Homespun Bride

Jillian Hart 177sleep on the ground with your saddle for a pillow?” thegirl directly across from him burst out.“Y-yep.”“Do you really call the cows little dogies? Did youtell tall stories around the campfire like in the dimenovels?”“Angelina!” Henrietta looked scandalized. “Thoseare hardly appropriate questions for a young lady toask.” Henrietta’s oblong face looked severe, or maybeit was the tight way she’d pulled her hair back, so thather face looked drawn back, as well.Well, he should have expected that. He had no illusions.All he had to offer was a savings account thatused to be bigger and an old shanty that was three timessmaller than the dining room.Thad shifted again, and the chair wasn’t getting anymore comfortable. He’d be more at ease sitting in asticker bush facing down a porcupine bare-handed.It was a saving grace when Robert spoke. “Lord,bless this food we are about to receive.”Thad realized that hands were folded and headsbowed all around him and he did the same.“—keep us mindful of our many blessings. Thankyou for bringing us together again, as friend and family,and teach us dear Lord to better love one another.Amen.”Thad looked up to a course of “amens” and wheredid his gaze naturally go? To Noelle.“So, where did you learn all of this horse knowledge?”Henrietta passed him a bowl of dinner rolls andshe gave him a stern look over the crusty tops. “Did youattend some kind of training?”“Training? No, ma’am.” It sure looked as if he’d hit