Lincoln County Series 1-3

by Sarah Jae Foster

  “I actually like the taste of rum...well, once I got used to it.” She giggled.

  “I’m sure you did,” he teased.

  He helped her from the buggy, depositing her at the front entrance. After making sure she was stable, went to deliver the rented team back at the livery.

  *** *** ***

  Cameron explained her ordeal to Lacey the moment she saw her, apologizing for missing out on her duties.

  “You were in your brother’s home?”

  “For whatever it meant. He’s stubborn! I hope he comes around.”

  Jake returned. “I’ll be in here,” he said and went into the saloon.

  Lacey watched Jake walk into the saloon, and before she could impede her with a warning to stay away from him, Cameron followed.

  She entered only to find Charlotte and Jake in what appeared to be a heated discussion. She stood back, not wanting to interfere, but too curious to leave. Jake looked angry, Charlotte, too. Cameron was shocked when she saw him grab Charlotte’s wrist until it looked like she’d surrendered to whatever it was he was telling her.

  He made his way back to her.

  “Is...is everything all right?”

  “I needed to make sure we were left alone tonight and that you wouldn’t be bothered. Come, sit down with me.”

  She looked at her sarsaparilla and her rum. He’d ordered one of each.

  “We can get you more flowers another time.”

  The unease lifted once she saw that Charlotte was no longer in the saloon. “I would like that very much. Not just the flowers but all of it. Well, we can leave out the hellfire and brimstone. I did love the creek though. Thank you for taking me.” She fidgeted her hands nervously. It seemed things were getting intimate again.

  For hours they visited and Cameron was seeing a side to Jake she never knew existed. He opened up and talked about his childhood, his sister Jenny and his parents. Modestly, he described his homestead. She noted he specifically left out his sister after telling of his parents’ deaths.

  Conjuring up some courage, she asked about her. “What happened to Jenny?”

  He pierced her with a sharp look that quickly softened. He was beginning to let down his guard. “She hung herself… at your brother’s.”

  Jake sat back in the chair, arms crossed defiantly. Cameron leaned in close, wondering which words to express for comfort. He continued sharing before she could figure it out.

  “Thomas said he was trying to get her to go home, says he never wanted her there.”

  Tears began to swell. She didn’t know if her heart was breaking over Jenny, or over her brother’s cruelty. “Do you believe him?”

  “If I do, it means that she thought no one wanted her, and if that’s the reason, then it’s my fault, not his.”

  Before they realized the saloon was empty, they heard Liam stacking up dirty dishes and noticed all the vacant tables around them.

  Jake cleared his throat. “I hope we didn’t keep you.”

  Cameron stretched and smiled at Liam who said, “You two stay here any longer and I’ll put you to work washing up all these here dishes!”

  That was it. They rushed out laughing heartily, the heavy mood lifting, which she was grateful for. They stopped at the bottom of the stairs. Cameron held her finger up to her mouth and whispered, “Shhh.” The last thing she needed was for Lacey to get upset with her for waking up the guests.

  Jake lifted her finger from her lips and placed it to his own. He closed his eyes as if to savor her touch. She stood there, stock still, for what seemed like eternity. When he opened his eyes, he gently pulled her into him until their foreheads touched. She knew what he was doing—he was wrestling between letting her go, and keeping her with him. She was waiting in suspense, afraid to move. He lifted his face to search hers. If she didn’t let him know what she wanted, he’d walk out the door. Cameron stood up on her tiptoes to get herself kissed.

  Jake kissed her firmly, wrapping his arms around her waist, holding her steady, yet protective of her wound. He eased her back into the stair rail while she bravely pulled herself into him, sliding her arms up and around his strong neck, feeling his muscled shoulders. Dizziness overcame her, causing a very pleasant tingly sensation. Jake’s breathing increased, then suddenly, he broke the kiss.

  He rubbed a rough thumb across her moist mouth. “You don’t want this, Cameron.” He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled as if he could blow out the flames of burning passion.

