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the passersby, he noticed a striking young woman gliding toward him on the arm of an older gentleman.
    She was fashionably dressed in a loose traveling coat, the front open to show a forest green shirtwaist and skirt. But her eyes—large and hazel and twinkling with life—were what caught his attention and sparked an instant attraction to her. The rest of her was just as beautiful. She had a small straight nose. Dark curls with a shimmer of red framed her oval face. Her shapely pink lips, already curved into a smile, widened when she saw him watching her.
    He touched his hat. “Good afternoon.”
    She dipped her head in a gracious acknowledgment.
    Micah raced up to him.
    With a hand on the boy’s shoulder, Joshua pulled his son out of the couple’s way.
    She nodded, and her eyes glinted with obvious awareness of his interest in her. The green feathers on her perky straw hat fluttered as they passed by.
    He couldn’t help turning his head to watch her.
    Micah pulled on his arm. “Father, there’s an old lady selling cookies. Can I have one?”
    Still bemused by his reaction to the lady, Joshua fished out a coin. Then he saw the old woman’s tattered shawl, her fingers bulging with painful gout or the crippling joint disease. “Buy half a dozen. We’ll have one now and save some for later.”
    “Thank you.” Micah clasped the coin and turned to dash off.
    “Wait.” Joshua grabbed the boy’s arm. He pulled out a clean handkerchief and handed it over, fairly certain his son’s was grubby, if, indeed, he hadn’t already lost it. “Put them in this.”
    Micah grabbed the handkerchief, gave him a cheeky grin, and dashed off.
    For a moment, the boy seemed his usual animated self. He wished the child’s transformation would last. So much of the time, Micah was unhappy and resentful, and Joshua welcomed the hope his son would soon regain his former cheerful personality.
    Micah dodged around people. Luckily, the boy was agile enough not to bash into anyone, although he caused a porter wheeling a cart of luggage to pull up short.
    Joshua smiled and shook his head. Best the boy go burn off some of his energy now. The novelty of the train trip had long worn off and keeping a bored Micah sitting for hours had taken considerable effort on Joshua’s part.
    He turned to look for the lady but didn’t see her. Perhaps it was just as well. If the man was her husband, Joshua had no business searching for her.
    Yet, she was the first woman since Esther’s death who’d attracted him, making him remember the warmth and love of his early marriage. Someday, he hoped to find those feelings again; although this time he’d choose his wife more wisely—find someone compatible who could join him in his dream, rather than him following hers. First, though, I need to figure out what my dream is.
    For now, he had nothing more than an intense desire to return home.

    Delia took the memory of the man’s eyes with her—vivid blue and full of interest in her. The interest wasn’t unusual. She’d had men leering at her since she’d developed breasts. But his attraction wasn’t laden with the heavy sensuality of men’s usual stares—as if sizing her up as a possession to acquire, whether or not they could afford her. No, his gaze had only held admiration—a refreshing. . .no, a freeing change.
    Papa glanced down at her. “There’s time for something to eat,” he said with his usual solicitude.
    She shook her head. “I’m not hungry. I’d rather walk. And we have the basket of food for later. But if you’re hungry. . . .”
    “No, I was just concerned about you.”
    Delia’s thoughts strayed to the man she’d just seen. Was he traveling on the same train? He had a boy with him, so maybe he was married. But just the fact that a man could view her as a lady, instead of a possession, sparked a whole new awareness in her.
    All of a sudden, Delia realized this scheme Andre Bellaire had concocted would provide her more than