i 'Why did you kiss me? ' The question caught him off guard. 'I
wanted to.' She folded her arms across her waist. 'Don't ever do it
again. Promise me you won't.' He wouldn't make a promise he had no
intention of keeping, and so he said nothing at all, until she pushed
him.
'I want your word, Daniel.'
'No.'
'No? Do you mean . . . after what just happened . . . you would want
to kiss me again? ' 'Yeah, I would and I will.'
'Have you figured it all out yet, Daniel? ' Cooper's raspy voice
intruded.
Daniel jumped to his feet. 'You're awake.' Grace rushed to his
side.
'How do you feel, Marshal? ' 'Like I'm in the middle of a war.
What's the matter with you two, fighting with a dying man between
you?
' Daniel was so relieved to see his friend awake a huge grin crossed
his face.
Grace was teary-eyed. 'I'm sorry we disturbed you.'
'You shouldn't shout at a lady, ' Cooper told Daniel before turning to
Grace. 'And you should have told us what you knew. Now, don't cry,
darling'.'
'You're not dying, are you, Cooper? ' Daniel asked.
Cooper would have laughed, but he didn't have the stamina. He felt as
weak and used up as a hundred-year-old plow horse. 'I don't suppose I
am, ' he said. 'I asked you a question, ' he reminded him. 'Help me
sit up, fetch me a glass of water, and then tell me if you've figured
it out yet.' Grace hurried to place two pillows behind the marshal's
back while Daniel lifted him up. A moment later, Daniel handed him a
glass of water, then pulled his chair closer to the bed.
Grace felt Cooper's brow, smiled because it didn't feel overly warm to
her, and then politely excused herself and tried to leave the room so
that they would have privacy for their talk.
'Grace, come back here, ' Daniel ordered.
