Lincoln County Series 1-3 (26 page)

Jake bounded inside and Patsy took his trench coat, hanging it on the rack. Once he was on his way towards her, Cameron noticed he’d filled out some, for which she was grateful. For a while she’d been concerned about his eating habits, an issue Lacey had brought up on more than one occasion, as if she could do anything about it. She quickly checked herself. He was not hers to worry about. Still, she eyed him, and while he looked healthier, he definitely appeared more dangerous than ever before. In fact, if she hadn’t known Jake Collins, she might be downright afraid of him.

“I apologize for causing you to be out with the dirt blowing around.” She said as he drew near.

“Nonsense.” His tone was gruff. “Just glad you had the smarts to not be caught traveling in it.” He swigged down the last of his coffee.

“I’ve put on a fresh batch to brew.”

“That’ll be nice to have a hot cup for sure.”

“Here’s some cookies.” She shoved the tiny plate towards him.

He accepted.

They sat in self-conscious silence, making small talk until the sky cleared. It was a start anyway.

*** *** ***

Andrew welcomed his wife home safe and sound from the storm, commending her on the choice to remain in town. He was also greeted with news of a coming baby, which he met with wholehearted excitement. Immediately he began plans to complete the addition to their home and start on a bassinet.

All to which Cameron said, “No need to rush, we’ve plenty of time before we meet our baby.”

There was no way he would sit idle when God saw fit to bless them with another chance to grow their family. Before he could refute her statement there was an unexpected knock at the door. He rose to answer, wondering who would dare risk another bout of offensive weather.

“Miles… how can I help you?”

“I have a telegram.”

“Would you like to come in?”

“I best be on my way to the missus. That there telegram is important or I wouldn’t have bothered you.”

“Much obliged.”

He glanced towards Cameron, then opened the message. He read the brief scrawl. “It’s mother, she’s ill.”

Cameron stood with him. “It must be serious. You need to go to her.”

Reluctantly he searched her face. If anything happened to her or the baby while he was gone he didn’t know what he’d do.

“Andrew, there’s no choice, you must go.”

“I don’t know…”

“You can’t fret over me. I will be fine and our child is going to be full of life. We need to trust that.”

She was right, of course. He needed to have faith that God would provide for his family and their health.

“I will make arrangements tomorrow. But I will only stay away for one month.”

*** *** ***

In the morning Andrew went to town to inquire about travel. Cameron was baking bread when she heard someone calling out their presence. It was Bethany.

“Come on in! I can make some tea, or coffee?”

“No need, I’m not staying. I only wanted to let you know that my father said he’d welcome me coming home.” Her countenance was filled with relief and elation.

“That’s wonderful!”

“I’m leaving on the train tomorrow. I would have never thought this possible if you hadn’t spoken to me.”

Cameron couldn’t take the credit. She merely did as she felt called to do. “I’m glad it worked out for you and your family. I am sorry about your husband. What a terrible tragedy. Now you will be safe and can begin a new life.”

Something of a panic flickered across her expression, making Cameron pause. “What is it Bethany?”

“I am afraid to say.”

“You shouldn’t worry. You’ll be soon home and away from danger.”

Bethany took a deep breath and confessed. “My husband didn’t die on that stage.”

“He’s alive then? Why does that not seem like it’s good news?”

Shaking her head solemnly Bethany said, “He’s the one I ran off with.”

It dawned on Cameron what she was admitting. “Your husband is the one coming after you.”

“I need to leave town, save everybody from trouble. Lord knows, he must be looking everywhere for me. I thought I could hide and he’d let me go.” Bethany penetrated her with a regretful gaze. “He and his men robbed the stagecoaches, killed those people and I… I couldn’t do anything about it!”

Cameron was woozy from this disturbing news. She couldn’t feel sorry for Bethany, at least not until she wrapped her mind about all of this.

She confronted her. “You could have helped the law by turning them in!”

“I don’t expect I could have. I was afraid for my life. I’ll be out of everyone’s hair come morning. I only came along to say thank you for helping me connect with my folks.”

*** *** ***

When Andrew got home he announced he would be on the train to Philadelphia the very next day. Cameron filled him in about Bethany, unsure of what to do.

“Sounds like there isn’t much to do if she’s going back home, besides, they want her, not the townspeople. They won’t be able to harm anyone now the sheriff and your brother are on the lookout for them.”

All she could do was trust in God, and trust in the men who had sworn to protect Lincoln County from harm. They’ve done a good job of it so far, though not without its consequences. Wanting to shake off the events of the day, she welcomed Andrew’s loving embrace as he affirmed how much he was going to miss her. Andrew spent the rest of the night, into the early morning hours, confirming his love, needing to make up time for a month-long absence, or so he said.

Chapter Twenty

Cameron received the warm hand intertwining hers as she and Lacey stood together watching the train chug away from the depot. She was hit by the sadness that Andrew would be away from her. With her free hand, she swiped away the few tears that escaped and took in a deep breath of composure. It didn’t help knowing he was concerned about her and the baby. Only with loads of promises and assurances that she’d protect the baby with a lot of rest and love, did he board.

As the train cleared the station, Cameron saw a man lurking in the shadows on the opposite side of the dusty street, only to disappear down an alley between the buildings.

“There now, he’ll be home before you know it,” Lacey encouraged.

