Page 44 of Amelia and Her Prince Charming
“No way. I’ve known Hudson for a long time, and it’s definitely him.”
I’ve known him even longer, I wanted to say, but you don’t argue with the bride on her wedding day.
“I need a break from all this anyway,” Rosie said. “I’ll come with you.”
A break from her own wedding? “I don’t think it’s a good idea—”
“Dylan can come with us. Dylan!” She waved him down, and he immediately came over to our side and wrapped a firm arm around her waist. If eyes could have hearts in them, Dylan’s would. Rosie thrust the letter at him. His eyes skimmed over the page, his brows furrowing as he read.
“Don’t you think she should meet Hudson behind Icy Asps right now?” Rosie said.
“This isn’t Hudson’s handwriting. And is this supposed to be a love letter? It’s terrible,” he said, handing me the letter back. “I’d stay far away.”
Rosie huffed out a short, offended breath. “It’s not terrible.”
I had to agree with her on that. It was one of literature's most beloved love letters for a reason, though whoever had written this had shortened it to a criminal degree. If you were going to plagiarize Jane Austen, be all in.
“Hudson wrote this, and we’re going,” Rosie said in a tone that left no room for argument. “Come on.”
Dylan and I exchanged bemused glances as we followed Rosie through the tables and out toward the forest. She waved off people who tried to talk to her and ignored others when she could. A woman on a mission.
I clutched the letter and followed, intrigued about what was going on now that I had some people with me. There was safety in numbers. Besides, I had no idea who might be trying to lure me into a private location. That reporter from Hot Goss, maybe? Rosiewasacting suspicious, though.
Rosie held her dress up as we stepped off the sidewalk and onto the dirt.
“Is this a good idea?” I asked her, but she waved away my words and continued to walk toward Icy Asps.
My heel and crutch dug into the soft mud, and if this was any person other than the bride, I would turn right back around and go to the reception.
Rosie paused and motioned toward where Hudson was talking to Bret and Gage. Even from here, I could see the confused expression on his face. Gage was rubbing a stick against a tree while Bret blew on something that sounded like a low horn.
“See,” she said triumphantly. “There he is. We’ll give you your moment.” She took Dylan’s arm and pulled him away, toward the restaurant.
“Hudson!” I called out as I slowly limped toward him, “What’s going—”
But before I could finish that sentence, I heard a familiar sound coming from the forest. One I’d never wanted to hear again, and way, way too close.
A moose getting ready to charge.
Chapter 26
Hudson
Notagain.
Amelia and I spotted the moose at the same time. She turned to face me, her eyes wide, and that one beautiful shoe stuck deep in the mud. I raced forward to grab her, using my good arm to pull her up from the mud and into my chest. Her crutches toppled to the ground.
We both looked straight ahead to the dumpster. She swore under her breath as I picked her up and ran for it. Someone yelled, but I didn’t have time to look and see who it was or what was going on as I tossed Amelia inside and then launched myself beside her onto fresh garbage. The moose banged against the metal before moving away from us.
I peered over the top to make sure everyone else had gotten away, and the coast was clear as the moose headed back into the woods.
“We have to stop meeting like this,” I said with a wince as I pulled my aching arm closer to my chest and tried to catch my breath.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“I’ve been better.”
“Whatwasthat?” She peered over the edge as well, balancing on her one good foot. “Everyone’s scattered.”
