Yes. Olivia was his woman. He might not have asked her for courtship, but in his heart, she belonged to him. And he would never let anything happen to her. She had gone through a lot.
Gritting his teeth, he said, “If only I hadn’t brought her into the picture. She would have been safe now.”
Grimacing, Adam remembered Gabe mocking him about bringing Olivia into the picture. He had been surprised when the banker told his security men to let him in. Adam had already planned on fighting his way to Gabe’s office if the security men refused him entry. Upon seeing the smug look plastered on Gabe’s face, Adam had known the older man allowed him in deliberately to laugh at him.
“It’s your fault, Marshal,” the banker had cheered, regarding him with brightened eyes. “You should have kept her out of it.”
Incensed, Adam had replied, “Have you no shame, you coward? How could you have sent your men to threaten a sweet and innocent woman?”
Gabe had given him a lazy shrug. “It’s not a big deal. If she dares tries to testify against me if you foolishly arrest me, then you’ll have to say goodbye to her forever.” Grinning, he had added, “But I’m beginning to wonder which is better, killing her and leaving you to suffer from guilt or killing you and making her mine?”
At the banker’s bold and mocking words, Adam had fought and lost his battle against the anger that raged inside him. He had yanked the man from the table and thrown a punch at him before Gabe’s security men stopped him from giving their boss another black eye.
Wincing with fury in his eyes, Gabe had said in the iciest tone Adam had ever heard, “You’ll regret this, Marshal, I promise. Watch your back. This is only the beginning of your woes.”
The security men had thrown Adam out of the bank while he screamed that he would bring the banker to justice no matter what it took. All he needed now was the go-ahead from Washington.
Tired of his musings, Adam decided to head on home. He felt the urge to warn his family about Gabe’s threats. He had already told Olivia never to leave the orphanage and after the threats she received, he was sure she would stay put. If only he had some deputies loyal to him, he would have stationed one or two of them at the orphanage to protect her until the case was over.
Slamming his hat on his head, Adam exited the office. His gaze roamed the busy street for anyone hiding to do him in. The coward, Gabe, would think nothing of having a shootout in the town, not caring that innocent people might get hurt.
Earlier on, he had asked around for anyone nursing a bullet wound, but the townsfolk hadn’t been forthcoming.
Satisfied that no one would start shooting at him, he released Dark Knight from the post beside the building and swung on the horse.
“Come on, boy. Let’s head on home.”
Adam’s gaze shifted to the sheriff’s office and the jail just directly beside it. Two deputies stood in front of the building conversing, but as soon as they saw him, they went inside.
Adam shrugged off the strange behavior and prodded the horse into a fast pace.
“Git, Dark Knight. I have a feeling we should get home as soon as possible.”
The horse, hearing the anxiety in his master’s voice, increased his pace. Adam’s heart slammed against his chest when, just a short distance from the ranch, he saw the black smoke circling the sky above the spread of land.
“Oh, no!” He nudged the horse to move faster.
People had already gathered in front of the burning barn by the time he reached the ranch. They had formed a line to the well where someone was toting water and the others were passing on the tin bucket to put out the glowing orange flames.
Swiftly dismounting from the horse, he beat the animal’s rear and said, “Go to the fields.”
Knowing the horse would follow his instructions and not stay in the way of danger, he joined the line of water carriers. He wondered if the horses, the cows, and the chickens were evacuated before the fire raged.
Recognizing that it wasn’t the time to ask questions, he took the tin pail from the man who handed it to him and crossed the short distance to the fiery barn.
The heat from the fire struck him immediately as he drew close. The cackling sound and bristles sent a huge knot forming inside him. No doubt, Gabe did this.
Adam whirled around after pouring the water into the flames. He looked around for his brother and found him at the head of the line by the well, giving instructions and speaking with Boone.
He turned around and saw the figures of Annie and his foster mother on the porch of the ranch house. His heart went out to them. He hoped they were fine.
It took almost an hour, but the men were able to battle the flames and win. Adam and Stephen thanked their neighbors who helped them.
Silently the brothers and their foster father returned to the house where the women were shedding tears. Stephen took his heavily pregnant wife in his arms while Boone comforted Cora with quiet words. Adam looked on, wishing there was something he could do or say to wipe away the women’s hurt.
As there was none, he dejectedly walked away from the parlor, down the hallway to his room. It took everything in him not to slam the door.
Angered that he hadn’t been there when his family needed him, he unbuttoned his smoke-filled shirt and dragged it from his body.
