Courting, he understood, and it brought to mind the females that he had met here, which meant that when she said dark not red he immediately thought of Jaime and Lily. He wasn't sure exactly if that was where she'd been going with that, as he had not met any girls with blue or green hair that he could think of, but it was where his headspace went all the same. Knowing she'd follow his train of thought, he said, "Think you're a bit off the mark with that one, darlin'. Ain't of the mind to do no courtin' here."
He was never of the mind to do any courting. When he courted, women died or got into trouble. Things never went smooth.
He couldn't follow her in terms of the old fishtanks, and wasn't sure what way she was getting at in terms of bringing new life to old places, but he nodded his head all the same. "Reckon you can help them find their way? Or help us, a'least," he said. If anyone was clever enough to work out the details, it'd be River. "Could sure use a Sheppard for us lost lambs..."
Yeah. He really shouldn't try to speak her language. He smiled a bit apologetically. It was hard to help, though.
He was a bit taken off guard when she admitted to making a friend, and thought back to see if he'd vocalized it, and then wondered why he was surprised. He quirked a grin, "He a bug?" he teased. "Smar' like you's a plus. Wondered what'd been keepin' you busy."