Homespun Bride

Chapter SeventeenIn the warmth of the town’s dress shop, Noelle ran herfingertips across the skein of fine crochet thread. Hermind should have been on deciding if the yarn had theright weight and feel for the lace tablecloth she wantedto make for Matilda’s hope chest. But when she heardthe name “McKaslin,” she couldn’t seem to concentrateon anything other than what the shop owner was tellingAunt Henrietta.“—should have been helping his brothers with thespring planting,” Cora Sims was saying over the thump,thump of fabric being pulled off the bolt to bemeasured. “That boy is trouble waiting to happen. He’son a bad path for sure.”“It’s all in the upbringing.” Henrietta’s voice echoedacross the length of the shop. “I haven’t had one bit oftrouble with my children. I’ve taken a firm hand rightfrom the start and made it clear there were standardsto be upheld.”Noelle bit her bottom lip, remembering the uproarat last night’s dinner table when Angelina had an­