Homespun Bride

66 Homespun Bride“You had to have been gravely injured.”“Yes, at first, but then I began to recover. God sparedme my life, and I am thankful. I have to believe He hassome purpose for my life yet.”“I’m sure of that, Noelle.” He sounded so sincere, itwas impossible not to believe him, impossible not tobe touched by that. He shook his head once and clearedhis throat. “Well, now, this mare looks much moresuitable for a lady’s driving horse.”“Yes, that’s Miss Bradshaw. She’s very sensible.”“So I see.” His step drummed closer. “Miss Bradshaw?”“Henrietta doesn’t believe in calling a horse by hisor her first name. She prefers a more formal relationship.”“Best not tell her all the nights I slept beside myhorse.”“Best not.” Noelle couldn’t think of more to say; atleast more that she wanted to. She wanted to be unaffected,beyond the pain of her schoolgirl’s broken heartand above holding on to old anger. She’d healed fromhis betrayal and moved on, truly. But there, beneath thelid she kept on her heart was something more devastatingthan anger. She didn’t know how to fill thesilence between them.And what a silence it was. Five long years of silence.She didn’t know how to break it. She was fairly sureshe didn’t want to. It wasn’t easy holding back thememories of how wrong she’d been about him, aboutlove.“McKaslin!” Robert’s bass boomed cheerfullyabove the noise and motion on the street. His bootsdrummed quickly as if he were in grand spirits. “Glad