scent of tobacco reminded Casey of days best forgotten. Still, the atmosphere would aid her in recollecting sights, sounds, and smells of another time.
She sat on the only chair directly across the table from Zach and Joe, who swung their legs over a rough-sawn pine bench. Morgan pulled up a wobbly stool next to Casey. Out of habit, she gauged how quickly she could get to the door. Some things from her former life never changed.
“We understand you’re willing to help us locate wanted men,” Joe said. “Is this true?”
“Yes, sir.” She observed paper and pen before Zach. His penetrating gaze nearly unnerved her. “Is Mr. Bennett writing down everything I say?”
“Yes, ma’am. The questions and answers will be recorded exactly as they are spoken,” Joe said.
Casey studied the man’s leather like face. No emotion. She well knew that stance. “May we see them when we’re finished?”
“I’ll take notes for us.” Morgan already had paper and pen in hand. “But I want to see what you’ve recorded at the close of our meeting.”
“We can do that.” Joe cleared his throat. “We understand you’ve received a pardon from Governor Ireland of the state of Texas for criminal activity, and you want to request the same from President Arthur.”
“That is correct.” Casey sat erect with the perfect posture she’d seen from the town’s ladies. Be with me, Lord. I can’t do this alone.
“Upon the completion of this meeting today, the governor has entrusted me with your official pardon, signed and sealed. He will then instruct his secretary to file the proper papers with the President. Let us begin with a few formalities. Would you kindly state your name?”
“Casey Shawne O’Hare.”
“And are you the same Casey O’Hare who rode with the Jenkins gang for seven years?”
“Yes, sir. I joined them when I was fourteen with my brother, Tim. At the time, Jenkins thought I was a boy. When he discovered otherwise, he forced me to continue riding with them.”
She detested the time it took to record the questions and answers. Her patience ran thin each time the two men painstakingly wrote each word. She hadn’t told Morgan about the two weeks that Jenkins didn’t know she was a girl. Everything changed when he caught her bathing . . . She shook her head to dispel the thought.
“How were you forced to ride with them? This is no longer a country of slaves.”
“Davis Jenkins threatened to kill my brother if I left the gang. He also threatened to sell me as a . . . . prostitute.”
“What’s your brother’s full name?”
“Timothy John O’Hare. He still rides with Jenkins.” She hesitated. “Although I heard he and Jenkins split.” Her voice sounded faraway as if it belonged to someone else.
“Didn’t you just state Davis Jenkins threatened to kill him if you left?” Joe’s eyes narrowed.
“I’ve witnessed what Tim has done.” She took a deep breath. “My brother chose his path a long time ago. If I thought he’d change, I wouldn’t be here today.” Why did her heart have to pound so hard? “It took me a long time to see that my brother had become just like the rest of them.”
Joe removed his bandanna and wiped the sweat from his brow. “So why did you finally leave the gang?”
“I hated how they lived and what they did. My life seemed headed nowhere except a hangman’s noose or a bullet. I chose to take my chances and run from Jenkins rather than stay. I realized I would someday have to face charges for the crimes held against me, but I had to take that gamble.” Was she rambling?
“It says here that although you held horses for the gang during holdups, you did not commit any of the crimes we’ve listed, except the shooting of a man in Billings, Montana.”
“The man recovered,” Morgan said.
Joe nodded. “I’ve read the letters written on Miss O’Hare’s behalf. Each one will require an investigation. Your statement given to us by your lawyer, Mr. Andrews here, indicates a strong desire to lead a decent, respectable life. Is this also true?” Joe had not moved since they began.
“Yes, sir. The statement also says I’m a Christian. Jesus Christ is now the Lord of my life.”
The federal marshal coughed and shifted his feet. “Yes, ma’am. It does state your—your newfound religion.” Zach handed Joe a map of the western United States and territories. He turned it for her to see. “We’ve been unable to penetrate a good many of the outlaws’ hideouts. Are you