He dropped Grace off at her hotel and kissed her gently on the cheek. “You and I felt guilty about what happened the day before Mike got killed,” he said. “I kissed you and you kissed me back. It was a spur-of-the-moment, impulsive thing, but both of us overreacted to it. It’s tied us up for years. But I think we’ve finally worked it out.”

She smiled. “I think we have. You’re a wonderful man, Colt,” she added softly. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out for us. But you’re right. I feel that I’m doing what I’m meant to do with my life. Some of us are made to do service for others, like what I’m doing in South America. It’s good, useful work, and it does complete me. I’m glad you understand.”

“You take care of yourself.”

“You, too. I hope you’ll be happy.”

“I hope the same for you.”

He drove by Clancey’s house on the way back to the ranch, but all the lights were off. Poor kid, he thought. She’d had to face the loss of her grandfather along with the loss of her stepbrother. Regardless of her feelings, Morris had lived with her, been part of her family. She was certainly grieving for her grandfather. He wished he’d stayed and talked to her instead of going off with Grace on a date that meant nothing. He’d have to call her tomorrow and try to smooth things over.

But she didn’t answer her phone the next day. He knew the calls were going through. She was ignoring him. Brenda had moved back to her apartment in San Antonio. The house was quiet and morose. And he had too much time to think about what had happened. A knock on the door surprised him.

He opened it. Jake Blair was standing there.

“Got a spare cup of coffee?” the minister asked. “I’ve just finished my sermon and I’m really thirsty.”

Colter chuckled. “Come on in. I just made a fresh pot.”

They sat at the kitchen table. Jake studied him carefully. “You’re all alone here and you’re brooding about what you saw yesterday,” he said. “I thought you might need somebody to sit and listen while you talked.”

Colter let out a long breath and smiled. “I think that’s just what I need.”

Clancey and Tad and the Martins went to church. It felt good to Clancey, who hadn’t been able to go while Morris was on the loose. The minister was a surprise. It was Jake Blair from Jacobsville, who was filling in for the resident minister, who’d gone down with a bad case of the flu. Jake’s assistant pastor was taking over for him in Jacobsville in the meantime.