for bait. Unfortunately, Jenkins did catch up with us. Morgan tried to help me but was seriously wounded in the process. I remembered my mother used to pray, so I asked God to spare his life. Only by His grace did I get Morgan to a doctor. Soon after, I left him with the doctor, fearing Jenkins would find us and finish off Morgan.”
The story seemed to grow worse. How had Casey survived the ordeal?
“I spent the following months running and hiding. I recalled Morgan suggesting I settle in Texas. Partly because I didn’t know where to go and partly because I had fallen in love with him, I came to Texas. Along the way, God put special people in my life who helped me get closer to Him. My life certainly didn’t become any easier, but I no longer had to carry on by myself. Once in Kahlerville, I accepted what God had done for me. He became my peace and my strength.”
Casey clasped Jenny’s hand. “God is so good. He led me right here to Kahlerville. As God works things out for our good, I discovered Morgan lived here, too. I used another name to secure a job nursing Reverend Rainer’s dying wife and finally revealed the truth. But I still lived in fear of Jenkins and the law. I’d been a part of an outlaw gang, and someday I needed to pay for what I’d done. Life was rough—real rough, and I simply had no choice but to put my trust in God. I found out that Jenkins had murdered Morgan’s wife, and Morgan had not been the same since. God not only worked out the problems between us, but He allowed me to receive a full pardon from the governor of Texas and the president of the United States by helping federal marshals locate other outlaws.”
Jenny felt like a child hearing a story with uncertainty. “And the outlaw Jenkins. What happened to him?”
“He caught up with me.” Casey gestured toward the porch. “I was sitting right there with Jocelyn and Bonnie when he surprised us. He had plans to kill me, but my brother surprised him.” She swallowed hard. “Tim was killed trying to save me. Morgan arrived before Jenkins finished me too. He was arrested and later executed according to the law.”
Jenny blinked back her tears. She couldn’t speak the words she longed to—words to commend Casey’s strength . . . and her faith.
“Jenny, you’ve heard my story. Someday I’ll have to tell my children.” She stroked Daniel’s face. “It’s a loathsome tale, yet I’m proof of God’s love. He seeks us out to be His very own. My life had been so horrible, but it all changed when I surrendered to Him. It’s the most important decision that you’ll ever make, and I pray you will soon understand the power of God’s unconditional love.”
“Unconditional?” She’d never heard this word describe God.
“Yes, Jenny. God loves us as we are, but He also loves us too much to let us stay in our sin. That’s why He sought out me and your sister. God doesn’t care what roads we’ve traveled, only that our roads turn to Him.”
The words to respond to Casey never surfaced because Jenny couldn’t utter a sound. Tears filled her eyes, and the hopelessness of her life poured over her face.
“Tears can be good,” Casey said. “They can cleanse us from our misery.”
Jenny nodded. Finally, she felt she could speak. “God seems so far away.”
“Does He? Have you noted the splendid display of wildflowers? Have you listened to a child’s laughter or watched a sunrise or a sunset? Have you seen peace on a person’s face when they should be utterly miserable?”
“I–I have. And I’ve seen a look in Reverend Rainer’s eyes that draws me to a place I don’t deserve.”
Casey smiled. “I want that for you. I want you to be able to face every moment of the day knowing God loves you.”
A quickening in Jenny’s heart nearly frightened her. Yes, she wanted God in her life, and she wanted to thank Jesus for His sacrifice for her. “Can you help me, Casey? Can you show me the way?”
Chapter 24
Early the next morning Jenny grasped the brass knocker and lightly rapped on Grant’s door. She could barely contain her excitement. She, Jennifer Elizabeth Martin, was an official child of God, and she felt grand. Simply grand. She’d read a Bible Casey had given her until nearly four this morning.
The Psalms were like