“And the right perspective,” Kizzie added, meeting Noah's gaze. “I'm glad I'm a little smarter than I was in the ‘before,’ and despite a snowstorm and an accident among strangers, I'm glad my ‘after’ has started with making such nice acquaintances.”
His gaze caught in hers against his will. Those eyes, or perhaps what shone behind those eyes, captured his attention, redirected his thoughts. Part of him wanted to ask her to tell more of her story, but the other part dodged the inclination. The last thing he needed was another reason to argue with his brother. One more year. Just one more, and he'd be free to forge his own future without the power of the will's stipulation.
“I hope we are all smarter as we learn from hardships.” Noah sat back in the chair, his emotions twisting too tight to keep the conversation going much longer. He turned to his mother. “How is Marty this morning?”
“He's been awake for an hour, and Case is with him.” She looked over at Kizzie with a teasing grin. “He's still convinced Kizzie is a ghost, but I think he's starting to make some real improvement, though I'd feel better if Dr. Palmer could see him.”
“Which brings me to my plan for this morning.” He nodded toward Mrs. North as she approached with a breakfast plate. “I plan to take Case with me to attempt to salvage what we can of the carriage, unless you think I should hitch up the sleigh first thing and get Dr. Palmer.”
“Last night, perhaps, I would have given a different answer, but this morning I'm not as concerned. His leg is broken, I believe, so it will be good to have the doctor here to set it, but he's making sense when he talks and has even eaten some breakfast.”
“That's good news.” His gaze pulled to Kizzie. She offered him a smile as she took a sip of tea.
“Are you and Case capable of retrieving the carriage on your own?” This from his mother.
“I'm not sure, but we have to at least try. The longer it stays in the elements, the worse it will be to repair.”
“If you need some extra hands, Mr. Noah,” Mrs. North said as she poured coffee into his cup, “my grandsons are sledding out back. I can send them along to help you.”
“I thought I heard their laughter.” Mother grinned. “They do so love that hill, don't they, Mrs. North?”“Indeed, ma'am. It's the best for sledding within a mile of their house.”
“But aren't they quite young for the task of pulling a carriage from the snow, Mrs. North?” In addition to the carriage being stuck on an incline in the snow, Noah wasn't certain how much more snow wedged it even more.
Mrs. North's smile bloomed. “If passion and the promise of hot chocolate and cookies can turn into power and energy, then I feel they'll be some of your best helpers. Clarence's nigh on twelve, and Cody's only a few years behind. They're young, aye, but they're keen to help when they can.”
“If hot chocolate and cookies are promised, I'm tempted to throw in my hat to help too.” Kizzie laughed. “Those are some mighty fine rewards.”
Mother chuckled and stood. “Indeed, Kizzie.”
“Well, I'll take their help.” Noah winked at Mrs. North. “And the cookies.” He looked over at Kizzie, her welcome smile a surprisingly pleasant start to his day. “And bringing Charlie and his dimples into the house for Mother's benefit should certainly be rewarded with some hot chocolate and cookies.”
The sound of women's voices met Kizzie as she rounded the hallway toward the kitchen. Victoria Lewis kept a hint of reservation in her demeanor, which seemed just a part of who she was, but watching Charlie soften the woman into smiles eased some of the concern Kizzie had nursed since Victoria's questions about her past.
Of course, those concerns were justified, and Kizzie would continue to face them over and over again, but the idea of having her entire personality judged on the basis of one mistake grated on her and, at the same time, strangely exalted the grace she'd come to understand. Her humanness wanted to scream to the world that she had strength and wisdom now she didn't have before. A type of love she hadn't known before. But the new part of her heart reveled in God showing his goodness through her brokenness, rescuing her despite her immaturity and selfishness.
An ongoing, lifetime battle, she supposed.
She yawned as she approached the voices, her travels and lack of sleep weighing on her as the afternoon waned. Even when she'd finally curled up in the massive bed upstairs, it had taken her an hour to get to sleep. Her mind kept replaying her conversation with Mr. Lewis … Noah.
Looking back at the scenes of her life since meeting Charles Morgan, little hints created a patchwork answer to the question why Charles chose her. Noah's mention of her beauty only held a partial answer. Charles using his position as her employer provided another part, and one which brought with it a wave of shame. But despite all her silliness and inexperience, she wanted to believe Charles held some true care for her, some desire to do right by her.
No one forced him to secure a house for her. Or give provisions.
He visited of his own accord, even if those visits were few.
So the answer probably waited in some mixture of the three parts.
And despite the fact she'd wanted to keep her past private for as long as possible, she didn't regret Noah knowing the truth.
What he did with that information, she couldn't know, but she trusted him.
She probably shouldn't.
Trust had gotten her into her current predicament. Trust and an overzealous love of kissing.
Heat rose into her cheeks at the many images stirring through her mind of when she'd indulged quite thoroughly in the kissing part.
But she'd learned her lesson. Noah's observations only pressed the lesson deeper. If God ever brought her a chance to love again, she wanted it to be for all the right reasons.
