Once in his room Scott didn’t retire immediately but instead sifted through the papers and souvenirs he collected during his travels on The Enchantress. At last he found the clipping he had in mind. The story appearing in the Melbourne Punch had covered a luncheon at the Government House, which Scott attended. He studied the article’s accompanying photograph and reflected on first meeting Kinsey.
“for the second time evidently”
He slowly started to review the few days in Melbourne through a different lens. Once judging Kinsey as “just another attention seeking socialite”, Scott had congratulated himself on avoiding the girl the entire luncheon. What if it was Kinsey keeping her distance from him? This would possibly give her time to form an opinion of the Scott Lancer she had heard about but really didn’t know. Then there was the moment the photograph was taken. Did she want to be the center of focus or just close enough to hand Scott the note to join her the next day at the stables? Scott remembered the morning’s visit with “Garrett’s Gallop” soon turned into a chaotic mess of reporters and photographers. He assumed Kinsey had gathered them up as a publicity stunt. What if they followed her? On the day of the race he teased her so mercilessly it was astounding she still talked to him as they parted ways. Had she hoped for a day of reconnecting with a lost relative but instead got an escort that was acting more like the 13-year-old boy she vaguely remembered?
“Ridiculous”
He told himself to stop over thinking the scenarios. She was a spoiled little girl at eight and he was certain not much had changed over the years. Scott gathered up the clippings and shoved them into a desk drawer thus shutting the door on further thoughts regarding Kinsey Rose Furlong.
In bed Scott finally was able to relax and drift off to sleep….
just in time for Dewdrop’s first “honk” of the day.
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