by Rye Hart
"Is there something you are not telling me?" Marianna asked quietly.
Amelia turned to look at her sister, unsure of what she should reveal. "Why would you ask that?" she said evasively.
Marianna gave her a hard look, something that was very uncharacteristic of her sweet, unassuming older sister. "You were out until early this morning with James," she stated. "And now," she continued, "you have a gentleman sitting in our foyer who is smitten with you."
"Look Marianna," Amelia spoke directly. "I've been on my own for a while now, I don't need someone to start telling me how I should live my life."
Marianna looked saddened. "I didn't mean it like that,' she said. "I am just worried about you, I don't want you to get in too deep," she added.
"I know you care about me, but I need to make my own choices," Amelia told her sister.
Marianna nodded. "I know, you are a grown woman and already older than I when I moved to Texas to get married," she added. "I just want to make sure you know you can always come to me if you need to, even now after all these years."
All Amelia could muster was a curt nod. She was afraid if she opened her mouth, she would start to cry. She could already feel the swell of emotions start to well up in her throat, and it took all she had to keep it from overflowing.
"I am still here for you," Marianna added.
"Thank you," Amelia said softly. The emotions in the room had already started to swell, and she felt like she had no choice but to make her exit now so that she could still hold herself together. "I need to go now," she said abruptly.
Marianna nodded, "Of course."
Amelia turned and all but fled down the hall. She didn't know why Marianna's offer of help had made her so upset, but somehow it had triggered something within her. Things were happening very quickly in her life as of late, and it was getting to be a bit much to handle.
Get yourself together, she told herself as she wiped away a stray tear and straightened her dress.
Chapter Nine
"Incredible, truly!" Thomas exclaimed as Amelia showed him the portfolio of her best work. "I thought you were talented before, but after these sketches —" he gave a low whistle in conclusion.
Amelia blushed in response to his adoration. "You really think so?" she asked.
"Absolutely!" he said. "You must let me take these to my agent. He will be able to get you connected with the right professionals in order to showcase your incredible talent."
"Of course," Amelia said. "An endorsement by Thomas Florian," she sighed dreamily. "I still can't believe that you think my work is worthy of its own showcase," she beamed.
"You better believe it," he winked at her before he brought his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him.
They stood in Amelia's workroom — an old storage closet that had been turned into a workshop for her. It afforded them a bit of privacy from the rest of the house, and its location near the back made it almost completely soundproof.
"It's not just your work that I think is incredible," he said as his lips began to kiss a trail up her neck.
Amelia remained a bit stiff to his touch. Although she liked the attention, her body didn't respond to his the way she thought it should; or at least the way it did with James.
James. She still hadn't told Thomas about the kiss she shared with James, but she was afraid revealing it would hurt him beyond repair. Thomas had already confessed his love to her, to tell him that she had been caught up in the embrace of another man, would evidently crush him. But to not tell him would be like lying.
"Thomas, I —" she started.
"Hush my love," he brought his finger up to press against her lips. "Do not tease me anymore, as I need to depart and whatever you have to say will only make it harder for me to leave you."
I doubt that, she thought morbidly to herself. "Well, when I see you next, I think we need to talk about our life together," she said.
"Of course," he captured her hand in his grasp and swiftly brought it up to his lips to kiss." I must go now, but we will speak of our impending marriage next time we are together," he promised.
Amelia helped him gather up her portfolio to take with him to show his agent. She was excited that her work would finally be shown outside the confines of her little workshop, but another part of her was fearful of letting her work go. It was a part of her, and giving it to someone else, even just temporarily, made the artist within her ache.
"Take care my love," Thomas kissed her lightly on the cheek before departing.
Once he had left, Amelia couldn't help but feel an odd sense of foreboding. When she was with Thomas, she felt as if she made the right choice; but when she was with James, she suddenly began to question every decision she had made up to that point. She knew that it should be an easy decision, as Thomas was offering her a world she had only ever dreamed of. But even though James hadn't promised her anything half as extravagant as Thomas's offer of an English wedding, she still couldn't shake James out of her head.
But the thought of James, especially the way she felt whenever he was near, joined forces with her conscience and continued to cast doubt in her mind about her engagement.
Chapter Ten
Amelia needed time to clear her head, so she decided to go for a bike ride as a way of seeking clarity. As she rode, she tried to figure out how she would tell both men in her life — and her family — what was going on. However, she had never experienced such a complicated situation before, and she felt like she was floundering in the multiplying choices that were consuming her.
As her mind weighed the many options before her, she was surprised to realize that she had ridden her bike back to the spot where James had shown her the duckling nest.
She got off her bike and made her way to the spot where the ducklings lived. However, when she pulled back the leafy curtain, she was disappointed to discover the nest was empty.
"That's too bad," she said aloud. "I hope you little guys are ok," she said.
"They are doing just fine," a deep, familiar drawl echoed behind her. "Their mother took them to a nearby pond to practice swimming," he added.
Amelia turned around to face James. "So you are an expert duck watcher now?" she teased.
