He joins her again, his voice rumbling up from his chest in a proper belly laugh. Their voices ring down the path all the way to the back door of the bar.

"Oh Kate, my dearest Kate," he sighs, when he can breathe again. He takes her hand in his and draws it to his mouth, pressing a long, still chaste kiss to the back of her knuckles.

"I am afraid I must bid you good evening, and take my leave of you, as much as my heart aches for it. But I must beg of you, please let me take you for a walk again, some evening? I would love to hear more about your father and his violin. And Texas, of course."