They were both her cousins. He had treated Rose terribly, terribly enough for pious Rose to enjoy this.

But he had protected Alice when no one else could. Another Noah? A braver Noah? She built him up in her mind because he was being beaten by Uncle Ben, and then promptly felt guilt for that. Had her uncle not turned on her … she’d still be living a miserable life of having to hide it all.

She covered her eyes, but parted her fingers so she could peep in a womanly way. Wrinkled her nose behind them when he [apparently] spat on the African man just for intervening.