James shrugged. "One of my many talents," his eyes flashed with excitement as he spoke. He took a relaxed step toward Amelia, shortening the distance between them.
Amelia's body responded to his immediately, her words echoing in similar fashion. "And what are some of your other talents?" she asked in a tone that registered just above a breathy whisper.
"Perhaps it would be easier if I could show you?" he closed the distance between them in two short strides.
Amelia gasped as his hand came around her waist and pulled her tightly against his chest. She stretched her hands over his expansive shoulders, enjoying the feel of his taught muscles beneath the smooth fabric. "You seem to like that, showing me things," she said coyly.
James brought his head forward until his forehead touched Amelia's. "Well, when I have such a responsive audience, I can't help but want to show off a little," he said with a cocky air.
Amelia tilted her head back in order to allow her gaze to meet his more directly. She wanted to egg him on, to continue the sensually charged banter that fed off the primitive pull they felt toward each other. She wanted to pretend that she was an uncomplicated woman, with uncomplicated feelings and a pure desire for the man that held her in his arms.
But Amelia knew she was anything but uncomplicated.
She cleared her throat uncomfortably. "James, I have something to tell you," she said shakily.
"Oh really?" he raised an eyebrow and shot her a heated a look. "If it is about how you want to kiss me just as much as I want to kiss you right now," he said with a boyish grin, "can it wait until after we've thoroughly satisfied that very desire?"
A cloud of sadness washed over Amelia at that moment; she knew what she was doing was wrong and that James deserved to know t
he truth.
James bent his head to follow through with his statement and kiss her. His movement forced Amelia to finally make her decision.
"I'm engaged," she blurted out a second before James's lips brushed against her own.
James stopped a hairsbreadth away from her. "Pardon?" he asked, utterly confused.
"I'm engaged to Thomas Florian. He asked me to marry him last week and I accepted," she explained in a rush.
James suddenly let go of Amelia and stepped away, but his eyes remained fixed on her own, a mask of confusion darkening the usual joyful glimmer. "How can you be engaged? You only met him last week?" he exclaimed.
"I know it all seems so sudden, and trust me it took me by surprise —" she began.
"Surprise? You don't even know this man Amelia, how can you promise your life to someone you've only just met?" he questioned.
"Well, Marianna and Georgina both had unconventional engagements to men they hadn't known for long," Amelia argued. "And they both have joyous marriages. So I don't think the length of a courtship can determine what the marriage would be like."
James gave her a hard look, not unlike the one Marianna had given her earlier. "There was no courtship Amelia, what kind of hold does he have on you?" he asked suspiciously.
"He has no hold on me," she protested. "Thomas is a kind, thoughtful, generous man. He has offered to help get my artwork seen by the people in the industry, and he has promised to take me away from Valley Springs," she added.
"Ahh, I see," James said sardonically. "I see how you benefit from this, but how does he?"
"I have no idea what you are implying, but Thomas loves me and wants to help me succeed in the world," she declared.
"But do you love him?" James asked softly.
Amelia paused. Do I love him? So caught up in the glamour of his interest, she had not once stopped to question if she even liked the man as her life partner. But he's the great Thomas Florian, I've adored his work for years. She adored his work, but not him per say.
"I —" she stuttered. "I think I could grow to love him," she said weakly.
James looked at her for what Amelia felt like was an eternity.
"I wish you the best of luck Amelia," he said finally, his voice filled with an aching sadness. In one swift motion, he turned away from her, picked up his bike, and rode off down the road.
Amelia's heart lurched. She longed to run after James, to tell him to stop, and to ask him not to leave, but her pride would not allow her to do that. Instead, she stood there and watched him ride away while her chest ached and she repeatedly swallowed back the sob that welled up in her throat. She refused to allow herself to cry.
"What have you done Amelia?" she questioned herself. She couldn't help but shake the feeling that letting him go was a huge mistake.
Chapter Eleven
Amelia knew that she needed to talk to Thomas. She needed to come clean and tell him about the kiss she shared with James. And, if he still loved her after that, she would need to tell him that she wasn't ready to be engaged just yet.
She knew that James was right, that she was rushing in. Her gut had been warning her about something the entire time, and now it was clear what that was — she needed to know that she could love Thomas the way he deserved before she committed to marrying him.
She pedaled as fast as she could toward the hotel where Thomas was staying until the end of the week. She didn't want to wait another second to sort things out with him, especially since he was leaving soon. She didn’t know how she had allowed her life to become such a mess, but she was determined to clean it up before the end of the day.
As she rode up to the hotel, she jumped off her bike and ran right up the stairs to the lobby. She didn't care that she looked a wild mess, she had more important things on her mind at the moment.
"Excuse me," she asked the front desk attendant. "Which room is Thomas Florian staying in?" she asked while catching her breath.
"I'm sorry ma'am," the attendant looked at her apologetically. "Mr. Florian just checked out today, perhaps less than a half hour ago."
Amelia stilled. "That's impossible, he was supposed to be staying here until the end of the week." Perhaps the attendant was mistaken.
