She and Tad sat with Brenda and the Martins, and Clancey said a silent prayer for her beloved grandfather and for her troubled stepbrother. She’d talked to the funeral home the day before and made the arrangements, which were much less of an expense than she’d dreamed possible. Tomorrow she’d talk to Darrell Tarley about the disposition of Morris and her grandfather’s property. Details were getting taken care of, but she hadn’t spoken to Colter. She felt bad about not answering the phone. She’d been hurt that he’d been so cool with her and so eager to get to Grace. It was always going to be Grace, she’d realized. He loved the woman. Well, if he did, and if she loved him, which she did, she should want him to be happy. If Grace could make him happy, fine. It was just that Clancey was grieving as much for Colter’s loss as for her grandfather. Her heart was breaking.

“Colt misses you two,” Brenda said as they walked out of the church, Clancey pushing Mr. Martin’s chair.

“We miss both of you,” Clancey said.

Jake Blair shook hands with all of them. He glanced at Clancey. “I went to see Colter yesterday,” he said. “He was taking it hard.”

Clancey stared at him.

“He watched a man die, Clancey,” Jake said softly. “Even though the man was a criminal, and meant to kill him, he saw it happen. It’s traumatic, even for a lawman,” he continued. “I sent him to counseling. He’ll need to work through it.”

Clancey caught her breath. She hadn’t realized any of that. “I looked, but I didn’t see,” she said vaguely.

Jake smiled. “You’re grieving for your grandfather.”

“Yes. There was always hope, before, even if it was irrational,” she tried to explain.

“We can have a memorial service for him, and for your stepbrother, in Jacobsville anytime you’re ready, if you’d like to do it there,” he told her.

“I would. Granddaddy was a deputy sheriff in Jacobs County once,” she replied. She sighed. “I miss him so much. And I’m sorry Morris turned out the way he did.”

“They’re both at peace now.”

She smiled. “That’s comforting.”

“It’s meant to be,” he replied. “And if you ever need to talk, I’m as close as your phone.”

“Thanks, Reverend,” she said.

“You’re most welcome.”

Brenda walked them all to the Martins’ car. “You and Tad can come over for dinner any night you want to,” she told Clancey. “I can’t cook, but we have a great Chinese takeout place right next door to my apartment.”

Clancey smiled. “You can come have dinner with us sometime, too,” she said. “I can cook.”