for none of the other guests wanted to venture out into the hot
afternoon sun. The garden was surrounded on all sides by a high brick
wall and thick pruned evergreens. Spencer and Cobb stood guard by the
door leading out from the atrium, while their superior, Marshal Cooper,
paced in agitation.
Impatient to get going, he was waiting for the private coach they'd
ordered to arrive.
She was concerned that Grace and Jessica would see her leave.
After checking the time, she glanced at the doorway. 'I feel terrible
not saying good-bye to Jessica and Grace, but I don't want them to know
I'm going to Texas to look at the man they're holding. They'll worry
about me, ' she added. 'I hope we don't run into them when we leave
the hotel.' You don't have to worry about that, ' Cooper said.
'Neither lady will see you leave.'
'How can you be so certain? ' 'Grace has been ordered to stay in bed
until tomorrow, and Marshal Ryan has a guard posted at her door. He
isn't going to let her out, and he isn't going to let her have
visitors.'
'What about Jessica? ' 'She left with Marshal Clayborne a couple of
hours ago.'
'What do you mean, she left? Where did she go? ' Rebecca cried out.
'Did she have an errand to do? Will she be back today? ' 'No.'
'Where is she? ' 'She's in good hands, ' Cooper said. You shouldn't
worry about her.
' 'How long ago did she leave? Did you say a couple of hours? ' 'Yes,
' he answered. 'We should have left then too, but finding a decent
coach has taken time. You're certain you won't ride a horse to the
train station? ' 'I'm certain. I was raised in the city, Marshal, and
as I explained before, I have absolutely no experience riding. I'd
break my neck.'
'All right then, ' he said. 'It shouldn't be much longer before the
coach gets here. We'll just wait.'
'You still haven't told me where Jessica has gone.' Cooper braced
himself before looking directly at Rebecca. He didn't want her to know
the effect she was having on him, but, Lord, it was difficult to keep
himself from staring. She was an incredibly beautiful woman, and with
the sun beating down on her golden hair, she looked as though she were
