Free Adam's Bride by Lisa Harris Page A

who it is means we might be able to narrow the scope of the search. They moved here from Boston, so it would make sense for him to go back to the place that is familiar to him.”
    “I suppose you’re right, but what about Lidia? She must be quite upset.”
    “Of course she’s upset, but so am I.” Adam marched across the room to the window before spinning around to face his father. “The last thing I want is for her to get hurt, but didn’t you hear me? We know who killed Samuel, which means we can go after him and find him.”
    “It’s been a year and a half. Sometimes I think it might be best if we simply let things go.”
    Adam raked his fingers though his hair, fighting the emotions that battled within him. “Answer this question. Why would God allow Samuel’s life to be taken and let a murderer go free?”
    “I know it doesn’t make sense, and don’t think I haven’t asked myself the very same question a thousand times.” His father pressed his palm against the smooth wooden arms of the chair. “All I know is that our God is not unjust. He might not work the way we want Him to, but that doesn’t change who He is. Read through Romans chapter nine when you get a chance. It talks about God’s sovereign choices toward man.”
    Stopping at the window, Adam’s hands gripped the sill. He didn’t want to hear about God having the right to be compassionate toward a murderer. He wanted answers. He wanted revenge.
    The last days of winter were fading in front of him. Already the changing weather had left dry patches on the ground, warmed by the morning sun. Before another week passed, his run of sap would be over. He wouldn’t even have a harvest if it hadn’t been for Lidia and her brother. He owed them everything, and yet all he could think about was the fact that their brother had destroyed Samuel’s life. His father was right. He needed to put the past behind him and forgive, but putting one’s words into action had proved to be nearly impossible.
    His father stood and walked toward him. “I can’t work through this for you, but you’re going to have to come to terms with what happened if you ever plan to go on with your life. It wasn’t Lidia’s fault her brother took Samuel’s life. And it’s not your fault you couldn’t stop it from happening.”
    Adam’s stomach clenched. “It is my fault. Samuel shouldn’t have died.”
    His father wrapped his arm around Adam’s shoulder. “You have to stop blaming yourself. You’re not responsible.”
    Adam stared out the window. Lidia walked beside her brother toward the maple grove. Her normal smile was missing. Instead her brow was furrowed with worry. Did she hurt as much as he did? He was a coward, but he couldn’t face her again. At least not today.
    He turned to his father. “Would you mind taking Lidia and her brother back to the mill? If there’s any problem with them keeping their jobs, I’ll make a trip out to talk to their overseer.”

eight
    Lidia swung her leg over the thick branch of the elm tree and worked to untangle the rope that had caught on one of the limbs. More than likely, it was one of the Miller boys who managed to rig the seat of the swing so it hung lopsided, though none of the young neighbors would own up to the offense.
    “Be careful, Miss Lidia.”
    Lidia looked toward the ground from her precarious position in the tree at Adam’s younger sisters, Ruby and Anna Johnson. Only two adorable nine-year-olds would compel her to temporarily disregard all attempts at being a proper lady to scale the rough trunk of a backyard tree. Well, that and a rabid dog, she supposed, but at the moment, thankfully, she felt perfectly safe from any such threats. Something she hadn’t felt for a long time.
    It never ceased to amaze her how God worked in such marvelous and mysterious ways. Adam once saved her life from a rabid mutt, and now his parents were doing the same thing. Not that her life was in danger now, but she still felt