“Mind? That girl may be a diamond in the rough, but her true heart shines through.” Her grin returned. “If I had any small doubts before working with her at the mill, they disappeared. Seeing how she cared for those children and worked with the girls and fought for the future of those women?” She sat back up and grabbed Noah's hand again. “Her faith is truly resilient. It has bloomed in the most unlikely ways and places, yet beautifully. And you'd give me one of the most wonderful gifts in all the world.”
Her teasing smile spread to his lips. “What is that?”
She sent him a wink. “Grandchildren.”
He laughed, a much too absent action over the past few hours, and then with a sigh, he leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
“I'm going out to search for George.” His attention held hers. “Lock the doors. Just in case, and alert Taylor and Case to keep watch.”
Case showed up at the store the next morning in search of Kizzie.
“Case?” She approached him where he stood near the canned goods by the front window. “Is everyone at the house all right?”
“Yes, ma'am.” He nodded, removing his cap. “It's just that Mr. Noah wanted me to deliver this note to you as soon as I could get to the shop this morning.”
Kizzie took the proffered note and thanked Case before he left.
Gayle looked up from her place at the counter. “I told you last night while you was weeping like a willow that Noah Lewis is the sort to know a good catch when he sees one. And in this case, he gets three for one.”
Kizzie rolled her eyes and approached the counter. “You've already heard what folks are saying about George, Gayle. I don't want them thinking awful things about Noah too.”
“Well, I suppose you're right.” Gayle sniffed and turned to straighten a row of cans that were already perfectly straight. “You don't want to marry no weakling.”
“Weakling?” Just the idea of Noah's strong arms around her or the way he stood up to his brother over and over again proved Gayle's statement completely false.
“Sure.” She focused on another perfectly straight can. “If you think he's so weak to buckle ’neath the censure of folks whose opinions don't matter anyway, then I wouldn't want you to marry him either.”
“Ooh!” Kizzie groaned and narrowed her eyes at the woman before turning away from the counter to open the letter.
My darling Kizzie,
Darling. He'd called her that yesterday. No one had ever called her something so sweet. Her smile pinched into her cheeks, and she felt Gayle's eyes on her, so she angled herself away from the woman a little more.
George is missing. I'm searching for him in all the places I think he might hide. Mother and I are both concerned for his welfare. I'm sure you've already heard by this time that Beatrice Malone called off their engagement, which means all of George's grand plans have not only come to naught but ruined him.
Mother and I travel to Mount Airy and a few other towns today in an attempt to find him, but Mother is afraid he may have taken a train out West to truly disappear. I hope she's right because I'd rather him disappear than harm himself. A man on the run has the hope of redemption, at least.
We've closed the mill for the next few days as Mother and I work through some particular details related to George's decisions. I'll explain as soon as I get back into town.
Before you entertain any thoughts to the contrary, I want to reiterate my intentions and thoughts from yesterday. The time and distance of the last hours have failed to temper my passion with logic, as I'm sure you feared. No, my darling, my logic and my passion are equally in unison with the fact that I love you and Charlie and would love for us to become a family.
The choice is yours, but my mind is set.
So, would you make me the happiest man and marry me, Kizzie McAdams?
Yours,
Noah
PS: Mother knows and agrees with my proposal, so if you are going to question my logic, you will have to question hers as well.
PPS: She's particularly enamored with the idea of spoiling grandchildren.
“See there?”
Kizzie swung around to find Gayle peering over her shoulder, a look of pure satisfaction on her face. “That boy's stuck on you.” Her brows wiggled. “You'd better run from such weakness, is all I have to say.”
“You ain't helping at all.”
