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.They all married well to local boys, except, of course, Rianna.I don’t know much about her, only that she was widowed.The others come by and see their folks regularly.All except Rianna.” Mrs.Avery clucked her tongue.“I never could understand why she didn’t come home.During the war, of course, it was impossible, but it’s been five years since the peace.What’s kept her away so long?”Mrs.Johnson picked up her fork and knife.“I heard she became a nurse during the war and that she’s continued with it.Except now, it’s private patients.” With that pronouncement she calmly brought a forkful of trout to her lips and began chewing.When no one said anything, she looked around at them, her gaze coming to rest on Noah.“Wealthy old-men patients.”Mrs.Avery’s mouth made a little circle of wonder.As the silence drew out, Noah brought his knife and fork to rest at the sides of his plate.“What’s wrong with nursing old men?”Mrs.Johnson took her time wiping her mouth.“Wealthy old men can grow attached to their attractive young nurses.” With a glance toward the boys, who were talking to Melanie about their fishing trip, she lowered her voice, “I’ve heard of cases where an aging man will suddenly up and change his will.His heirs will be out every penny, and away walks the nurse, a wealthy woman.” She gave a decided nod of her head.Noah eased back in his chair, his food forgotten.“Just what are you trying to say?”Mrs.Johnson blinked.“Say? Why, nothing at all.I just wonder what would bring Rianna back home now.”“I think if you have anything on your mind, you’d better spell it out, preferably to Rianna’s face.”“Now, Mr.Samuels, don’t get upset.Amelia didn’t mean anything against Rianna.She was just talking of some people,” Mrs.Avery hurried on.“I’m sure our Rianna wouldn’t be capable of such things.Now, have some more potatoes.”Noah took the dish from her, but didn’t serve himself any.He set the bowl down.The remains on his plate no longer held any appeal.His stomach felt as if a piece of lead had just settled in it.Mrs.Johnson spoke up sharply.“Of course, I wasn’t implying anything.I was just pleased to see that Rianna is back to help with her mother.About time, too,” she added, though now she addressed her mother exclusively.“The poor woman’s been ailing a long time, the way I hear it…”Noah stood, throwing down his napkin.“As far as I know, Rianna Bruce has never done you any injury, and I would suggest you don’t start harming her reputation now.”The two women stared at each other in shock.With a sharp nod, he excused himself to Mrs.Avery and left the dining room, ignoring the boys’ cries asking where he was going.The last thing he saw was Melanie’s wide-eyed look, but he didn’t stop.Feeling too restless to sit down and read the newspaper, Noah left the house, preferring to walk off his anger.Although his instincts would have taken him toward the harbor to check on his boat, he avoided that locale altogether since it would mean passing the Devon house.Instead, he took a brisk walk in the opposite direction, leading out of town.He ended up back at his grandparents’ homestead.Rather than calming him, the place only agitated him the more.Fool women, gossiping about someone they knew nothing about.And Rianna, why’d she have to come back now and have people talking about her? Why did she have the ability to get under his skin as no other woman ever had? With Charlotte, it had been a nice comfortable affection.With Rianna, even after all these years, he felt stretched taut one moment, snapped loose the next.Noah looked out into the bay.Dusk was falling.The peace of the water beckoned, and he decided in that instant he’d take the boat out next morning for a few days.Usually he came in with his catch daily, but he needed to put things back into their proper perspective, and only the sea had the ability to do that.He’d have to reassure Melanie that he wouldn’t be gone long.Thankfully, he could depend on Mrs.Avery to take good care of his daughter.Once again, he remembered Melanie’s tea with Rianna.His jaw hardened.He’d just have to trust that one visit wouldn’t do any harm.Taking a deep breath of the salt air, Noah already felt better…until he caught the heady perfume of rugosa roses on its perimeter, and he was back where he’d begun.Would he find no peace! He whirled around, heading back to town, to let young Joe, his first mate, know they’d be going out at dawn
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