Shifting from South Dakota by Higgins Marie

Author:Higgins, Marie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Marie Higgins
Published: 2024-01-09T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Amelia’s heart hammered harder than before as her mind began to clear. The knowledge that she had actually helped the Stones kidnap children made her want to scream at the top of her voice and then cry herself to sleep. Yet as she thought about Gracie and some of the conversations they’d had, something was not right.

Chet shrugged. “The mayor said his daughter’s name was Juliana. I just assumed the Stones gave her a new name.”

Amelia wiped her eyes, recalling that moment she had gone into the yard of the boarding house to talk to Gracie. The cute little five-year-old had been sitting on the back step, playing with a doll. The older girls in school were inside in their classes.

“When I saw Gracie, I introduced myself to her. I asked her questions about her doll and about her friends at the school. Then I asked her if she was hungry because I knew a great shop that made cinnamon sticky buns. She jumped up and grabbed my hand, looking at me with so much trust in her eyes.” Amelia cleared her throat. “When we walked down the street to the store, I had called her Gracie. She didn’t correct me.” She touched a hand to his chest. “Chet, if her name wasn’t Gracie, why would she let me call her that?”

“Had you already told her about her parents?”

Amelia shook her head. “All I was told to do is coerce her into the wagon and the Stones would tell her the bad news. I was with her – and held her after they told her about her parents dying in the fire.”

Chet blew out a frustrated breath and pushed his fingers through his hair. “Oh, Amelia. I’m so confused. I don’t know why the mayor would lie to me. Either that or all this is really just coincidental, and Gracie isn’t the girl I’m after.” He motioned his hand toward Miss May’s boarding house. “The mayor described his daughter to me, and Gracie fits that description, and then he gave me the name of the woman who had taken her.”

“He told you Amelia Langley kidnapped her?”

Chet nodded.

“I think,” she said slowly as her mind tried to piece things together, “that we need to talk to Gracie herself. If she had a father, she would tell us.” She paused as another idea hit her. “Did the mayor’s wife work as a maid or in a hotel cleaning rooms?”

“No. The mayor was wealthy. His wife stayed home with their three children.”

Amelia nodded. “There is another question we could ask Gracie – if she had brothers or sisters.”

“Yes, that is a good idea.” He grasped her shoulders gently. “Amelia, I promise we’ll figure this out. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Tears threatened her eyes again, and she blinked to stop them. Chet’s heartfelt promise was genuine, and it relieved her that he didn’t want to arrest her. “Thank you. I’m glad you believe me.”

He cupped the side of her face as the pad of his thumb dried her moist skin.

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