Homespun Bride

80 Homespun Bridekind of land he wanted—and he’d be moving on afterthings on the home place were better.The land office was nearly empty, he noticed as heyanked open the door, but the potbellied stove in thecenter of the room glowed red-hot. Thankful to be outof the bitter cold, Thad shook the snow from his hat andstepped inside.“I can’t tell you how this cheers me up!” There wasno disguising the joy in Uncle Robert’s voice fromatop the mare he’d just bought for himself at the sale.“I feel alive again, I tell you.”Henrietta tsked as she pulled closed the dressmaker’sdoor. “Robert, of course you are alive. You aredriving me to distraction with this nonsense. You areno longer a young man, no matter how many illmanneredhorses you purchase.”Noelle felt a strange chill shiver down her spine,although perhaps it was the turn of the wind. Anotherstorm was on the way, she could smell it brewing in theair. While her aunt and uncle battled good-naturedly,which was not unusual for them, her cousins spilledahead of her down the steps and into the family sleigh.Their footsteps and chatter, lively and pleasant, counterbalancedthe worry she had for her uncle. Shewanted to ask Robert to dismount and join them in thesleigh, but it was hard to get a word in edgewise.“Two more horses?” Henrietta sounded stunned.“How many horses will we need to pull our sleigh?”“Now, Henrietta, you know I’m trying to start myown ranch.”“Yes, but you’re a banker,” Henrietta pointed out.“This is lunacy, Robert.”