Cameron's Quest

by Cameron's Quest [Evernight] (mobi)

  “I think that’s a great idea, but why not downhill?” Rena asked.

  “Have you ever been on skis before?”

  “Well, no, but how hard can it be?”

  “Not hard, but it can be tricky. Instead of shoes or boots, you have long, slippery sticks strapped to your feet. It takes a bit of adjustment.”

  “Oh, okay. Do you have the skis here?”

  “We do. They strap to your boots, and we should be able to adjust the skis and poles to fit.”

  “Poles?” Rena asked. “What are they for?”

  “Mostly for balance or to help you push off. You’ll get the hang of it soon enough, I reckon. Now, do you girls want to head home or visit with Luke and Zakia for a bit?”

  All three girls turned toward her.

  “I’d enjoy a visit, if we’re not interrupting,” said Lacey.

  “Nonsense. Zakia will probably enjoy having a few other females around. Come on.” Cam took her arm as they walked to the back door, the girls chattering non-stop about the day’s adventure as they followed behind.

  ****

  Zakia met them at the door. “I was hoping you’d stop in. How was your ride?”

  “Exhilarating. You have some beautiful country here on the ranch.” Lacey toed off her boots, removed her snowsuit, and hung it on a hook inside the door. Cam and the girls did the same.

  “Wait until you see it in the summer. It’s absolutely gorgeous. Nothing but green fields for miles on end. Have a seat. Can you stay for dinner?”

  “We wouldn’t want to impose,” Lacey hedged as they trooped toward the table.

  “We’re all family here. You’re more than welcome.” Zakia smiled at them and moved to fill the coffee pot.

  “It looks like you’re due to burst any day now,” Lacey said.

  Zakia chuckled wryly and rubbed her belly. “I wish.”

  “Do you know if it’s a boy or girl?” Abby asked.

  “No, the ultrasound didn’t show us. I’m hoping for a girl, but as long as the babe arrives healthy, we’re good.”

  “Yes, that’s the most important part.”

  “That and hoping I’m only having one this time.”

  “Speaking of which, where are those grandnephews of mine?” Cam asked.

  “Are you a glutton for punishment or what? You know they’ll want to wrestle with you.” Zakia smiled as she passed him his coffee.

  “Those little imps are so full of mischief. I have to tire them out somehow.”

  “Well, they’re in the office with Luke. If you’re going in, take him a coffee.”

  “Will do.” Cam stood and grabbed both cups. “See you later, ladies.”

  When Cam left, the kitchen became quiet, and Lacey struggled to come up with a topic of conversation that didn’t have to do with the weather or murder.

  “How are you liking the ranch so far? You sure didn’t pick the best time to visit. It can be pretty harsh and barren here during the winter months.”

  “We’re enjoying the snow,” said Abby. “It makes everything so clean and pretty.”

  “There’s nothing like this at home, mostly rain, even in the winter.” Lynne picked up her cup and sipped the hot beverage. “Excellent coffee.”

  “Thank you. It’s a special decaf blend I discovered.”

  “It’s very good,” Lacey said.

  “So what’s next on your agenda? Skating, skiing, snowshoeing?”

  Lacey laughed. “All of the above. Cam said there were cross-country skis here. He wants us to familiarize ourselves with those before we go downhill skiing.”

  “Good idea. Skis can be awkward at first.” Zakia stood and ambled over to the cupboard to return with a glass jar filled with an assortment of cookies. “Sorry, I forgot these.”

  Lynne reached for the jar, unscrewed the lid, and took a deep whiff. “Mmmm, divine!”

  They chuckled at her antics as she selected a cookie and passed the jar around.

  “You must enjoy baking,” Lacey said around a mouthful of cookie.

  “Yes, I do. I catered for a living before Luke and I got back together.”

  “That’s ambitious. How did you do it with twins?”

  “About the same as you running a bistro with triplets.” Zakia chuckled. “Life can sure throw some hefty wrenches by times.”

  “Yes, it can.” Lacey smiled back. “The girls were in school when I started the bistro, and my family helped out a lot. Not the same as having preschoolers running amok.”