  “Please don’t tell me what I want. Everyone tells me what I want. Mama told me that I wanted to come here.” She smiled wanly. “Well, she happened to be right. But that’s beside the point. My brother tells me that I don’t want him or to be a part of his life, and now you. Please, don’t. I do want you, Jake.”

  She would help him decide. “Please,” she appealed.

  *** *** ***

  He shut his eyes, deliberating, wrestling, weighing. He knew if he searched her face, the act would wash away the last of his integrity, and worse, steal her purity. Cameron must have taken his silence as rejection because she roughly pushed him away and ran up the stairs. He placed his hand on the rail where her warmth still remained and leaned his head against his forearm. It took him three seconds to decide to go up after her. He took the steps in twos, reaching her door just as she did. He pulled her to him and kissed her mouth over and over, all the while fumbling with the door handle. When he got it open, he paused to give her one more chance to stop him. Cameron held his anxious gaze with her welcoming one and backed slowly into the room. He followed and clicked the door shut.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Throughout breakfast Jake had been attentive and kind, and shortly after his departure, Cameron went outside where the crisp autumn air made her chill. She had a full list of supplies to order for the hotel and headed to the mercantile.

  She saw her brother leaning against a fence post near some horses, looking to be waiting for someone. When Thomas saw her, she heard him swear.

  “It’s so nice to see you,” Cameron said cheerfully, choosing to ignore his boorish behavior. And besides that, nothing could break up her happiness today.

  “I can hardly say the same.” He tried to get past her, but she sidestepped along with him.

  “There’s no sense in avoiding me—I’ve told you before that I am staying. I no longer have the home where I grew up.”

  “As I’ve already told you, I don’t care if you’re here or not, I just don’t want you in my life. I’m not about to change the way I live for you or anybody else, so get out of my way.”

  Undaunted she plunged ahead. “Just who do you think you are?”

  He cocked a brow. No doubt nobody had ever talked to him so.

  “You are egotistical thinking that I would ask you to change anything. I don’t want to live with you! I’m happy at Lacey’s. How can you turn your back on family? I’ve come all of this way to meet you, Thomas....”

  No. Don’t cry!

  Too late, the tears betraying her strength came rolling out, one after another.

  He swore again.

  “And you...you have the worst mouth I’ve ever heard!” she stammered.

  “I wouldn’t have to turn my back on you if you would just leave.”

  “Leave? Do you really want me to go? How about I just go and search out my no good pa? Would you like me to do that? The one who tried to kill you!” She snatched his handkerchief right out of his shirt pocket. She knew he didn’t have it in him to offer it on his own. The act surprised him and he winced as she blew her nose into it, hard.

  “Dang it! I don’t want you to find him, Ca --” He swore and moved out of the way for someone to pass through.

  “You can’t even say it, can you? Just say my name, Thomas.”

  He stood there mute, as if he’d rather look at the dirt than at her. “You don’t want to be around me. Sometimes I’m no better than your pa. You’ve got to see that.” He walked away.

  Distra
ught, Cameron declined shopping and was nearly home when she saw Andrew on Main Street talking to Miss Evah, the Swanson sisters, and another young female whom she hadn’t seen before. The women were acting shamelessly, obviously seeking the man’s attentions. She searched his face to see his reaction and wasn’t surprised to see unease.

  She crumpled her brother’s handkerchief into her hand and walked up to the small, interesting group just as Mary invited him to come to dinner.

  “Pardon the interruption, Reverend. I couldn’t help but overhear and I wanted to remind you of your commitment this evening.”

  He looked at her blankly.

  Promptly, she put on a miffed voice. “You are still planning to help your cousin aren’t you, Reverend Jackson?”

  Mary Swanson waited anxiously.

  “Of course!” he feigned surprise. “How could I forget? Please accept my apologies, Miss Swanson. I regret I have other plans.”

  Her disappointment was clear.

  Cameron linked her arm with his and told him that he was needed urgently in the hotel, and started pulling him away.

