Homespun Bride

254 Homespun Bridewanted to wrap her arms around him, accept hisproposal and spend the rest of her life as his wife.His wife. Her soul soared at that very notion. Havingthe privilege to love and cherish and honor him day byday, year by year for the rest of her life felt like herheaven on earth. Sweet longing filled her with suchforce, it threatened to lift her right out of the chair.And what about what Thad wanted? Her joy faded.Her longing vanished. She had to keep her feet on thefloor and tight hold of her common sense. A marriagebetween them would never work. Not if he wanted torealize his dream of running a ranch. She could not helphim with that, not the way she once could.That’s what he hadn’t realized, she thought. He wasacting on his past feelings for her. He still viewed heras he did five long years ago when the world seemedfull of possibilities and their love unshakable.She knew better now. She was wiser. If her heartcracked into a million pieces, she had to ignore the painof it. She had to do the right thing. The best thing forThad.And, yes, for her.He broke the silence. “It shouldn’t take you thislong to say yes to marrying me. Not if you want me.”She withdrew her hands from his—and her heart,too.“You do love me, darlin’. Don’t you?”“Love isn’t the question, Thad.” She sat very still,gathering up every bit of might she had and yet itwasn’t enough.“Then what is the question, darlin’?” So tender hiswords. So loving.Sorrow dripped through her. “I c-can’t marry you.”