he refused. This way he could still protect her. Casey, my love, must it be this way? He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands behind his head. “I’ll need to follow up on a man in San Quentin who rode with Jenkins for a while—Leroy Wilson. I want to see if he’d consider backing up any of your statements.”
“Leroy Wilson? How did you know about him?”
“I put him there. He despises me for sure, but he may not feel the same way about you.”
“I don’t understand.”
“After Leroy was shot, I found out about it. Hate drove me to track down every man who ever rode with Jenkins. I went to the railroad folks and said if they’d let me represent them, I’d not charge for my services. I worked hard to get him into prison, and I doubt if he’s forgotten it.”
“So much I never knew. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s in the past, remember?” Morgan said. “Do you recall anything about him that might help us?”
Casey nodded. “He’s not a smart man, but I’m not so sure anything he’d say about me would be good.”
He leaned toward her and directed his words straight to her heart. “Then we’ll find out together. The risk is someone may find out what we’re doing. You didn’t ride all of those years with Jenkins and not comprehend exactly what I’m saying. Those men might understand if you received a pardon. They know you aren’t guilty. But every outlaw around will be after you once they got word you sold them out to the law.” He hesitated. “They’d cut you down in front of a town full of witnesses.”
She smiled. “I’m too tough for you to scare.”
Chapter 26
Stepping into the fresh, crisp air, Casey felt better about the path Morgan had chosen to clear her name. They’d prayed together again, asking God to lead the way and asking for help to accept whatever He chose for them. On the way back to the parsonage, she found it easier to talk about what she could do for the federal marshals. Her burden seemed lighter, as though her dreams were not impossible.
“How long will it take to arrange the meeting with them?” she said.
“I need to speak with Leroy Wilson first. Then I’ll make a trip to see Governor Ireland. Considering how that goes, I can request a meeting with the federal marshals.” He paused. “I don’t like this at all.”
“It has to be this way.” She linked her arm into his, and they both waved at a wagon passing by. “The more I think about Leroy, the more I remember conversations and what he did for the gang. The last time I saw him, he was in his fifties. He smelled worse than the others. Looked like dirt had gotten under his skin and stayed there. His hair and beard were always greasy and scraggly looking, and he drank too much.”
“Why did Jenkins put up with him?” Morgan said. “I thought he booted out drunks.”
“Leroy proved to be the exception. He played up to Jenkins—praised him about how smart he was. That he’d never be caught and one day he’d be the richest man in Mexico. Bragged to the others that there wasn’t an outlaw around who could measure up to Jenkins.”
A lady and her small daughter walked by. Casey and Morgan greeted them and continued on.
“Anyway,” she said once the two were out of earshot, “too much liquor slowed Leroy’s reaction time during a train robbery, and a passenger shot him.”
“He was lucky to get a jail term and not a hanging. I’m afraid he won’t cooperate with me, but maybe he’ll talk to you.”
She didn’t have much hope that the old outlaw would help her receive a pardon. Not that she recalled anything unpleasant in her dealings with the craggy old man. But why should he? “I wish I had a guarantee that all you’re doing will be worth it to you in the end. You’ve worked so hard.”
“Who’s in control here?” he said. “Have faith, Casey. Don’t fret so.”
“Hush. Don’t call me Casey in public.”
“You’re right. I’ve told all the others to call you Shawne. Then I slip up.”
They walked on in silence, while her world spun with the possibilities of total freedom. A crow called, and another flew from a treetop. She’d never cared for those birds. Their feathers reminded her too much of Jenkins’s black hair. Many times she wondered if being caught by the law or Jenkins would