tell me Grace wanted you to see her at the hotel? " "That's what her
note said, " Daniel answered.
"She's crossing the street with Sloan hot on her trail."
"Son of a .
. . " Daniel ran out the doorway just as Grace came hurrying down the
boardwalk. He grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her inside the
office.
"What in God's name are you doing out of bed? " His concern for her
well-being was evident in his expression. He thought she looked like
the walking dead, and he fully expected her to faint at any moment.
The left side of her face was still slightly swollen. Daniel wanted to
pick her up and carry her back to the hotel. He pulled her to his side
and looked out at the street beyond.
Sloan was lounging against the hitching post.
"I had to see you, " she explained. "The sheriff was eating his
breakfast in the dining room, so I slipped out the side door."
"I saw her going down the steps out of the corner of my eye, " Sloan
interjected. "I had to leave a full plate of food to chase after
her.
" Grace was trying to hold on to her patience. "Daniel, I must speak
to you. I'm sorry if it isn't convenient, but it's terribly
important.
She looked around the office and then asked, "Isn't Jessica here yet?
You did tell us to be here this morning."
"York walked her over to Dr. Lawrence's house to look in on Tilly, "
Sloan said. "She took the boy with her."
"What in thunder are you women thinking? " Cole snapped. "Three
potential witnesses strolling around town without a care in the
world.
It's enough to make the saints scream. I'm going over to Lawrence's
house and take Jessica back to the hotel." He glared at Sloan when he
added, "And if I have to drag her, by God I will." The sheriff backed
out of Cole's way and watched him cross the street.
Daniel slammed the door in Sloan's face then, giving Grace privacy for
their talk.
"Why is Cole so upset? " "He's upset because you and Rebecca and
Jessica are making it impossible for us to protect you."
"You don't think in broad daylight that someone might try . . . " He
interrupted her. "I'm taking you back to the hotel."
"No, " she insisted. "I need to tell you something. It's important,
Daniel." She tried to make herself let go of his hand, since she felt
it was a sign of weakness for her to cling to the lawman, but she
couldn't pull away.
She was so scared, she could barely gather her thoughts. What she was
about to do was going to changeher future irrevocably, and all of her
dreams were going to be crushed.
There wasn't any other choice, though. She had to do the right
thing.
He gave in. "All right, Grace. What did you want to tell me? " "I'm