Noah looked miserable.

Elijah tilted his head. "Why not just marry her? If you like her and don't want to lose her.."

"I ain't much good, am I? I don't really have a job or money and have ye met my family? 'E'll whip me again if I ask for her hand."

"If you ask, he'll consider it. If you offer to help out on the boat, I'm sure he will be far more likely to accept you. He needs more help and it would give you a job even if it doesn't really pay. It would gain a lot in how he viewed you.' Elijah offered.

Noah thought of it. He was terrified of going near Mr. Ward after what had happened, and even before that Alice had told him enough to make him dislike the man. He could just move towns and not care. But he liked Alice. She had always been nice to him, and he hadn't wanted to push her into a marriage with a random man twice her age. He nodded.

Elijah thought for a moment. "Apologize for the trouble you caused to Ben and to Alice. Tell him how you really feel about her and that you want to make amends and that perhaps marriage is the first step. If you offer to help him on his boat, that means you'll be spending more time with him and his family than your own. He can be rude and loud, but he can't touch you. If he tries to hit you or Alice, let me know. I won't let him."

Noah looked at him confused. "You're actually okay with me marrying Alice?"

Elijah frowned. "I think you're not smart and very rude. But I think you are still young and can change. You've had that family, so you haven't had the best people to look up to. If you truly care about her and want to be there for her, then I think you can be a better person but you have to do it. If you let her down, you let me down."

Noah looked down. "Maybe she's better of with someone else. If the guy is not a dick."

Elijah frowned. "So far her dad is trying to push me into it. I am not any good for her. You'd be better than me."