"Oh no, Mrs. Ansel, not at all." She hesitated, wondering whether to grab the pie and send her neighbor away, or use her fortuitous appearance to postpone the hostile discussion a little longer. She mustered a tight smile and gestured in his direction. "This is Tyler Brockwell. He"s from my home town back in South Carolina."
Tyler let the tension slowly ebb from his body as he directed a polite bow towards the elderly woman. "Most pleased to make your acquaintance, Ma"am."
Mrs. Ansel"s blue eyes sparkled with interest. Her pale complexion took on a pink hue as she laid a hand limply against her flat bosom. "Ohhh! I love your accent! You remind me of my Eldon. He was such a gentleman too."
love"You"re very kind," he said, making full use of the interruption to allow his temper to cool do
