at Casey’s heart. The innocent were always the ones to get hurt.
“Well, if everything is fine here, I’d better round up a couple of deputies and get after those two.”
Hank nodded. “My guess is they’ll be ridin’ slow.”
The sheriff tipped his hat to Maude and Casey, then hurried from the mercantile. She had to say something. With the bloodstained rag in her hand, she took a deep breath.
“Thank you for not turning me in,” she said to Hank. “I’m sorry you had to learn this way.”
Maude sniffed. “Would we ever have heard the truth?”
Casey shook her head. “My work ends in three days, and I would have been out of here.”
“If you’re a part of the Jenkins gang, then what did that outlaw mean?” Hank said.
“I ran from him, all of them.” Why did she suddenly ache all over? Even her throat stung like she’d swallowed dirt. “I wanted to start my life over, live decent.”
“So the law and the gang’s after you?” Hank went on.
“Yes.”
“But you lied to us,” Maude said. “I thought you were this kind and sweet young woman.”
“I believe she is,” Hank said. His hand was still wrapped around his wife’s waist. “She risked her life to save our store and our lives. That says enough for me.”
Casey moistened her lips. “Then you’ll let me ride out of here without telling the sheriff?”
“Yes.” Hank spoke quickly.
“Miss Maude?”
Tears flowed down the older woman’s cheek. “I don’t understand this afternoon, not any of this. All those things I read in the newspapers. And the wanted posters . . .”
“In the short time she’s been here, have you seen anything from this gal that looked like she was an outlaw?”
Maude sighed. “No. Nothing.”
“If it makes a difference,” Casey said, “I never killed or robbed anyone, but I did shoot a man in Billings when he pulled a gun on me. I heard he’s fine. Please don’t argue over me, ’cause I’ve done plenty of other things that I’m ashamed of.”
Maude dabbed her eyes again. “I won’t breathe a word to anyone.”
“Again, I’m beholden to you. You showed me how to live respectable.” Casey glanced around at the neatly stocked shelves. “I wish I could stay here forever and forget about the past, but that’s foolishness.”
Maude stepped from behind the counter. “You won’t ever make it unless you have a relationship with the Lord.”
“I have a Bible. Been reading it.”
“That’s not enough. You have to ask Jesus to forgive you and turn your life over to Him.”
“Like turning my life over to the law?”
Maude nodded. “Except with God, you have the promise of heaven.”
“Does this have to do with Him dying on the cross for our sins?” When Maude agreed, Casey shook her head. “I can’t do that yet. Too many things are unsettled. My life isn’t much good.”
“But you don’t have to do anything—”
Casey waved her hand. “Maybe someday when all this is behind me. Right now I have to get my things and ride out of here. Those two men won’t waste any time telling the sheriff who I am.”
“I’ll go fetch your horse.” Hank hesitated. “When you get to where you’re going, will you write us?”
“I promise.” Strange how a couple of weeks could make her feel so close to these good people. But Maude’s request would have to wait. When Casey was good enough, she’d take care of talking to God about things. Until then, she’d keep riding and reading.
*****
Days later, Casey sat rigid in the saddle and scanned the hill country near San Antonio. She’d grown weary of endless days in rain and blistering heat and short nights under the stars. More than once, she considered riding into some town and turning herself in to the sheriff. The idea of a hanging always stopped her.
She’d journeyed through desert and prairie lands and on through the area Morgan had spoken about. The green territory was familiar, but looking at it as a part of him caused her to appreciate each hill and valley. She wiped the sweat from her face with a dirty bandanna and tasted dirt through parched lips. Her back felt as wet as if she’d jumped into a river with her clothes on. Enough of this. She turned Stampede northwest.
The zebra-dun stallion lived up to his name. He loved to run, which had suited her just fine when she left Deer Creek. At first she fretted over whether the sheriff had caught up to those two outlaws. They’d tell him for sure where