“Dear God, I hope I’m doing the right thing.”
Olivia chewed on her bottom lip as she made her way to the town. If Adam knew she had snuck out of the house, he would be furious. But she was tired of hiding indoors like a coward. She wasn’t one; she wouldn’t cower in the face of adversity.
Besides, she had prayed and she trusted that God would keep her safe. She strongly believed anyone could change, no matter how evil the person was. Boone and Cora had been vehemently against her stepping out of the house.
“But I need to do something,” she had told them. “Adam needs all the help he can get.”
He truly did. He had come to her the previous day, heavy with disappointment at the petition written against him and his failure to keep Gabe Winters behind bars.
Olivia felt his pain as he told her about the events. It wasn’t fair that Gabe Winters was walking free after all he had done. If only he would accept that if he handed everything over to God, he would find rest. But after the way he had behaved the other day, she had stilled her tongue from telling him about God.
At least not yet. I won’t go the same way his family did. I won’t talk to him repeatedly about God. I will find another way to make him realize how much God loves him and wants a fellowship with him.
She didn’t yet know how she would go about it, but she acknowledged that God would give her the wisdom to do so.
“Dear God, please order my steps. As you told Moses when you sent him to free Your people in Egypt, please put the right words in my heart to convince Gabe Winters to change his ways.”
Olivia’s heart beat a rapid thud against her chest as she reached the bank. Thankfully, she had passed Adam’s office without being seen by him. She reckoned that he wasn’t even in the building. As she approached the bank chewing on her bottom lip, Olivia wondered if she would be allowed in. Gabe had instructed his security never to allow her and Adam into his office ever again. She hoped she would successfully appeal to them to let her in.
Olivia entered the building quietly. Expecting to be thrown out any minute, she stood there for a moment, eyeing the security men by the door. The cashiers were busy attending to customers. Nervousness trailed her steps as she covered the distance between her and the men.
“Good morning. Please, I’d like to see the manager.”
One of the men’s eyes widened with recognition. He whispered something to the other man she didn’t catch.
“Wait here,” the other man instructed and hurried up the steps.
Olivia shifted her gaze from the security man’s bold stare and looked around the bank. Several customers waited to be attended to at the counter. The other man returned a short time later and beckoned on her to come with him.
Where she had expected the banker to glare at her with a mixture of anger and coldness, she was stunned to see him smiling as she entered the office.
Thank you, Lord. He’s in a good mood.
“Imagine my surprise when I was told you were here to see me.” Gabe got up and nodded at the empty chair by the table. “My day just got pleasant.”
Olivia, still uncertain about the reception, gingerly sat on the chair. “Thank you for agreeing to see me, Mr. Winters.”
“Please call me Gabe. And the pleasure is all mine.” He resumed his seat and searched her face keenly.
Please come and be my guide, Lord.
“Why are you here? Don’t tell me that odious marshal sent you here.”
“He doesn’t know I’m here.”
“I reckon he won’t like it.”
Olivia simply shook her head. She didn’t want to talk about Adam.
Swallowing thickly, she said, “Mr.… er… Gabe, I’ve come to beg you to change your ways.”
The banker flinched. “What?”
“The way that leads to hell is paved with gold. I believe you can change and allow God into your heart. I believe you can stop hurting people if only you give God a chance in your life.”
Gabe stared at her as if she was going crazy. “Are you serious?”
Olivia nodded. “Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the father except through Him. Accepting Christ is the only way for you to be saved. He will wipe away your sins. Behold old things have passed away and all things are new.”
