*Norah*
On one Sunday afternoon, shortly after my nineteenth birthday, I found myself sitting in the front parlor, eagerly awaiting the arrival of my first gentleman caller. He was an out-of-town friend to one of the men who had been courting my younger sister, Heather. Nervous and anxious, I feared that he would find me lacking. However, to my relief, he never showed up.
But those concerns pale in comparison to my current worries. I now sit on the edge of River's bed, feeling the weight of the breakfast he brought me in my stomach, while anticipating the arrival of his sister. I have faced unknown suitors and even an outlaw with more confidence than I have now. My favorite dress is torn beyond repair, my hair is a tangled mess, and I carry the fragrance of too many days' travel.
I can'
