Adam shook his head. “I didn’t come here so that you would come with me. I just thought to inform you since you agreed to help me with my investigations and were worried about finding Peterson.”
Olivia placed her hands on her hips and tilted her chin to give him a look full of defiance.
“I agreed to help you so I insist on coming with you. I want to look that man in the eye and dare him to lie that he wasn’t at the Cheyenne village that fateful day and that I didn’t beg him to leave them alone.”
Adam’s brows rose as he was a little taken aback by her stubborn stance. He had thought she would be more comfortable staying back and praying for a positive outcome from the meetings.
“Olivia, I appreciate that you want to come with me, but you can’t leave your work to help me with mine.”
“I sure can. We’re already done with our lessons for the day. Hence, the games.”
“Well, I don’t want to take you from it.”
Tipping her head back to regard him with eyes filled with suspicion, she asked, “Is there a reason you don’t want me to come with you?”
Adam rubbed his hand across his jaw to hide a grin. He hadn’t anticipated an interrogation from her.
“I’m simply trying to protect you, Olivia. It might be dangerous going to confront the gang leader in his house. I don’t want you to come to any harm.”
“Do you think I can come to any harm with you present?”
Her question sent the breath whooshing out of him. That she trusted him to protect her filled him with so much joy that if it had only been two of them standing there, he was sure he would have kissed her.
Controlling himself, he smiled and nodded. “Very well then.”
She clapped her hands and said, “I’ll be right back.”
“Come with a wrap.” His eyes lifted to the gathering clouds.
She nodded and hurried into the building. Adam played with the children until Olivia came back out. He saw her talking to Mrs. Harrison and waited.
As she walked toward him garbed in a gray calico dress and black boots with her shiny hair tied in a ponytail, she looked so fresh and beautiful, his heart flipped.
Adam questioned the wisdom of allowing Olivia to come along when she would, without a doubt, be a distraction. Being with Olivia sent a strange feeling through him he didn’t want to dwell on.
“Is anything amiss?” Olivia questioned when she reached him.
Adam realized he was frowning and quickly schooled his features.
“No.”
Quietly, they walked out of the compound to where his horse tethered.
“Hello, Dark Knight.”
Adam stood transfixed, staring as Olivia patted his horse’s head and rubbed her hand across his smooth mane. The delight on her face as she spoke softly to the horse gave him an idea.
Olivia would appreciate a horse as she obviously loved one. He would speak to Stephen about getting her one.
A small frown curled his lips as he thought of how Stephen would rib him simply because he wanted to get Olivia a gift. His brother and Annie would surely start thinking he was courting Olivia.
But would it be bad to court Olivia? She was beautiful, interesting to be with, intriguing, brave, sweet, kind, caring… He could go on and on about her wonderful attributes. But then he had to ask himself another question. Was he ready to settle down?
“Adam?”
Twin red spots stained his cheeks at being caught staring at her and his horse. He covered the distance between them and mounted the horse before reaching out a hand to help her swing up behind him.
Adam stifled a breath when Olivia put her hands around his waist with her body pressed against his.
