Sniffing, Cora said, “If that’s what you want. I’m going to miss you dearly.”
Olivia was surely going to miss the kind woman. When she discovered that Cora shared in her faith in God, they had spent time going through the bible. It had been a delightful experience, one she would never forget.
Fighting to control her emotions, she remarked, “I’m going to miss you, too, Cora. And you, too, Boone.”
“Please wait for Adam to come before you decide anything,” was all Boone had to say.
Olivia agreed with a nod and sat down to enjoy a sumptuous breakfast. During the meal, Cora mentioned that she wanted to pick berries toward the end of their property.
Olivia readily told her that she would come with her. After the meal, Olivia did the dishes and helped to clean up the kitchen. She was happy that the Stanfords now allowed her to carry out chores around the house and the farm. It made her feel useful.
Humming a hymn, Olivia took the basket and followed Cora out of the house. Boone also came with them, but he changed direction toward the fields where his workers were already hard at work.
The June sun bathed Cora and Olivia with its warmth as they walked down the path leading to the edge of the farm.
Olivia smiled with delight when she saw the blackberries growing wildly in shrubs. It was a familiar fruit as Indians used it for a lot of things like jam, medicine, and juice.
“This is lovely,” she said with excitement.
“It sure is a beautiful sight.” Cora’s voice also held pleasure.
Olivia placed her basket on the ground and began plucking the fruits. Cora joined her with her own basket.
“You know, Olivia,” Cora began softly. “I understand that you have to leave. But I was praying that you would stay in Ruby Rock and start life anew.”
Olivia’s color heightened. “I would have loved that, but I miss my Indian family. I would never be content here knowing I have a family out there.”
“But we could be your new family,” Cora protested. “I was also hoping that you and Adam might come to like each other a lot and then become a couple.”
Olivia’s face turned beet red.
“That son of mine needs to settle down to distract him for his need to seek justice for every slighted person out there.”
Olivia weighed Cora’s words. It would be mighty good if the older woman’s words came to pass. She already liked Adam and felt he was a fine gentleman. But then, that would mean that she would have to leave Standing Tree’s tribe to come and live in Ruby Rock with Adam.
She didn’t know if she was ready for that yet. She was only eighteen and marriage wasn’t uppermost in her mind yet.
“Are you considering what I’m saying?” Cora cut into her thoughts.
Olivia gave her a shy smile. “Yes, I am, but I don’t think I’m ready to marry yet. However, I don’t know what God has in store for me.”
“You should pray before you leave, dear child. God’s ways are mysterious. Who knows if He ordained for you to have been at the forest at that point in time so you could meet Adam? He’s the master planner, you know.”
A frown contorted Olivia’s face. She hadn’t thought of it like that. But why would God want to separate her from the family she had been with for years?
To give me my own family?
Olivia blushed at the possibility of that happening. She had always loved and wanted children. It would be wonderful to have her own.
Wait a minute! Wasn’t she getting ahead of herself? She had only known Adam for a few days, and she was allowing Cora to put such ideas in her head.
It wasn’t as if Adam had shown such an interest in her. Besides, she didn’t think that she was ready for marriage.
“Thank you for your kind words, Cora. But I must go back to my Indian family first. If it’s God’s will for me to be here, I believe He will bring me back.”
Cora nodded. “I understand, dear child, but please think about it. Nothing would please me more than to have you as a daughter-in-law.”
A blush crept up Olivia’s face again.
