Homespun Bride

Embarrassment burned her face to the roots of her hair, and Thad’s touch fell away from her face, but he did not step away. No, he remained solidly at her side. His hand crept around hers.
    Noelle felt her face heat. “H-hello, Mrs. McKaslin.”
    “Noelle, dear, call me Ida. Aiden is holding a small table for us. Will you join us?”
    “I would love to.” What could it hurt? Come tomorrow, he would receive the land agent’s news, and, God willing, he would be starting to work on his dreams.
    Dreams she could not share with him. No, that would be the privilege of some other lucky woman, one who could see, one who could do what she, Noelle, could not.
    For tonight, she would treasure simply being with him.
    Hand in hand, and heart to heart, she let Thad lead her out of the cold night and into the hotel’s warmth.

Chapter Fifteen
    I t was late evening by the time dessert was served and finished in the hotel’s finest room, and later still, Thad thought with a yawn, as he made his way to the coatroom. Plenty of Angel Falls’s finest gentlemen were gathered outside the back door, in the shelter of the porch. He thanked the young gal at the counter and slung the small pile of coats over the crook of his arm.
    “Thad McKaslin!” Abe Dorian emerged through the smoky doorway. “I hadn’t thought you would be here tonight. Don’t know as to why.”
    “I went to school with Joe and Lanna.”
    “Of course you did. Got too much on my mind, I guess.” Affable, Dorian gave a shrug. “If you were at the wedding, then you weren’t home this afternoon to get my note.”
    “Your note?” Could it be? Thad didn’t dare get his hopes up. “A good piece of ranch land didn’t come up for sale, did it?”
    “Good? My son, it is prime property. The owner is asking a reasonable price, too. She’s inherited it some time ago and decided to sell only this morning.” Dorian’s dark eyes twinkled. “I thought of you right away.”
    And of a sure sale, if what he said of the land was true, Thad thought. “Which piece is it? Is it close to town?”
    “It’s the northeast quarter section right at the falls.”
    His pulse skipped five beats. He almost dropped the coats. Had he heard that right? “Did you say at the falls, not below it?”
    “That’s what I said, son. Prime land and it’s at the price you want.”
    Noelle. He could see her through the crowded room. His gaze went to her as inexorably as snow to winter and the stars to the night. Emotion closed up his throat so tight, he couldn’t speak for a spell.
    “I gave you first crack at it.” Dorian hitched up his fine black suspenders. “Do you need time to think it over?”
    “No. That’s one piece of land I’ve always wanted to own. Never thought I could.” His heart full, he didn’t lift his gaze from her, from his Noelle.
    If he could have one dream, why not another? “Then stop by the office first thing tomorrow and we’ll make it legal. You have yourself a good evening, son.” Dorian, sounding pleased with himself, returned to the back porch.
    Thad stood stock-still, unable to move, unable to blink. She was at their small table, interested in someing Ma was saying to her. There were so many things he wanted to remember about her on this fateful night. The way lamplight shone like liquid red satin against the highlights in her hair. The curve of her face was delicate perfection, and the slope of her dainty nose just right.
    She made him believe that real love was enough. That in the end good happened if a man worked hard enough.
    I’m gonna marry her. He felt the decision with all of his soul’s might. He didn’t remember walking down the hallway or crossing the room. He only knew that he was suddenly at her side, where his heart had led him.
    “We were just talking about you.” She turned toward him, a smile shaping her lovely mouth and happiness alight on her sweet face. “I was telling Ida and Aiden about how you’ve managed to almost tame the two impossible horses my uncle bought.”
    If he blushed to the tips of his ears, he wasn’t going to admit it. “It wasn’t much. Glad to help.”
    “It proves you have a great gift with horses, Thad.” Her soft, slim hand found his arm and rested there so naturally. For one brief tender moment, she betrayed her feelings for him. “I know this time your dreams are going to work out. You wait and see.”
    “I was just speaking to Mr. Dorian.” Wrestling to keep his emotions under