Homespun Bride

Jillian Hart 275to be said. So he said it. “I didn’t realize why I leftwithout a word, even with your father’s threats, untilyears later. But you’ve gotta understand. I was youngand down deep, I was afraid your father was right.”“Right that you didn’t love me enough?”“No, darlin’.” Tenderness, unmistakable tenderness,made those words intimate and sincere. “I was afraidthat one day down the road, the shining way you lookedat me would dim. Life is tough, and hardship might ruboff that shine. You might get tired of long days ofworking this hard land just to try to prosper.”“You think I cared about those things?”“No. Fear isn’t rational. You just don’t know what’sup ahead in your life, or which way the weather willblow. Down deep, I was afraid things might not workout. That we’d be scraping by just like my parents had,running short and losing hope. And that would be theday you would look at me as a failure.”“You think I would have stopped loving you?”“Maybe. I didn’t know. What if I was the reason youwound up losing all of your dreams? What if that daycame and the comfort of your parents’ fancy home andprivileged lifestyle would lure you away from me.” Hestopped, his voice raw with emotion. “I can see how thethought of losing you that way hurt more than leavingyou for good before you had more of my heart. I don’tknow if you can understand that, darlin’.”“A little.” Tears fell in a slow hot roll down hercheek. “A lot.”“But I promise you this. I’ve matured. I’ve been outin the world. I’ve earned my experience the hard way,and I know my worth.” Truth rang in his voice, wasgranite-solid on his face. “I’ll stand by you no matter