Lincoln County Series 1-3 (9 page)

The next morning Jake went to the dining room to catch a cup of fresh coffee before heading to the Gun Shop. For a few moments he watched Cameron serve a busy crowd of patrons. When she made her way to Andrew’s table, a smile eased over her soft features and she poured him a cup of steaming coffee.

He was uneasy at the familiarity the two had with each other. Looking intensely upon Andrew, he supposed females might call that handsome. He sauntered over and heard Andrew ask her to go on a ride that afternoon. When Cameron saw him, she was extremely discomfited. Good.

“You’re welcome to come, too,” Andrew offered upon seeing his intrusion. So polite their reverend was.

Cameron managed to slide past mumbling something about getting Hank Levins his hot cakes. Her departure left him standing there with the person he wanted to least be around at the moment.

“I got work to do. Maybe another time, Rev.”

*** *** ***

It had been offered on impulse. Never was it Andrew’s intention to seek out Cameron’s attentions. Their initial times visiting were meant to move along the boredom of living in a hotel. He was in Lincoln County to begin a church, not spend time dilly-dallying around with friends. For certain he needed to be concentrating on the Lord’s good works. He would repent later, but for now, all reservations flew right on out of his mind when he saw Cameron emerge from the hotel. He bounded from the buggy seat and assisted her from the boardwalk step. “Well, don’t you look a picture.”

“I hope that is a compliment.”

“It is.”

When they arrived at the blank slate of land that would host his future home, they walked a piece before settling onto a blanket. Cameron pulled out a chunk of cheese and set out dried apples, which they snacked on for a bit, comfortable in silence. His heart constricted. Cameron was kind, beautiful and eager to learn whatever he had to share. But she was also troubled and he sensed insecurity about her like a cloud. That was not something he wanted to interfere with. Perhaps coming out here alone wasn’t the brightest idea he’d ever had.

She searched his face. “Care to share your thoughts?”

He pulled a blade of grass and placed it between his teeth. “Just thinking about the church.”

“We didn’t have a church in Ludenville, so I can only imagine what it’s like.”

She nibbled on some cheese and he asked, “You planning on coming?”

She shrugged. Not the response he’d been expecting. He didn’t want to press, so took to teasing instead.

“You could pretend some enthusiasm you know.”

Looking embarrassed, she amended, “Of course I’ll come.”

“That’s better.” He pointed in the direction north of where they relaxed. “That’s where I am going to build. It’ll be a far cry from living in a three story home back East, but I’m looking forward to getting back to living in Kansas. I’ve missed it.”

“Let’s go over to where you plan to build. I want you to make an imaginary outline of it for me.”

She sprang up and waited for him to follow. He grinned. Cameron was so full of life, he wondered if he’d ever be able to resist her by saying no to anything. They got to the plot, and with his booted foot, he drew lines in the dirt where each room would be.

“Two rooms?” She teased.

Awkwardly he answered, “Just preparing for…family one day, I suppose.”

“That’s wise. My mama and me had a big ‘ol farm all to ourselves. I loved being there with her, feeding the chickens, baking.” She studied him. “I bet you’re going to need something like that. You should be planning on more rooms than you can count. I’ve seen how those Swanson sisters swoon over you.”

He was shocked to embarrassment at her blatancy.

She giggled.

“Now that was not amusing Cameron Engel!”

“I thought it was. You should have seen the look on your face.”

She headed off to the direction of their blanket and he followed. She was like nobody he ever knew and was fast making her way into his heart.

*** *** ***

Jake was in the saloon when Andrew returned Cameron to the restaurant. He sat in a chair with a precise view to the foyer of the hotel. He saw the couple come inside laughing together, and he noticed Andrew’s hand resting gently around Cameron’s waist as he guided her inside, as if she needed his help. Jake harrumphed and took a swig of his whiskey. One more glance at her and her mussed up hair told him that she’d had an enjoyable time.

He never wanted Cameron more than he did now.

Charlotte honed in like a viper. “You look like you could use another drink.”

He snapped his bloodshot eyes at Charlotte, shaking his head as if to focus on her. Specks of perspiration dotted her upper lip, causing the red paint she wore to bleed through the tiny wrinkles that spiked away from corners of her full, lush lips like small streams in the mountains.

“I miss you.” She ran her finger coyly around the rim of his glass, looking him up and down.

He snorted in disgust. “I’m not interested anymore,” he said acidly. He tossed down the drink she brought him, and stared straight ahead.

“Ignoring me isn’t going to work. I know you’re lonely. Is she ever going to give you what I can?”

He glared at her. “Don’t you talk about her. You don’t know nothin’ about it!”

