push away from him and stare at a passing lady. The little girl reached out for the stranger. The woman saw her and smiled. It was a heartwarming moment until the girl’s hand latched on to the fake red bird on the lady’s hat. There was a struggle and when the woman finally managed to get away, she was missing the ornament. Quinn gently wrestled it from his niece’s hand and offered it to its owner. “I’m sorry, ma’am.”
The woman shook her head as she backed away. “She can keep it.”
“Sorry!” Quinn called again then stared into Olivia’s blue eyes as he gave the bird back to her. “The last thing I need is for you to start running off women.”
The girl hugged the fake feathered ornament to her chest. Looking at him very intently, she said, “Doggie.”
“No. That’s a birdie.”
“Doggie.”
“Sugar, you can talk real good for your age, but most of what you say just isn’t right. Maybe I ought to get Miss McKenna to have a talk with you.” He reached down to grab Trent’s hand again but came up empty. He glanced down. There was no trace of the boy. Panic rose in his throat. “Trent!”
Something landed on his boot—a little hand, which was attached to a pudgy arm. That was all he could see because the rest of Trent’s body was underneath the raised wooden sidewalk. Quinn knelt down to haul the boy out of there. “What are you doing? How did you even fit under there? Now you’re covered in dirt.”
The boy didn’t respond. He never did. Instead, he just frowned even harder and lifted a bright red feather that obviously belonged to the bird’s tail. The sight melted Quinn’s heart and it was all he could do to remain firm, when he wanted nothing more than to hug the boy close. “Thank you for picking that up for your sister, but you must not do that again. Do you understand?”
He waited for Trent to nod before wiping the dirt from the boy’s face and combing the mussed blond hair into place. “That’s good because you scared me. I thought I’d lost you. Hold on to my hand and don’t let go. We need to cross the street. Are you ready?”
With Trent dutifully clutching his hand and Olivia on his hip, Quinn made it across the street into the blacksmith’s shop. Rhett Granger glanced up from whatever he was pounding on at the iron. “Be right with you, Quinn.”
Quinn put Olivia on the counter and set Trent beside her, caging them in with his arms and body. Olivia was too busy playing with her ill-gotten gains to care, but Trent immediately started wriggling. “Hold still, son. This will only take a minute.”
Rhett tucked his work gloves in the pocket of the leather apron he was wearing. He approached the counter with smiles for the children, who completely ignored him. “How can I help y’all?”
“Rhett, you’re one of the most trustworthy men I know and a real good friend.”
His friend’s amber eyes lit with surprise. “Thanks, Quinn. I could say the same about you, but you didn’t just come in here to shower me with praise, did you? Not that I mind if you did...”
“No, and I don’t have the time or the patience to beat around the bush, so I’m going to come out with it.” Quinn reluctantly allowed Trent to slide to the floor since the boy was trying to climb down his body, anyway.
“That’s always a good policy.”
Quinn looked around to make sure they were alone then leaned forward. He kept his voice low. “I have the Bachelor List.”
“You have it?”
“Yeah, and I’m willing to give it you if you will just read it to me.”
Rhett stiffened. “I’ve already been told who my match is. Since that woman ran away with someone else last night, I’m not particularly interested in the list.”
“Amy? Your match was Amy? I didn’t know. You didn’t tell me. I mean, I knew you were sweet on her, but...” Quinn shook his head, searching his friend’s face to see how hard the news of Amy’s elopement had hit him. “I’m real sorry. How are you holding up?”
Rhett shrugged. “I don’t know. To tell the truth, I didn’t know her that well since our conversations mostly consisted of me tripping over my tongue like an idiot while she looked at me in confusion. Other than that, all we ever exchanged were a few looks and smiles. I guess my heart might not have been quite as involved as I thought it was.”
“But you’re disappointed.”
“Yeah.” Rhett sighed. “I’d hoped she was the one—especially since we were paired on that list.”
“Well, this might not be much of a comfort, but I’m sure there’s someone else out there. Perhaps someone you’ll be able to talk to without being nervous around.”
Rhett lifted a skeptical eyebrow. “I’m not sure how likely that is since my brain seems to abandon me anytime a relationship turns romantic. I’ll tell you one thing, though. If there is another woman out there for me, I won’t find her with the Bachelor List. You’d be wise to give it back to Ellie and find a woman on your own.”
Quinn grimaced. “I hate to point this out, but Ellie has gotten every other match she’s ever made right, so I’ll take the chance. Please read it to me.”
“Rub that in harder, why don’t you?” Rhett narrowed his eyes and leaned against the counter. “If you’re so interested, why don’t you just read it yourself?”
“I would if I could.” He stared Rhett in the eye and waited for confusion to turn to enlightenment then pity. The pity never came—only compassion—which was almost as bad, except it didn’t leave quite as awful a taste in Quinn’s mouth.
“I’ll read it for you. Have you got it on you?”
“Yeah.” Quinn laid the list on the counter between them and pointed to the only word he recognized. “My name is right there. I know that much, but whose is next to it?”
Rhett glanced down at the spot Quinn indicated before folding up the list and handing it back as if he couldn’t get rid of it fast enough. “Ellie put you with Helen McKenna.”
The words reached his brain then fell flat as the pancakes he’d tried to make that morning. “Come again?”
“The schoolmarm. Helen McKenna.”
“That isn’t funny.” Quinn tried to give the list to Rhett again. “Read it right.”
Rhett held his hands up and refused to take it. “I’m telling you, Quinn, it says Helen McKenna. I wouldn’t joke about this.”
Quinn closed his eyes and lowered his head in defeat as the hope that had flared in him burned out like a faulty matchstick. What had Ellie been thinking? Helen McKenna was far too good for him. She’d been nice to him—friendly, even—but she’d never consider him as a marriage prospect. He had nothing to offer a woman like her.
A tiny forehead braced against his. He opened his eyes to see Olivia blinking up at him from inches away, her big eyes nearly crossing in the effort. He kissed her tiny nose then straightened to his full height. He may not be Helen’s first choice in a man. However,
