Bouquet for Iris (20 page)

She patted his hand. “How did you find us?”

“It was Adam. He realized that you might be here.”

“Thank God.” Iris looked toward Adam, but he would not meet her gaze. She wanted to go to him, but if she did, would she be giving him false hope? The attraction was strong in spite of the insurmountable obstacles between them. Perhaps she should concentrate on comforting Nathan who was feeling the weight of his uncle’s guilt.

Adam could feel her gaze on him, but he kept his attention on Wayha and his grandchildren. If he looked at Iris, he was sure he would be unable to resist taking her in his arms and declaring his love for her once more. He could not bear the thought of embarrassing either of them again. Nathan was eminently capable of comforting her. Adam slipped outside to make sure the sheriff didn’t need any help.

A little while later Nathan brought Iris out of the cabin. She seemed unharmed but subdued as Nathan led her to his horse and helped her into the saddle.

As though from a distance, Adam watched Nathan mount up behind her and wrap a protective arm around her waist. She never looked toward him. And why should she? She had Nathan taking care of her. Adam watched as they rode out of the valley together, taking a piece of his heart with them.

Wayha Spencer was the next to come out of the cabin. He had an arm around each of his grandchildren. Tears filled his eyes as he made his way to Adam and thanked him for reuniting them once more. The joy on the older man’s face eased Adam’s pain and brought a smile to his lips. Was this the same joy that Christ had described on finding the lost sheep? Was this how God felt when one of His children was returned to Him?

The thought nearly brought him to his knees. Adam pushed back the emotion in his throat. He nodded to the Spencer family and limped to his horse. An overwhelming desire to talk to someone about his revelations had him mounting up and heading to the Sherer household, the image of Reverend Miller’s welcoming smile vivid in his memory.

Adam slid from the saddle and tethered his horse, relieved to see light in several of the home’s windows. He was glad they were not abed. He would have hated to awaken them to talk to Reverend Miller, but the fire in his soul would not allow him to wait until morning. He rapped on the front door and tapped his foot as he waited for someone to answer.

Camie Sherer opened the door. “What is the news? Are Iris and the children safe?”

Adam reassured her and her parents, explaining that Lance had accompanied the sheriff to town and would be arriving shortly.

By the time the explanations were done, Lance had arrived, his face quizzical. “Is there something else wrong, Adam?”

“No … not exactly. I … I have something to talk to Reverend Miller about. Something that can’t wait.”

Lance nodded and drew his wife and mother-in-law out of the room. “We’ll be praying for you.”

Silence permeated the room. Adam wondered where to start. “I’ve done so many terrible things.”

Reverend Miller regarded him somberly and nodded. “So have we all.”

“I … I thought God was against me. I blamed Him for my troubles.”

“Son, God loves you more than you can imagine. He made you. He knows you, and He’s anxious for you to turn your life over to Him.”

Adam felt a huge pressure in his chest as his emotions threatened to overcome him. He didn’t deserve such love or forgiveness. “I want that forgiveness and love more than anything, Reverend.”

Reverend Miller put a hand on his shoulder. “And God wants to forgive you. All you have to do is ask.”

“But how can I? I’ve always blamed Him for my problems.”

“There’s always a temptation to blame the Creator when things go wrong. Are you familiar with the book of Job?”

Adam considered. The glimmer of hope that had appeared back at the cabin became a beacon, a warm, guiding light that was leading him home. “I think I understand. Job clung to God even though he lost everything.”

“Exactly.” The older man smiled at him. “We have much to learn from Job’s reaction when God answered his complaints.” He opened his well-worn Bible and turned to the final chapter of Job. “‘I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.’”

“Yes, that’s exactly the way I feel.” Adam was relieved to know Reverend Miller understood what he’d been trying to explain. He felt like a curtain had been drawn back, revealing the true nature of everything. He’d been so foolish, so blind, so arrogant.

“Would you like to pray with me?” Reverend Miller got down on his knees and folded his hands in front of him.

Feeling a bit self-conscious, Adam followed his example. He closed his eyes and listened as the preacher began speaking to God as though He was a personal friend. He thanked God for bringing Adam back into the fold, for loving them all, and for sending His Son to make salvation possible.

Lord, please forgive me for blaming You and for my many sins. Thank You. I know I don’t deserve Your love, but thank You. And … thank You for not giving up on this lost sheep
. The words signified the beginning of a new relationship, one that Adam knew would make his life worth living.

Iris entered the parlor and smiled at her visitor. Nathan was such a nice man. He had been stoic in the face of his uncle’s trial and conviction for kidnapping. Not that anyone blamed him. Camie had told Iris that Nathan was being considered to take his uncle’s place on the town council. The community of Daisy would benefit from having such an honest, upright man serving it.

Nathan swept her a bow. “It’s a pleasure to see you, Miss Landon.”

