Julie Garwood - Come the Spring

"Then what's bothering you? " Cole asked.

"I've just heard the most startling news from that despicable reporter

this morning. He told me that one of the Blackwater gang has been

captured. Was the reporter lying or was he telling the truth? "

Because she was looking at Daniel, he stepped forward to answer. "Yes,

it's true. One of them was caught."

"Is he dead or alive? " she cried out. "Alive, " Daniel answered.

"But just barely."

"I hope he dies, " she whispered, and then bowed her head. "No, I

shouldn't say that. It's just that there's been so much killing, and

if he's responsible, he should pay for his crimes. Do they know the

man's name? " "I don't know if the authorities know his name or not, "

Daniel said. "I didn't ask."

"Are they bringing him back to Rockford Falls to stand trial? " "No,

they've taken him to Blackwater, Texas.

" "Is that a long way from here? " "Yes, " Cole answered.

She looked relieved.

"Good, " she whispered. "I won't have to worry about him getting loose

and coming after Jessica and Grace and me." She collapsed into a chair

and began to fan herself with her handkerchief. "The murderer has

confessed to his crimes, hasn't he? " "No, he hasn't."

"But they're sure he's one of them? They won't let him out, will

they?

" She sounded terrified of the possibility. Daniel quickly put her

mind to rest. "They won't let him out, " he assured her.

She glanced down at her lap. "Oh, Lord, my hands are shaking. I'm not

used to this kind of excitement, and this past week has been

hellacious.

First, there were the murders at the bank, and then I was named a

witness in the paper, and the fire last night . . . It's too much.

It's simply too much." Her voice broke.

Daniel sat down on the edge of the desk to face her. "I know how

distressing this is, but . . . " "No, you don't know, " she cried

out.

"I'm. . scared." . so . . .

After whispering the admission, she burst into tears and buried her

face in her hands. "I've been such a coward, but I'm going to do the

right thing now. You don't need to bother Jessica or Grace any longer

because . . . " She didn't go on. Daniel leaned toward her and tried

to look sympathetic, while Cole shoved a glass of water into her

hand.

"Here, drink this, " he suggested.

She wiped her face with her handkerchief and looked up at him. "Try to

understand. I didn't want anyone to know . . . I'm engaged to the

most wonderful man. He's a respected businessman and very careful

about appearances. A scandal would ruin him. It's taken him five long

years to get up the courage to propose to me. I thought I could go

back home and pretend none of this happened. You would catch the men

eventually. My fiance runs with a very sophisticated, wealthy crowd.

Can you see why I would keep silent? " "Rebecca, what are you telling

us? " Cole asked.

"I'm your witness. I was hiding under the desk when the Blackwater

gang came inside. The purse you found belongs to me." Both marshals

tried to contain their reaction to the news. Relief flooded through

Cole, and he felt guilty about that. He was just so damned happy it

wasn't Jessica.

Daniel felt a burst of excitement rush through his veins. She was

there, and, God willing, she saw all of them.

"They'll try to kill me, won't they? " she whispered.

"We'll protect you, " Cole fervently promised.

"You'll try, but they'll find a way to silence me."

"We aren't going to let anyone hurt you, " Daniel vowed.

She wiped the tears away from her face before speaking again. "I know

I should have come forward sooner, but I was very frightened. I just

wanted to pretend it didn't happen, and I kept hoping that you would

catch them . . . eventually. I'm so sorry I lied. It isn't like me

to act so cowardly."

"You were scared, " Cole said.

"Yes, " she whispered. "And now poor Jessica and Grace have both been

dragged into this nightmare. Neither one of them was in the bank at

closing time. I know because I was there, and if I had had the courage

to speak up sooner, they wouldn't be living in fear now."

"You were seen inside the bank earlier that afternoon, " Cole said.

"Yes, I was there, but I went back. I needed to finish some

business.

