them. Was Daniel like that? she wondered. She thought perhaps that
he was. He just looked the type who would never, ever settle down.
'There's no way of knowing, ' Daniel answered, wondering why she was
frowning so intently. 'Why do you need to know? ' 'I have other
commitments, ' she said. 'They're personal. Could you please make a
calculated guess, Daniel? I really do need to know.'
'It's going to take us a week or two to get to Blackwater, depending on
the amount of trouble we run into, ' he said. 'Then you'll have to
stay until the trial's over and the other men have been caughtt'
'Why?
' she interrupted. 'That could take months.'
'I can't let you go on your way until I'm certain none of the other
gang members will come after you.' She closed her eyes. 'All right
then, ' she agreed. 'You're telling me I could be in Texas for as
little as a few weeks or as long as two months.'
'Could be longer, ' he told her.
Her reaction surprised him. Tears came into her eyes. 'Then it's
settled.'
'What's settled? ' he asked, confused by the sadness he heard in her
voice.
She was so disheartened she could barely think what to do. 'It's over,
' she whispered. 'And I've lost.'
'Grace, what are you talking about? ' 'I don't blame you, Daniel.
Really I don't.'
'Will you make sense? ' he demanded. 'Explain why you're so upset.'
'My future, ' she cried out. 'It's ruined. Even one month's too
long.
Don't you understand? No, of course you don't, but it doesnyt
matter.
It's all my own fault for having such silly dreams. I've wasted too
much time already, and I'd never be able to become established in the
amount of time I have left.' Her sigh was long and weary. 'I have to
make a stop at the telegraph office before we leave town.'
'No, ' Daniel said.
