Hearty laughter escaped from Olivia’s throat. “Of course, I mean it. I’ve met no one so passionate about something before. Well, except for my parents, who were ardent about spreading the Word of God.”
Olivia didn’t know if it was her imagination, but she thought she felt Adam stiffen beside her.
Quietly he said, “My parents were also zealous about serving God. Unfortunately, it didn’t end well for them either.”
Olivia frowned. “What do you mean by that?”
He shrugged, trying to give an air of nonchalance but Olivia saw through it. His jaw had become as rigid as a rock.
“I mean they died before their time, leaving their children to carry on without them.”
“But they died serving God,” she countered. “They died doing what they loved most and were passionate about.”
Adam kept silent.
“Are you trying to tell me that if you die while carrying out your duties, you will see it as unfortunate and it not ending well for you?”
Unexpectedly, a smile softened Adam’s tightened face. “You make a valid point.”
Olivia laughed. “Of course, I do. To each his own choosing. Our parents died for what they believed in. You have taken your own path. I have picked mine.”
“That’s true.”
Olivia smiled and said, “I believe I do.”
Just then, the wagon that had been coming behind them rode past. Adam exchanged pleasantries with the farmer who had gone to sell his produce in the town.
“Does the young woman want a ride?” the old farmer called.
Olivia shook her head. Enjoying her time with Adam, she would rather walk to the next town with him than have it cut short. “No, thank you.”
Adam glanced in her direction. “Are you sure?”
Olivia nodded. “The sun’s rays are not that hot. I can manage.” A thought crossed her mind. “Unless you’re eager to return to your work.”
“No, I’m not.”
Adam raised a hand at the man who waved and continued his journey.
Silence descended between them as they continued their walk down the sandy footpath. Olivia wondered what Adam was thinking.
He was most likely thinking about his job. That was the only thing that occupied his mind most times.
Deciding that talking about his work was better than the silence that had fallen between them, Olivia said, “So, what happens after you finish solving the case of the raids? Will they send you to another town to hold the peace there as well?”
He shrugged. “Most likely. But I don’t reckon it would be as soon as I finish my job here.”
Sadness welled up inside Olivia. If Adam left Ruby Rock for another town, she surmised that she would never see him again. He might take some time off to write to her, but she didn’t think he would want to leave his job post, mainly if his new town was far from Ruby Rock.
Why am I having such thoughts?
Not wanting to seem like a desperate woman latching on to the very first white man she met after leaving the Indian village, she forced a smile on her face.
“You’re always going to live a life of adventure being a marshal, aren’t you?”
A boyish grin made him look even more handsome. He rubbed a hand across his jaw and said, “I guess so. But it’s also dangerous. A good number of marshals have lost their lives chasing outlaws and seeking justice.”
Olivia moved her gaze to the pockets of sage bushes to avoid thinking about anything happening to Adam while carrying out his job.
