Julie Garwood - Come the Spring

Ryan couldn't take his eyes off her, so completely fascinated was he by

this delicate woman. Even though she was unskilled and totally out of

place, she was not deterred, nor even discouraged.

He had to force himself to get on with the business at hand. Pulling

his notepad out of his pocket, he put it on the table and reached for

his pencil. "Why don't we get started, " he began.

"Yes, of course, " she agreed.

"About what time were you in the bank on the day of the robbery? " She

stared at the tabletop when she answered. "I was there at two o'clock,

give or take ten minutes." Cole was about to take a bite of his

sandwich when she gave her answer.

He put the food back on the plate and shot a glance at Daniel to judge

his reaction.

"You're sure it was two o'clock? " Daniel asked, sounding only mildly

curious.

"Yes, I'm sure. I noticed the time while I was waiting my turn in

line.

There's a large clock on the wall behind the tellers' windows."

"Did you notice any of the other people in line? " Cole asked. She

pondered the question for a long moment, and then shook her head.

"Actually, no, I didn't notice anyone else. I wasn't paying much

attention." What in God's name was going on? Cole was about to ask

Grace that question when Daniel shook his head at him. He obviously

didn't want Cole to point out the fact that her answer was identical to

Jessica's and Rebecca'sţalmost word for word. Had the three of them

rehearsed what they would say while they were in that cell together,

and if so, why?

Daniel closed his notepad and put it back in his pocket. "Did you

notice anything unusual? " "No, I didn't, " Grace answered.

"You took your place in line . . . " "Yes, I did, " she said. "And I

waited my turn, but I didn't look around. I was thinking about all the

things I needed to get done." Daniel's frustration was mounting, but

he was careful not to let it show. "The bag that Sheriff Sloan showed

you, " he began, "it doesn't belong to you, does it? " "No, it

doesn't. I never carry a bag. All of my dresses have pockets."

"The one you're wearing now doesn't, " Cole said.

"Excuse me? " She was obviously startled by his observation and was

trying to come up with a suitable explanation. "The dress you're

wearing doesn't have pockets, " Cole repeated.

"No, it doesn't, " she agreed. "But the one I wore to the bank does

have pockets . . . two of them. Would you like some more tea? " Cole

glanced down at his full cup and wondered where she thought she would

put more. He shook his head, but she didn't seem to notice. She

turned and rushed back to the stove, then carried the teapot back to

the table and placed it next to Cole's cup. A look of acute relief

crossed her face when Jessica walked into the kitchen.

Surprised to find the marshals still there, Jessica stopped short.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. I thought you would be finished

by now, and I was going to help Grace clean the dishes. I'll do them

later." She tried to leave, but Daniel called her back.

"Come and join us, " he suggested.

Grace frantically nodded. Jessica's gaze was directed on Cole. He

looked irritated and out of sorts, and she thought it was because she

had interrupted them.

"No, thank you. I'll just go back upstairs for a little while."

"We insist you join us." He wasn't going to take no for an answer. He

stood up and pulled out the chair adjacent to him. Daniel also stood

and asked Grace to sit down.

The two women exchanged a look before complying with the request.

Cole then took over the questioning. "Grace, you're planning to leave

Rockford Falls tomorrow, aren't you? " "Yes, I am, " she answered.

She folded her hands on the tabletop and tried to look composed. "How

did you know I was leaving? " "Just a hunch, " he answered dryly.

"Where are you headed? " "Colorado."

"Jessica told us she was also headed to Colorado, " Daniel

interjected.

"Yes, that's right, " Grace said. "We're going to be traveling

together."

"Did you come to Rockford Falls together? " Cole asked.

Grace smiled. "Good heavens, no. I came from London, England, several

months ago. I stopped in Kentucky, Missouri, and Kansas before I came

here. I was looking for property, " she thought to add.

"Property? " Cole asked.

"I'm hoping to start a ranching business, " she explained. "I'm

looking for good grazing land . . . " "For the cattle she's going to

purchase, " Jessica interjected. "Yes, for the cattle, " Grace

agreed.

