face of Jenkins. Everything about her whispered murderer. Thoughts of the calamity between her and Jenkins tore at her heart.
His madness was aimed at me. I lived while an innocent woman died.
“How can you possibly take the blame?” Morgan stepped toward her.
Several moments passed before she could speak. “I remember a time when we camped near Fort Worth. The rest of the gang had ridden into a town, and Jenkins stayed behind. When he tried to force himself on me, I pulled a gun on him. He rode out drunk and mean. He didn’t return for over a week, and when he did, he had the gash on his face.”
Morgan’s face paled.
“Don’t do this to yourself.” Grant kneeled at her side. “You’re not to blame for what he did.”
Casey looked into the young man’s sea-green eyes, gentle and compassionate. “And you wouldn’t?” She wept uncontrollably and didn’t know who the tears were for—Morgan, Kathleen, the Andrews family, or herself. Perhaps they were the culmination of all the suffering. Grant wrapped his arms around her while she wept. She wanted to drown in the truth.
After several minutes, Grant released her and rose to open the bedroom door. “I think I’d better leave you two alone. Casey, I’ll be waiting for your decision about going to town.”
Morgan faced him. “Tell Mama and Bonnie—”
“What has happened.” Grant stuck his hands into his pockets. “They deserve to know everything, and neither of you are in any shape to tell them.” He shut the door without another word.
Stay, Grant. I can’t bear to be alone with your brother.
Morgan took Grant’s place where his brother had knelt on the floor beside her. He lifted her chin to meet his gaze, but she turned away, not wanting him to see her red-splotched face or the sorrow she’d caused. She didn’t know what to feel or think. She was dirty. Vile.
“Please look at me,” he said. “I honestly never intended to hurt you. Falling in love with you seemed to be a terrible joke played on me by some ugly twist of fate. It took losing you in Vernal to see that God had given me back my life by calling me to forgiveness. I had to give Kathleen’s death to God and forgive myself for not being there when she needed me. Craving Jenkins’s blood wouldn’t bring her back. Neither would trying to punish you.”
Casey finally forced herself to look into his face and saw his eyes welled with tears. The longer she stared, the more both of them wept. She reached out to him, and he gathered her up in his arms.
“Oh Morgan, I’m so sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m the one who couldn’t be honest with you or myself. I don’t know what I was thinking today. I knew better.” He paused as though to gain control of himself. “I know I’ve asked you this a hundred times, but can you ever forgive me?”
She pulled herself away from him. “I love you. Nothing can change those feelings. I may have been ready to end our relationship, but my resolve didn’t mean my love ended too.”
“I can’t imagine another day without you.”
“I have a long road ahead of me, and as much as I want to be strong, I’m scared.”
“Please let me walk it with you. We can win this battle to clear your name so Jenkins can be found.”
She nodded, not really agreeing but attempting to comfort him. He’d been through enough.
“There’s something I need to do.” Morgan stood and pulled her to her feet. He swept a wispy curl from her damp cheek. His eyes searched hers, and she saw his love more clearly than ever before. “Years ago, I watched a young girl’s face turn from innocence into harsh reality in Billings, Montana. I never forgot that girl. Often wondered what happened to her.” He paused and squeezed her hand. “I’ve made many mistakes in my life, but I will not make another one where you are concerned. I’m asking you to forgive me for all the things I’ve done to hurt you. I love you, Casey, and I want to spend the rest of my life loving and cherishing you. Will you marry me? Will you allow me to take care of you for as long as I live?”
His words fell on shattered emotions. She’d dreamed of those words, tarried over them. Morgan had asked her to be his wife, but she couldn’t. Friends, yes. Anything else was impossible.