Irritated with the way Amos always told him those words, Adam stopped walking and rounded on the deputy.
His eyes blazed with anger. “Then make me understand. Tell me what in Sam Hill is going on in Ruby Rock? When I served under the former sheriff years ago, no crime went unpunished. Folks didn’t take the law into their hands. They knew what the consequences of their actions would be.”
Amos opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, then he shook his head and rubbed his jaw.
Adam released a sigh. “Please tell me what’s going on. I know you’re afraid of the sheriff, but I assure you that you will be protected. I have both the law and federal power backing me.”
Amos shook his head again. “It isn’t that I’m afraid of the sheriff. Some things are better left alone in a town like this with influential people in it.”
Adam’s brows shot up. “Influential people? Who are these influential people?”
Amos opened his mouth to say something but quickly clamped it shut. He looked over Adam’s shoulder with a frown.
Adam whirled around and saw the sheriff a few paces from them.
The older man reached them in no time. “Marshal, it’s good to see you again. I heard you went on a long journey out of town. I was afraid that you would not return.”
Adam cocked his brows and his eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Why would you think that?”
The sheriff shrugged and spat out. “Well, scuttlebutts have it that you went to an Indian territory alone. The Sioux haven’t been known to be friendly to whites.” Grinning, the man added, “I was so worried about you. I had already decided that if you didn’t return in a week, I and my deputies would go over there and tear the place down if we can’t find you.”
Adam couldn’t help letting out mocking laughter. “Oh, really?”
Slamming Adam on the back, the sheriff replied, “But, of course. You mean a lot to this town, Marshal.” He turned to look at his deputy. “I mean, what would we say if our dearly beloved marshal got missing and we didn’t do anything about it? It wouldn’t tell well of us. And we don’t want federal authority coming down here to tear the whole place inside out because one of theirs is missing. Everything would go catawampus and women and children would be terrified.”
Adam placed his hands on akimbo and stared at the sheriff with scorn. “Oh, you’re suddenly worried about women and children?” He rubbed his hand across his jaw and pretended to be lost in thought. “That’s strange considering you didn’t care about the innocent Cheyenne men, women, and children who were killed recently.”
The sheriff’s face tightened with anger. “I was only showing concern, Marshal. If you don’t appreciate it, just say so. You don’t have to be a horse’s rear about it.”
A smile covered Adam’s face at the blatant insult. He was aware that he had gotten to the sheriff, so he didn’t bother saying anything more.
He simply tilted his heart at the ruddy-faced man and walked away. He heard the sheriff and his deputy arguing, but as it wasn’t his business and they were both lawmen, he didn’t bother.
Adam strode down the street, greeting the townsfolk along the way. Some of the men ignored him but he was used to it. He had already surmised that not everyone was happy with his presence in the town, particularly as he had been going around asking questions.
He reckoned that he ought to be wary of such hostile folks. But as a federal marshal, he didn’t think that they would dare do anything to him.
Standing in front of his small office building a few minutes later, Adam suddenly groaned when he realized that he had just mistook a saloon girl for Olivia.
Even while he journeyed into the forests, thoughts of Olivia had filled his mind. He slept with thoughts of her in his mind and also woke up with them. He had had to forcefully push her off his mind when he reached the Sioux village.
Adam decided to go and see her. He was afraid that if he didn’t go, he might just walk up to one of the blonde-haired women in the town and make an utter cake of himself calling her Olivia.
Smiling at the thought of seeing Olivia’s beautiful face again and enjoying a conversation with her, he strode down the street. Abruptly he stopped.
“I can’t go empty handed,” he muttered.
Swiftly, he turned around and made his way to the bakery where he bought some baked goods. On the way to the orphanage, he stopped to pick some flowers as well.
His heart lifted with joy as he envisaged the smile on Olivia’s face when she saw his gifts. She loved flowers and would appreciate them.
With a bright smile on his face, he walked into the compound. He had hoped that he would see Olivia seated outside so that he could quickly present her with his offerings and they could have some privacy.
However, it was Mrs. Harrison who was seated on a cane chair in front of the building, soaking up the warm rays of the sun. Her smile lifted her face at the sight of Adam.
“Marshal, it’s been a while. How have you been?”
Adam returned her smile. “I have been well, thank you. And you?”
