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“What is it, lass?”
“We talked of having adventures just yesterday, and to think that I am now here. I can hardly believe it.”
“Aye. I can scarce believe it myself.”
She adjusted her bonnet, swiped hair from her forehead. “Do I look presentable?”
“You look ever sweet and bonny, my dear.”
A wrenching in her midsection drew fresh determination to tamp down these feelings. He was simply being kind. That was all. There was no need to read anything more into his sweet words. But there had been so many sweet words this day.
“We best see if they are here.”
“Of course.”
A boy came to hold the horses, and they soon entered the Toll House, moving into a dim room and encountering several seated persons, including a man who eyed them narrowly, then demanded they pay the toll.
Captain Balfour explained that they had no intention of travelling further.
“But cross the bridge ye div, and there’s no comin’ back from that.”
The captain paid the ninepence demanded, lifting a brow at Theo as he did.
She shrugged, the amusement at the tollkeeper’s parsimonious ways fading in recollection of the purpose of their visit. “Sir, please, we wish to know if a young couple came to be married in the last few hours.”
He glanced at her, then at the captain, rubbing his grizzled jaw.
“Sir?” the captain asked.
“Nae, no young people have been here today—”
“Yesterday? It would likely have been very late.”
“Nae. Not yesterday neither. No young people have crossed—”
“Oh, where can they be?” She turned to the captain.
“—save yerselves, of course.” The tollkeeper glanced at the captain. “I gather you div not find that which ye seek?”
A strange look crossed the captain’s face, then he turned to her, eyeing her in a way that made her heart flutter, and her pulse race faster in her veins. “But I did.”
“I beg your pardon, sir?”
The captain smiled, the depths of his eyes warming as he drew even closer.
Her breath constricted as he possessed her hands.
“I have found what I’m searching for.”
“Sir, I—”
“You would not let me tell you my thoughts before, but I cannot wait a second longer. For I find myself unable to think of anything but whether what you once said still holds true.”
She held in a smile, thinking of all she’d said to him over the past weeks. “And which of those many things might that have been?”
“About how God can miraculously work in relationships, and they can overcome obstacles.” He swallowed. “If the right woman meets the right man, that is.”
Her breath caught.No. Surely he didn’t mean—
