'When did she remember she'd left her bag behind? ' 'Not until we
heard that one was found under the desk.'
'Why was it empty? ' 'When the men came in, she stuffed the money in
her dress. She was afraid they'd take it. She didn't realize they
were going tN } 'Massacre them? ' 'Yes.' Daniel closed his eyes for a
moment. 'If Jessica hadn't left her bag behind, Cole and I would never
have known she saw it happen.'
'I don't know if she would have eventually come forward or not, ' Grace
said. 'It wasn't her bag, though. It was mine. She borrowed it so
she would have something to put the money in to carry it home.'
'It was your bag? ' He didn't know why that information infuriated him
so, but it did.
'Honest to God, you and Jessica have obstructed this investigation from
the very beginning. I ought to lock the two of you in a cell and let
you grow old together.'
'Will you please lower your voice? You're going to wake up Marshal
Cooper.'
'We want him to wake up, ' he roared.
She had had enough of his temper and started for the door. 'I won't
let you shout at me, Daniel. I know what I did was wrong, and if you
want to arrest me, then do so.'
'Grace . . . ' 'I realize I should have tried harder to convince my
friend to tell the truth, but I can't change the past.'
'Come back here.' She was too tired to argue and did as he ordered.
'I'd like to go to bed.'
'You're too upset to sleep.'
'How do you know how I feel? ' 'I can see it in your face.
I know I shouldn't have raised my voice to you, and I'm sorry about
that, but I'm damned well not going to apologize for my anger. I lost
the only two women I'm ever going to love, and I don't care how scared
Jessica was. She and you should have come forward.' The impact of
what he had just said was devastating, and she realized for the very
first time just how much his opinion had come to matter to her. He had
just told her he could never love again, and, dear God, she was already
falling in love with him. She wouldn't let that happen. Only a fool
would love a man who couldn't open his heart to her.
