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and stood nose to nose with the man. “This is between you and me. It’s got nothin’ to do with my family, and I’d thank you to leave them out of this.”
    “Your family took in Elizabeth when she ran away from me. They deserve to pay for their part—especially that sister of yours. If she hadn’t interfered, Elizabeth would never have changed her mind. Your sister is as much my enemy as you are.”
    “I’m warnin’ you, Albright. Leave Deborah out of this. You have a problem with me, then deal with me. Otherwise, back off.”
    Stuart’s face seemed to relax and to G.W.’s surprise, he smiled. “You really have no idea what I’m capable of doing. I find it rather amusing.”
    “I hope you’re just as amused when I beat that smirk off your face.” G.W. felt a hint of satisfaction as Albright took a step back. “You’ve threatened my family and imposed your will on the good people of this community, but I’m gonna see that it comes to an end. Hopefully, I can do it with legal means, but if not . . .” He let the words hang in the air before turning for the door.
    “Your threats mean nothing! Nothing!” Albright yelled after him. “I have more friends and power than you can even imagine. I’ll see you destroyed if you dare try to break this contract.”
    G.W. paused at the door and shook his head. “Don’t seem I have much to lose then, seein’s how your actions threaten to destroy us if we sit idle. I’d rather go down with a fight. We’ve got a saying around here when things seem darkest. ‘Remember the Alamo!’ ”
    Stuart took three steps forward. “As I recall, Mr. Vandermark, your precious Texans lost that fight.”
    With a smile, G.W. nodded. “But I reckon we redeemed ourselves at San Jacinto. You mighta won the first battle, but you only managed to get our dander up to win the war.”

     
    “I can’t help but feel like all of this is my fault,” Lizzie said, tears forming in her eyes.
    Deborah embraced her. “Now, we’ve had this talk before. Stuart Albright is a vindictive man, and he is the only one to blame.”
    G.W. placed Rutger on the floor and came to stand beside his wife. Deborah backed away to let her brother take charge. She knew his love for Lizzie ran deep and he would protect her and their family no matter the cost. Would Christopher offer her the same support? He gave it readily enough for his family.
    “We’re not gonna let him win, Lizzie.” G.W. stroked her cheek. “We’ve got the Lord on our side. His evil ways won’t stand against God’s truth.”
    “Oh, G.W., you don’t know how Stuart can be. He has all the money he needs to ruin us.”
    Annie started fussing, as if sensing her mother’s fear. Deborah went to the little girl and picked her up. “There, now, you mustn’t fret. Your mama and papa are right here.” She bounced the child on her hip and looked to Lizzie. “G.W. is right. God is stronger than any Albright. We need to put this to prayer and trust that God will help us. It’s not like we’re seeking to hurt Stuart; we simply want what’s right.”
    Lizzie took her daughter from Deborah and hugged her close. “I wish that I had your faith, but I don’t.” With that, she all but ran from the room.
    Deborah looked to her brother and sighed. “She has no blame in this, but only time and the Lord will convince her.”
    Rutger crawled to his father and began to whimper, pulling himself up by G.W.’s pants leg. G.W. lifted the boy and rubbed his head. “I think it’s nap time. I’ll take him in and help Lizzie get them to sleep.”
    She smiled. “You’re a good father, G.W. I always knew you would be.”
    He shook his head. “Sometimes I question whether I am or not. It seems Pa would never have allowed Albright to have this kind of control over us. I wish I had his wisdom.”
    “You can have the wisdom you need, G.W. The first chapter of James says that if anyone lacks wisdom they have only to ask God and He will give it