When they returned to the car, she teased him, “I bet you’re always popular with the ladies. I’m going to have to take you everywhere I go. I’ll never have to pay another restaurant bill again.” She giggled helplessly when his cheeks turned pink. “You’re very good-looking, but you know that.”
“No.” He protested – albeit half-heartedly. Reno certainly wasn’t used to women pointing it out. “Females are outspoken these days.”
“Yea, I guess.” She pulled back into the road and headed south. “Okay, this trip is to lighten our mood and give us time to talk. It’s an hour’s drive to the airport and we’ll check out the city skyline on the way.”
Reno threw up his hands. “I didn’t understand half you said, but I’m ready for anything.”
Journey took him at his word. She didn’t want to take advantage, but there was no way she was going to let this time with him be wasted. She wanted to know everything about him. “Oh, yea. I was telling you about Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. They’re famous books. Classics. Written by a man named Samuel Clements from Hannibal Missouri. His penname was Mark Twain.”
“Mark Twain,” he mused, “that’s what a steamboat leadman yells when they’ve reached a safe depth in the river for the boat to travel.”
“Yes, exactly. Samuel Clements was in love with the river, he thought a steamboat pilot was the epitome of success.” Suddenly, she looked at him, her eyes narrowed. “Do you like to read?”
“I do. I’ve never had the opportunity to do a lot of it since I left Tennessee. Books are hard to come by.”
“When we get home,” she told him, “remind me to introduce you to my kindle. I’ll download you a passel of books and you can go to town.”
When he gave her that now familiar questioning look, she tried to explain, “A kindle is an electronic device that can access digital storage.” When he leaned his head back and closed his eyes in dismay, she just laughed. “Believe me, it won’t take you ten minutes to figure it out. You’re brilliant, you just have to catch up with technology. A kindle this thick…” She measured the narrow distance with her fingers. “Can hold thousands of books.”
“You’re pulling my leg.”
She reached over to squeeze his knee. “No, I’m not. Just wait until I show you how to download music. I’ll introduce you to the King. Elvis Presley from Memphis, Tennessee. He’ll blow your mind.”
Reno captured her hand and brought it back to his knee. “Consider it already blown. I would very much like to be introduced to your kindle – but first, I want to read Saul’s journal.”
“Of course, you do. I’ll give you everything Aunt Myra saved.” It was hard to think clearly when he was holding her hand. Journey met her own eyes in the rearview mirror, sharing a secret smile as tingles of excitement played over her body. “Uh, do you have a special girl back in time?”
“No. I do not. Women are in short supply in Kingsland. It’s better than it was, I’ll admit, but I’ve not met anyone yet. I guess you know the Captain’s wife was a mail-order bride.”
“Yes, I remember. Saul spoke so highly of her.”
“Fancy rescued King. After his fiancé betrayed him by marrying his brother – he soured on half the population. Hell, Fancy rescued all of us. Like a breath of fresh air.”
“I guess you were lonely.”
“Yea. You could say that.” He remembered lying in his bed and longing for a soft, warm woman to hold. His eyes dropped to stare at their joined hands. “How old are you, Journey?”
“Twenty-three. And you’re…twenty-six. Right?”
“I am.” His thumb was rubbing the back of her hand softly. “Why aren’t you married?”
“Oh.” Journey gave an embarrassed laugh. “I’ve had this discussion more than once this week. My aunt and my friends are always pushing me to date. Find a man. Get married.” She paused to stop at an intersection, careful to watch the traffic. “I’ve dated my share of men, but none of them have made me feel anything, really.” Did she dare tell him the truth? How much time did they have together? Should she try and take advantage of the unexpected gift of his presence? Or was that something that would only hurt them both?
But if she didn’t go for it, wouldn’t she regret it for the rest of her life?
Simple answer.
Yes.
“You weren’t compatible with them. They let you down?”