Adam: Braddocks, Book Two by Starla Kaye

his grief. But he wasn’t so sure it was grief that kept him from living now. Maybe what he should have done after he’d lost Meredith and his son was move away. Maybe distance from the pain and the pity from his brothers would have been better for him. What was keeping him from heading somewhere else now? He could sell the shop or he could just close it. Seth had gone off on his own to California, supposedly to search for gold. Adam had always suspected Seth had really left because he needed space from his smothering, over–protective older brothers. He’d wanted to become a man on his own, without their well–intentioned guidance.
    Striking out on his own would be difficult. He liked being around his brothers, but maybe he wouldn’t ever completely heal until he took some time to be truly alone. Maybe away from them he could finally think it all through and put his past to rest. But he would miss them. He would miss Faith, too.
    He looked toward the livery and felt lower than he had in a long time. If he’d been a better man, a stronger man, he could have loved her. No, he did love her, he just couldn’t be the man she needed, a man who didn’t carry the burdens of a past he might not ever come to terms with.
    Just as he started to turn away, Faith and Angelica came out of the livery in a buggy. The two women were chattering away and didn’t even glance in his direction before heading off to the east. He was pretty sure they were headed for Daniel’s ranch, no doubt to go see Jennie. What was driving Faith to close the store today and shirk that responsibility? Something personal, she’d claimed. His curiosity was peeked. But he had to let it go. Just as he had to let Faith go, for her own good.
     
    * * *
     
    Jennie met them in front of her small house as Faith pulled the buggy to a stop. She cupped a hand over her eyes against the blaring late–morning sun. “What a nice surprise!” she exclaimed and then frowned. “But why aren’t you working at the mercantile?”
    Before Faith could even answer, Angelica said bluntly, “Faith is thinking about moving to Kansas City.”
    “What?” Jennie gasped, her eyes widening. “No! You can’t!”
    Faith set the brake and wrapped the reins around it and climbed out of the buggy. She understood Jennie’s panic since she felt the same way. A move away would be so drastic and she would really miss her friends. She forced a smile as she headed toward Jennie. “I’ve been thinking that I need a change. And my Aunt Sybil has been asking me to come visit her.”
    Jennie hugged her, squeezed her almost painfully. “Visit, yes. Move, no.” When she eased away, she looked chagrined at her strong physical reaction.
    Angelica stepped next to them, her eyes glistening with tears, too. She’d been fairly quiet during the ride here, commenting now and then on a couple of the places she’d lived, always sounding sad. There were so many secrets in her life and Faith would miss getting to know her, learning some of those secrets.
    “Have you talked to your parents about this?” Jennie asked, taking Faith’s hand and tugging her toward the house. “Come inside. I’ll pour us some tea. I made it just this morning, maybe I expected company.”
    “No, I haven’t mentioned it to them. But then I really made this decision a short while ago.” When she’d seen Adam with Marinda Tamberline… when she’d realized there really wasn’t any hope for them left.
    They walked inside the small three-room house and Faith’s eyes adjusted to the dimmer lighting. As Jennie bustled over to take a teakettle from the cook stove, Faith and Angelica sat down in two of the four chairs around the table by the window. Faith’s stomach fluttered with nerves. Talking about this was difficult, but the more she thought about it, the more she knew this was what she needed to do.
    “This is Adam’s fault, isn’t it?” Jennie questioned, sounding bitter. “Because he just can’t let go