"Do y'think he'll do it?"

"I hope so. I don' wan' 'er thinkin' she's unwelcome."

"Y'know how he is, though, 'bout all of it."

"Aye, but all we can do is ask 'im."

"Ask me wha', precisely?"

Two sets of conspiring heads popped up from the little huddle they had previously been engaged in, both eyeing the man who had entered the kitchen without either of them knowing it. They both prided themselves in being keenly aware of their surroundings, but apparently their discussion had them off guard. Their discussion had been important, though, and they had been conspiring for some time, trying to keep as quiet as possible.

Noah eyed his two sons, wondering what they were up to and why they were whispering. He then stopped and listened to the small cottage they occupied, realizing that the girl was still asleep. Placing the bucket of water down on the table, he moved over to a big, cast-iron pot, picking it up and taking it over the large basin they used as a sink so it could be scrubbed. He settled the thing atop the counter and then looked into the darkness of it, listening as his sons moved, shuffling quietly about the kitchen.

"Da, we got a favor to ask of ye."

"Aye. It's 'bout Adri, da."

"Wha' 'bout tha lass?"

"Well, we were wonderin'—"

"—if maybe she could spend the day with ye, da."

As always, the boys finished and began one another's sentences. Sometimes it amazed Noah to watch his sons in action; to see them working in synch with one another, aware of each other's presences and each other's thoughts before they even spoke.

"We 'ave a lot of work to do today."

"And we won' be able to keep 'er busy."

"So will ya?"

There was silence, two boys standing shoulder-to-shoulder as they faced their father, a man they had come to respect in a short amount of time. Slowly, the elderly man turned to face his sons, almost apprehensive of agreeing. They knew he was not happy that she was there in the first place, but what good would it do him to disagree? The boys would just argue with him, probably get in a fight with one another, and be late for work.

"Alrigh', boys. I'll keep 'er busy."

Apparently Connor was not convinced, and neither was Murphy, because both took one step forward, a pleading look in their eyes.

"Will you please keep 'er busy today, da, while we work? And be pleasan'?"

"Yeah, da, we'd appreciate it. We need ta do some stuff and we may be home late. Just make sure she isn' bored or feelin' unwelcome."

"Aye, boys. I need ta go to tha market, so I'll 'ave 'er go wit' me. She'll 'ave a pleasan' time."

Connor and Murphy looked at their father briefly, noting the agitation written across the man's face at their constant questioning. Deciding to not badger him any further, they laced their boots up and exited the house, tugging on their jackets. They had to saddle up their horses and head out to the fields, and they wanted to get an early start so they could get home early (or try to get home early) and be with Adrienne. Neither were worried about her well-being during the day. She was with their father, after all, and they knew he'd never harm a woman unless he was forced to. Considering how much of a spit-fire their mother was, that was testament enough for their father's patience. It was how welcome she would feel around their father that worried them.

Noah picked up the dirty plates from his son's quick breakfast and placed them in the large basin, deciding that later he would clean them. For now, he waited for the young woman to wake up, keeping her breakfast warm by the fire and a pot of water warm as well. Settled in his chair, he stroked his beard absently, watching the flames flicker in the hearth. This girl being here put them all at risk. He worried all night about what would happen the following day. Was she a threat? Would she turn into a threat? Would she endanger their lives? Surely his sons would not be foolish enough to allow someone to come into their home that would threaten their safety. Then again, they were head-over-heels for this girl, completely smitten, and he knew at times emotions could—and would—get in the way of things.

It was not long after the boys had left that he heard movement in the bedroom, and he only stayed in his seat, waiting for her to find her way where he was. After a few moments of grumbling and rustling, he watched as the wild-haired redhead emerged, rubbing at her bleary eyes and stretching out, body tense from the previous night's sleep between two hardened bodies. It was in those moments of silence that Noah sized up the woman once more, those small memories of Annabelle arising in him again as he watched the girl move about.

"Breakfas' is by tha fire, lass." A hand motioned to the plate and he watched as the girl looked at it and smiled.

"Thanks. Something to drink?"

"Tea."

A man of few words, Noah. Of course, his mind was preoccupied with the worries of what might befall them if the girl was not what she seemed to be. Everything she did was studied, memorized, out of old habit. Even in a home she was unfamiliar with, she moved with ease and comfort, settling down at the table with the mug she had used the previous night, the warm plate in front of her. She ate in silence, her own mind lingering elsewhere, a sense of unease and tension building. Noah considered speaking, breaking up the tense silence, but Adrienne had beat him to the punch.

"Are the boys working today?"

"Aye, lass. Lon' day fer dem. Ye'll be spendin' tha day wit' me, if ye don' min'." Like it or not was more like it but Noah was not a man to try to force anyone into any sort of situation. "We need ta do a wee bit o' shoppin'. So be quick."

Shopping? Adrienne had not signed up for shopping with Noah, but she knew she had no real choice. It was either go with him or be stuck in the small cottage by herself for God knows how long. After finishing the food, she put the plate in the sink, rinsing it off momentarily with a bit of water from the bucket before she looked over at the older man, who was still staring intently at her. Without thinking, Adrienne snapped a question at him.

"What?"

A/N: Long time no update, I know. And this is short, I know, but as I stated before, I have a HARD time doing Noah. Considering how long this has been sitting, waiting, I decided that I'd leave with a pseudo-cliffhanger and fill in the details in other chapters. As usual, comments and critique welcomed.