Julie Garwood - Come the Spring

before our wedding day. Now please change the subject."

"Do you think Caleb's all right? " "Yes, " he answered. "He's

probably going to have an aversion to fried foods for the rest of his

life, but he's being loved and spoiled."

"I had a nice long talk with Tom, " she remarked.

"What'd you talk about? " "You." He shot her a glance. "What'd he

tell you? " "He was full of stories about you."

"Like what? " "Abilene." His shoulders sagged. "I had hoped to get

married before you found out about that."

"You act like you did something wrong."

"I shot a woman, Jessie." He waited for her to grill him with

questions or tell him he'd been wrong to take that chance with a

woman's life hanging in the balance.

"It was very clever of you." He stopped dead in his tracks. "What?

" "I said it was very clever of you."

"I shot the woman, " he reminded her.

"Oh, it was a flesh wound. You're very good with a gun, aren't you? "

"Jessie, you act like we're talking about the weather. You aren't at

all shocked, are you? " "Of course not."

"The end doesn't justify the means."

"You feel guilty."

"Yes."

"It was a practical solution."

"Yes, but . . . " "You saved her life."

"Then how come I felt so rotten afterwards? " It was the first time

since it had happened that he had admitted the truth to anyone, even

himself.

He was giving her another glimpse into his heart by letting her see his

vulnerability. He showed the world such a hard, unbending exterior,

but underneath all the shields was a kind, gentle man who cared deeply

about others.

"Because you're honorable." She leaned up and kissed him, then took

hold of his hand and started walking again. "Grace sold another hat

today."

"What? " he asked, confused by the rapid change in subjects.

"I said Grace sold another hat today. Isn't that nice? " Jessica was

ready to move on, and that practical side of her was yet another reason

he had to add to his list when she asked him again why he loved her.

"Who'd she sell it to? " "A very nice woman . . . Well, she wasn't

nice at first, she was actually quite hostile, but Grace has a way of

putting people at ease and within minutes they were chatting like old

friends. She gave Grace seven dollars. I think she would have paid

more, but Grace said this was a working woman and couldn't spare

another cent. Grace tried to give the woman her hat until she realized

pride was involved. It was a good bargain, don't you think? " "What

kind of job could a woman get in that fleabag town? " "Her office is

in one of the rooms above the saloon." He grinned. "You do know what

she does for a living, don't you? " "Yes, but I wanted to see you

smile again. You worry too much." He would have argued with her, but

they'd reached camp and Grace was sleeping, so he didn't say another

word. He did kiss her good night, though, and was pleased to notice

that she looked thoroughly dazed when he was finished.

Daniel ignored them. Grace was curled up on her side, facing him.

After Cole moved his bedroll close to Jessica's, Daniel moved his so

that he could sleep next to Grace. He fell asleep thinking about her,

and sometime during the night he felt her take hold of his hand. For

now, it was enough.

the curtain was about to rise on the final act.

Rebecca dressed with care, choosing a virginal white dress with a

modest, yet seductive, neckline. There was just enough cleavage to

ensure that the recently widowed judge would stare. Donald had told

her she would have to convince Rafferty of Bell's innocence before he

could be released by the sheriff.

She thought about carrying a Bible with her, then changed her mind.

She mustn't overdo the role she was going to play.

She finished brushing her hair and stood up to preen in front of the

mirror. Men liked women who wore their hair long and free, and hers

was exceptional. The lustrous curls shimmered in the sunlight like

strands of gold.

The bedroom door suddenly opened, and her lover strolled inside. She

tossed the brush on the table and turned to him. "You took a chance

coming here. Did anyone see you? " "Of course not. I'm always

careful. I came up the back way." Rebecca dressed in white was such a

mockery he wanted to laugh. She actually looked pure and untouched.

"Donald, is everything all right? You look perplexed, " she said.

"Sorry, " he replied. "I was preoccupied. The sight of you in white

stunned me." She smiled. "I thought it was a nice touch."

"It's fine, just fine, " he said before finally getting down to the

business at hand. "I'm sorry you couldn't be in the courtroom this

morning to watch the pathetic sheriff from Maple Hills make a complete

fool of himself, " he said with a laugh. "He admitted under oath that

he surprised Bell when he snuck up on him and drew his gun. He also

admitted he wasn't wearing his badge and he didn't identify himself.

By the time Bell's attorney finished reminding the jury that his client

was deathly ill at the time and blinded with a raging fever, he had all

twelve men in the palm of his hands. I swear they were glaring at the

sheriff when he shuffled away from the stand. I doubt he'll get

reelected." The news thrilled her. "Then the attempted murder charge

has been thrown out? " "Not yet, but it will be this afternoon, " he

assured her. "The judge is dragging the trial out for as long as he

can."

"If Bell is going to be released, there's no reason for me to carry on

with the charade." He shook his head. "You're still going to have to

go through with it, " he told her. "The judge is itching to hang

Bell.

He knows he's got his man, and if he can't get him on the charge of

attempted murder, he'll keep him locked up until you convince him Bell

wasn't in the bank."

"All right, then." She sat down at her dressing table and began to

brush her hair again. "What are you going to do about Bell? Now that

people are suspicious of him, he's become a liability."

"I'm going to kill him of course, " Donald said.

"Have you told the others? " "Burton, Harris, and Andrews know. "

"What about Robertson? " "The boys are going to take care of Robertson

for me. It was their idea, not mine. Burton says Robertson is getting

out of control.

Andrews calls him knife happy." She put her brush down and turned to

him. "Have you heard from Burton yet? " "Don't start fretting. "

"But he was supposed to wire you after they killed Grace and Jessica.

Have you gotten word from him yet? " "I'm sure they got the job

done.

They always do, " he added with a grin.

"Burton couldn't send a wire."

"Why not? " "The telegraph office here has been shut down for the last

two days.

The equipment broke down, " he explained. "Don't worry. I checked it

out to make sure it was true."

"No one in town is getting telegrams?

" "Oh, they're getting them, but they're being rerouted through the

next town and that's twenty miles away."

"His wire will probably come tomorrow, then."

"And we'll be long gone, " he told her.

"You never told me how Burton and the others feel about disbanding. "

"They're ready to stop for a while. By the time they get the urge

again or run out of money, we'll be setting up house in Paris."

"If you take care of Bell tonight, we could leave tomorrow." He headed

back to the door. "No, we're leaving tonight. Pack your things and