Fudge, this is going to be a long day.
Adam focused his attention on his surroundings to keep from thinking about the heat radiating from Olivia.
Deciding that he needed all his wit about him when he faced the banker and couldn’t achieve that thinking about Olivia, he nudged his horse into a trot.
He searched his brain for a conversation that would distract him, but nothing came to his mind. Olivia also didn’t appear to be in a talking mood. So they rode into the town in silence.
Adam pulled his horse to a stop in front of the bank with a big signage readingRuby Rock Bank (Savings and Loans)
He helped Olivia down from the horse before dismounting. He tied the horse to the hitching post and stared at the white one-storied building with thick stone pillars situated in front of it.
He and Olivia climbed up the broken stone steps to the sturdy front door. An old man with a wrinkled face, clutching his hat to his chest, opened the door.
Adam became alarmed when he noticed the tears streaming down the man’s face.
“They refused to give me more time to pay back my loan. They want to take over my land. The harvest was poor this year. There was nothing I could do and my missus was very sick, and I have many mouths to feed.”
The man walked past them with hanging shoulders. Adam noticed Olivia’s eyes watering. He placed a hand on her arm when she sought to go after the man.
Adam shook his head. “There’s nothing you can do for him, Olivia.”
Blinking back her tears, she replied, “I could offer him a word of comfort and share a bible passage with him.”
It took all of Adam’s strength not to ask her where God was when the man was going through hard times.
Olivia shook his hand away and walked to the man. She gently placed her hand on his arm and spoke in low tones. Adam, however, heard her saying how God was the great provider.
“Jesus fed five thousand when they were hungry. All you have to do is believe and trust in Him and He will come to your aid. If He can cloth the fields and provide for the birds of the air, then definitely He will provide for you and your family, the apple of his eyes.”
Adam gritted his teeth. They weren’t here for a sermon. His eyes narrowed when he saw the man wiping away his tears and miraculously smiling.
“Thank you, Missy. I really needed to hear those words.”
“Don’t worry. God will make a way where there seems to be no way.”
The man nodded, thanked her again, and walked away with straight shoulders. Olivia stared as he walked away before wiping tears from her own eyes and turning to reach Adam.
Adam wanted to say something, but his chest felt so constricted, he was afraid he might choke if he dared open his mouth. So, he simply nodded and pushed open the door to stride into the building.
The banking hall as usual was empty just like the last time he was there. He nodded at the two security guards stationed beside stone stairs leading to the upper room. His booted feet made sounds as he crossed the wooden surface to the stone counter where two male cashiers sat, looking bored.
His eyes fell on the outer room with thickened walls and a solid mahogany door. He guessed that was the vault. Thankfully, there hadn’t been many incidents of bank robberies in the town.
“Hello, Marshal, what brings you here?”
Adam almost snapped at the men when he noticed their gaze shifted from him to Olivia, and he recognized the lewd looks on their faces.
Unconsciously, he moved closer to Olivia before he realized what he did. His face tightened, and he said a little sharply, “I’m here to see the manager.”
With their attention still focused on Olivia, the men nodded toward the stairs. Adam took Olivia’s hand and led her in the direction of the stairs.
The security men also regarded Olivia with hunger, and it was all Adam could do not to snap at them to focus on their jobs.
Adam hurried up the stairs to the office with a glass panel door. Gabe Winters was seated by his desk, looking every inch a banker with his white shirt and black coat.
A ring of smoke went up in the air from the thin cigar placed in between his lips.
“Well, who do we have here?” the banker asked immediately they entered the office.
