Homespun Bride

Jillian Hart 211here. Remember how we would come here thesummer I proposed?”“I r-remember.” Those memories stuck in her throatlike sorrow. “You proposed to me on the rise of land,where we would always picnic.”“I would come here on my lunch and you would slipaway from your mother’s garden parties.”“Yes, I would bring a basket of some of the goodiesfrom the kitchen.”“Cake and cookies. Lemonade and sandwiches. Idon’t know why I especially remember the ham sandwiches.”“Our cook made excellent ham sandwiches.”Suddenly they were laughing together, and thesorrow and the regret lifted away. “It was enough justto be with you,” she remembered. “To talk and laughand walk side by side.”“I remember holding your hand.” He took her handin his, fitting their fingers together with such deliberatecare.Still a perfect fit. As if they were made to betogether. Thank heavens. He kept a tight hold on herhand and did not let go.“You wouldn’t happen to be attending Lanna andJoe’s wedding?” he asked.“Yes, as it’s the first big social event of the year.We’ve been preparing for it since the New Year. All thegirls need new dresses and bonnets, gloves and shoes.We’ve kept Miss Sims’s dress shop in profits for the lastmonth.”“I thought that might be the case. You’re probablygoing with the Worthingtons?”“Yes, as I have a difficult time driving to town these