Homespun Bride

154 Homespun Bridea wagon wheel told her that Nellie’s parents wereoutside waiting for her.Noelle listened to the stillness of the quiet house.Sadie was out on errands. Henrietta was in town tofetch the girls home from school. Matilda was keepingan eye on her father. The only sounds in the house werefrom the crackling fire and the faint clatter as Cookwent about her work in the kitchen. Robert had beendrowsing in his library the last time she’d checked.Perhaps it was time to check on him again.The quick tap of Thad’s step descending the stairscaught her in midstride. She turned toward the archway,listening to the confident pad of Thad’s gait.She wasn’t going to examine too closely why shewas glad he’d entered her domain. “Hi, stranger.”“Hi there, pretty lady.”With the smile in his voice and the rustle of clothing,she imagined him standing on the landing, hat in hand,looking storm swept from the conditions outside.She could not explain why that made her heart pitterpatter.“I didn’t hear you come in.”“I reckon it was hard to hear me over the sounds ofall those wrong piano notes. Even a cowboy like mecould tell someone was playing that wrong.”“Nellie is my most promising student and mystudent least likely to practice. I have hopes her attitudewill change in time. Are you on your way home?”“Not quite yet. I’ll wait for your aunt to return fromtown so I can put up her horse. Then I’ll go.” Theboards creaked slightly as his boots knelled closer.“The mare’s foal arrived safe and sound.”“Solitude had her baby?” Pleasure warmed her. “Isit a little filly or a colt?”