  “I have a good friend, Samantha, who stayed with them in the evenings. She’s coming over tomorrow if you’d like to meet her.”

  “That would be nice. Thank you.”

  “Sam and Blake, her boyfriend, are getting married here on the ranch this spring.”

  “Oh, I hope we’re here to see it. I love weddings,” said Abby.

  “What about you, Lacey? Are you and Cam finally going to tie the knot?” Zakia asked.

  Lacey sputtered her coffee and Lynne quickly clapped her on the back.

  “You okay, Mama?” she asked.

  “I’m fine.” She grabbed a napkin and mopped up the mess she’d made, feeling foolish and gauche, but she’d been surprised by Zakia’s question.

  “Sorry if I spoke out of turn. It’s just that we’ve all been wondering.”

  “I know, Zakia. And the answer to your question is I don’t know.”

  “Aw, Mama. Anyone can see you’re still crazy about each other,” said Abby. “So why wait?”

  “Well, for starters, he has this murder investigation hanging over his head.”

  “Does Michael think Cam was responsible?” asked Zakia.

  Lacey shook her head. “No, but the evidence is all pointing to him. It doesn’t look good.”

  “There’s not a kinder man on the face of this earth than Uncle Cam. Michael will keep digging until he finds the truth.”

  “I know, but what if the truth isn’t out there to find, Zakia? It seems someone has gone to a lot of trouble to make Cam take the fall for this.”

  “Rena, are you all right?” asked Zakia. “You’ve been awfully quiet.”

  “I’m fine, but would you mind if I went home? I’ve a bit of a headache.”

  “You can lie down upstairs if you need to,” offered Zakia.

  “No, I’m sorry. I need to go home.”

  “Come on, sis. I’ll walk with you.” Lynne stood and took their cups to the sink.

  “We can all go,” said Lacey, concerned for her daughter.

  “No, stay and enjoy your visit, Mama. I’m sorry to put a damper on it.”

  “Well, if you’re sure you’ll be all right.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  They dressed in their winter gear and were ready to leave when there was a knock on the door. Rena jumped backwards, clearly shaken, as Lynne opened the door.

  “Hello there. Is Luke home?”

  “Yes, he is. Come on in, Blake,” Zakia called from her seat at the table. “Is Sam with you?”

  “Not today. Do you girls need a drive somewhere?” he asked as Lynne and Rena stood beside him.

  “We’re on our way to Papa’s—Cam’s place,” Lynne said. “It’s not far.”

  “No, but it’s cold and windy out there. I’ll give you a lift. Tell Luke I’ll be right back.”

  “All right. Bye, girls. Feel better soon, Rena.”

  The door had no sooner closed behind them than Cam, Luke, and the boys came into the kitchen. Cammy and Casey spied the cookie jar and made a beeline for the table.

  Luke glanced around the kitchen. “I thought I heard Blake.”

  “You did. He said to tell you he’d be right back.”

  “Why would he drive all the way out here just to leave again?” Luke asked, a puzzled look on his face.

  “Rena had one of her headaches,” said Lacey with a meaningful glance at Cam. “Lynne was going to walk her home, but he offered to drive them. He seems like a nice man.”

  “O
ne of the best,” Luke said as he grabbed a cookie out of the jar. “Help yourself, Uncle Cam.”

  “Maybe we should go home,” Cam said, darting a questioning look Lacey’s way.

  “Can we take a rain check on that dinner?” Lacey asked.

  “Certainly. Anytime,” Zakia said. “Does she get headaches often?”

  Lacey shook her head. “Only since we came here. We’d better go. I’m not sure they even have their key.”

  “Blake would make sure they got inside, if that’s all that’s worrying you,” Luke said.

  She shrugged her shoulders. “I guess I’m just too used to caring for them when they’re ill.”

  Zakia nodded. “I can relate. Go, take care of her, and quit worrying. She’ll be fine.”

  “Yes, I’m sure she will, but thanks for understanding.”

  They got their jackets on and headed for Cam’s truck. Blake pulled up to the house as they left for home.

  “I wonder if she had another vision, Mama?”

