Adam jerked. “What did you just say?”
“I said no. I won’t do it. Please don’t ask me again.”
“Olivia—”
“I will not work alongside people who have nothing but hatred for Indians simply because they’re different.”
Adam shook his head. “You’re getting it all wrong, Olivia. You’ll be teaching children. The orphanage has very few workers and from what Annie said, none of them were in support of the raid.”
“And how do I look at the children’s faces without remembering Brave Owl, Dancing Boar, Flowing Water, and so many other Indian children I taught and nurtured? “
Tears dropped from her eyes. It was all so unfair that she wouldn’t see the adorable faces of the children again. She would like to think that they escaped into the forest. But that would mean that they were alone and scared.
No. She shook her head inwardly. They wouldn’t be scared. The Indians had taught their children to be able to adapt to any situation they found themselves in.
“Olivia, please. Do it for the children. They need a teacher and I believe you can do it. You have so much love to give. Please don’t keep it bottled up inside.”
Adam’s words struck Olivia’s heart. Did he really think that she had so much love to give?
“I’m sorry, Adam. You have been so good to me and I’m sorry that I have to reject your first request for me. But this is something that I cannot do. It will tear me apart.”
Olivia felt terrible that she was turning down Adam’s request after all he had done for her.
“I’m sorry,” she repeated quietly.
He nodded and said, “I understand.”
He took his glass and drank the rest of the liquid in a long swallow. Olivia sipped from hers. She didn’t really feel like drinking it because she was afraid that the boulder that had formed in her throat would choke her.
Adam got up and stretched a hand to her. “Please take a walk with me.”
Olivia’s forehead creased in a frown. “Where are we going?”
He grinned. “You’ll see.”
Olivia hesitated. She didn’t know if it was appropriate for her to take a walk with Adam. She didn’t know much about the etiquette of white people. But in Indian tradition, it was frowned at.
Since Adam had invited her, she didn’t think there was any harm in walking with him. She finished her cool drink and allowed him to lift her.
As they walked away from the farmland, Olivia couldn’t help thinking how perfect they looked together. Maybe Cora was right, after all. Maybe Adam was God’s will for her.
Well, I’ll see how it goes.
Chapter 10
“Where are we going?” Olivia asked Adam in a curious voice.
Shrugging, Adam simply answered, “Nowhere really. I just thought that maybe we could walk towards the outskirts and find a place to sit and talk.”
“Sit and talk about what?” she pressed and stopped walking after they passed the haberdashery.
Adam halted his steps as well and regarded her with wary eyes.
“Not necessary talk then. Maybe we could just enjoy the day. It’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, Olivia is smiling, what more can a man ask for? Please, let’s just have a nice time.”
Adam had not meant to go poetic on her, but he was happy when a soft gurgle of laughter escaped from her lips.
“I didn’t know you were a poet in addition to being a marshal. Those two don’t go together at all.”