“Likewise. I trust you are well.” She sat down on the sofa. “How are things at the store?”

Instead of sitting down, Nathan paced the floor. He walked to the window, looked outside, then turned and came back to where she sat. He rubbed a hand against one leg of his trousers and swallowed hard. Then he knelt in front of her. “I don’t want to talk about the store, Miss Landon … Iris. I have a more pressing matter to broach.” He took her left hand in his.

Iris’s heart seemed to stutter for a second before resuming its steady pace. This was her second proposal of marriage. Where was the breathlessness she’d experienced when Adam proposed? She looked into Nathan’s hopeful eyes and was overcome by a feeling of sadness. She knew how she had to answer this kind man. She was flattered by his attention, but she did not love him.

“You are a beautiful and intelligent woman, and I hope you will agree to become my wife. I know you must have seen how much I care for you. I will provide you with all the luxuries I can afford.”

Iris tugged her hand free. “Please stop, Nathan.”

His blue gaze searched her face. “Is it because of my uncle?”

“Of course not.” She took a deep breath. “You’re a wonderful man, Nathan, and you’re going to make some lucky lady very happy one day—” She stopped. “Please get up, Nathan. I can’t talk to you like this.”

He rose and settled on the straight-backed chair next to the sofa. “I don’t understand. I have the store, you know. I can afford to take care of you.”

“That’s not it, Nathan. One of these days, you’re going to meet someone special. Someone who fires your imagination and makes your heart beat faster just because she’s in the same room with you, breathing the same air.”

He nodded slowly. “Is that how Adam makes you feel?”

Iris could feel the blush filling her cheeks. Was she that transparent? She’d seen Adam several times in town, but he’d never looked in her direction. This, however, was not the time to be thinking about Adam. She concentrated on the man sitting next to her. “Nathan, you’re a wonderful man, and you deserve a wonderful wife. Someone who loves you. While I esteem you and appreciate all your many kindnesses, I don’t love you in that way.”

He glanced at her, the hope in his gaze slowly giving way to acceptance.

“But I hope we can still be friends.” She gave his hand a friendly pat.

Nathan sighed. “Of course we will continue to be friends. You’re a warmhearted woman. Perhaps I can eventually change your mind about us.”

He was such a nice man. But what she’d told him was true. He deserved someone else, someone who would cherish each day with him, fall asleep with his name on her lips, and wake up thinking of him. Not someone who couldn’t get another man’s face out of her head.

Adam opened his Bible and read once more about Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus when he was still Saul. Like Paul, he’d been certain he knew all the answers—he’d been full of self-righteousness. But that changed the afternoon Iris was taken. He was forced to face the truth. His fear had blinded him, but when the scales fell away, he saw the truth. God was the One in control. And no matter whether Adam understood why things happened the way they did, he now believed that God would work it all out in the best way possible.

He placed the Bible on his desk and glanced at the petition lying next to it. There had been a steady stream of men coming from Ross’s Landing and beyond, as word spread about the effort to stop the government from executing the New Echota Treaty. He already had more than five hundred signatures.

He looked up as the door opened. His practiced smile slipped. “Iris, what are you doing here?” He put a hand to his forehead. Where had that come from?

She drew herself up straight. “I’m sorry for disturbing you.” She stepped back and started to leave.

He got up to halt her retreat. “No, Ir … Miss Landon, please don’t go. I didn’t mean to be so rude.” It didn’t matter why she’d come, only that she was near.

She turned back toward him, bringing a breath of freshness with her.

He caught a whiff of perfume that made him think of blooming flowers in the meadow back home. Why did she have to be so beautiful? He ached to pull her into his arms. But she belonged to a better man than he would ever be.

She wandered past him to the desk where they’d spent so much time poring over dusty law books together and ran a finger over its surface. “I … we … the girls and I … have missed you. Have you … How have you been doing?”

Was Iris nervous? The thought made him want to comfort her. But that was Nathan’s job not his. “I’ve rediscovered a thirst for justice. Once God got His message through my thick skull, I realized how wrong I was. How could I give up when He didn’t give up on me? So I’ve been using my legal expertise to help other Indians like you and I helped Wayha.”

“Adam, that’s wonderful!” Her voice lost its hesitancy. Her eyes were wide and shiny with unshed tears.

Emotion clogged his throat. He’d better change the subject before he broke down in front of her. “I’ve been meaning to call on you to check on Wayha and the girls. But it’s been so busy. I have to save as many as I can before the removal is enforced. And then there are all the settlers moving here to explore for gold….”

What was he saying? She already knew about all that. “I’m sure Nathan—” He stopped on the word. This was harder than he’d imagined it would be. He took a deep breath and asked God for strength. “I’m sure your fiancé has been keeping you informed about everything.”

Her eyes opened wide. “What did you say?”