I had to prove something by living here. All I’m doing is reliving it again and again.”
“This is not a home.” His brother’s gaze swept back inside the cabin. “I don’t think you need the past staring you in the face.”
Morgan didn’t say it, but at times he could hear Kathleen’s voice asking him where he’d been when Jenkins attacked her. “You’re right. I want a permanent place with Casey.”
Grant said nothing. Morgan knew he had to clear the uneasiness between them. “I know you care about her.”
“She’s your girl. Told you that before.” He scuffed the toe of his boot into a knothole on the floor. “I just looked out for her until you came to your senses.”
Morgan chuckled. “More truth there than you might think.”
“Take good care of her.”
Morgan heard the conviction. A different man would have called it a threat. “I will. If and when she decides to have me, I’ll need a best man.”
Grant grinned. “I know a fella who might be interested.”
“Thanks. You know, when I’m with Casey, I forget about Kathleen. They are two different women. Kathleen accepted me just as I am with all my faults. Sort of put me on a mountaintop.” He paused. “Casey challenges me to be a better man. She’s strong, like Mama in a lot of ways.”
“Someday when I’m done with school, I hope to find a woman who makes me feel the same way.”
“You will. I’m sure of it. I have the letters drawn up to a few medical schools. I’ll get them posted this week.”
“Thanks. Glad to hear Ben is helping.”
“I gambled with that one.” Morgan watched the wind pick up a ragged curtain from inside the cabin and cause it to sway. He shuddered in remembrance. “I refuse to lose.”
*****
The morning after Ben agreed to help with her case, Casey awoke with more hope than she could ever remember. Surely with both men’s belief in her, there’d be a way to clear her name.
Since sunup, she’d worked on the washing with Bonnie while Jocelyn made breakfast for the hands. In the late morning, Morgan stopped at the house while she hung the last load of sheets and pillowcases to dry. They’d smell very fine when she crawled into bed tonight. Odd how little niceties could mean so much.
“Would you take a ride into town with me?” Morgan smiled like a little boy who’d played hooky from school.
“I think so, as long as Jocelyn doesn’t mind. Can we stop by the parsonage? I’d really like to check on Sarah.” He nodded and kept on grinning. “What are you hiding?”
“It’s a surprise.” He took her arm and linked it into his. “I’m one lucky man to have the prettiest girl in Texas. Nothing better than a curly-headed, red-haired angel.”
“What did you do, buy another bull? A horse? A whole herd of cows?” She laughed.
“None of those. This is more of a surprise for us.”
She chilled. His words of marriage paralyzed her. I can’t let him know my fears. “Did you buy the whole town?”
“If I could get you to marry me, I’d buy the whole state.”
The wagon ride was pleasant with a fall chill that proved refreshing after the summer’s heat. She’d given up questioning him about the surprise, but when they pulled up in front of a small building beside the general store, she instantly knew what had him so excited.
“Are you going to practice law again?” she said. “For folks other than me?”
“I am. I made the arrangements yesterday. Tomorrow I’m cleaning up the place, and in a few days, I’ll move into the boardinghouse.” His grin refused to go away.
“Now all of Kahlerville will have a lawyer,” she said. “But what about the ranch?”
“Grant doesn’t need me until he heads east for school. I’ll do both or get a law partner.”
She glanced around at the dust and dirt. “I’d like to help you get things ready.”
“I didn’t bring you here to clean.”
“Looks to me like you need a woman’s touch.” She pointed to the cobwebs in the corner of the ceiling.
“I’m not so sure about that.”
She caught the mischievous twinkle in his eye. “Are you saying you resent a woman’s touch? We do have much to offer.”
“Miss Shawne, you have the wrong idea about me. I’m thinking as sure as I hire a sweet young woman to tidy up, she’d up and get married on me. Where would I be then?”
Casey crossed her arms and swept her gaze about the office. “I think better