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answered quickly, “She fell off her horse last week in her haste to leave the church, isn’t that right, Julia?”  Even though he directed the question to Julia, he stared Adam down, challenging him to say differently.
    “Yes, it was really quite silly.”  She agreed, avoiding eye contact with both of them.
    “Come, let’s sit out here and visit for a while,” Caroline suggested.
    As Caroline took a seat in the nearby rocking chair, Reuben turned and went inside, slamming the door behind him.
    Julia flinched before sitting in the same rocking chair she sat in last week when Adam begged her to leave.  Seeing the aftermath made him feel worse for not trying harder.  While he remained within earshot, he sat at the opposite end of the porch to give the girls the appearance of privacy.  He pulled out a small piece of wood and his knife from his pocket.  Whittling away, he listened intently.
    “What really happened, Julia?”
    “It is as Reuben said.”
    “No it’s not.  I can see it in your eyes.”
    “Please, let it be, Caroline.  I don’t want to risk making him angry again.”
    “Who?  Mr. Norton?”
    Julia made no movement or sound.
    “Reuben?”
    Still no sound.
    “I knew it.  Is this because of what happened at church last Sunday?”
    Adam glanced over and saw tears welling in Julia’s frightened eyes.
    “Please, I can’t talk about it.”
    “Can’t or won’t?”  Leave it to his sister to be so subtle.
    “Won’t.  Can’t.  Does it make any difference?  I don’t want to relive that day.”  Julia glanced in Adam’s direction and he caught her gaze.  What was that look?  Was she pleading with him to get her away from here?  He didn’t understand and she looked away before he could make sense of it.
    “I am free of Hiram, but I am afraid I made an enemy of my brother in the process.  I will say no more.  Just pray for me.  Don’t come back here for a while…especially not alone.”
    The fear in Julia’s voice was evident.  Caroline picked up on it too.  “You’re scaring me.  If you’re in danger, I want you to come with us.  We can protect you.”
    “Just go.”
    Caroline looked confused and hurt and motherly all at the same time.  She was fiercely loyal to her friend and would not want to leave if she thought Julia was in danger.
    Standing, Adam took charge, “Caroline, we best be going.”  Giving her a gentle tap, he pointed to the horses.  After Caroline was out of earshot, he whispered to Julia, “Remember what I said last week.  Don’t hesitate to take us up on our offer.”
    Then he mounted his horse.  Touching the brim of his hat, he locked gazes with her.  “Miss Colter,” he said nodding.  She waved as they turned to leave.  Lord, Adam prayed, please let her have the good sense to leave before it is too late.
     

Chapter 4
    Star C Ranch, Texas
    August 30, 1864
     
    More than two weeks passed since Caroline and Adam visited her.  Julia felt like a prisoner in her own home.  While she avoided Reuben as much as possible, she still had to endure meals three times a day with him.  Then, this morning at breakfast, he asked to speak to her in his office. 
    Her hand shook as she reached for the door knob.  She opened the door and stepped into the room that had once been her father’s office.  The large walnut desk still sat in the same place.  Only, instead of her kindly father sitting on the other side welcoming her with a grin, it was her brother instilling fear.  He looked up and pointed to the chair across from the desk.  At least the large piece of furniture sat between them and she would have time to flee, should he become violent again.
    Once she took the offered chair, he began, “I am extremely disappointed in your behavior of late.  Breaking the engagement with Hiram Norton was a foolish mistake.  But, given your age, I am willing to overlook the error in your judgment.  I have taken it upon myself to see you wed to a wealthy