Homespun Bride

24 Homespun BrideYou know who he reminds you of. She shiveredagainst the cruel cold and swiped the snow from herlashes. No, it couldn’t be her old beau. Thad McKaslinwas probably in Texas by now, judging by how fast he’dleft her years ago. Her heart cracked in small pieces justthinking his name.No, there was no possibility—none—that he was thestranger. Their rescuer was a Good Samaritan and a dependable,mature man, not a boy who only saw to hisown concerns.“Henrietta?” Uncle Robert’s bass boomed throughthe sounds of the storm. “Noelle! Thank God you’rehere safe. I was just about to ride out looking for you.Didn’t you see the blizzard cloud, Henrietta? You areboth half frozen.”“Oh, Rob.” Henrietta stumbled off the seat with athud and clatter.The storm blocked any other sounds, but Noelleknew her aunt had flung herself into her husband’sarms. Though stiff with cold, she waited in the sleighto give them a private moment.“Do you need help?”She turned toward the sound of his voice, thinkingof all the ways his baritone didn’t sound like the Thadshe remembered. It was deeper, more mature, made ofcharacter and depth of experience. Besides, if it wasThad, he would have said something. See, it couldn’tbe.“Miss?”She ignored the knot of foreboding in her stomachand answered him. “I would appreciate the help.Storms with winds like this tend to disorient me. I geta little lost on my own.”