  “Excuse me, ladies.” He tipped his hat to them and to Cameron he said, “I am supposed to be an upstanding man of the cloth!”

  They had a good laugh.

  “You poor, poor man,” Cameron teased. “Being surrounded by women all the time must be awful! Too bad your mother hadn’t returned back home. She could be protecting you.”

  Lacey hurried down the hall to see what all of the commotion was. “What seems to be so funny? You two look guilty as sin.”

  “I’m going to be hit by lightning I imagine. I lied to someone.” He grinned, not at all concerned about the pending lightning strike.

  “I think he should have to go to dinner with Mary and Amy Swanson,” Cameron piped up. “That would be punishment enough!”

  “Now you listen here!” Andrew turned on Cameron. “You’re the one who started all of this.” His smile faded. “And to say thank you—I’m going to serve you up a nice, juicy piece of...well, whatever Cook has for us.” He turned to Lacey. “Are you coming?”

  “No, I’ve got paperwork to attend to. Some of us have to work around here.”

  They snickered and settle themselves in the restaurant.

  “My house will be ready for me to move into next week,” Andrew said. “I would like you to consider coming to church with me on my last Sunday staying here at the hotel. No pressure.” He held up his hand to her. “I would love to have you accompany me, is all.”

  “You just want me with you to protect you from all of the pestering females swarming around you like bees on honey!”

  “Is that a yes?”

  “Yes. I’ll come with you.”

  *** *** ***

  “Splendid.” Andrew tried not to sound too excited. He had been praying for Cameron and Lacey. He knew the girls lived the way they did because they knew of no other and he desired to see change in their lives, to be a part of that change. More times than not, God had to remind him that it was He who changes hearts, not Andrew.

  God willing, Cameron would enjoy Sunday and return again. That’s all he could do—invite, speak the Truth, and step back.

  “Has your brother come around yet?”

  “I saw him today. You could say that he’s far from coming around. He won’t listen to me and he doesn’t want me. I suppose I should just accept it. It seems strange, being so close to family and not being one.” She spoke softly, not in self-pity but in resignation.

  He had no words of experience to offer. He’d always been filled with love and support from both of his parents, and what they couldn’t fill, God did. “I will be praying for the two of you,” he said sincerely.

  “What’s that like?” she asked. “Praying. You just...talk to God and He talks back?” She waited for his answer.

  “Well, it’s not quite like that. I do talk to Him, I mean. I pray for people to be healed, to know God. I ask God on their behalf to show His love to them. I’ve never heard His voice, not like you think. I just feel Him and I know He’s always there with me. In the Bible it says that He will never leave or forsake us. I believe that with all of my heart.” He stopped. He could go on but didn’t want to lose this opportunity of her being open and asking questions.

  “I see,” she said.

  He saw that she didn’t. This was when he was supposed to step back and wait for God to do it His way. It was a very difficult thing for him to do.

  “I best start setting up the place for supper,” Cameron said. “Thank you...Andrew.”

  *** *** ***

  The supper hour called for the restaurant to be packed full of folks gearing up for winter. Andrew had barely a spot open next to him but waived Mack Owens over his way just the same. He couldn’t leave a man standing to eat his meal. He smiled to himself when Mack searched high and low for anywhere else to sit other than next to the preacher.

  Patsy was their server, and she set down two glasses of milk for them.

  “Mack, you a church going man?” Andrew asked right out.

  “Not one bit.”

  “Care to tell me why?” Andrew pressed.

  “Never really thought much of it, I suppose. Been on my own since I was a boy and it just never crossed my mind to go, that’s all.”

  Thomas came over to the table and glared at Mack. “Where have you been? Been lookin’ all over this blasted town for ya and I find you sittin’ here all cozy-like having a glass of milk?” Thomas swore.

  “The Reverend and I are waiting for our supper—care to join us?”

  Thomas remained standing and looked hard at Andrew. “Been a long time.”