"Yes," the attendant confirmed, "but it seems that Mr. Florian changed his mind."
Amelia was not to be discouraged. "Did he leave a forwarding address?" she asked earnestly? "Or maybe a letter for me? For Amelia?" she asked desperately.
"No, I'm very sorry. He did not give any specifics about where he was going, and he did not leave anything for anyone," the attendant said.
Amelia tried to contain the mixed emotions that rose up in her, but she couldn't help it. She knew that Thomas wouldn't just disappear on her without a word, yet she couldn't shake the sickening feeling that confirmed her worst fears. "I see," she said.
The attendant cast her a sympathetic look. "Perhaps ma'am, if you head around back to the carriages, he may not have left yet," the man offered.
Amelia's eyes lit up. "Thank you," she said eagerly. In a moment, she was heading toward the side door that led into the carriage yard.
As she stepped outside, she looked frantically around for Thomas's familiar face. It took her a second to spot him across the yard, just as he was stepping into a waiting carriage.
Without a moment’s hesitation, she started running toward him. "Thomas," she called out. She didn't want to miss him, as this may be the last moment for a while that she would be able to speak to him in person.
She saw Thomas turn around to look at her, his eyes widened with recognition, and his body stilled for a moment.
"Thomas wait," she called again.
It was in that moment Thomas's whole demeanor changed. Gone was the kind, generous, and caring attitude. Instead, the man that looked back at her over the rim of his spectacles was most definitely not the man that had wooed her.
Thomas shot her a hardened look, which caused Amelia to stop dead in her tracks.
"Thomas?" she asked just loud enough for the man several feet away from her to hear. His response shocked her.
"Drive on," he said with a commanding voice. In an instant he had disappeared inside of the small carriage.
The carriage lurched forward and began to roll, while Amelia stood in the middle of the yard, mouth agape.
She didn't want to believe it, but the evidence was openly blaring in her face. Thomas Florian had played her for a fool. The man she had idolized for years, the man that she had thought would help her art get the exposure it needed, the man that had told her he loved her. But why? she wondered. Then it all clicked.
He had taken advantage of her own naivety and now he was leaving her behind in the dust, taking her most prized possessions with him — her artwork.
As she watched him leave, Amelia felt powerless in her ability to stop him. And even if she could catch up to his fleeing carriage, how would she be able to convince him to give her back her work?
Fortunately, Amelia did not have to wait around long before an answer in the form of an auburn haired Texan rode in. Or, more accurately, was chasing down the carriage at breakneck speed on his bicycle.
She wanted to call out to James, tell him to stop before he got hurt, let him know that her art isn't worth it, but he was already too far away to hear her. Instead, she watched in horror as James brought his bike right up next to the speeding carriage, and with the agility of a man that had herded cattle, swerved in front the carriage and brought the horses to a screeching halt. She tried to see what was going on, but the dust that swirled around the scene obstructed her view.
At the same moment, she heard the rumbling of horses as the Valley Spring's law enforcement came riding in and surrounded the carriage.
She didn't care anymore, she just started running; she needed to know that James was safe.
"Hold up there ma'am," one of the men on horseback stopped her before she could get close to the scene. "It would be safer if you went
back to the hotel," he told her.
"Back to the hotel?" she exclaimed. "How can I just go back and wait while James is probably bleeding, crushed beneath the wheels of the carriage!"
"Bleeding?" the man looked confused. "We are here to apprehend a wanted criminal."
"A criminal? But James was trying to stop the carriage, he is no —"
The man on the horse shook his head. "No, the famous artist or what have you. He's wanted on fraud charges across the country," he started to explain before his face went white. "Wait," he said hesitantly, "I wasn't supposed to talk about that," he said in a worried rush.
"I'm sure she will be able to keep things quiet," James laughed as he sauntered in between them. His face was covered with dirt, and his hair was in a state of unruly disarray, but his face displayed a satisfied grin.
"James!" Amelia exclaimed. She never thought she would be that excited to see him.
"Amelia," he nodded in her direction.
Amelia moved toward him, and as soon as she was within reaching distance, she punched him lightly in the arm. "How could you do that to me! I almost watched you be trampled to death by horses!" she burst.
James didn't even flinch, instead he shot her one of his infamous cocky smiles. "I knew what I was doing," he said teasingly.
"But I didn't know that! I thought I lost you." As she spoke, her voice grew shaky and tears welled up in her eyes. "I truely thought I lost you," she said, softer this time.
James's features softened. He quickly closed the small space between them and enveloped Amelia in a warm hug.
"I don't know what I would have done without you," she confessed.
"I'm sure you would have gotten on just fine," he reassured her gently. "Just like you've done for all these years without me," he spoke.
Amelia felt him pull back, and his hand comes around to tilt her chin up to look at him. In between a few hiccups, she replied, "What if I don't want to get along without you?"
James's gaze grew heated in response. "All I have to say to that," he shot her a cocky grin, "is that it is a good thing we have the rest of summer to get to know each other."