  “That’s what we’re about to find out, Abby.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Lacey rushed into the house to find Lynne and Rena sitting and talking over a cup of tea. “Hi. We decided to come home. We weren’t sure if you had your key.”

  “You didn’t need to rush back on my account, Mama. I’m okay,” said Rena.

  “Yes, but I couldn’t help wondering what prompted your headache this time.”

  “Did you have another vision, honey?” Cam asked.

  “No, more of a feeling.”

  “What kind of feeling?” asked Lacey.

  “This is going to sound so strange, but I felt as if we were surrounded by evil. Like we were sitting ducks waiting for a gun to go off. I didn’t want Cam’s family to think I was nuts, so I faked a headache. Then when that man knocked on the door, for a moment I thought, well…er…I thought it was evil reaching out to me. Or coming after me. After we got here, I was wondering if I should call and warn you, just in case it really was something. I’m so unsure of these visions and new feelings, I don’t know what to do.”

  “Well, Blake Northrup is Luke’s closest friend, and he’s not evil at all,” said Cam in reassurance. “As a matter of fact, he was head honcho in Fort Macleod’s RCMP detachment until he went out on medical leave.”

  “What happened to him?” asked Rena.

  “Shot in the line of duty. He’s okay now, but he had us worried for a while.”

  “Daddy, is it possible that someone was outside watching us?”

  “I don’t know, Rena, but I can call Luke and have him check it out.”

  “He’ll think I’m crazy.” She pouted, twisting her face into an ugly grimace.

  “Not after the goings on out here this past year. They had a lot of trouble while I was away in Ireland, but they survived it. We Mannings are made of tough stock. I’ll call him.”

  Cam stood and crossed to the wall phone to make the call, and Lacey rose to start dinner.

  “He’s going to have a couple of his wranglers check it out and call us back,” Cam said as he turned to help Lacey with the cooking. The meal was well underway when the phone rang.

  “Hello,” said Cam as he picked up the receiver. “Yes…well, I’ll be damned…yes, I think you’d better. Rena’s feelings are not to be denied. She’s usually right on target…Okay. Let me know what he finds.”

  “Footprints in the fresh snow. I can tell you they were made by black cowboy boots.” Rena spoke as Cam turned toward her.

  He nodded. “Yes, they found footprints at the back window to the kitchen. They also found cigarette butts, so whoever it was, he was out there for a while. Cal cleared the walkways early this morning, but some snow had drifted back. Luke’s calling Michael. He’ll probably stop in to talk to you, so let’s eat and be ready when he arrives.”

  Cam reached for a stack of plates and set them on the counter, and everyone served themselves.

  “Shall we take our coffees to the living room and watch TV while we wait?” asked Cam.

  “Good idea,” Lacey said. She’d seen Rena’s gaze fixated on the patio doors more than once during their meal. She rounded the table and closed the vertical blinds before going to the living room and doing the same.

  “Do you think he’s out there, Mama?” Abby asked.

  “Not really. It just gives me the creeps thinking that someone may be watching us.”

  “Tell me about it,” Rena said with a note of disgust in her voice. “Try living with these visions. It’s uncanny, to say the least.”

  “Yes, I imagine it would be. At least Cam was in the house with us, and he doesn’t smoke, so Michael can’t possibly suspect him anymore.” Lacey smiled at Cam but was concerned when she saw his bleak expression. “What is it, Cam? What are you thinking?”

  “I’m wondering if it could be one of our wranglers. I hate to think so, but they’d have the opportunity.” He shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. “These men are like family. They stood by the Mannings during all the trouble last year, so why would one of them be wanting to frame me? It just doesn’t make sense.”

  “It makes even worse sense for you to be a suspect.” Lacey heard a vehicle pull up to the house. “That’s probably Michael now. I’ll let him in.”

  “I got it, Mama,” said Rena on her way to the door.

  Lacey heard muffled conversation followed by laughter. The two were still smiling when they entered the room.

  “This girl is going to solve the murder without me,” said Michael as he sat down.

  “What did you find?” asked Cam.

  “Forensics is making casts of the boot prints, and we bagged cigarette butts and an empty coffee cup. We’ll have lots of DNA to match up when we do get this guy, thanks to Rena’s intuition.”

