soon as I find him.'
'You don't feel well tonight, Tilly. Go on up and get in bed. I'll
take care of Caleb.'
'I'll brew your tea for you and bring it right up, ' Grace added.
'Jessica, Caleb can stay in the kitchen with me. I'll keep an eye on
him.' Jessica took a deep breath and slowly let it out. 'Lord, I wish
I weren't so nervous.' Grace nodded. 'I feel like I've done something
wrong, but I haven't.
Oh, I wish I'd never come to this town. I had such grand hopes . .
.
' 'I know you did, ' Jessica said. 'But it was wrong of Mr. Wells's
son not to honor his father's promise. He should have sold you the
grazing land as his father had agreed. A man's word is supposed to be
sacred.'
'The younger Mr. Wells doesn't know that, ' Grace said.
'You're going to find your ranch, ' Jessica promised. 'We'll look at
the property near Denver first, and if it isn't exactly what you want,
I've heard there's lush grazing land to be found in California. '
'There's so much to be done, and time's running out. I only have seven
months left to purchase the land and buy the cattle, or I must admit
defeat and go back home. If I hadn't wasted so much time here, I could
be in Denver by now.'
'I'm glad you came to Rockford Falls. If you hadn't, I wouldn't have
met you, and I believe we've become good friends.' Grace grabbed hold
of Jessica's hand. 'Oh, we have become good friends.'
'And now Caleb and I will be going with you to Colorado. Some good did
come out of this, didn't it? ' 'Will you two girls stop acting like
ninnies. Jessica, get on out to the porch.' Tilly's impatience
discouraged further dallying. Straightening her shoulders, Jessica
hurried to the front door. She felt as though she were going to her
own trial, which was ridiculous, of course. She only had to convince
the marshals she hadn't witnessed anything.
Her hand shook when she reached for the doorknob.
'Good evening, Marshals. I'm sorry I've kept you waiting.' She stood
poised just inside the door and looked serene, yet her hand gripped the
handle tightly, and she appeared ready to bolt. Experience had taught
Daniel Ryan that lawmen made people jittery. He quickly stepped
forward and tried to put her at ease.
