Noah watched the beautiful woman walk swiftly across the street with her father. He wondered what was so urgent that it drove the man to be a tad rude to a newcomer. In Noah’s opinion, Fabian Daley didn’t look like the kind of man that liked confrontation or troublemaking. He looked like a dignified rancher and businessman.
Judging by the look on Kitty’s face when he turned her to him and spoke in what was probably a firm voice, Noah didn’t think the lady appreciated her father’s behavior.
He stood up, having finished his ice cream, and strolled back to the bookstore. There was a chair in a corner, and the establishment owner told him he could sit there and enjoy the book of his choice before Noah was met by the lovely Kitty Daley.
Noah pushed the door open and smiled at Sebastian, holding up the book he and Kitty had purchased together.
“I wanted to thank you again for allowing us both to pay half on this book,” he said, walking to the counter the man was standing behind.
“It was my pleasure. Kitty is a lovely young woman.”
“She seems to be,” Noah said, nodding. “You know her well?”
Sebastian chuckled. “Oh yes, Mr. Fleck. She is a regular customer. I have offered many books to her for free, and she insists on paying. I wouldn’t have made either of you pay just for that reason, but I know her stance on that issue.” He tilted his head back and laughed. Noah got a good feeling from the man and enjoyed the sound. He smiled. “I saw that you two were able to sit down and have a discussion.”
Noah raised his eyebrows.
Sebastian’s cheeks flushed, but Noah felt the explanation he stammered out was trustworthy.
“I … I was not … looking for you two … I had to go out to get something I’d left in my wagon and saw you enjoying ice cream outside the parlor.”
“Yes. That was some tasty ice cream.” Noah tilted his head. “Did you see her father approaching?” He was wondering how long the man had been watching his daughter chat with Noah before he made his presence known.
“I did see Fabian across the street. He didn’t seem pleased to see Kitty talking to you, which is a surprise to me.”
“Oh? Why’s that?”
Sebastian shook his head. “He and Kitty are very close. It’s just been the two of them all her life, y’see, and you would think her father would be overprotective, but he isn’t. I mean to say, he usually isn’t.” The look of wonderment on Sebastian’s face reflected how Noah was feeling.
He typically received a warm welcome from both men and women. He didn’t think he’d been looking at or talking to Kitty in an inappropriate way that would make her father suspicious of him.
It hurt his feelings a little bit.
“So you thought he looked overprotective?” he asked.
Sebastian nodded. “Yes. Probably the first time ever. I came back inside once I got my sack from the wagon. What happened? Did Fabian come over to fetch her?”
Noah’s eyebrows shot up. “That is an amazingly accurate description, Mr …”
Sebastian shook his head. “It’s difficult for people to remember my last name. You can call me Sebastian for as long as you’re in town.”
“And I’m Noah. It’s good to meet you.”
“You, as well.” Sebastian leaned forward and propped himself up with his elbows on the counter and his eyes on Noah’s face. “So please tell me if I am correct. You and Kitty were talking about foreign countries and traveling and all that.”
“Yes, we were.”
“But Fabian acted as though you were doing something scandalous.”
Noah nodded. “Yes,” he confirmed.
Sebastian pushed himself abruptly to stand straight up, tossing his hands up in the air dramatically. “Well, I just don’t know what’s gotten into him!”
The way he announced his feelings struck Noah as funny, and he snorted with laughter, turning his head away just in time to cover it with one hand.
“Kitty seems like a lovely woman,” Noah said, turning the conversation in a more desirable direction after clearing his throat. “Is she betrothed to anyone?”
“Not that I know of,” Sebastian replied. “I never see her on the arm of a gentleman other than her father. If she is courting, it would be a surprise to me.”
Noah turned his head to look through the front window. He couldn’t see Kitty or her father, but he stared out there anyway. He didn’t know why she had struck him as being so lovely. She did share a few traits physically with Elenore. He shook his head slightly. The last thing he wanted to do was compare Kitty to Elenore. It would ruin the whole thing for him. He would have to put his past behind him once and for all and stop dwelling on what had happened.
The pain had lasted a lot longer than he thought it would. For years, as he wandered the American countryside, Noah could think of nothing other than Elenore leaving with the man whose name he refused to utter or even think, shattering his young heart.
He didn’t want to go back to the days of feeling worthless, as he had after she had gone. He’d managed to focus most of his attention on his work, schooling, and traveling. It had kept him from the deep depression that had threatened for a time.
But he was strong. He’d been telling himself that for the last eight years, and he wasn’t going to go back now.
He had to move forward.
He saw fingers being snapped in front of his eyes and focused on the man in front of him.
Sebastian’s grin spread from ear to ear.
“I must say, I have never seen anyone go that deep into thought when standing right in front of me before. You are interested in Kitty?”
Noah blinked. “I’m not sure. I mean to say, I’ve just come to town. I’m a stranger here. My plans are up in the air until nine months from now.”
“Nine months?” Sebastian inquired curiously. “What happens in nine months?”
“I’m making my way to the coast and getting aboard a ship that will take me to Europe. I’m anxious to see the beauty of the earth that I’ve only seen in paintings and renditions in books.”
“That sounds like an exciting plan,” Sebastian said, nodding. “I’m sure you are anxious for that day to come.”
Noah turned his head to look out the windows again. It had been exciting to think about. The most exciting thing, in fact.
But now he had a distraction, something fighting for attention in his brain. It felt like his vision of his future might have to be revised a little.
“I wonder why Kitty’s father reacted like I was an enemy?” he mumbled.
“Yes, it is strange behavior. If you are invited to the Double K Ranch, perhaps you can find out why he has a problem with you. If I know Fabian the way I think I do, he will not be able to stay quiet about his motives. He is a man to be reckoned with, but he is always fair. He is the local attorney, you know.”
For some reason, knowing that made Noah doubly uncomfortable. The only way it could have been worse was if she had been the daughter of the sheriff.
He pulled in a deep breath and let it out slowly, relaxing his muscles. “I think I’d like to sit in that chair you offered earlier and read some of my jointly shared book. Is that all right?”
Sebastian lifted one hand, indicating the aisle that led to the corner chair. “The chair is yours, my friend. Take as long as you need, my regular customer has already left, and the few others I get in here don’t stay after their purchase.”
“Thank you. I do appreciate it.”
“It’s my pleasure. Enjoy the book.”
Noah smiled at the man, clutched the book to his chest, and spun around. He was sitting in the chair a few minutes later, the book unopened on his lap.
He looked through the window on the other side of the room and could see the main road from where he was sitting.
Was he willing to risk it all again? Would she even be interested in courting a man like him?
He was getting way ahead of himself. He didn’t know the woman well enough even to be considering these things.
But there was an unquestionable attraction he couldn’t deny.
He wondered if she felt it, too.
He was undecided about how he wanted to approach the prospect of beginning a new relationship. But he had decided he was coming back to the bookstore the next day.