  He smiled at her and Rena blushed prettily.

  “Did you see anything else, Rena?”

  “Just blue jeans over the tops of the boots.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Nothing spectacular there. Everyone around here wears blue jeans.”

  “And cowboy boots. Cam, just to rule you out on this one, do you own a pair of black cowboy boots?”

  “Yes.”

  “If you don’t mind, I’ll have the crime scene unit take a cast. Can you wear them out in the yard when they get here? That’ll save us from taking them.”

  “Sure, no problem. And I like my coffee, but haven’t smoked in years.”

  Michael grinned. “Yeah, I know.”

  Lights flashed across the front window, signaling the arrival of another vehicle.

  “That’s our cue. Ready, Cam?”

  “As soon as I get my boots.” He went out into the front hall and Lacey heard him rummaging through the closet. She saw him head toward the kitchen, empty-handed, and was about to go help him search when he came back. “They’re not here, Michael. My boots have disappeared.”

  “Good Lord,” said Lacey at Michael’s frowning countenance. “What else can go wrong?”

  “Don’t even go there,” he said as he got up to meet with his team.

  ****

  Cam saw how distraught she was over this latest incident and walked over to wrap her in his arms. “It’s okay, love. Michael will keep searching for the truth. We know it’s not my DNA he’s going to find on that cup and those butts. No one can fake that.”

  “True, but why is this happening now? It seemed to start as soon as we arrived, what with Rena’s visions and all. And now we have a stalker? Someone watching to see how his macabre tricks are affecting us?”

  “We won’t let him stop us from having a great time together. Tomorrow we go cross-country skiing. We’ll stay close to the house, but it should prove to be a fun experience. You girls ready for that?” he asked as his gaze encompassed each of his daughters in turn.

  “Yes!” said all three at once.

  Cam chuckled, glad to hear the enthusiasm in their reply. “You might not be so excited the first time you have to dig your butt out of
the snow and get back on your feet.”

  “But, Daddy, isn’t that why you’ll be there? To help us up?” asked Abby, the picture of innocence as she posed the question.

  Lacey giggled. “She sure has your number.”

  “Yes, and I’ll be glad to help every time you fall flat on your keisters.”

  “Keisters?” asked Lynne.

  “Butts.”

  A light knock preceded Michael’s entrance.

  “Cam, the crime scene unit has requested permission to go over your truck. I told them it wasn’t necessary, but the team leader insists.”

  “My truck? What for?”

  “I’m sorry, Cam, but the footprints they found at Luke’s ended where your truck had been parked.”

  “That’s just plain crazy. I never went outside while we were at Luke’s.” Cam heaved a heavy sigh, fished his keys out of his jeans pocket, and passed them over. “Go ahead, Michael. You have my permission.”

  Michael opened his mouth as if to say something else. Then he closed it and nodded before turning to walk out the door.

  This time it was Lacey who stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him from behind. “Cam, what are we going to do?”

  As much as he loved to hear that “we” coming from Lacey, he just couldn’t summon a response. He didn’t know what to say. If those footprints led to his truck, then the bastard had put something in there? But what? His boots?

  He glanced over at Rena to see her close to tears as she nodded. Could she read his mind now? She nodded again. Well, damn! What was going on with his little girl? She shrugged her shoulders and looked down at her hands clasped tightly in her lap. “It’s okay, Rena. Tell us what you saw.”

  She looked up at him and straightened her shoulders as if she was a warrior ready to do battle. “Daddy, your boots are in the truck, shoved behind the back seat, and an open pack of cigarettes. They even found a butt stubbed out in the ashtray.”

  “Who in tarnation is this guy? And why is he out to get me?”

  “I don’t know, Daddy.” She burst into tears. “Why can’t I ever see his face?”

  Cam released himself from Lacey’s hold and walked over to sit beside his daughter, pulling her close as she sobbed her heart out. “Hush, child. It’s not meant for you to see his face. That would make Michael’s job too easy. For whatever reason, we have to play his game…for now…but we’re smarter than he is. We’ll come out on top of this yet.”