“Yes,” Mercy said. “But once you realized Gray was here…”
Adam nodded, clenching his jaw. “I should have left, yes.”
“I guarantee Adam isn’t the only one at this table who might find himself staring down the barrel of his past one day,” Nora said, pinning them all with a pointed look, “and it certainly isn’t the first time that this town was in danger because of one us. But we protect one another. So instead of casting blame, I think our time would be better spent coming up with a solution.”
“Agreed,” Preacher said, nodding. “And the easiest solution would probably be to kill this Spurlock.”
Adam’s gaze jerked to the preacher, who was the last one Adam would have suspected of the most bloodthirsty solution. But the man was already frowning and shaking his head before anyone could say anything else. “However, since we can’t be sure whom he told about coming here, that could look too suspicious.”
“Though we do already have a hole dug,” Mrs. DuVere chimed in, with a wink at Adam. “Several, in fact. But I’m sure we can think of something. Perhaps if we made sure he was found far from town, it would avert suspicion?”
They discussed a few other options, discarding most as too problematic as they were dealing with a lawman, not just a regular bounty hunter. Listening to them, Adam sat stunned that these people—or most of them, anyway; Mercy was still glaring daggers at him—would be willing to go to such lengths to protect him, and Woodson, of course. And while he was touched beyond measure, he just couldn’t let them do it. Not if there was a way to keep them all from danger.
Adam took a deep breath. “There’s nothing to discuss. I already have a solution.”
Everyone turned to him with polite attention. Everyone but Nora.
Whether she saw it in his face or heard it in his voice, he didn’t know. He wouldn’t have thought it possible for two people to understand each other so completely in the little time they’d known each other. But somehow, they did.
She was already shaking her head, her eyes stark in her pale face. “No,” she whispered.
“I’m going to find him and give myself up.”
Chapter Thirty-One
There was a general uproar while everyone spoke at once, saying why they were for or against Adam’s plan, but Nora barely heard them. She didn’t speak. Neither did Adam. They just sat and stared at each other while everyone around them debated options.
Finally, she sat back, putting some distance between them. And she shook her head again. “You are not giving yourself up.”
The rest of the chatter quieted down, but she and Adam continued to stare at each other.
“It’s the only way,” he said.
She dragged in a breath through her nose and tried to remain calm. “No, it’s not.”
“Yes. It is.”
She stood up, leaning forward a bit as she spoke. “No, it’s not.”
“I can do this all night, Nora. Yes, it is.”
She gritted her teeth so hard, she was sure they’d crack, then let out a growl of frustration. She’d never met someone who made her want to literally tear her hair out, and beat them with it, until just then. “Would you stop being such a stubborn, bullheaded—”
“Me?If that’s not the cow patty calling the co—”
“Don’t you start that with me! You haven’t even listened to the other options.”
He jumped up from his seat and leaned in toward her until they were almost nose to nose. “Because there are none.”
“Yes, there are!”
He threw his hands up. “Like what?”
“We leave.”
He frowned and moved back a little. “What do you mean, we?”
“It’s not that difficult of a word. You. Me.We. We pack the wagon and leave. Tonight.”
