Light of my Life

Eleven

ELEVEN

If Amelia wasn't humiliated enough when Miss Mullins blurted out her engaging news, now Amelia was left standing by the woman while Duke ran after Bobby. Amelia didn't know which one she was more upset over – that her brother was running from the law, again, or that Duke was running from her.

She and Miss Mullins traded uncomfortable glances. Would it be rude to excuse herself and return to the hotel? She really didn't want to be chatty with one of Duke's heartbreaks, especially because Amelia wondered if she would be the next woman left with a broken heart.

"You have a lovely daughter," Miss Mullins said, nodding to Gracie.

"Uh, thank you." Amelia's mind swirled. Duke thought Gracie was the mayor of Astoria's daughter. Miss Mullins was from Astoria. If Gracie was really the girl kidnapped, she would have been three when living with her family. Would Miss Mullins recognize the little girl at all?

"How long have you lived in Astoria?" Amelia asked.

Miss Mullins' smile appeared strained. "All of my life. I have been here in Spruce Hill for almost two years now."

"My daughter and I were in Astoria a few years ago, but only briefly. We visited with the mayor." Although it was a lie, Amelia needed to know how close Miss Mullins was with the mayor.

"Mayor Tidwell?"

Duke had mentioned the man's name once. "Yes."

"He's a nice man, and he was a great mayor for Astoria."

Miss Mullins glanced at Gracie. "In fact, he has a daughter about the same age as your little girl. I bet Georgia kept your daughter entertained during your stay. She's an energetic one, don't you think?"

"Indeed, I do." Amelia waited for the woman to point out the resemblances between Gracie and Georgia, but she didn't say anything. That eased Amelia's mind slightly.

"You do look familiar to me." Miss Mullins cocked her head, narrowing her gaze on Amelia. "I'm sure I must have seen you with the mayor's family."

Amelia didn't dare laugh, especially since she'd never set foot in that town. "Gracie and I were only there for about a week."

The more Miss Mullins peered at Amelia, the more uncomfortable she became. She didn't want the woman to strain her memory over something that had never happened.

"Well, I'd better get Gracie back inside since she doesn't have her wrap. It was nice meeting you."

"Before you go," Miss Mullins stepped in front of Amelia, stopping her, "I just need to know how close you and Duke are."

It was on the tip of Amelia's tongue to tell the nosy woman it was none of her business, but it wasn't in Amelia's nature to be rude, either. "There's nothing to tell," she answered in a steady voice. "My uncle and I needed help during our journey from Idaho to Spruce Hill, so we asked Duke to go along with us. My uncle is deaf and he wouldn't be able to hear if we were getting attacked."

The woman folded her arms and nodded slowly. "I understand that completely, however, that does not explain why you had your hand hooked to his arm so cozily, and why when he looks at you, his expression softens."

Amelia's throat turned dry and she swallowed hard. "I believe, Miss Mullins, that you are reading too much into this. Duke and I are just friends."

"Well, it's a good thing." The woman shrugged. "Duke has a habit of leaving women stranded after he makes promises. I'd hate to see you one of those people."

"If you think that way about him," Amelia wondered, "then why are you still engaged?"

Miss Mullins laughed sadly. "Actually, I'd only said that to make him uncomfortable, and to make you aware of what kind of man he really is." She sighed. "The truth is, I've put him out of my mind and I don't care what he does. I've matured quite a bit since he hurt me, and even if he wanted to fulfill his two-year promise, I would reject the offer."