Adam shook his head. “How can I do that, Annie? That wasn’t the first time I showed disregard for her views. The other day, I walked out on her.”
“You must let her know how you feel.”
Adam frowned. “How I feel?”
A smile brightened Annie’s face. “It’s as clear as night follows day that you’re in love with her.”
Adam groaned and placed his hands across his face. “Is it that obvious?”
“Only to the discerning eyes,” Annie replied. “Love is a beautiful thing. You must tell her.”
He dropped his hands. “And have her spit in my face? I hurt her too much.”
Annie laughed. “Stop behaving as if you don’t know the woman you love. Olivia would never do that. Surely you know that. She’s a good Christian woman.”
Yes, Olivia was, and he had made her feel foolish for being one. Shame gushed inside him at failing her. He had promised he would bring the people who killed her Indian tribe to justice. But all he ended up doing was hurting her.
What would he say to make things right with her? Would she agree to leave Ruby Rock with him? He had no idea where he was headed, but the thought of never seeing Olivia again, never talking to her again, never having her smile at him was too painful to bear.
I can’t live without her! I can’t!
He would just have to find a way to make her believe how sorry he was for cursing her pain. If he had to beg on his knees for her to believe and accept his love, he would. All he knew was that he needed her in his life. He would be lost without her. He should have thought of that before allowing his job to come first. Pondering on a lot of things in the forest had made him realize how much Olivia meant to him. It was unfortunate he hadn’t seen it before now. She was the most important person in his life.
Adam realized he was wasting time sitting there and dwelling on his feelings for Olivia when he ought to go and tell her. Slowly, he rose and Annie gave him an encouraging smile.
Adam pushed back the chair just as the front door opened and slammed shut.
“Annie!”
Annie’s smile widened. “I’m in the kitchen, Stephen.”
Adam stifled a groan and braced himself. Stephen was bound to not only mock him but preach to him as well.
“Adam!” Stephen’s eyes enlarged.
Adam’s jaw dropped open when Stephen, after his shocked reaction at seeing him, covered the distance between them and drew him into his arms. Adam couldn’t remember the last time they hugged.
Stephen pulled away with a smile. “I’m so glad you’re okay and you’re home. God be praised.”
As he didn’t know what to say to the outpouring of emotions, Adam kept shut.
“I’m sorry for everything, Adam. I’m sorry I was so highhanded about my views and faith, I rode roughshod over yours. It wasn’t until you were fired and you left town instead of coming to talk to me about it like you used to, that I realized how estranged we were. And it was all because I thought I was in the right and you were in the wrong. Even though I didn’t support your views, I went about it the wrong way.” Stephen sniffed.
Adam’s chest tightened.
“I can’t believe I asked you to leave my home. I was so angry, I didn’t even stop to pray and ask God what He wanted me to do about the situation. I turned away my brother when he needed me most. All I can say is that I’m sorry for what I did and said to you. I didn’t really understand what you were going through. But God has helped me to see things from another perspective. Forgive me, brother.”
Emotion blocked Adam’s throat for a moment. .
“I’m sorry, too, for making it look as if my way was the only way. I know better now. I’m sorry for placing my job before my family and anything else.”
They hugged again while Annie sniffled.
“God, you’re wonderful,” she cried, dabbing at her eyes with the hem of her dress.
The two brothers, smiling, patted each other on the shoulder. Stephen walked to his wife and put his arm around her quaking shoulders.
“Go to Olivia,” Annie encouraged in between sobs.
