“I do,” Noah said simply.

“The old woman’s the grandmother of her late husband. Mean as a snake, I hear. Eleanor takes care of her,” Taylor whispered.

“I met her,” Noah told him.

A look of surprise flickered over Taylor’s face.

“I came up on her place yesterday when I was out walking around,” Noah said.

“That’s—good,” Taylor said. He knew intuitively there was more to the story than Noah was telling, but he also knew it would be useless to ask about it. Noah was a man who kept things to himself, and that was to be expected. A man who spent time alone would have taken on the habit of not talking, and Noah was not a talker, not more than the few words needed to keep a conversation barely alive. If the event had any meaning beyond an exchange of greetings, it would come from Eleanor, not Noah. He lifted a hand, waved toward the car, watched Eleanor open the car door and get out and walk toward them.

Both men stood.

“You look like you’re enjoying the day,” Taylor said in his cheerful, storekeeper way.

“I am,” Eleanor replied, also cheerfully. “Granny’s feeling better today. She wanted some ice cream.” She looked from Taylor to Noah and Taylor believed he could see a blink of gladness in her eyes. She said, “Good afternoon.”

“Hello,” Noah said quietly. He dipped his head in a nod.

“I thought you’d be off fishing,” Eleanor said. “You didn’t forget my order did you?”

“Be getting to it in a couple of hours,” Noah answered.

“I talked him into doing some painting for me,” Taylor said quickly, “but he told me about needing to fill a fish order.” He paused, grinned. “Just didn’t say who it was for.”

“Oh, you’re working for Taylor?” Eleanor said with surprise.

“Hired on this morning to paint the store,” Taylor replied before Noah could answer. “I’ve been trying to get somebody from around here, but I guess everybody’s staying busy just doing nothing. From what he’s already done, it’s worked out to my advantage.” “Don’t stop work for me, then,” Eleanor insisted. “I’m not going to starve if I don’t have fish.”

“Don’t you go worrying about that,” Taylor said. “I knew he was going to take some time off this afternoon when we struck our deal. He’ll have your fish, if he can catch them. If he can’t, I won’t take the blame.”

“Really, it’s not necessary,” Eleanor said.

“Is to me,” Taylor countered. “I can’t have one of my payingon time customers turning on me for keeping food off the table.”

He laughed easily. “Might even close up and go with him.”

“Maybe you should,” Eleanor said.

“Maybe I will,” Taylor replied, and the thought seemed a good one to him. “I’ve not been run over by business today, that’s for sure.”

“If you do, and if you catch enough fish, the two of you need to plan on having supper with us tonight,” Eleanor offered. She looked at Noah. “That is if you can put up with us for two days in a row.”