Lincoln County Series 1-3 (3 page)

“Why do you care if… is that thing… loaded?”

“Lacey asked me to protect you.”

For the first time Cameron was a bit uncertain. After a moment’s hesitation, she turned her horse and followed along at Jake’s fast pace. His silence allowed her to become agitated to the point where she wondered if it were possible that her own brother would indeed hurt her. Finally, a ranch loomed before her and there was no going back.

“There it is,” Jake said quietly. “Go ahead and ask about your brother.”

Cameron took off her bandana and wiped sweat and dust from her face. She loosened the top two buttons of her shirt to swipe at a few more beads. “This heat is…” Her breath caught. His intense gaze traveling up and down the length of her caused her to wiggle in the saddle.

His voice was smooth. “After you.”

When she got closer to the ranch, she noticed a cowboy sitting along the fence, legs outstretched, looking lazy and comfortable. As they approached, he looked irritated at the interruption and stood slowly, resting one hand on the butt of his gun.

He seemed to recognize Jake and glared up at him. “Collins.”

“Mack.”

Mack took her in. “Who’s this?”

“I’ll get right to it. Her name’s Cameron Engel. She’s looking for her brother, who happens to be Thomas.”

A troubling look crossed the cowboy’s face.

“Look, she’s not asking for or wanting any trouble,” Jake continued. “She just wants to meet him.”

Mack addressed her. “You want to
meet
him? Ain’t he your brother, or not?”

“He...he,” she stammered.

“Speak up woman! He your brother or not!”

“Shut it, Mack, you’re scaring her.” Jake sighed with annoyance. Of course it was directed at her.

“She tracked Thomas off a letter he wrote home,” he continued on her behalf. “It was posted to a town in Wyoming called Ludenville, two years ago. He’s her brother, Mack.”

After a gulp of hot air she took over. “Could we, could I at least come in and…?”

Jake began to respond to her but she couldn’t hear him over Mack’s laughter. “Ma’am, if I bring you in here every single man-jack is going to say he’s your brother!”

Jake muttered. “Come on, let’s go. I told you this wasn’t a good idea.” He turned his horse around.

“No.”

With his booted heel, Mack kicked himself off the fence post. “You might want to share with your girl here that she’s overstepping.”

“I think you just did.”

“Stop talking about me like I’m not here!”

Both men looked at her.

“I want to see Thomas!” The one thing she did not want to sound like was a petulant girl, and now she’d ruined her shot of trying to be adult and that made her angry. While she was in a stare down with Mack, she noticed his awful red hair, sticking every which way under the hat’s brim.

“I’ll be staying at Lacey’s. Tell him where to find me.” She would take Lacey’s advice and wait for Thomas to come to her.

*** *** ***

“Cameron!” Lacey came running out of the hotel and practically pulled her from the horse. “Are you all right? What happened? Tell me everything. Did you find Thomas?” She placed her hands on either side of Cameron’s face. “Well?”

“If you’ll let her catch her breath she might be able to say a word or two.” Jake tied his horse to the post in front of the hotel. Kindly, he removed the reins from Cameron’s grasp and it appeared he was returning Sandy to the livery.

Lacey continued clucking like a mother hen. “You don’t know these men. You have to tread carefully, not go traipsing out there all by yourself. Yes, they help the town but they also do other things, things that are against the law.”

“I don’t understand about all of that but… I’m grateful you sent Jake my way.”

*** *** ***

Jake was replenishing himself with alcohol, relaxing and allowing one of Liam’s girls, Charlotte, to provide him some company until he heard a light voice say his name.

“Jake?”

He turned to find Cameron calling him from the entry of the saloon—it was clear she had no intention of coming any further than that.

He watched her slender throat swallow nervously.

“I wanted to say thank you for today and I need to know what I owe you for Sandy.”

He was confused and she explained, “The horse. Her name is Sandy. What did you have to pay for her return?”

With purpose, he shifted so Charlotte had to get off his lap. He heard her grunt in exasperation. He could care less about her being annoyed when he had a puritan such as Cameron seeking him out. He walked the short distance separating them, taking his time to peruse the faded blue dress and high lace collar of her attire. Very prim and proper in contrast to Charlotte’s red satin, low cut dress revealing all for the eye to see.

