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,


the roof collapsing behind him. . . Franklin's head exploding . . .




Daniel grabbed her arm to keep her from going any farther. He stayed


by her side, but Cole had already moved to the center aisle and was


diligently searching the audience for signs of hidden weapons.




"He was in the bank. I saw him put his gun to the back of a man's head


and shoot him. I saw everything, " she shouted, "because I was


there.




" She was pointing at Bell when she made her accusations, but her


attention was centered on the woman who'd tried to kill Caleb and who'd


shot Marshal Cooper. Rebecca was shaking her head in denial as she


started to stand, then fell back against the chair. Her face was so


white she looked as though she were rapidly bleeding to death.




The crowd was going wild, the judge was pounding his gavel, and in the


fracas a young deputy in the back of the room shouted, "Those men are


armed, Judge." He then tried to bring his rifle up.




Before anyone in the crowd could summon a scream or dive for cover,


Daniel's gun was out, his arm fully extended, his target the center of


the deputy's forehead. The man hadn't even gotten his rifle past his


waist when he realized it was too late.




"Put the gun down, boy." The command was given in a deep, yet


surprisingly calm, voice.




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.