Now that she had finally put a name to the feelings that had engulfed her all these weeks, she became very conscious of him. He strode forward, his face reflecting worry.
Olivia moved to the window and stared out of it into the courtyard. She stiffened when Adam stood beside her.
“Olivia, please don’t worry. You’ll be safe here. I promise you I won’t let harm come to you.”
She curved her body slightly in his direction, her arms still wrapped around her.
“But what about you?”
“I can take care of myself, Olivia. It won’t be the first time I would encounter outlaws or a threat to my life.” He shrugged. “ I’m used to it. As you know my first time was when I was fourteen. So, I have gotten used to it. One thing I promise you is that those men will pay for their attempt on my life.”
Olivia shook her head. She couldn’t help being afraid that something would happen to him. Gabe Winters was a dangerous man.
Adam regarded her with sorrow-laden eyes. “My utmost concern right now is you. I can’t tell you how sorry I am for dragging you into it.”
Olivia shook her head vehemently. “No, please don’t blame yourself.Ichose to help.”
“I know, but I coerced you into it.” He moved away and sighed. “I want nothing to happen to you.”
“It was still my choice,” she answered.
Adam walked back to her. He stood so close to her, she could hardly breathe. She made to move away, but he stopped her by placing his hand on her arm.
She blushed. She no longer liked that she had come to the knowledge of how strong her feelings for him were. She no longer knew how to comport herself around him, afraid that he would see in her eyes how much she loved him.
It would be disastrous for him to know her genuine feelings when he hadn’t yet made his intentions toward her known.
“Olivia, you won’t see me for a while because I don’t want to draw attention toward you.” He hung his head. “It might be too late, but I want Gabe to think after his threat, you pulled out from helping me and that you wouldn’t testify against him if I bring charges to nail him.”
Unable to keep it any longer, she blurted, “It’s already too late for that, Adam.”
A frown set across his face.
Sorry that she had divulged her secret in that manner, she had no choice but to continue. Chewing her bottom lip, she created a distance between them.
The memory sent a shiver running through her. “Two nights ago, three men accosted me outside when I was returning from seeing the preacher. They warned me to stay away from you and the case.”
Adam’s face had contorted with red-hot fury. “And you’re just telling me?”
Paling, she answered, “I didn’t want you to react exactly the way you are right now.”
“How else am I supposed to react?” he bellowed. “I put you in harm’s way, and that curly wolf dared to send men after you.”
Regret filled Olivia at telling him what happened. Startled, she watched as Adam changed from the calm man she had shared a picnic and walks with into a determined, no-nonsense marshal.
His face grew so stiff that anyone would have mistaken him for a statue carved in stone.
“I’ll see you soon.”
Olivia ran to the door and blocked it with her body. “Adam, please don’t leave in such a fury.”
Adam’s eyes narrowed. “Please, move away from the door.”
She shook her head, her eyes anxious. “No, I won’t. You’ll have to drag me out of the way before you’ll leave.”
Adam wrenched his body away, clearly furious that she blocked his path.
“Please think about it, Adam. If you leave here in such a foul mood, you’ll make mistakes and get yourself killed.”
