She simply shrugged.
“I didn’t know you had experience with birthing. I assumed you were a novice.”
She shook her head, “Singing Clouds, that’s White Bird’s mother, was a midwife. I used to assist her whenever it was time for someone from the tribe to give birth. She would sing all through the period. Once she stopped singing, everyone would know the baby was out.”
Adam reached out and took Olivia’s hands when he saw the wistful look on her face. A smile covered her face, and he knew she was thinking about her late Indian family.
He reckoned they would rest in peace now that justice had been served. Because of how important the case was, the Office of the U.S. Marshal had pushed for the trial to be held quickly. Learning that Gabe Winters was now in jail and had no hope of being released soon, the townsfolk had developed the courage to testify against him in court. All the atrocities he had committed over the years were revealed and they sentenced him to life imprisonment. For his role in bringing the banker to justice, they reduced the sheriff’s sentence down to ten years in prison. He wept like a baby the day they were taken away. He sorely regretted his actions, but it was too late to cry. The outlaws, particularly the gang leader who had led the destruction and massacre in Standing Tree’s village, had also been sentenced to life imprisonment for the lives they had taken over the years. The sheriff’s deputies, excluding Amos Sanders, also got several years in prison.
The townsfolk had flooded the ranch with gifts after the trial to thank Adam for his hard work and for getting back their lands. Adam, realizing what his brother said about him enjoying the praises of people whenever he did his job well, had stilled himself against their commendations. He had instead told them to thank God for His love and mercies.
“If it wasn’t for God, everything wouldn’t have been possible,” he repeatedly told them that day.
Gabe Winters’s bank was sold, and the money went to everyone he cheated one way or the other. Adam got a sizeable portion for Stephen’s ranch. His brother would rebuild his barn and get more cattle to replace the ones Gabe Winters ordered stolen and poisoned.
Happiness spread throughout Adam that he had kept his promise to everyone.
As he gazed at Olivia’s beautiful face, he pondered on the wisdom of asking her to marry him. He shook his head. The time wasn’t right. She was tired from the birthing and might just sleep off while he tried to find the right words to say.
Unlike his brother, he would make his marriage proposal special. They would have a picnic at the creek and then, with flowers for her in his hands, he would ask her to marry him.
Excitement went through Adam as he planned it in his mind. he desperately wanted Olivia to be his wife. He loved her more than life itself.
Dear God, please let my plan work.
However, Adam couldn’t make his plans come into reality because of Annie and her baby. Olivia had to stay to help her with the baby and house chores while Adam moved back to Boone and Cora’s place as it was inappropriate for him to stay in the same house with Olivia when they were not yet married.
Adam finally got the opportunity a week after Annie gave birth to her baby. Mrs. Harrison, the cook, and the other teacher at the orphanage sent word that they would visit. So, Adam told Olivia she had to take some time away from her duties. Olivia argued as she wanted to be there if Annie needed her.
“Cora and three other women would be on hand to attend to her,” Adam firmly protested.
Olivia agreed to leave Annie with the four women. Cora helped Adam prepare a picnic for their outing. Before Cora left for the ranch, she hugged him and said, “I pray she says yes.”
Adam frowned. “Why do you think she will say no?”
Cora released a deep breath. “When I was trying to get her to look your way in terms of courtship, she emphatically told me she wasn’t ready for marriage. That was when she first came to stay with us, though.”
Adam’s heart dropped.
Cora patted his shoulder. “But that doesn’t mean she’ll say no. A lot has happened and you two have gotten to know each other better, unlike then. So, take consolation in that. And no matter what she says, take it as God’s will.”
Adam became skeptical about going over there to make a cake of himself. What if Olivia truly said she wouldn’t marry him? What then? What would he do with his life? He would leave Ruby Rock because being in the same town with her yet not have her as his wife would definitely depress him.
As uncertainty filled his mind, Adam did what he used to do whenever he was troubled in the past. He went down on his knees and asked God for help.
Confident that he would handle whatever came his way after praying, he took the basket and the blanket and went over to the ranch.
Olivia had thought she would come over to the Stanford’s to spend the day there resting. Her face reflected her surprise when Adam took her hand and led her toward the dried creek with the basket and the blanket in his other hand.
“Where are we going?” she questioned with a little laugh.
“To have a quiet time to ourselves.”
“Oh.” She giggled. “I thought you would be in your office and I would spend the day sleeping in your foster parents’ house.”
“You thought wrong, my love.”
“No crime to solve today, Marshal?”