"But then Mr. Wells's family decided not to sell the property, "

Jessica said.

"Who is Mr. Wells? " Cole asked.

"The gentleman I corresponded with from London, " Grace said. "I had

heard through friends who knew him that he wanted to sell his land and

that it was just what I was looking for."

"But it wasn't? " Cole asked.

"Oh, it was, " Grace answered. "Acres and acres of lush green land.

It was as perfect as my friends had claimed. I had already made an

offer sight unseen from London, but when I arrived in Kentucky to sign

the official papers, I found out that poor Mr. Wells had passed on.

His son refused to honor his father's promise."

"Grace saw an advertisement in the Rockford Falls Gazette for available

land near Denver, and we're going there together to look at it."

"Do you know anything about raising cattle? " Daniel asked.

"No, but I plan to hire men who do know how, " Grace answered. "And I

will learn how. I know it's going to be hard work, but I'm not afraid

of it." Cole was trying not to let Grace see how appalled he was.

"Ma'am, running cattle is a backbreaking business." He was diplomatic

in his caution.

Daniel was blunt. "Are you nuts? You can't run a cattle ranch. "

Grace's spine stiffened. "No, I'm not crazy, and I assure you I will

achieve my goal. I may not have the experience, but I'm determined. "

Daniel was too incredulous to argue. Cole shook his head. "How can

you leave tomorrow? " he asked. "The coach doesn't come through here

until the day after."

"We aren't taking the coach, " Jessica explained.

"We're going by wagon, " Grace said. "It's in the field behind the

house. Surely you noticed it on your way here."

"We should put our suitcases in it tonight, " Jessica said.

Grace agreed. "And get an early start in the morning. That's a good

idea."

"Who's driving the team? " Cole wanted to know.

"We are, " Grace answered. The look on her face indicated she couldn't

imagine why he would ask such a question.

Cole was staring at Jessica's hands. He reached over and took hold of

one and turned the palm up. "Your hands are soft." It sounded like an

accusation, and she pulled her hand back. "I'll wear gloves."

"Have you ever driven a team before? " Daniel asked.

"Not exactly, " she admitted.

Astonished by their impossible plans, Daniel looked at Cole, hoping he

would be able to talk some sense into them.

Cole was just as astounded, but he tried to be diplomatic. "The two of

you . . . and the baby are going to set off on your own across some of

the most rugged and dangerous terrain in the country. Have I got that

straight? " Both Grace and Jessica nodded.

Cole lost his patience. "Are you ladies out of your minds? " Since he

was looking at Jessica, she assumed he expected her to answer his rude

question. "No, we aren't out of our minds. We've thought it all out,

and I assure you we know what we're doing." Grace nodded. "Yes, we

do, " she agreed. She turned to Daniel and added, "We won't be

traveling alone. We're going to join a wagon train."

"We must be in Gramby by Monday at the latest, " Jessica said.

Daniel was staring intently at Grace. More than anything she longed to

tell him to stop it. It was rude, and it was also driving her to

distraction. She had the feeling he was trying to see into her mind,

which was absurd, she told herself. He couldn't possibly read her

thoughts.

"Why are you asking us so many personal questions? " she demanded.

"We haven't done anything wrong, " Jessica insisted.

"Are you finished questioning us about the bank? " Grace asked. "We

both have work to do." Daniel's anger was evident in his expression

and voice when he said, "If one of you has information about the

robbery and isn't telling, that's called obstruction. It's a

punishable crime, ladies."

"Are you trying to intimidate us? " Jessica asked.

Both marshals ignored the question. Daniel turned to Grace. "I've

only got one more question for you. Did you happen to run into Jessica

when you were at the bank? " She looked at Jessica before she

answered. "Yes, I passed her on my way out of the bank. She was going

inside."

"What about Rebecca? " Cole asked. "Did you bump into her too? " The

men's anger sizzled in the air between them. It had been simmering,