He leaned against the door frame that she refused to step through. “Join me for a drink.”

He caught himself from laughing at her panicked expression. “Come on, you won’t be tainted I assure you.”

“Oh, I… I couldn’t,” she stammered.

She twiddled her fingers awkwardly, clearly undecided. He wondered what happened to the brazen girl ready to storm onto Engel property earlier in the day.

“Do you have something else to do—another adventure, perhaps?” he nettled.

He thought she was going to take flight and ceased his mocking. “Really, a friendly drink. There’s nothing else to do at this hour.”

He hoped an honest look would reassure her.

“Suppose I’m ready to try anything once.”

“I’ve already seen you
try
more than I care to. I know one thing about you, ain’t nobody going to stop you from doing something you set your mind to.”

He ushered her to a table far from Charlotte. He didn’t need Cameron spooked any more than she was. Kimberly made her way through the throng of rowdiness and asked for their preferred drink.

“Whiskey for me, sarsaparilla for the lady.”

Cameron leaned in towards him and whispered, “Who is that woman and why would she be glaring at me?”

He didn’t bother to turn. “She is Charlotte, and is nothing to worry about.”

She didn’t look convinced but he couldn’t help that. Charlotte had laid claim on him months ago and he’d foolishly allowed it. Now that there was someone in town he’d actually be interested in getting to know, he knew Charlotte would be a problem. He took in Cameron’s innocent features, peering around the saloon with both avid curiosity and caution, and vowed to release Charlotte from any thinking she had on him.

Chapter Four

By the next week Cameron was comfortable at Lacey’s and was enjoying getting acquainted with the townspeople. She’d also taken to copying Lacey’s style. Realizing how severe the bun at the nape of her neck must make her appear, she now wore a few tendrils loose and frequently colored her cheeks with a small amount of rouge. She knew in order to get someone like Jake Collins to look her way, she should not seem like the plain farm girl she was.

She was cleaning the floor of the hallway when she heard the front door bells chime. She was surprised anyone would be calling in the heavy downpour of rain they were having that day. She rose from her hands and knees to greet the entrant. Regretfully, she stood face to face with Mack from her brother’s ranch.

His expression lit up with an unsavory smile. “Well, well, well. I sure didn’t expect to see you here.” He looked at her slowly from head to toe, deliberate in making her uneasy. “I’d forgotten about you.”

He slid off his wet poncho and hat and hung them on the rack beside the door. After shifting his stance fully towards her he said, “I see you’ve busied yourself with scrubbing floors. Does this mean you’re stayin’?”

Cameron reclaimed herself and gathered her wits. Firmly, she scooped up her skirts and stepped forward. “Yes, I’m staying. And you can tell that to my brother.” She was not being timid and it pleased her to acknowledge this when Jake wasn’t even at her side. She held on to this courage. “I want you to tell Thomas that he needn’t worry about me ruining up his life. I just want to talk to him about Mama, and if he wants me to after that, I’ll leave him be.”

“I don’t fancy on doin’ something for nothin’ lady. So, tell me what you have to offer for my good services.”

“Mack Owens!” Lacey had appeared straight out of the woodwork and gave a verbal lashing before ordering him away. He smiled peculiarly before sauntering off into the saloon.

*** *** ***

After that, Mack had been nothing but pleasant, if not charming, while Cameron served him dinner. The only other patrons who dared the gloomy weather to eat at Lacey’s were Jake, who apparently ate there often. Lacey’s beau Sheriff Ed Randall, Mack and Lance, who surprised Cameron as being a part of her brother’s gang. Lance seemed to be a tender-hearted grandfatherly type of fellow. The other seven guests who were staying at the hotel were stuck inside as well. Everyone ate quietly.

Looking outside, there was no encouragement of the rain letting up at all. The main street in town was covered by a good three inches of dirty water. Cameron witnessed an article of clothing, some twigs and leaves float on by.

