feelings for Casey left him frustrated. It’s because she’s a woman, that’s all. Can’t protect herself from a whole gang of outlaws. So he vowed to push on, but sometimes he wondered where it all would end.
“I’ll wire you money as soon as I get to a bigger town,” Morgan said to Doc as he saddled his horse.
“Seems like you and Casey are more concerned about paying me than getting well.” Doc stood wide-legged in the middle of the stable with his arms folded across his barreled chest. “You don’t have your strength back yet.”
Morgan avoided the big man’s stare. “I need to move on.”
“To find Casey?”
“Maybe.”
“You think that’s smart?”
Morgan flipped his saddlebag over the saddle and faced Doc. “No, but I can’t seem to talk myself out of it.”
“Are you after the woman or still bent on getting Jenkins?”
“If I had the answer to that, I’d still be sittin’ on your front porch talking about heading home to Texas.”
“So it’s both. God help you, Morgan. Does Casey know?”
Aggravated to the point of hollering, Morgan hurried through his last preparations. Doc was his friend, not his enemy. “I didn’t tell her.”
“She’s a good girl, not what other folks think,” Doc said. “Oh, I know she’s got herself mixed up in a few messes, but she deserves a chance to live a good life.”
Morgan nodded. “I’ve looked at this thing inside out, and I know I have to find her. Not sure why. But I know why I have to stop Jenkins.”
“Hate’s trying to kill you, and it almost did this time.”
Morgan pulled himself up onto the saddle. His upper leg ached, and the effort strained at his chest.
“I see the pain on your face. Rest up two more weeks. By then, we might hear from her.”
“Can’t. I have to find them both.”
“Then where you headed?”
“Arizona. Got me a hunch.” Morgan reached down and shook Doc’s hand. “You saved my life, Doc. I owe you.”
“Then find Casey before Jenkins does.”
What would I do if I did find her?
*****
Casey closed the Bible and then her eyes. So much she didn’t understand. The words and ideas all jumbled together into one huge puzzle, almost like a map that had been torn and some of the pieces lost.
The train rumbled on. Its rhythmic sound lulled her to near sleep. West Texas was as hot and dry as Arizona and New Mexico. No place looked like where she wanted to settle down. Money ran low, and she didn’t want to spend it all for fear she’d have to find refuge in a hurry. Trains were expensive. Buying food was expensive. She’d make better time traveling by horseback, and she’d long since regretted the store-bought dress and wrapper. Decision made, Casey took a deep breath and patted the derringer in her pocket. Someday she’d throw it away. But not today. Probably not tomorrow.
Rifle fire pierced the air. She startled and peered out the window. Nothing. Had she been thinking about the gang and thought she heard gunfire? Two more rifle shots echoed. Visions of the past blew past her mind like a dust storm. The train pulled to a grinding halt, like a powerful horse snorting and pawing at the bit. Two dirty men boarded the train from the rear, both wearing bandannas and carrying Winchesters. They wore the mean look of hunger, not for food but for those things that belonged to other folks. One poked his rifle barrel under a man’s hat, then lifted it into his hands. Realization hit her hard. For the first time, she was on the receiving end of outlaws. She stole a quick glance at the two. They didn’t look like any of Jenkins’s men. Would they recognize her?
“Jewelry, watches, and money,” one of the outlaws said. “No one gets hurt as long as we get what we want.”
She’d pinned her money in the lining of her dress, except for a small amount in her Bible. That should suit them. When the two walked by, she avoided peering up into their faces. The second man told a woman to stop her sniveling. He sounded familiar, and then Casey remembered. He’d ridden with Jenkins for a short while before joining up with the James gang.
“Put it all in here.” The man held his hand open.
Casey opened her Bible and pulled out the small amount. Her heart thudded like a scared rabbit. He snatched it up and kept walking. She inhaled sharply. No more chances. She’d not ride another train.