again? ' 'We didn't talk about it, but no, I don't want to now. I was
thinking about Jessica and Rebecca. I had hoped to run into them when
we were changing trains, but I didn't see either one of them.'
'Cole and Jessica wouldn't have had time to catch up with us. They're
a full day behind us, and Cooper and Rebecca left yesterday.'
'But we made up time going by horseback, and they could have missed
their train yesterday.'
'Maybe, but it's unlikely, ' he said. 'I looked for them too, but I
didn't see them.'
'Of course you didn't. You were draped all over me. You could barely
keep your eyes open.'
'I'm sure your friend is doing just fine. Don't worry. Cooper will
keep her safe.'
'You really think so? ' 'Yes, ' he insisted. 'Now stop worrying.
Knowing Cooper, he's probably already taught her how to play poker.
I'll bet she's having the time of her life.' /ebecca was going
stir-crazy. She thought she would go out of her mind if she had to
stay locked inside the tiny compartment with Marshal Cooper much
longer. As attractive and attentive as he was, he was still driving
her to distraction. He did try to make the time pass quickly.
They played cards for several hours, chatted, and ate a boxed lunch the
porter fetched for them. Boredom set in then, and all she wanted was
to be left alone for a few minutes. In desperation, she finally came
up with a plausible reason to send him away. She asked him to please
fetch her brown suitcase the porter had put in the luggage compartment
so that she could get her medicine. Pleading a headache, she insisted
that if she didn't drink her tonic before the pain intensified, she
would have to leave the train at the next town and take to her bed.
She felt guilty lying to him because he was being so sympathetic and
understanding.
'I know I should have packed the medicine in my little valise, but I
forgot.'
'Is the pain bad? ' Cooper asked, his concern apparent.
'It's becoming unbearable, ' she replied. 'If I don't nip it now, I'll
be sick for a week. The pain becomes blinding.' Cooper couldn't have
been any more solicitous. After promising to hurry, he told her to
