Lincoln County Series 1-3 (42 page)

In greeting, Stephen clamped Jake on the shoulder. “Well look at you—gearing up for a wedding day. Who’d have ever thought?”

Taking his jest in stride, Jake answered, “Me. That’s who.”

“And a preacher to boot? She must be something. I can’t wait to meet her.”

“We’re on our way now. She’s staying at Lacey’s Place with her son until we wed tomorrow.”

Stephen halted their walk mid-way to the hotel. “Soon to be your son.”

Jake would have to get used to that. He nodded in agreement. The words spoken out loud would have felt foreign on his own tongue.

They picked up the pace again, and Jake smirked.

“You got something to say?” Stephen asked.

“The ladies reaction to you is all. Giddy as all get out.” Jake looked pointedly at the Swanson sisters, shamelessly peering at Stephen. How nice it would be to have his wife to come home to and never deal with the females again.

Stephen winked at them. “Pity I’ll be on my way after your wedding.”

“Yeah well, I got the only good one. You ain’t missing out on much.”

They had a good laugh, and when they entered the foyer of Lacey’s and his eyes met Cameron’s, nothing else would or could remotely matter at the moment.

*** *** ***

Cameron came to stand beside Jake and waited to be introduced. Stephen was nothing as she thought he’d be and was pleased Jake had a friend in him. For several hours they discussed the wedding plans for the morrow, over coffee in the restaurant.

Cameron smiled at Lacey, very much a part of the conversation. She couldn’t fathom how Lacey had conjured up such beautiful plans in two weeks’ time, although she wouldn’t have put it past her to do anything less.

As their discussion drew to a close, Stephen rose from his seat. “I’m proud of you Jake. The decisions you’ve obviously made since we last met are going to provide you with happiness.” He turned to Cameron. “I’m honored to be a part of your special day.”

Lacey chose to walk Stephen out, leaving Jake and Cameron alone. She asked him a question weighing on her mind. “You sure this isn’t too much? I’ve tried to scale Lacey back but she won’t budge. Everything has to be just so in order for her to be happy.” She left out the part that Lacey had given her grief that she’d missed out on her first wedding and wasn’t about to not take part in her wedding to Jake.

“You needn’t assure me of anything. Remember, I’ve known her a few years longer than you have.”

She took in his features, feeling less inhibited in doing so now. He was more attractive to her every day. Although she was being bold, she was the one to blush when he looked back at her with intensity. She was about to pull her gaze away, but gently, he cupped her chin and brought his lips to hers. When he was done engaging every emotion of passion possible within her core, he whispered, “I can hardly stand waiting until tomorrow.”

She gulped in panic but remained unmoving.

Finally he let out a small laugh. “You should see your face. I’m only speaking the truth. It does not mean that I intended on acting upon anything.” He gave her a less intimate peck on the nose and assured her, lest she doubt. “But once you’re mine, there will be nothing barring us from doing whatever we please, whenever we please.”

And with that, he walked out the door. This time, seeing his backside walking away from her only brought relief. She let out a shaky breath, hand over her heart and about fell over from dizziness. Lacey walked in just as she physically shuddered away the provoking thoughts and feelings invading her insides.

“My, my—you look a mite guilty Cameron Jackson, soon to be Collins. Come now, we must get to bed. You’re getting married in the morning.”

Cameron got to her room and thanked Penny for getting Drew to sleep. She slipped into bed beside her son and thought on his father. At complete peace, she knew this is what Andrew would have wished upon them.

*** *** ***

Cameron walked down the aisle. Lacey had outdone herself. Candles were everywhere. If she weren’t so preoccupied, she might fear a fire could spin out from them. White roses made from silk adorned every pew, and shiny material gathered on the floor beneath her feet, like a path of silky white water leading to Jake, who stood about as handsome as she could handle next to Stephen. She took a breath. Twenty steps, nineteen… smiling all the way, as best she could, at the wedding guests sporting grins of congratulations. Seeing Lacey, who was beaming, and Thomas, who in his brotherly way seemed relieved to pass her along to another, urged her forward step after step. Soon she stood beside the man she loved with all her heart. Drew, in Penny’s arms, seemed to affirm the union by letting out a bellow of giggles and unintelligible chatter. Both she and Jake turned to him before focusing back to each other, then to Stephen. Her heart was so filled with joy. Despite all of the hardships she’d endured over the years, God never failed to show His goodness.

After they were pronounced man and wife the celebration began. They did their duty of receiving kind and loving words from family and friends. For several hours Cameron felt Jake’s eyes boring into her, inside and out. She wasn’t sure he was going to go along with wedding etiquette much longer, and embarrassingly enough, it excited her. She knew where he was without laying eyes on him, and as soon as she gave him her attention, he departed the well-wishers surrounding him without a by your leave. She blushed, heavily. Politely excusing herself from Mrs. Kline, she met Jake halfway. It wouldn’t do to have him rip her away from old lady Kline, despite her eagerness to begin her life with him.

“Is Drew set to go with Penny and her Ma?” he asked briskly.

Warmth flooded her. “Yes, we only need to say good-bye to him.”

Ushering her around until they spotted Penny and Drew he said, “Let’s say that good-bye.”

The ride home was filled with a suspenseful quiet, almost as if they were each contemplating life without Andrew in it. They’d decided to live in her home. Drew was settled there and it was bigger than Jake’s. She’d taken initiative to remove Andrew’s belongings, keeping only what she knew Drew would want when he got older. Both she and Jake loved Andrew, and they knew he had loved them. Grabbing hold of this took the sting out of what they were about to share together.

Once there, Jake tied the reins and came to her. Without a word at all, he lifted her from the buggy seat and carried her inside.

Coming September– 2013

A Heart Worth Redeeming

Scores of people filled the city streets. Being midday, this contributed to the heightened flow of traffic. The train scheduled to leave from Chicago boomed its presence as it readied for departure.

“You’re all set to go, sir.” The train attendant pivoted on his heel and strolled over to the passenger waiting next in the long, endless line.

Blaine Jennings tucked the train ticket into his breast pocket. He checked his pocket watch. There was barely enough time to say good-bye to one of his closest and most trusted friends.

“Well, this is it. The time has come for me to go...”

“You’re doing the right thing.” Jacob Pearce shook Blaine’s hand.

“All aboard!”

The train whistle screeched again.

“I sincerely hope so. I do want to see my wife again, to win her back.”
My wife
...
Lacey
... The words fell from Blaine’s tongue, sounding most unnatural.

The line began to move much like herded cattle and Blaine and all his trepidation was being nudged forward. It all seemed to be happening too fast—this rash decision of his. Jacob held up his hand and waved. He, too, was inadvertently being pushed farther and farther from Blaine.

It was time.