* * *
The warm morning sun brought Clint a reminder that God controlled the universe. Everything was as it should be. Or was it? Even though the natural hum of the woods filled Clint's ears, peace escaped him. God had kept him from killing a man yesterday. That alone should be enough to make any man sing his praises, count his blessings, and move on. All it managed to do was remind him of how short he fell from the man God had intended him to be.
As if that weren't enough, he awoke with doubts about his future with Jessie. Whether or not she ever got her memories back, she loved God and was devoted to Him. How could she harness herself to a man who disappointed God in all things? Who had lived wrong. Had disappointed loved ones. And, had almost killed a man. Could someone as pure of heart as his sweet Jessie consider marrying a man like him? Funny, how it didn't surprise him anymore that he was contemplating marriage to her. He was. Probably. Maybe.
But, what did he truly have to offer her?
And then there was his odious past.
The coffee bubbled, sending a fragrance of the heady brew into the crisp morning air. The men stirred. "Come on Max, Pete," Clint said. He filled his tin cup, strode to his friends, and nudged Pete's backside with his boot. "Let's get going."
"Okay, okay. I'm up," Pete said.
"I'm up, too," Max murmured.
"No you're not. I'm standing right over the top of you two and you're both very much asleep. Come on," he barked. "I've got to get this scum to the sheriff and you need to get the cattle back to the ranch."
"Am I hearin' you right?" Pete turned over to gaze up at Clint. "You're gonna take 'em in alone?"
"Yep. We're halfway to West Yellowstone already. So let's go."