Homespun Bride

Chapter NineThe days began to blur together as her uncle slowlyimproved. Life had stood still for the two weeks Roberthad been bedridden and in so much pain he couldscarcely breathe. Gradually life returned to somenormalcy. The girls started back up at school, theminister’s visits were more social than serious, the docwas openly optimistic when he’d last driven away, andNoelle’s piano lessons resumed.One thing remained constant. Thad arrived twice aday to care for the horses and tend to other chores.When she was in her music room, she could hear himthe best. Sometimes the wind would snatch his voiceand carry a snippet to her. Or the rhythmic beat of ahorse on a lunge line would interrupt her concentrationduring a lesson. The scrape of a shovel on the brickwalk, the spill of wood into a metal bin, the low rumbleof his voice in the kitchen when he returned a traySadie had made for him.It wasn’t easy keeping her feelings tucked away. Shemade sure Sadie packed a few treats for his mother to take