“We’re here again to give you your final warning,” the man continued in a frosty voice. “Tell the marshal to drop the case and leave town, or you won’t like what we’ll do to the orphans here.”
Alarmed, she said, “Please don’t harm the children. They’re innocent.”
“Then do what needs to be done.”
Suddenly angered that these shameless men would come and threaten children who had nothing to do with the case, she said, “Shame on you all coming here to talk about harming orphans.”
The men were taken aback. They exchanged shocked glances.
“Have you no shame? What will you profit from hurting them? Isn’t it enough that you killed blameless Indian children? Now you want to kill the ones from your own tribe as well? And for what? Money? When will all this stop?”
“Be silent, woman, before your words put you into trouble.”
Incensed now, Olivia placed her hands on her hips again. “Let me have my say, you’ve had yours. Why don’t you turn a new leaf? Jesus is forever waiting for repentant sinners. It will take you nothing to change your words. All you have to do is confess your sins, renounce your ways, and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and savior.
“There’s much rejoicing in heaven over a repentant sinner. So, please, this way will only lead to hell. Come to Jesus today and receive salvation for everlasting life.”
“Stop it!”
“You have been warned.”
And with that, the men walked out of the compound. Quivering, Olivia sat on the steps.
The men had taken their threats a notch further. What would she do if they returned to harm the children? Knowing Adam, he wouldn’t back down.
Apprehension rose inside her as she thought of anything happening to the children.
“What do I do, Lord? I can’t give in to their threats but at the same time, I don’t want anything to happen to the children or anyone here.”
Perhaps it would be best if she left to guarantee the safety of the children. But where would she go? She couldn’t return to Boone and Cora’s house, or even Stephen and Annie’s. That would also put them in danger. She didn’t have enough money to leave town, as well.
“Oh Adam, where are you?”
She missed him terribly. She needed to speak with him, but she didn’t want to leave the orphanage as he had instructed.
“Olivia, are you all right?”
As if she had conjured him, Olivia raised her tear-stained face to see Adam standing in front of her with worried eyes. Her lips parted with surprise.
“Olivia, please talk to me. Did something happen?”
She nodded vigorously, despair clogging her throat.
Adam quickly sat beside her and put his arm around her quaking shoulders. Finally seeing him after having sleepless nights about his safety, Olivia gave into her emotions and sobbed.
“Hush, darling. I’m here now. You’re safe. Please tell me what happened.”
Olivia pulled herself together and dabbed at her eyes with the handkerchief Adam gave her.
“The three men left here recently.”
Adam stiffened.
She told him what transpired between them. His face grew colder and harder as she talked on. However, he chuckled when she was done talking.
“Trust you to be the only woman who would preach to outlaws who came to threaten you.”
Smiling through her tears, she replied, “They can threaten me but definitely not the children.”
