Homespun Bride

12 Homespun Bridemoment, she feared he might fall on them. Henrietta’sterrified gasp confirmed her suspicions.“Quick!” She found her aunt’s arm and gave her anudge. “Out of the sleigh. Hurry! Before—”Too late. The whistle blew, the sleigh lurched and thehorse came down running. The train’s loud chuggingand clamoring only seemed to drive the gelding to runfaster, right down the middle of Main. Shouted exclamationsand the sudden rush of other horses and vehicles toget out of the way overrode all other sounds. The sleighswayed from side to side in a sickening way. They weregoing too fast for the vehicle. She braced her feet andheld on tight. Fear tasted coppery and bitter on hertongue. The past rose up in a colorful image in her mind’seye. Her mother’s cry as the buggy broke apart. Thehorrible falling at great speed. The sudden blindingpain—No. Not again. Lord, stop this from happening.Please. Panic beat crazily against her ribs. Fear feltthick on her tongue. It was too late to jump from thesleigh, and she wouldn’t abandon Henrietta. She triedto make her mind clear enough to form another prayerbut only one thought came. Help us.Somewhere, over the sound of Henrietta’s continueddemands for the horse to stop and stop now, a manshouted out, “Runaway horse! Grab him!”Maybe someone could stop them. Hope liftedthrough her panic, and Noelle clung to it. Please, Lord,send someone to help us.There was no answer as the sleigh began to buckharder and rock from side to side. Had they left theroad? Soft snow sprayed against her face. She held onto the edge of the seat with all her might, but her