Homespun Bride

268 Homespun BrideOh, Noelle. His heart crumpled with love for her.Tender affection swept through his soul like a flashflood, leaving him sure. Absolutely sure. His visionblurred for a moment as he watched her take a sip fromher teacup and then lower it into its saucer by touch.Understanding rained through him like a Marchsquall. The last years of his life, so tough and lonely,suddenly made sense to him. He knew now where thegood Lord had been leading him all along—home tohis precious Noelle.“Thad!” Aiden called from the front counter. “Areyou coming or not?”“Coming.” He tucked his heart back into his chest,went to collect Finn and followed his older brotherout the door.“I am insulted. That’s what I am.” Aunt Henriettabored through the parlor like a runaway train on amountain grade. Crystal lamp shades clinked and chatteredas if in fear. “The nerve of the territorial governor!Suggesting that I perhaps tend to my realm of home andchildren instead of complaining about modern progress!”“Clearly the governor is in error.” Noelle’s fingersstilled. She counted the stitches of her new project—apatchwork quilt—with her fingertips. “You’ve spent alot of time composing letters trying to make a differencefor us all.”“I hardly expected them to listen to a woman, but Idid not expect being insulted.” There was a thwack,thwack as Henrietta beat one of the decorative pillowson her best sofa before dropping onto it. “For the firsttime in my life I think it’s a pity that woman do not havethe vote. If I did, I would vote such a man out of office.”