Julie Garwood - Come the Spring

Out of the corner of his eye, Cole had seen Daniel draw his gun on the

deputy and had already whirled around to face the only other men in the

courtroom who were armed. The sheriff was one, a deputy standing in

front of the side door was the other.

It was an instinctive reaction on the sheriff's part to go for his gun

as soon as his deputy shouted, but Cole had his gun trained on him the

second his fingers wiggled. Cole simply shook his head at the

sheriff.

The message was clear.

Rebecca frantically searched the audience for Donald. He had promised

her he would sit in the third or fourth row. She slowly slipped her

hand into her pocket.

The judge came out of his seat and leaned forward with both hands

planted on his desk as he roared, "What's the matter with you people?

Don't you know better than to draw on two U. S. marshals? Even I can

see their badges, and I'm as blind as a bat." Rafferty's voice lashed

out over the crowd and was so thunderous he was able to get through to

them and avert a panic. A collective sigh rolled through the assembly

as everyone calmed down. Several men chuckled with relief.

Rebecca was slowly bringing her derringer out of her pocket, holding it

steady in the palm of her hand with her thumb pressed against the

barrel. She found Donald quickly, he was sitting at the end of the

fourth row next to the aisle on her side of the courtroom. He was

close, very close, and as she watched him, he gave her a barely

perceptible nod before turning his attention to the deputy guarding the

side door on her left. She understood what he was telling her and

looked at Bell.

The judge took his seat, adjusted his flowing black robe, and squinted

at the assembly. They still appeared to be a little unnerved, and he

decided to give them another minute to recover.

"Marshals, you can holster your guns, " he ordered. "Which one of you

is Daniel Ryan? " "I am, Your Honor." The judge motioned him to the

bench. "You sure cut it awfully close getting here, " he remarked.

Daniel didn't offer any excuses or explanations. "Yes, Your Honor, we

did."

"I happen to know a great deal about you, son, because I make it my

business to find out everything I can about men like you, and I have

only one thing to say. It's an honor and a privilege to finally meet

you." Daniel didn't know what to say in response. The judge had

already turned his attention to Cole. "What's your name, Marshal? "

"Cole Clayborne." Rafferty nodded. "I've heard a tale or two about

you as well. Of course, I know the stories can't possibly be true. "

"I'm sure they aren't, Your Honor, " Cole answered, wondering why the

man wasn't getting to the urgent matter at hand. Cole kept glancing at

Daniel to make sure he was still in control. He noticed the way Daniel

was watching Bell, and knew that wasn't a good sign.

The judge rose to address his assembly. "All right now. I've given

you enough time to soothe your ruffled feathers and settle down. From

this point on, I don't want to hear one peep out of any of you. If I

do, I swear I'll order these fine marshals to escort you out the front

doors." Silence resulted from his firm decree. Rafferty turned to

Jessica and sat back. "Young lady, who are you? " "My name is Jessica

Summers."

"State your business with this court." She took a step closer to the

center of the bench and looked up at the judge.

"I witnessedţ" "I'm your witness, " Rebecca screamed.

"I'm telling the truth, " Jessica insisted.

"She's lying, Judge, " Rebecca countered. "I was there." Heads turned

back and forth from one side of the courtroom to the other as

accusations were volleyed. Daniel crossed behind Jessica and handed

the judge a paper.

Rafferty noted the seal at the bottom of the sheet, read the contents,

and nodded. "Well . . . well . . . " Shaking with rage, Jessica was

irrationally determined to make Rebecca tell the truth. First, she

knew, she would have to make the woman lose her control.

"Move back, Jessica, " Cole ordered when she took a step forward.

Jessica quickly did as he ordered, but didn't take her attention off

the woman she was determined to destroy.

"Cuff that prisoner, Sheriff, " Daniel ordered.

"It was you, " Jessica shouted. "You set the fire. You tried to kill

my son. You hurt Grace. You shot Marshal Cooper. Surprise,

RebeccaţCooper didn't die. Oh, yes, he's alive and well, " she

taunted. "And quite able to recall who he saw and what happened. The

judge is reading all about it right now. Cooper wrote a nice long

letter." The news staggered Rebecca. She collapsed against the back

of her chair and stared at Donald, imploring him with her eyes to help

her.

Donald was thoroughly enjoying himself. There was a hint of a smile on

his face as he sat there with his head tilted ever so slightly to the

wall while he watched and listened. How thoughtful of the marshal to

insist that the only living person who could possibly identify him stay

on the opposite side of the courtroom. She couldn't see him in the

crowd, not with the sea of faces gawking at her and Rebecca. Thanks to

the overly cautious marshal, Donald didn't have to worry.

He would continue to sit back and patiently bide his time. He knew

Rebecca expected him to help her escape, but he had no such intention,

of course. He would wait it out and then sneak away. The poor dear

was looking quite desperate now. Donald knew exactly what would happen

as soon as he gave her asignal. She would jump to her feet and attempt

to use that pathetic little gun she had hidden in her pocket. One of

the lawmen would shoot her, of course.

Donald also knew what Bell would do. He wouldn't continue to stand

there with his head hanging down, his shoulders stooped, and his hands

limp at his sides, looking like the sheriff's whipping boy. Why, he

hadn't moved a muscle since he'd shuffled across the room to the

railing in front of the star witness.

The cold-blooded murderer was as cunning as a fox. He was waiting for

his opportunity to spring into action. The sheriff had already relaxed

his guardţthe old fool was still looking around for his handcuffsţand

barely paying his prisoner any notice at all, which Donald knew was

just fine with Bell. The sheriff was going to have to get close to

Bell in order to shackle him, and when he did, Bell would attack.

Donald expected him to go down in a blaze of bullets, and while the

deputies and the marshals were firing, Donald would fold into the

inevitable stampede as the crowd swarmed out the doors to escape.

A man in the back row jumped to his feet and reached into kis hip

pocket, drawing botk Cole's and Daniel's attention.

"Hands up, " Cole shouted as he strode up the center aisle amid the

spectators, his gun trained on the stranger.

"I'm unarmed, I'm unarmed, " the man stammered. "I just needed my

handkerchief." He then sneezed, drawing smiles from those around

him.

Jessica was trying to figure out who Rebecca was looking at in the

crowd. Who would she know in Blackwater . . .

"Cole, " Jessie screamed as she rushed across the room, "he's here.

The leader . . . he's here." Daniel raced toward her and jerked her

back just as Donald gave the signal to Rebecca.

Rebecca leapt to her feet and fired one shot through the sheriff's

temple, but before his legs could begin to fold, Bell was behind him