-

Amelia waited at the windows. She wished her father wouldn't come today. And the man he was bringing. She thought about Peter to calm her down. She would rather be with him. She could see the car pulling up. Her whole body went numb. She saw her siblings Charlie, Elsie , and Flossie get out of the fairly large car. Then, someone she had never seen. He had shiny coal black hair, a tall structure, and cold black eyes.

"Amsy, darling," Aunt Maggie called, "You're father's here."

Amelia quickly stood and straightened her skirt. Fire went into her eyes. She had a lot of things she was going to say. She marched down the stairs.

"Ah…there she is," Mr. MacFarlene said. That's when she lost her nerve weakening under his proud smile. "This is Johnny McDuff," Mr. MacFarlene announced.

"Pleasure, Mr.McDuff," she said not a hint of pleasure in her voice.

"Oh, c'mon share her now," Charlie said. He was a tall boy with a thin frame and bright red hair. He wrapped Amelia in one of his famous hugs.

"Ok, Charlie, move over," Flossie said. She was the eldest of the MacFarlene children. She was married and had three kids with another on the way. She was twenty-six. After Flossie was Fergus, Charlie, then Amelia, and last but not least fifteen year old Elsie.

"Well, don't just stand there like geese in a hair storm come eat," Aunt Maggie said. They all filed into the dining room. The table was elaborately set.

"Aye, fine food, miss," Johnny said. Amelia was silent. Taking in his physical features and trying to see behind the mask. It wasn't till later when they were alone she found out.

"You two have fun on your walk," Mr. MacFarlene called. Amelia instantly headed for the woods.

"We're not goin in there are we?" he asked.

"Oh, don't be a baby," she said. He grabbed her wrist tightly and whirled her around to face him. "No one calls Johnny McDuff a baby," he said.

"Looks like I just did," She said.

"You'll not speak to me like that. In a couple of weeks I'll be your husband. And I'll expect you to honor me like a wife is required to honor a husband." he said.

"Who's gonna make me? A spoiled brat like you?" she yelled. He slapped her for that. "YOU WILL NOT RAISE YOUR VOICE TO ME!" he yelled. Amelia kicked him hard in the shin and took off. She ran through the trees as fast as she could hoping he wouldn't follow. Once again she had entered town. It was less busy than before. Being physically fit and the town not being so crowded she easily made her way out of town to the small neighborhoods . She knew exactly which house to had at…