I thought I could just run into the bank and . . . " A defeated look

crossed her face. "I'll go to Blackwater with you and look at the man

they've captured, " she whispered. "If he's one of the Blackwater

gang, I'll point him out and testify in court." She wiped another tear

from her cheek before continuing. "I'm begging you. Let Jessica and

Grace get on with their lives. They want to leave town this afternoon,

as soon as they can, and I think they should be allowed to, " she

added. "They shouldn't be hounded or punished any longer because of my

cowardice. You don't have to worry that the gang will come after

them.

I've thought about this long and hard, and I think I've come up with

the perfect solution to ensure they'll be left alone."

"And what's that? " Daniel asked.

"I'm going to tell the reporter for the newspaper that I'm the

witness.

I'm certain he'll put the announcement on the front page of tomorrow's

edition. I'll go over to his office as soon as I leave here." Daniel

was shaking his head. Cole put his coffee cup down and took a step

toward her. "We can't let you do that."

"You can't stop me, " she cried out. "I will protect Jessica and Grace

as best I can. It's my fault they're caught in the middle of this

nightmare. Hopefully, one of the Blackwater gang will see the

interview and leave those poor innocent women alone."

"I can stop you, " Daniel countered. "You are not going to talk to any

reporters. Do I make myself clear? " "But I must let everyone know

Jessica and Grace weren't there. Don't you understand? They're being

treated like lepers in this town, and they haven't done anything

wrong." She sounded on the verge of hysteria.

Cole quickly tried to calm her down. "You didn't do anything wrong

either, Rebecca. You were simply in the wrong place at the wrong

time.

" "Do Jessica and Grace know that you've come forward? " Daniel

asked.

"When Sloan locked the three of you in the cell together, did you tell

them then that you were the witness? Is that why all of you told us

the same story? " She seemed surprised. "They were both very

frightened. I remember telling them exactly what I was going to say to

you. Why? Did they say the very same thing? " Neither marshal

answered her question. "Did you tell them you saw the robbery and the

murders? " Cole pressed.

"No, I didn't, but I think they knew. They were protecting me by not

telling you what they suspected. They're both very kind-hearted ladies,

and they wanted to help me. I could pack and be ready to leave in an

hour. I'd like to get going as soon as possible." With a tilt of his

head, Daniel motioned Cole to step outside with him.

They left the door open but spoke in low whispers so Rebecca wouldn't

overhear.

"She isn't going to get near the reporter, " Daniel muttered.

"I agree, " Cole said. "She's right, though, about leaving. We better

get her out of town as quickly as possible."

"I wanted to wait . . .

" "For what? " Cole demanded.

"Marhsal Cooper and a couple of deputies are coming up from Salt Lake

City to help. They should be here any time, and I'll let them take

charge of Jessica and Grace, while you and I escort Rebecca to

Blackwater."

"And if Jessica and Grace want to leave Rockford Falls in the

meantime?

Are they going to be safe? " ''Yes, " Daniel answered. "Cooper and

his deputies will go with them to make certain no one bothers them. "

"Do you trust this Cooper? " "Yeah, " Daniel answered. "He's a good

man. I've worked with him on other cases. Trust me. He knows what

he's doing." Rebecca drew both marshals back to her side when she

burst into tears again. "They're going to come after me, aren't

they?

" Cole wanted to lie to her, but Daniel was quicker and was bluntly

truthful. "Yes, they'll probably come after you, but we aren't going

to let them touch you."

"We have to leave. Now, " she demanded. "I won't stay here another

minute. It's too dangerous, " she added in a panic.

"Before any decisions are made, you need to tell us exactly what

happened from the minute you walked into the bank."

"No, we must leave now. I'll tell you everything you want to know on

the train when I feel safe."

"Rebecca, we need to hear the details now, " Daniel insisted.

She was sobbing in earnest now and trembling. Gripping her hands

together, she whispered, "It was horrible. I remember I was in a

hurry, and I didn't like having to stand in line again. I didn't talk

to any of the other customers while I waited. The bank was going to

close and the tellers were very slow. I worried I wouldn't get all of