“I’d have loved to stay out here to enjoy the rare cool breeze but I have to bake a peach pie for Boone. It’s his favorite.”
“I’ll help you.” Olivia slowly pushed herself to her feet.
“No, my dear. I can handle it. Stay and converse with Adam. I can see some color coming back to your face. Enjoy his company.” With that, she went back into the house with the same exuberance as she came out.
Olivia sat down and sighed. “I’m going to miss her.”
Adam cocked his head to the side. “Miss her? Have you decided to come and live with Annie and Stephen?”
Olivia’s heart lifted at the mention of Annie. Adam’s sister-in-law had come to pay her a condolence visit. She had liked the petite Annie instantly while she had been curious about the silent Stephen. He shared a striking resemblance with Adam but he was different from his brother in personality. There was a certain calmness about him that Adam didn’t have.
Annie had also comforted her with words of the bible and invited her personally to their home.
Olivia smiled at the memory. “No.”
Adam’s brows arched. “Then why did you say that you’d miss her?”
Olivia bowed her head and toyed with her dress. “I have to leave.”
He frowned. “Leave? To where?”
“I don’t know yet. Perhaps I’ll find a small place to stay in the town. And then look for a job to keep me busy. But I’m still considering it. I don’t want to live amongst people I know killed my family. I know it’s unforgiving of me, but my emotions are too raw now to contemplate it.”
Adam for silent for a short while.
“Look at me, Olivia.”
Reluctantly, she raised her head to stare into his gray eyes. Her heart did its usual flip.
“You don’t have to go anywhere, Olivia. You have a home right here with my foster parents. And if you’re also tired of staying here, Annie will gladly welcome you to her home.”
Her gaze dropped to the porch steps. “I know that but I can’t keep on living off you all.”
“You’re not doing that. Cora and everyone already consider you like family.”
Adam’s words spread warmth racing through Olivia. She wanted to ask him if he also considered her as his family but thought it would be too forward of her.
“Thanks for your kind words. I consider you all as family, too. However, I have to leave. You know that I can’t continue staying here.”
Silence fell between them.
She looked towards the surrounding fields and the path that led to the town. She swallowed tautly as she imagined walking by the same people that might have killed her family.
Maybe she was allowing her pride to get the best of her. But even if she continued living there with the Stanfords, one day or the other, she would have to go into the town. She was sure that she would look at every man there with accusing eyes. She would see all of them as murderers. And that wouldn’t be good for her peace of mind.
Dear God, please tell me what to do.
“Olivia,” Adam softly called. “I want to give you an idea and I hope you’ll listen to me carefully.”
Her interest piqued, Olivia turned to look at him. “What idea?”
Adam took in a deep breath and released it slowly. “As you know, Annie is heavily pregnant. She works as a teacher in the orphanage in town. In a few weeks, she won’t be able to go there again. She needs a replacement teacher. She reckons that it will be a permanent job as they have been looking for teachers for a while now.”
Olivia’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t believe that Adam would think that she would go and work in an orphanage. Every time she looked at the children, she was sure to remember the Indian children who had stood no chance against wicked men. How could she even work alongside people who had thought nothing of killing innocent children? It would be sheer hypocrisy.
“You told me that you used to teach the Indian children and others the bible. I see this as a perfect opportunity for you to continue. The children desperately need a teacher.”
“No.”
