Homespun Bride

Jillian Hart61of more drama. There was a rustle and shuffle as shegathered her skirts. “I certainly pray we shall not runinto any further trouble. Now that Robert has agreed totake that beast of a runaway to the sale this very day, Iam most relieved.”“Yes, but think of whoever buys the gelding,”Noelle pointed out, struggling to put a smile on herface, as Robert took her elbow and helped her into thesleigh. “There is more peril awaiting that unsuspectingbuyer.”Robert chuckled, warm and deep, a sure sign he wasamused. “I will make it clear the gelding has certaintraining problems, so that we won’t have that on ourconsciences.”“Good.” Noelle patted his hand before she let himgo. “Thank you for that. I don’t want anyone to get hurtthe way—” she swallowed hard, forcing the past backwhere it couldn’t hurt her “—we almost did.”“And I’ll drive you two lovely ladies to town myself,just to make sure there are no more mishaps.”Henrietta’s humph of disapproval was loud enoughto disturb the placid Miss Bradshaw. The mare sidesteppedin her traces with a quick clip-clip on the ice.“Robert, you’ll not hitch that beast to this vehicle!”“Now, my dear, I’ll just tie him behind the sleigh.There will be not a single thing to worry about.”“We shall see when we get safely to town. If we getsafely to town.” Henrietta gave the lap blanket a soundsnap, shaking it out.Noelle felt the rasp of the blanket fall across herknees. Whatever her losses and lessons in her life, shewas so grateful for her wonderful aunt and uncle. Theirlove, their acceptance and their funny ways reminded