“Can You Nurse Him Just for Once”? the Cowboy Pleaded — And the Obese Girl Held the Baby Close

Chapter 2

At the boarding house steps, Thomas stopped. “I don’t even know your name.”

“Norah.”

“Thomas Hayes.”

“I know,” she said quietly. “I heard.”

“Thank you,” he said, his voice rough. “For not turning away.”

Inside, the boarding house girls watched from the kitchen doorway, their eyes sharp and hungry for scandal. Norah led Thomas up the narrow stairs to her attic room, feeling their stares like needles in her back. Behind her, she heard the whispers: “Give it an hour. He’ll come back down alone. The baby will probably die anyway.”

She closed the door and shut them out.