Lincoln County Series 1-3 (8 page)

She retrieved the miniature glass, held her breath and drank it all at once, as her encouraging teacher showed her. A warm, tingly, burning sensation followed after the liquid went down. She sputtered a moment, placed a hand over her heart and closed her eyes, savoring the unexpected effect.

When she opened them and licked her lips, she was completely unaware of the effect she was having on the charmer sitting across from her. She reached for the second shot.

“Whoa, slow down, it might be tasty now, but it’s gonna get your head spinning if you don’t take it easy.”

“Well, you’re done with both of yours. I’m just trying to catch up.”

No one was going to hold her back now. She drank the second one and the same fuzzy feeling came, spreading warmth through her, only she didn’t choke up this time around.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right, although I reckon I’m a little more used to this than you are.”

Lolling her head back, she attempted to focus on scenes of Greek statues and gardens painted on the ceiling, unwittingly exposing the curves of her neck and shoulders. “I’ve had so much fun today. And you topped it all off by befriending me. Thank you.” She lowered her eyes on him.

She watched his Adam’s apple swallow hard and heard him order another drink for each of them. Cameron’s mind had an indistinct feeling overwhelm her, but its effect was not upsetting
.

The third shot of rum was at her lips when Lacey appeared and stood angrily in front of Jesse. Readily, he stood up and over her by a good two feet. Cameron liked how his blonde, curly hair peeked out from the sides of his hat, hair that a girl could envy, it looked so soft. Cameron imagined weaving it in between her fingers, but Lacey’s impolite voice broke her happy thoughts.

“Just what do you think you’re doing? She’s never had a drop of liquor before in her life!” She got as close to Jesse’s face as she could, standing on her tiptoes to do it.

“He knows
that,
Lacey!” Cameron said matter-of-factly before taking in the last drink.

Jesse smirked. “Come on, let’s go somewhere where it’s more quiet
.
” He held out his hand, which she accepted and staggered up beside him.

“I’m telling you, you’re not taking her anywhere. Cameron, get over here!”

Cameron’s eyes grew wide. “Leave me alone. This is what I want to do.”

“Honey, you don’t even know what it is you’re asking for!”

Embarrassment stole over Cameron’s whole being. “That’s what you think—you think you’re the only one who can be a
kissing doormat?
Well, I have news for you, you don’t get to kiss
this one
tonight!” Cameron pulled Jesse out of the room, oblivious to the rush of hot air Lacey breathed out and the look of shock on her face.

Jesse laughed and mumbled, “Well I’ll be! I’ve never before seen anyone talk to her
that way.”

Cameron stopped dead still as Jake Collins, whose presence seemed to fill the doorframe, overpowered her senses. She took a step back into Jesse after seeing the murderous look on Jake’s face. Moved by hurt and rebellion, she held her head high and tried to pass him, while clinging to Jesse.

“Don’t do it,” he said in a low voice, briefly closing his eyes. If she’d had a clear head, she would have seen his pleading gaze.

“Stay out of this,” Jesse warned.

White spots seemed to be attacking her from all directions. First their handsome faces became blurred and then rude blackness came. She passed out in a heap at the bottom of the stairs.

*** *** ***

Neither man had been ready to catch her—so intent were they with each other.

“Get out of here Jesse. You don’t care a fig about this girl.” Lacey pushed past him and knelt beside Cameron.

“Fool of a girl!” she scolded. “Jake, please, take her to her room for me.”

Jake finished his stare down with Jesse and it took all self-control not to thrash him then and there. If Cameron hadn’t needed him at the moment, most likely he would have offered Jesse an option for a nice dust up outside. Only when Jesse realized Cameron was out of commission, did he back down. Jake sighed and bent down to get a gentle hold on her and carried her up the stairs. He laid her neatly onto the bed and carefully adjusted a blanket about her. He’d wanted to visit with her all day, but was hosting a guest for business. When he finally had the opportunity to introduce them, he saw her dancing it up with Jesse. If he hadn’t been so caught up in his business deal, he might have stirred trouble that very moment. As he thought about it, he should of. He looked down at Cameron and her innocent face, unblemished and sleeping peacefully. He took a chance to smooth away a strand of hair across her brow. His stomach tightened at the thought of her with anyone and grunted in disgust. Jesse was no good, then again, he wasn’t so good himself and wondered at the mess he was getting himself into emotionally. Either way, she deserved better than the likes of both of them. The question was, why didn’t she see that?

Chapter Thirteen

July arrived swiftly with an incredible force of hammering heat. Cameron wiped her perspiring brow with a cloth napkin and readied a table for teatime. She had given up on Thomas, who clearly had no care as to her existence. But it turned out to be no matter. She’d made a life here regardless. She was surrounded by people she cared about and who cared about her, what more could she want?

Tonight, Liam was promoting a new imported beer and even hired a professional singer to entertain clientele. Cameron knew it was sure to be a crowded night and one that she would avoid. Since her humiliating moments after the picnic, she’d stayed away from the saloon as much as possible. And during the day, when no one was likely to be around, she and Andrew would visit over a cup of coffee. She enjoyed his simplicity and kindness and was impressed when he talked about his God. Cameron had no idea there was so much to the Bible. Although they were good stories to her, she could see how much Andrew believed in them.

As she had done countless times in the past two weeks, she replayed over and over that formidable night. It was a blessing she didn’t remember everything, only she knew she’d made a fool of herself, throwing herself at a man—not just any man, but one of Thomas’s gang—as if that’d make her brother want to get to know her!

