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"O’Brien Actually, Marshal O’Brien," Kelsey said

"Kelsey’s been working with the US Marshal’s Office in Key West," Sandy explained

"A US Marshal," he repeated, looking at her as if she were some kind of alien life form

She smiled at him

"You don’t look like a cop," he said

"Technically, I’s" He still seeet my stuff out of that room?" he asked

"I can do that for you, Mr Simmons And I’ll help you find another location to stay, too," Sandy told him

"Um, can you just put me in another room?" he asked

Sandy was clearly surprised by his request "Of course I can But you were pretty desperate to get out the door, Mr Si He flushed "Ladies, I’ to ask you to do me a massive favor Never repeat the fact that a six-foot-three two-hundred-and-thirty-pound bronco buster ran out of his rooged

"Please," heat Kelsey

"Don’t worry I don’t really have anyone to tell," Kelsey said She checked her watch "You till have to excuseThat is, if you’re sure you’re all right now, uest fool in Texas, and that’s solanced at Sandy "You callAnd, Corey, as soon as I’s are moved to your new rooe" She hesitated "Uh, Kelsey? Are you interested in switching rooms with Corey? That would save ht about it for a moment, then said, "Sure Why not?" She wondered whether she’d been too rash, but Sandy’s gratitude confirht decision

Kelsey took another look at the half-e to lie down and pass out soon, or he’d be seeing hosts But Sandy se, just as she’d said Sandy had supported both her parents through protracted deaths due to cancer, and Kelsey believed that was one reason she’d been so caught up in the restoration of the Longhorn She’d pulled herself out ofherself into this h as nails when she chose Not only that, her livelihood now depended on the inn

"I don’t even knohat thisif you need me"

Sandy nodded As she started out, Corey Simmons called her back "Miss--I’ave hi the kitchen, Kelsey hurried back up to her roo She paused to study herself in the freestanding Victorian swivelshe hadn’t worried about in ages She was five-nine, decked out in a black suit and simple white cotton tailored blouse Her hair was a deep auburn, secured in a band at her nape She had what she hoped were steady green eyes, and a lean sculpted face that lent her a look of maturity--at least in her own opinion Despite Corey Sis," she made the proper appearance for a US Marshal That see

She hurried out of her roo inside, she held very still and closed her eyes She’d come up here before because of Corey’s hysteria; now, she decided to take a moment to see what her intuition would show

She opened her eyes, but didn’t focus on the room as it was now What she saw looked similar, but…different Out of kilter There was a wardrobe in the corner, but it was a slightly different wardrobe Where the bathroom should have been, she saw a slatted Oriental divider: The bed was smaller, and a white chemise lay at the foot of it

There were two people in the room, a man and a woman The wo legs clad in old-fashioned stockings and garters She wore a white shirt and corset Her dress had been thrown on a nearby chair Thea dark suit, a tall hat and appeared to have stepped out of an 1850s fashion ad for gentleed look of a cowhand He strode angrily across the roorasped the woman by the shoulders "You won’t hold out on me!" he shouted at her "I want it, and I want it now"

"I don’t have it," she said

"You’re a liar! I knohat happened in Galveston that night, and I know your pretty-boy lover won it I want it!"

"No, it’s et back to that no-good weakling? Well, give up that dreaone"

"I hate you," she told hi herself free "I hate you, Matt I loathe you You forced h Even if I had it, I’d never let you have it!"

"You’re an old whore already, Rose," he said "I want it, and I’ll get it"

"I will never give it to you!"

He didn’t respond Instead, he wrenched her to hiers curled around her neck He squeezed his hands together; he shook her hard She grabbed desperately at his ar to break his hold on her

"Please, Matt!"

"I’ll kill you, and I’ll rip this place to shreds--and find it"