she answered.
'Rebecca was just leaving the bank when I went inside.' Jessica also
could feel the hostility and was convinced that she had said something
that triggered the marshals' anger. She was exhausted from the strain
of guarding every word and knew that if she said anything more, she
would only make it worse. She decided to show the marshals out as
quickly as possible. Pushing her chair back, she stood up and headed
for the door.
Daniel stopped her with his command. 'Both of you are going to be
staying in town tomorrow.' She whirled around and bumped into Cole.
She neither apologized nor stepped back.
'Why must we stay? ' she asked.
'You can't make us stay here, can you? ' Grace asked. 'I'm not
familiar with the laws in this country, but making someone do something
she doesn't wish to do is wrong . . . isn't it? ' 'Yes, it is, '
Jessica said. 'Cole, you can't . . . ' He interrupted her. 'Yes, I
can make you stay. We're using the office in the front of the jail.
You ladies know where it is. Why don't you both plan on being there at
eight o'clock. Rebecca will be joining you.' Jessica and Grace seemed
to wilt. They meekly followed the lawmen to the front of the house.
'This isn't right, ' Grace whispered.
Daniel heard her and turned back in the doorway. 'No, it sure as hell
isn't right, but we're going to figure it all out tomorrow, aren't we,
Grace? ' Cole turned to address Jessica. 'I don't know what kind of a
game you ladies are playing, but it ends now. Do I make myself
clear?
' He didn't wait for an answer. Jessica was shaking from head to toe
as she shut the door and bolted the lock. She turned around and fell
back against it.
Tears sprang into Grace's eyes. 'Oh, God . . . they know.' he
twisted turn of events left Cole and Daniel feeling bewildered and
irritated.
'All three of them rehearsed what they were going to say to us when
they were in the cell together, ' Cole remarked on the way back to the
hotel.
'Hell, yes, they rehearsed. Now tell me why.'
'They're scared, I guess. That's all I can come up with.'