  “It has.” Andrew felt like he’d just looked into Cameron’s eyes.

  Patsy came with plates of hot food and looked at them all. “Do I need to fetch another?”

  “Fine,” Thomas said and squished in next to Mack.

  *** *** ***

  As the hour went on, Cameron steered clear of her brother’s table. One run in with him a day had been enough. She didn’t know if he’d even seen her. Either that, or he was really good at pretending she didn’t exist.

  There were so many people crammed into the place that even Lacey appeared out of sorts, which was a first. If business kept up at this pace, the town was going to need another fine establishment to choose from. There was no way they could keep up. Why, even Thomas had to eat with Andrew. She’d love to be able to hear how that conversation was going. She decided he deserved a little dose of goodness, and he’d get that from Andrew for sure. Such a genuine and kindhearted man he was, nearly without a fault. She’d never before met anyone so… pure.

  The evening was made complete when Jake came around the corner and politely greeted her. Then he announced he wanted a drink from the saloon.

  He’d rather go and drink then stay with her. A bit put out she said, “All right.”

  Possessively, he took her in. “When you’re finished here, come over and spend some time with me.”

  She nearly melted at the way he looked at her. Hadn’t she always wanted to be desired?

  *** *** ***

  Jake stood when Cameron later entered the saloon and drew near him. Instantly he ignored the card game. One of his playing partners was Thomas, and that had not been by choice. It was how the rules were and the outcome of the process of elimination; this was the final hand of the competition. Thomas had the nerve to order him to sit down and play or deal out. He looked down at Thomas and stated clearly, “I’m out.”

  He was going to enjoy his night with Cameron and to heck with the card game.

  Thomas grunted. Charlotte came purring up to the table and placed a jeweled hand on Thomas’s shoulder and whispered something. He nodded once and continued to deal a deck of cards. Jake look at them both, puzzled, but decided not to get caught up in anything with them. They could have each other for all he cared. Before he and Cameron made away, a man began to taunt him. “Come on, man! Finish what you
started. Play.”

  “Said I was done.”

  Thomas became annoyed with everyone and said, “Are you gonna just sit there and take this, man?”

  “He’s drunk. What do you expect me to do?” Jake said dismissively before turning his attention back to Cameron. “Come on, let’s go.”

  The drunk started up again. “When you’re done with her, can I have her?”

  “Jake, no--” Cameron pleaded.

  Jake had pulled him out of his seat before she could finish the sentence. He warned him to knock it off.

  “Does that mean no?” the sodden man pushed.

  It took one punch for Jake to knock him clean out. The drunk landed backwards into the wall, eyes wide open as he slid slowly to the ground. Not a moment later, he started snoring. “Drunken idiot,” Jake cursed. Then he turned to Thomas and said levelly, “I’m surprised you would let a man talk about your sister like that.”

  “You were just faster than me is all.” He’d not moved an inch to defend her—still sat lazily in his chair. “Well, now you’ve taken out one of our players, you’ll need to replace him.” Thomas’s eyes flashed. Before Jake could say no, Thomas added, “Look at it this way, you have a chance to get me back for bein’ so slow.”

  Jake looked down for a minute in thought. He ought to put this jerk of a brother in his place and he knew he could. Falling into Thomas’s hands or not, he pulled out his still warm chair. “Deal me in.”

  *** *** ***

  Cameron looked at the two in disgust. She was mad at Thomas simply for being the way he was, cold-hearted—and mad at Jake for wasting an evening meant for her. Thomas smiled at her coolly, puffing on a cigar, while Jake avoided her altogether, naturally not wanting to see the glare he knew was shooting his way.

  The final straw was the smug look that Charlotte was providing her with as she sidled up to the back of Jake’s chair. Cameron huffed and strode out, arms clenched tight at her sides.

  She stayed up waiting for Jake as long as she could, finally letting herself give in to fatigue when she realized he wasn’t coming. The notes rising through the floorboards from the piano slowly faded away as they lulled her to a sound sleep.