Within hours it was pitch black outside; angry, thick patches of gray clouds had covered the entire sky, as if it were suffocating any light that would dare attempt to squeeze through. Everyone in the dining hall was justifiably uneasy. And it was only three o’clock in the afternoon.

Cameron delivered another round of soup to the men. She felt Jake’s eyes on her and willed herself not to look his handsome way. That determination did not last long as she was weak and lost quickly to her will. When she couldn’t take it anymore, her eyes locked onto his and a foreign sensation filtered throughout her core.

“He’s not for you, Cameron Engel. You’re sweet and he’s… well, he’s anything but.” Lacey was quick to input. “Now go fetch our guests some pie.”

The darkness loomed, reflecting the mood of everyone trapped at the inn. Even Liam had come over from his side of the hotel when he heard Cameron offering the sweet dessert. Suddenly the front door opened wide and banged shut as someone entered, startling the ladies present.

“Who died?” A cowboy asked cordially, stomping mud into the foyer. He had everyone’s attention, especially Lacey’s.

“No one died, Jesse! And I would have you not bring mud into my dining room!”

“Well I’m hungry.”

Having no clue why Lacey would treat a guest this way Cameron stepped in and offered to get him some dinner.

“There now.” He shook off his hat and looked hard at Lacey. “That’s what I call hospitality. You might learn from this fine young woman.”

Cameron hid her smile and brought him a bowl of warmed up beef and onion soup and set it down before him. Immediately she became shy. He was a handsome young man. With his hat off, she took in a full head of blonde curls and a most charming smile. And the way he observed her with blatant appreciation, just about made her giddy. Never before had she gained so much male attention.

“Thank you Ma’am.” He dipped his head to her.

She heard a grunt come from Jake as he provided Jesse with a look of contempt. Cameron was unsure of what to do with everyone’s issues in this town. Could no one get along?

Lance, it seemed, couldn’t take it anymore. And to her relief he made an announcement. “Come on everyone, let’s go engage ourselves in a game of cards.” He rose from the booth without looking to see if anyone followed and headed to the card tables.

Cameron took another peek into the premature darkness and thought it spooky. She would be grateful for some games if it meant not going up all alone to her room.

She made sure to take a breath before approaching Jesse again. His fine looks could knock the wind right out of a woman. She made her way behind the others and went to the saloon with more confidence than the first time.

*** *** ***

Jake observed Cameron, her golden hair slightly in disarray, loosed from hairpins with her running around serving dinner. He frowned slightly at her actions towards Jesse, he was a no-good womanizer. Yet he couldn’t deny that the cowhand was closer to Cameron’s age than he was. He didn’t care about that too much at the moment and decided to keep her attentions on anyone but Jesse. He motioned her over, pulling out the empty chair next to his. A smile came from her and he couldn’t help but gloat as he’d won her by his side for the evening.

She hesitated a moment. “I don’t know how to play.”

“Seems like I can teach you a thing or two.”

Lacey shot him a hot look. He winked in response, undaunted by her undue protectiveness.

“Just watch for a bit, you’ll pick it up fine.”

Liam brought her a sarsaparilla without being asked.

As she was taking a dainty sip Jake noticed her eyelashes sweep over a unique color of hazel eyes. Something happened then to his insides, a tickling sensation he had not quite experienced before. He felt Lacey watching him, and refused to acknowledge her in any way.

Soon enough, the evening’s mood seemed to be ignited by the drink and laughter that followed and he began to teach Cameron how to play.

Jesse found himself Kimberly and they snuggled up to the piano where Violet played a fast-paced tune and the trio began to sing a terrible, side-splitting, off-key song. Unfortunately the racket seemed to draw Charlotte out of bed and in all her glory she sauntered down the stairs, instantly fixating her lusty gaze on Jake. She started to offer him her best smile when her eyes swayed to Cameron where her smile faltered, then vanished altogether. He planned to ignore her too, but it proved to be difficult as she walked into the room in her sultry way, provocatively sliding her hands across Mack’s back. As if that’d make him jealous. He nearly scoffed out loud as she made her way to Lance, but then it was his turn. She got to him and walked her fingers across his shoulders and lingered her jeweled hand there to squeeze him possessively.