Homespun Bride

Jillian Hart 159to his side of the aisle and to a stop. “She’s in the cornerright now, all folded up in the straw next to her ma.”“I can hear Solitude breathing, but that’s all. She’s soquiet.” She tried to picture it, the beautiful red horsestanding over her newborn foal. Noelle gripped the toprail of the gate. “Hi, girl. I came to say hello to yourbaby.”The mare exhaled in an expressive whoosh.“It’s hard to say what Solitude meant by that,” Thadinterpreted over the rustling sounds in the straw and thesolid clink of the mare’s hooves. “But my best guess isshe’s saying it’s about time. She’s torn between comingto see you and staying with her baby.”The storm chose that moment to surge against thenorthwest side of the stable. The far-off boom ofthunder startled the few other horses in the stables,sending them into loud neighs of protest. Robert’s unmanageablestallion took to racing around his stall,sounding like a half-dozen stampeding buffalo all byhimself.Suddenly, she felt the mare’s hot breath on her face.She put one hand out and Solitude pressed her nose intoit, nibbling affectionately.Thad’s arm brushed hers as he reached to stroke themare. “She knows you pretty well, I see.”“Solitude was my mother’s favorite mare. I gave herto Uncle Robert, since I had no need for a horse. Mamaunderstood Robert’s horse dreams.”Thad was silent a moment. “What happened to yourhorse dreams?”“Life has a way of taking them away.” She traced herfingertips along Solitude’s velvety nose.“True, but life also has a way of giving new dreams.”