Isabella laughed. “Have you ever been fishing?”
“There isn’t much fishing to come by in Philadelphia,” he said, still trying to wrap his mind around Isabella wrestling some wriggly fish from a line.
“Maybe I’ll show you how. It’s great fun.” From the way she spoke about it, Hale might have thought she was talking about a dance or a new ladies’ card game.
He nodded. “I’ll hold you to that. Unfortunately, now I have to pay the invoices that have stacked up on my desk before our suppliers come asking about their money.”
Isabella’s jovial expression dropped. “Are you worried about paying them?”
“Oh, no.” He shook his head. “It’s nothing like that. I just haven’t had much time to sit down and get it done.”
“I see. I’ll leave you to it, then.” She started down the hallway toward the kitchen. Hale had almost closed his door when he heard her voice.
“I’m sorry, sir, but Mr. Darby is currently occupied. Is there something I can help you with?”
Hale waited behind the door, listening at the crack, and when Mr. Quarles’s voice filtered down the hallway, he closed his eyes and bumped his forehead against the door in irritation.
“I doubt you can help. I need to speak to Mr. Darby about breakfast this morning,” Quarles said in his strained pompous voice.
“Then I’m just the person you need to see!” Isabella’s voice was chipper, as if talking with the boardinghouse’s most annoying guest was a great joy. “I assist Miss Darby in the kitchen. Now, what can I help you with?”
Their voices faded from range as Mr. Quarles presumably followed Isabella down the hall. Hale’s shoulders sank in relief.
All he needed was a solid couple of hours without interruptions, and Isabella had just given him that gift.
Chapter Six
“I SUPPOSE SOMETIMESit isn’t very enjoyable.” Izzy set the fishing rod on the bank beside her. Even though Silver Creek was sluggish this time of year, she hoped she might catch something. Perhaps they should have come earlier in the morning.
“I wouldn’t say that. Spending time outdoors is always nice after being inside all day.” Hale stood and stretched.
Izzy considered his words as she looked across the creek to where the land sloped up steeply. Far above them, partially hidden by the foliage, the peaks of the mountains soared. There was a calm peacefulness here that she hadn’t felt since she was a child. Whether it was because of the landscape or because she finally felt safe, she didn’t know. “That’s true. And our surroundings are certainly beautiful.”
“They are indeed.”
Izzy turned to look at Hale, only to find his eyes already on her. He looked away quickly, and she bit the inside of her lip as she pondered the meaning of his words.
“I meant to say thank you for occupying Mr. Quarles yesterday,” Hale said after a few seconds ticked by. “I had no interruptions, and I was able to take care of all of those invoices and get them delivered.”
Izzy warmed under her praise. “You’ll be happy to know he left this morning. He said he had urgent business in Cañon City.”
“May whatever that business is keep him away from Crest Stone for the next several years,” Hale said with a relieved smile. He cupped a hand over his eyes as he looked up at the sun. “We ought to return.”
Izzy nodded. Tansy would be expecting her help with supper, and with as kind and patient as the woman had been toward her, she didn’t wish to cause her any distress. She gathered up the fishing rod. “I only wish we were going home with fish to fry.”
