He realized he had better hurry up then before a rebellion broke out.
"We're almost done, " he announced. "Tell me what happened when you
heard the gunshots. Do you recollect how many you heard? " She wiped
her face with the handkerchief as she nodded. "I'm pretty sure I heard
two shots fired. I was too frightened to find out what was
happening.
The train made an unexpected stop, and that's when I heard that poor
Marshal Cooper had been killed."
"And then what did you do? " "I was afraid to get back on the train.
I didn't know what to do, " she cried out. "I hid in the brush and
waited until everyone had gone. I don't know how long I stayed there
.
. . It could have been hours, " she stammered. "When I was finally
able to pull myself together, I ran into town."
"But you didn't go to the sheriff there, and that's one of the little
nagging points I'm confused about. Why didn't you seek his help? " "I
was terrified, " she cried out. "And I didn't know who to trust. I
wanted to get away from there. I knew you were waiting for me, Your
Honor, and that you would protect me. All I could think about was
getting here . . . to you." His expression was comical to her.
Rafferty looked as though his dog had just been put down.
"You did the right thing, " he said gruffly. "I'm not going to fault
you because you came here, and that's exactly what I ordered you to
do.
You've been very brave. Very brave indeed." The prosecutor stood
up.
"Your Honor, before we go any further, will you please ask Miss James
one last time to look at the defendant. Maybe recalling the sequence
of events . . . " "This poor woman has been through a terrible time, "
the judge said.
"You and I both have to accept that we were about to hang an innocent
man."
"Please, Your Honor, " the prosecutor pleaded.
"I don't mind, " Bell's attorney called out.
The judge ordered the sheriff to unshackle the defendant and bring him
over so that the witness could get a close look at him. When Bell
stood in front of the railing, the judge reluctantly turned back to
Rebecca.
"This is the last time I'll ask you. Is the man standing in front of
you one of the Blackwater gang? " "No, he isn't, " she insisted.
"Yes, he is! " The shout came from the doorway of the judge's
chambers. Every one turned as Jessica slowly walked forward into the
courtroom. She wanted to run to the stand and tear Rebecca from her
seat so outraged was she, but Daniel had made her promise not to go any
farther than the defense table so that she wouldn't be near the killers
she was condemning.
The rage was building momentum inside her. Images kept flashing into
her mind. Malcolm down on his knees looking up earnestly as he tried
to be helpful . . . Cole carrying her baby across the fiery inferno,