He dropped her hand. All his life he’d defended the name he’d been saddled with. He’d been called out because of it more times than a soul could imagine. His mama explained why she honored him with this particular name, but he’d finally reached the end of his proverbial rope. “Who are you to question a fine name such as mine?” he shot back, his eyes narrowing as he tried to intimidate her. Jenny McShanahan had the decency to look taken aback. “I’m sorry, Mr. Webster. I just hadn’t heard that particular combination before. I don’t wish to upset you.” “I’m not upset,” he fired off, then amended his tone. “I’ve just taken teasing about it my entire life.” She smiled at him wistfully. “Well, sir, you carry the moniker of two very fine men. Why, Mr. Noah Webster and I have been friends since I was about ten, and I began my first journal.” She laughed. “We weren’t always friends, you know.
