A Bride for Noah by Lori Copeland

Author:Lori Copeland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780736953481
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers, Inc.

Eleven

A few days before, Noah would have enjoyed this conversation immensely. But sitting across from Evie now, her features fluid as she struggled to control her emotions, he couldn’t take pleasure in her discomfiture.

He’d refused to discuss the difficult situation of the land this afternoon. Not only did he have to inspect the former cutting site and report back to Arthur, but he also saw tears spring to Evie’s eyes several times. If those tears had erupted into full-blown crying, he would be lost. He might as well have signed the land over to her on the spot. No, they both needed time to gather their thoughts and their composure before a sensible discussion could take place. So he’d promised to come to the Denny home when the day’s work was completed, and the ladies had left. It had been hard to watch their drooping shoulders as they disappeared down the path. They really had done an amazing job.

Now Noah and Evie faced each other in the twilight, sitting near the stream where they could have some privacy for their discussion. At first they’d had a difficult time convincing the children to stay inside and Mary had been forced to speak sternly to the girls. Even now, two little faces peered over the half-door, staring intently in their direction.

Evie sat still, her hands clasped in her lap and her gaze fixed on the stream. “I thought Miles would come with you.”

“He wanted to,” Noah told her. “But after he followed me around all afternoon, reminding me that he is my mother’s only brother and attempting to lecture me on the responsibilities of family bonds, I refused to let him. I needed the quiet of the trail.”

That brought a faint smile which faded as quickly as it appeared.

The area’s birds began to settle in the treetops before darkness overtook them, calling loudly to one another above their heads. Noah searched for something to say, something that would soothe the awkwardness between them. He would even welcome Evie’s infuriating taunts over this gloomy silence.

“I’m sorry I disturbed your land.” Her head ducked and she stared at her hands. “It was foolish of me not to realize I needed to inquire about ownership before we began the work.”

Noah could have agreed, but he didn’t have the heart to beat her down further. Instead, he shrugged. “Everyone makes mistakes. And at least now I have a head start on clearing that plot.”

Her lips twisted, and she gave a silent nod.

“I’m curious about something. Why did you choose that place? Why not the landing area?”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to be on the beach. I want a higher vantage point.”

“But it seems to me that being near the dock, and hopefully soon the mill, would be an advantageous place for a restaurant. As this settlement grows, that will be the port of entry. When a ship docks, your restaurant would be one of the first buildings they see. You’d have sailors and visitors alike clamoring to eat there.

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