There was something about Andrew that made her comfortable in sharing the mortifying event, maybe because she was confessing to a preacher, although it still made her cringe. When she did, he digested it and said thoughtfully, “We all make mistakes.” He folded his hands in front of him and leaned across the dining table. “Are you looking to have someone fill a void in your life? It’s something to think about, Cameron. Your pa abandoned you, and Thomas is not showing up as your family. We all want to be accepted, there’s nothing wrong in that.”

He made comments to her with gentleness and without judgment. On the days when she felt she was no better than Charlotte or any of the other saloon girls, she realized Andrew’s friendship is what was beginning to matter, because she knew he did not believe that about her. Although she wasn’t quite sure about his God, she enjoyed their discussions.

It was nearing time for her tea with Andrew and she was about to welcome him when she heard him coming. When she looked up to do so it wasn’t Andrew standing in the entrance of the restaurant, it was Jake. It was the first time she’d been face to face with him since the Fourth of July.

*** *** ***

Jake caught Cameron’s eyes with his and held them. There were unsaid things between them. They haven’t spoken since the night he wanted to punch Jesse’s face in. He watched her squirm uncomfortably. Finally she broke away from his intense look, and being the professional she was, she came over and offered to serve him some food. As he slid into the booth, he could not help but inhale the sweet scent of her. Her nearness brought the memory of their last moment together. He wondered if Jesse had ever made it back to complete what he’d begun. At the thought, Jake clenched his hands open and shut. So help him if he ever hurt Cameron.

Andrew entered the dining room, breaking Jake away from violent thoughts. It hadn’t dawned on him that anything was out of the ordinary until he saw Andrew walk in a very familiar fashion towards Cameron. She said something, and only then did he make his way to Jake’s table.

“Care to eat?” Jake offered.

“I’ve already had something, thank you.”

Jake noticed a lone table set for tea, then brought his attention back to Cameron. It didn’t take much to make out that Andrew had come for her company. He felt her body language shift and noticed she sought to keep busy. Her behavior was irritating and he’d not allow her to avoid him. “Cameron, why don’t you join us? There’s no one else here, come on now.”

Andrew encouraged her as well, so she didn’t have much of a choice. Jake stood first, making it obvious she had to share the bench with him. He was being ornery, but something was up. He could feel it even if he didn’t know what it was. Once she planted herself inside, he sat. For a long while he did not move, not even an inch, trapping her between himself and the wall.

“It’s nice to see you. Have you missed me?”

She peered from him to Andrew. “It’s nice to see you too, Jake.” Her voice was controlled, her head bent as she stared at her hands resting in her lap.

Andrew cleared his throat.

What was going on? He didn’t care if he was being difficult. Why were these two suddenly the best of acquaintances? Did every man around these parts want Cameron? He twitched his jaw for calm and decided to get rid of his buddy.

“Andrew, I saw Jim from the assayer’s office on my way here, said he needed to confirm a few things with you.”

“I hope it wasn’t urgent.”

“Nah, but I just remembered it now.”

Andrew looked upon Cameron apologetically, which irked Jake all the more. He hated secret glances and unspoken messages. “Till later, Cameron?”

She looked like she wished the seat would swallow her whole. “Yes.”

As soon as Andrew departed, Jake decided to opt out of the teasing. Besides, he’d lost his teasing mood. “What’s that nonsense?”

“What do you mean?”

He would take a more humbling approach. “I never thanked you for seeing me when I was sick. No one else did—it was you who brought me food and kept me company. I really am
grateful to you.”

“Then why didn’t you see me at all during the festivities? I was hoping you would have picnicked with me.” She turned her honeyed eyes to him.

“I was with a partner on business that day. We had to discuss an opportunity,” he said in his defense.

“You managed to see her that day, as well as...”

“What?”

“Both times I saw you Jake, you were either waiting in line to kiss on Lacey, or in Charlotte’s presence. This is silly. Please...please let me out,” she pleaded.

“Now hold on a minute! Charlotte spotted us, and before we could get away, she was on us like a frog on a lily pad.”

“I think if you’d wanted to, you would have introduced me to your friend.”

It was his turn to glance away. He refused to share what he felt upon seeing her in Jesse’s arms at that blasted dance. She was right. He didn’t go out of his way to see her—heck, he was still trying to figure out why this woman had the effect on him that she did. He was eleven years older, she was too young, too inexperienced. He’d lived a rough life, she, a sheltered one and still exploring her identity.

He looked into her eyes and sighed inwardly. He knew she wouldn’t settle for what he wanted. She had more class and morality than that, even if she didn’t know it. But looking upon her physical beauty and sweet nature, it was not as easy as he thought it would be. Could he tell her that she was in his mind every day, all day?

He toyed awhile with the teaspoon and decided to clear something up. “Am I the reason for you being with Jesse?”

This thought had plagued him, though he was sure he knew the answer. He tried not to show anger, but it was all he could do to keep his focus on the shiny spoon in front of him.

“I guess it was. I’m ashamed of it.” She turned her body fully towards him. “Can things just get back to the way they were? It’s not too late, is it?”

He felt his jaw twitch. “I’m only glad that you fainted before...”

“I won’t do anything as foolish as that ever again. I promise.”

“None of us should make promises we can’t keep. I have no right to ask you to make such promises anyway.” He didn’t want her to think he was angry with her, but couldn’t accept the feelings stealing over him, so he said, “I’ve gotta check on the store. I’ll see you soon.”

Chapter Fourteen