get close to his gun was his second. He hadn't realized how arrogant
he'd been with his assumptions until she grabbed his gun and threatened
to put a hole through his black heart if he touched her son.
After packing his satchels, he had gone to her hotel room, knocked on
the door, and when she'd let him insidetkeeping the door open so that
the deputy assigned to protect her could see that nothing inappropriate
was going onthe had quickly explained that he was going to take Caleb
north and that she was going to wait in Rockford Falls until he
returnedtthen she was going to Texas.
Fortunately, Caleb slept through the whispered argument that
followed.
The baby was curled up in a ball on the cot, his chin wet with drool.
He looked like an angeltbut the fire in his mother's eyes was anything
but angelic. She was acting like a bear determined to protect her
young.
'You're out of your mind if you think I'm going to let you take my
son.
' 'Jessica, stop waving my gun around. It might go off. Give it back
to me.' Deputy Spencer stepped into the room. 'Marshal, do you need
some help? ' Cole shook his head. 'No, it's all right.' Jessica
stood at the foot of the double bed, the gun pointing to the floor
now.
She was tense and out of sorts, and there were dark circles under her
eyes. The strain was beginning to show on her.
'You're going to be reasonable about this, ' he said.
She shook her head. 'I'm not going to Blackwater, and you're not going
to touch Caleb.'
'I know it's difficult for you to give me your son, but I promise you
he'll be safe and well taken care of.'
'Get out.' He ignored the command as he crossed to the chair adjacent
to the bed and sat down. His arm deliberately brushed hers when he
walked past her, and he could have easily snatched the gun out of her
hand then, but didn't.
'I told you to leave.'
'I'm not going anywhere until you listen to reason.' She glanced from
the deputy to Cole and then back again.
