“Even if it takes years and people get hurt?” Stephen unexpectedly asked sharply.
Adam halted in his tracks and turned to glare at his brother. Stephen also stared at him with ire.
“Stephen, please, I beg of you. Don’t start.”
His brother’s face tightened. “Don’t start what? Telling you the truth?”
“Not the truth, but your own biased views,” Adam threw back at him.
Stephen jerked his head as if Adam struck him. “Biased views? Adam, wake up and see what’s going on. You’re so caught up with getting your own way, you don’t realize you’re hurting your loved ones.”
Folding his arms across his chest, clearly affronted, Adam replied, “I’m trying to protect all of you from what will eventually happen in this town.”
Stephen scoffed. “So, you have been saying.” He waved his hand wide. “Have you looked around you and seen that there’s nothing wrong with Ruby Rock? You’re the one who has come here to stir up trouble where there’s none.”
Adam let out startled laughter. “Where there’s none? I got shot at the other night, three men threatened Olivia’s life, and most of all, they burned your barn. Does that look like nothing is going on to you?”
“That’s because you came back here with that marshal star you wear with great pride and started raising sand. We were living in peace before you decided the town was too peaceful for your own good.”
Adam was taken aback that his brother could say such a thing. He had explained everything that went down with the Indians to Stephen. So, he didn’t understand why Stephen would think he was the one causing trouble.
“Stephen, because you live in your own serene world of ranching doesn’t mean it’s the same for everyone out there. Innocent Indians were killed and left homeless over the years. They deserve justice.”
“Even at the cost of your own family?” Stephen barked. “Even at the cost of the woman you love? Don’t you dare deny that you have feelings for Olivia!”
Adam kept mute. If they hadn’t been at loggerheads, Stephen would have been the first person he told about his feelings for Olivia.
Stephen turned away, rubbing his hand across his face. He returned his gaze to his brother and released a tired sigh.
“Adam, please stop. You don’t have to win all the time. Think about Olivia if you don’t want to think about my pregnant wife. Last time, they burned the barn. Who knows what next they’ll do? I can’t afford to hire people to watch over the range so they wouldn’t get to my cattle. There’s only so much I can do. And there’s Anne to think about. She hasn’t been sleeping well since the fire. Let it go for the sake of our family.”
Disappointment flowed inside Adam as he hung his head. He didn’t want to argue with Stephen, but some things had to be said.
Adam’s face looked grave when he raised his head. “Stephen, our parents would turn in their graves right now at your cowardice.”
Stephen flinched.
“Our parents weren’t known to cower in fear at the face of oppositions. Whenever they saw someone doing wrong or following the wrong path, they spoke up.”
Stephen’s face turned a rosy hue. “And where are they now? Where did they end up standing up to outlaws instead of staying put like everyone else?”
Adam shook his head. “Didn’t your bible say you should be brave as a lion?”
Stephen’s face twisted in an ugly snarl. “It also said be as wise as a serpent.”
“And you think it’s wisdom cowering at the face of injustice?”
“I’m not cowering. I’m simply following an instruction from Exodus 14: 14. ‘The Lord will fight for you and you will hold your peace.’ I don’t fight for God. I allow Him to fight my battles for me because I have faith and trust in Him. Acts 16: 31 says, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.’ That’s enough for me.”
Adam waved a hand in disgust. “And what about the Indians? What about Christians who have had to give up their lands to Gabe Winters? What about our parents? Why didn’t God fight their battles?”
Stephen folded his arms across his chest and rocked on his heels.
“Are you doing this because of them? Are you doing this to get back at God because you think God didn’t protect them years ago and you think you have to protect yourself, your family, and everyone in town?”
Adam snickered. “Do you see Him helping out?” Reeking with sarcasm, he continued, “Hisbeloved childrenare in bondage in this town and you want me to sit back and wait for Him to do something? Olivia’s parents, preachers as well, were burned in their house by Gabe Winters. Nothing was done to prevent it or give them justice. And now I’m here to seek justice for them and everyone else and you bring God into it?”
Stephen shook his head. “You think you know it all, don’t you? God’s ways are not our ways, Adam. I don’t know why He chose for our parents and Olivia’s going the way they did, but I know and trust that his plans for His children are good. The disciples of old also faced tribulations, but they stood firm, their faith unwavering. They didn’t give up on God because things didn’t go their way and they couldn’t explain it. They didn’t look for something else to believe in just to hide their grief and anger.”
