Homespun Bride

he was the proud owner of a real fine spread and was carrying an engagement ring in his shirt pocket. Knowing that she would say yes just made it easier to feel on top of the world.
    “Howdy there, McKaslin!” Eli Sims came through the open stable doorway to take Sunny’s reins. “Good seein’ ya. Looks like you beat the storm here.”
    Thad hadn’t noticed the dark clouds overhead. He was in too good a mood to let them trouble him now. “Guess so. How’s things going for you here?”
    “I can’t thank you enough for finding me this job.”
    “I’m glad it suits you.” Thad grabbed a package from his saddlebag before Eli could take Sunny in out of the cold. “How’s that stallion treating you?”
    “He’s an ornery one. You come to work him some?”
    Thad glanced up at the house, where wide windows glinted with lamplight. “Maybe in a bit. Has Noelle’s last student of the day left yet?”
    “Yep. Left a while back,” the young man called over his shoulder before he disappeared with Sunny into the shadowed aisle.
    Nerves kicked his stomach. Slushy snow squished and skidded beneath his boots. He clutched the package, going over all the decisions he’d come to. He’d already run it past his ma. Normally he took Aiden into his confidence, but he suspected his older brother was still sour on love and marriage. Best to figure out how this was all going to work on his own.
    Ma seemed to think moving into a little cottage next door to him was a fine idea. In fact, there had been no way she could have disguised her happiness at his plans. He knew she was unfulfilled with only gruff Aiden and independent Finn to mother. Hadn’t she been spoiling him too much since he’d come home?
    Surely Noelle wouldn’t mind some of that spoiling. The nerves in his gut took another hard kick. At least, that’s what he was hoping. Hadn’t she liked the notion when they’d talked on the ride home last night?
    Stop worrying, man. His pulse beat like a runaway train down a steep track with such force, he began to wheeze as he headed up the walkway. The brick stones were wet from snowmelt, as were the steps of the porch.
    Noelle. He saw her through the window. She was sitting in an armchair near the hearth with sewing on her lap. Her chestnut hair was loose, framing her lovely face and tumbling over her shoulders. She was beauty itself in a rose-pink dress, looking like spring had come early to this hard land.
    His spring.
    First off, he had to stop wheezing so hard. He stood on the top step and drew in a calm breath. Now all he had to do was raise his fist and knock on the door and lay his heart, his pride, his dignity and his future on the line. Not a fearsome prospect at all, right?
    Just knock. He did it, one knock was all he could manage. He waited, hoping—praying—someone had heard it. He took a step back and tried to buck up his courage for the next difficult event. One thing was for sure, he’d be feeling a whole passel better once she’d said yes and he could relax.
    The door swung open and instead of the maid looking up at him, it was his Noelle. “Thad, is that you?”
    “How did you know?”
    “I recognized your gait and your knock.” She opened the door wider, waltzing backward a few steps, her rose-pink skirts swirling around her ankles. “Come in. My aunt took the girls to town, and Robert is out with Matilda for her first driving lesson.”
    He managed to force his feet forward and into the warmth of the house, surprised his watery knees could hold him up so well. “You’re here all alone?”
    “Not exactly alone. Sadie’s upstairs cleaning and Cook’s in the kitchen. Would you like some tea? I’ll call Sadie—”
    “No.” Had she gotten lovelier overnight? He had never seen her so beautiful, but then he was biased. “No need to go to any fuss. I came to talk to you—”
    “About the land sale.” Her smile dazzled him. “Come, sit and warm yourself by the fire and tell me everything.”
    “It was good luck mostly.” He closed the door and followed her to the hearth. She moved with grace, as she always did, walking almost as if she saw where she was going. She caught the edge of the chair’s arm with her fingertips and settled into it, waiting for his story expectantly.
    He sank down into the chair opposite her. His damp boots squeaked once on the wood floor. Heat radiated over him like his dazzling love for her. His chest cinched so with powerful affection for her, he