Homespun Bride

Jillian Hart 263nounced she wasn’t going to finishing school like hersisters and wanted to take to the cattle trails instead.Since she heard Matilda choking as she struggled notto laugh, she wasn’t the only one amused by wonderfulHenrietta.“This is the color I want,” Tilly said when she wasable. “Light blue.”“A light blue tablecloth sounds lovely to me. Weneed ten skeins.”“I’ll count them out,” Matilda said eagerly. “Mama’sbusy with Miss Sims.”“Is she ordering more spring dresses for your sisters?”“Yes. She’s taken charge as usual and I don’t thinkAngelina is going to be very happy. Mama’s chosentwo different pink fabrics for her.”“Pink for Angelina? That’s wishful thinking on yourmother’s part.” Noelle tried to imagine the shop full ofnew spring fabrics so soft and bright and pretty, but herimagination was not the same these days. Nothing was,not one thing, since she’d let Thad walk out of her lifeover a week ago.Thad. The thought of him still hurt in the brokenplaces of her soul, where she’d banished her love forhim, although it still lived.The noise of the rain on the roof, the shop conversationsand the background din from the streets outsidefaded away. Regret filled her until she was brimmingover. Thoughts of him carried her away to the steadfastcomfort of his hand on hers as she swirled over the iceof the pond at Thad’s side. Once again, she heard thedeep rumble of his cozy chuckle in the stable with thenew foal nipping at her skirt ruffles. Once again she felt