca stood up, took
a calming breath, and said, 'You will get all of them, won't you?
Promise me you will.'
'We promise, ' Cole answered.
Daniel walked her to the door. 'Why don't you take a few minutes to
relax before you pack.'
'Like it or not, I'm leaving this town today, ' she threatened. 'If
you have any decency at all, you won't tell Jessica and Grace that I'm