Homespun Bride

248 Homespun Brideglinted with lamplight. “Maybe in a bit. Has Noelle’slast student of the day left yet?”“Yep. Left a while back,” the young man called overhis shoulder before he disappeared with Sunny into theshadowed aisle.Nerves kicked his stomach. Slushy snow squishedand skidded beneath his boots. He clutched thepackage, going over all the decisions he’d come to.He’d already run it past his ma. Normally he took Aideninto his confidence, but he suspected his older brotherwas still sour on love and marriage. Best to figure outhow this was all going to work on his own.Ma seemed to think moving into a little cottage nextdoor to him was a fine idea. In fact, there had been noway she could have disguised her happiness at hisplans. He knew she was unfulfilled with only gruffAiden and independent Finn to mother. Hadn’t shebeen spoiling him too much since he’d come home?Surely Noelle wouldn’t mind some of that spoiling.The nerves in his gut took another hard kick. At least,that’s what he was hoping. Hadn’t she liked the notionwhen they’d talked on the ride home last night?Stop worrying, man. His pulse beat like a runawaytrain down a steep track with such force, he began towheeze as he headed up the walkway. The brick stoneswere wet from snowmelt, as were the steps of theporch.Noelle. He saw her through the window. She wassitting in an armchair near the hearth with sewing onher lap. Her chestnut hair was loose, framing her lovelyface and tumbling over her shoulders. She was beautyitself in a rose-pink dress, looking like spring had comeearly to this hard land.