Homespun Bride

182 Homespun Bridesign on that lonely night. He’d been traveling too long,miserable living out of his saddle packs and Sunny’sreturn seemed to give him the hope that heaven waswatching over him after all. Maybe there were stilldreams to be had, and that he shouldn’t give up allhope.But since he hadn’t been alone with her, he’d keptthose words to himself. They seemed to whisper withinthe chambers of his heart, in the lonesomeness withinthat he’d not been able to shake. He’d missed her. He’dbeen lonely for her these long years, for his best friend,for the woman he’d wanted to marry, for his one truelove.Distant thunder rumbled through the mantle of cloudand snow, but the cold and dark did not feel as bleakas it once had. Thad nosed Sunny toward home.Noelle shivered in the cold as she knelt in prayer.The storm howled like an angry wolf outside thebedroom window. She ended her nightly prayers asshe always did. I pray that You will watch over Thad,Father. Please see to his happiness. Amen.She rose, teeth chattering and dived under thecovers. Cold had sunk into the marrow of her bones andthe sheets felt as cold as the air in the room. The flatironat the foot of the bed gave off blessed heat, and shescrunched down to find the warmth with her toes.“Amen,” Matilda whispered. Her teeth chattered,too, and the thwack of the quilt told that she’d coveredherself completely beneath the blankets.The house had quieted. Henrietta’s voice came faintlythrough the walls two rooms down the hall as she wishedMinnie good-night. A door shut and then silence.