Forgetting about the oddity of the stranger, she shrugged. “I know you mean well, but it doesn’t make me any less lonely hearing that.”

Gently, Lacey pulled her away. “Come on, let me spoil you with some of Cook’s blackberry cobbler. He picked the berries early this morning. Then we’ll get you situated in your old room.”

Cameron would allow the attention for now. It was all she could do to not feel sorry for herself to be without a husband. Readily, she scolded herself for being selfish. Andrew’s mother needed him and she needed to buck up. As they approached Lacey’s Place, she wanted to share in her excitement about her staying there, but would have to dig through layers of foreboding to do so. How could she not be thrilled to spend time in Lacey’s company? Just like old times, well, minus the Jake part.

Halfway through the cobbler, Cameron brought up Bethany’s secret, thinking it safe to share, now that she was long gone. The response she received was nothing that she expected.

“She’s the wife!” Lacey nearly choked. “And you didn’t tell the sheriff?”

“I only found out yesterday. Why are you so upset?”

Lacey tossed her fork and rose from her seat. “We need to tell him, now!”

Suddenly insecure about the situation, Cameron followed as Lacey left the hotel to find the sheriff. “What does it matter? She won’t be here when or even if he comes.” She took in a gulp of air. “Slow down!”

Lacey turned and rashly apologized, “I didn’t mean to rush off so fast. I know you need to take it easy, but this is serious.”

Once she caught up she asked, “When are you going to tell me why?”

“It was that man lurking around the station.”

“You saw him, too?” Cameron asked.

“I was going to tell Ed about him later—now it’s urgent.”

“I’m sorry, but I still don’t understand…”

“Bethany’s husband might not come to town. He’s probably going to go straight for the train now that he knows she’s on it. The train your husband is on.”

Cameron’s heart went wild with fear and she picked up her pace to match Lacey’s. “You’re saying the stranger was watching for Bethany… Oh, Lord help us.”

They arrived at the sheriff’s office and Jake was there, too. Cameron had the irrational urge to run to him for comfort. He was stuffing what she assumed was a wanted poster into his shirt pocket and looked upon her in puzzlement. Lacey filled Ed in with every detail. Cameron winced as she did because now it was on her head if any trouble should come to the folks on the train. Why hadn’t she thought it through? Of course she should have warned the sheriff, or her brother at the very least. They could have prevented anything that might happen. It was all catching up to her. Dread kept rising and rising and she began to feel dizzy. They were all too kind to not point fingers and blame her for her stupidity.

She heard Jake’s voice. “Ed, get her into that chair.”

She hadn’t realized she needed to sit. It was the adrenaline from running with Lacey and being afraid for Andrew. She looked at Lacey, warning her not to mention she was with child. It wasn’t the time.

“Whoever that man was, husband or not, is long gone,” Ed said.

She could tell he was contemplating his next move. Deciding to put forth an idea in hopes of helping, she interjected, “Thomas can go after the train. Perhaps he can follow it to the next stop and we can telegram all stops along the way.”

Jake let out a sigh. “It’s all we can do.” To Lacey he said, “Go and have Miles warn the next stop.”

Ed readied to go. “You know they aren’t going to pull anything at a stop. They’ll do it in the middle of nowhere. It’s what they’ve been doing all along for the robberies.” He jabbed his gun in the holster at his hip and snatched a rifle from its case mounted on the wall. To Jake he said, “I’m going to Thomas’s, you comin’?”

Cameron felt as though Ed purposefully did not to look her way. She wanted to help, and the regret she felt at not being forward thinking weighed her down greatly.

“I’ll be along, go ahead,” Jake said.

He pierced her with a concerned look. “Are you all right? You sick?”

She squirmed, unsure what all to share.

He frowned as though trying to figure it out, then looked out the window at something, or nothing, she wasn’t sure. Finally, he turned back to her and said, “Whatever he was leaving for is not more important than your health and safety.”

She defended her husband, not liking the judgment in his tone. “His mother is ill and of course he needs to be with her. I am fine. Only a little flushed is all.”

“I’m bringing him back.”

And that was that.

Chapter Twenty-One

After loading up on weaponry from his gun shop, Jake fought the desire to follow the train on his own, but instead, headed to Thomas’s ranch. When he got there, the corral was alive with activity. The gang was preparing to mount their horses and supplies were being shoved into saddlebags. Thomas was calling out orders to his men and barely acknowledged Jake’s presence. It was hard for Jake to let someone be in charge of him, but now was not the time to work alone. The men who’d attacked those stagecoaches were brutal, never leaving any survivors. And for what? They’d get the loot either way, killings or no. Jake and those around him knew what they were up against—blood thirsty murderers.

“The train has a two-hour lead, boys. Let’s ride!” Thomas hollered.

Jake swore to himself for not succeeding in making Bethany talk the night he’d paid for an hour of her evening. She was a stubborn one and didn’t hide the fact that she disliked, even hated him. He’d used every tactic he knew short of violence to break her silence, but she’d remained mute and sat on the bed waiting for him to do whatever he would to her. Disgusted by her response, he left well before the hour was up. And now with this situation in his sights, he was determined to bring everyone to justice, even Bethany. As far as he was concerned, she was guilty of withholding knowledge of this gang and she would pay for it.