“Gag,” Hannah whispered, and the only sign that Noah heard her was him kicking his foot so a small bit of dirt flew back toward her. “Noah, this is my nice day dress,” she hissed.
He smiled, speaking through his teeth, “Then I would recommend not wearing it whilst berry picking.” Miss Baxton stopped a few feet away from them. “Are you going to join us, Miss Baxton? Miss Gibbons and I are having a competition of sorts, and you are welcome to share in the camaraderie.”
“A competition?” Miss Baxton looked between the two of them, a curious smile on her lips.
“Yes. We are seeing who can fill their baskets the quickest.”
“How fun.” Miss Baxton’s smile widened. “I would love to join you.”
“Splendid.” Noah held his hand out, then helped Miss Baxton kneel beside the bush.
They picked and made conversation, and Noah did his best to keep them entertained with light anecdotes and stories. Hannah loved the way his voice rose and fell, inflection in his every word. If given the opportunity, she would listen to him for hours, reading aloud or just speaking of his day, and Hannah didn’t think she would ever tire of the sound.
Hannah found herself smiling when Noah was in the midst of a story of him and his four brothers getting into some mischief as children when she heard a faint buzzing sound. Without thinking, she flicked her hand up to her ear. The buzzing faded but quickly came back. This time, she leaned her head away and turned to inspect it—only to find it was not a fly, but rather, a bee.
She shrieked before she could stop herself, jumping up and flicking her hands about.
“Hannah,” Noah asked, standing with panicked eyes. “What is the matter?”
“It’s a bee!” she shouted.
Then the pompous man had the audacity to laugh. “A bee?”
“Yes.” She ducked, trying to remove herself from the bee’s interest. “They are loathsome. They sting!”
Noah stepped over to her, still smiling. “Here, let me get it.” He waved his hand, trying to shoo it away, but it would not be deterred.
“Why won’t it leave?” Hannah shrieked, then crouched and began crawling over the grass to get away from it.
“Hannah,” he said with a laugh. “It is only a bee.”
“Do not sayonlylike it is not of consequence.” She sat up on her heels, her neck tight as the bee buzzed about her head. She whined nervously in the back of her throat.
Noah knelt beside her. “I believe it wants your berries.”
She put her basket down and stood, then took hurried steps away from the bush and tempting berries. Thinking she was free, Hannah released a sigh. She put her hands to her head, taking calming breaths. Miss Baxton stared at her and Noah watched her with mirth in his eyes.
“Did that help?” he called out.
“I believe so—” Hannah had not gotten the words out before she heard the incriminating buzzing again. “No!” she yelled back.
Noah stood, striding over to her. She was still ducking and dodging in hopes of freeing herself from the bee’s persistence when she felt a warm hand gently grip her forearm. “Hold still,” Noah said, his voice calm and low.
She nodded, her mouth pinched closed so she wouldn’t make a fool of herself and squeal like a child again.
Noah reached his hands up near her face, his eyes fixed on the bee as it buzzed about her. For a moment, her fear of the bee diminished as she studied the lines of his face and the slight bow to his lip. He was so close . . . She dipped her eyes to keep from noticing such things.
And then a clap sounded by Hannah’s ear, breaking her from her trance.
“Blast!” Noah clutched his hands in front of him, hunching his shoulders as he dipped his head. Then a litany of muffled curses strung from his lips and Hannah was glad she could not make them all out. “There,” he said, straightening with a huff. He flicked his hand. “The problem is taken care of.” He turned toward her. “And you had better be grateful, for that hurt like the devil.”
“I am incredibly grateful, Noah. Thank you.” Her shoulders trembled, but she pressed her mouth closed.
He narrowed his eyes. “Are you trying not to laugh right now?”
She shook her head.
“Then say something.” His brow rose as he watched her.