“Well, you won’t to say it, but I will. No one else can love you like I can, you know that.”

Angrily Jake scraped the chair against the floor and stalked off. Then he remembered he needed cured of Cameron Engel and her innocence, which he refused to ruin. Vigorously, he came back to Charlotte, pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

*** *** ***

It was dawn, the crisp morning air unaffected from the still rising sun. It was Cameron’s turn to assist Cook with preparing food for the day. She heard someone coming down the stairs at the early hour. Thinking it might be a guest, she went to offer her assistance if it was needed.

She blanched when she saw Jake stop in the middle of the stairs to finish tucking in his shirt and buckle his belt. He adjusted the gun belt at his hip and slowly descended the last few steps. He halted when he saw her, and she thought she saw a flicker of remorse in his eyes, for what reason she wasn’t exactly sure.

Until Charlotte practically danced around the corner. “Jake, honey. You forgot your hat.”

“Cameron?” Cook called out to her. “Is something wrong?”

She held Jake’s eyes with hers. “No, it’s just a cowpoke leaving a whore’s room.” She choked on a shaky sob and hustled back to the kitchen.

Chapter Fifteen

That evening, as the saloon was finally quieting down for the night, someone ran in and yelled. “Fire! About two miles that way… I think it’s the church!”

Jake bolted up the stairs to Andrew’s room, knocking relentlessly.

Andrew opened the door, rubbing his eyes.

“Get your pants on, Reverend. The church is on fire.”

Jake exited the hotel and witnessed a dozen outlaws swarming down the hill. He swore, and for what it was worth, ran to get the sheriff. He found Ed locking up the jail. “We got trouble!”

At the same moment, it seemed the outlaws had made it to town and were pounding through the streets, smashing windows and breaking down doors in a pillaging rampage.

With urgency and regret, Ed ordered, “Go get Thomas, this is too big for us.”

*** *** ***

Cameron and Lacey gasped as an intruder forced his way into the hotel. The man stood in the foyer, gun in hand.

Lacey whispered, “Go to your room. I’ll deal with this.”

“You know
him
?”

“Ken Murphy, an enemy of that brother of yours.”

As much as she wanted to flee at the sight of this grossly intimidating man who looked as though he would devour them, she wouldn’t leave Lacey alone with him.

“What do we have here?”

“Leave us alone, we have nothing to do with your business with Thomas.”

Her words sparked anger. “Everything in this town has to do with my business.” He shoved them into the saloon. “I aim to take back what’s mine!”

Another man entered and reported to Ken, “There’s a couple of old ladies up there and two little kids. I left Frank to keep watch. They won’t be of any good to us, that’s fer sure.” He laughed heartily.

How many men were there? Where was Andrew? Cameron could barely think. Why couldn’t she be brave like Lacey?

Charlotte appeared just then. She seemed oblivious to the fear and danger going on around her as she volunteered the worst information possible. “Have you met Lacey’s minion yet? Her name’s Cameron Engel… as in, Thomas’s sister.”

Tauntingly, Ken made his way over to her.

Lacey exploded, “So help me, you lay a hand on her and you’ll be sorry.”

Cameron thought for sure they were both dead but Ken seemed amused. “Your men will soon be done fighting that fire. I need you two to keep us company until the big fish arrives.”

*** *** ***

Andrew fell to his knees in front of what used to be the entrance of his church. He seized raw dirt with his blackened hands and held it up towards the sky. “I don’t understand. What is Your plan in this?”

His veins bulged at his temples and he pushed his scratchy, hoarse voice to its limits. It hurt to take in a breath. The dirt slipped loosely from his hands before he wept, his shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

After a while he wiped his eyes and nose clear—to better see the destruction before him. Heavy timber—once the ceiling beams—lay on top of the still burning coals like toothpicks that fell from their box. The once important bell was smeared with soot and nestled in the middle of the rubble, otherwise unscathed. Smoke floated up in strangled threads from the piles of wood, ash, metal and colored glass—leaving a haunting affect in its wake.

In his grief, Andrew managed to get back to town and saw the destruction of it as well, leaving no doubt that they were under attack. Darting through the shadows and alleys of the town’s buildings, he made his way unnoticed to Jake’s Gun Shop. The place had been ransacked but he grabbed one of the remaining weapons and quickly armed himself.

Someone had followed. Andrew slid behind a darkened door with his gun cocked and ready to fire, sweat pouring down his face. The slow, booted footsteps were getting closer. He could tell the man was being as cautious as he. The door opened, creaking slightly on its hinges. Silence.

“Hold it right there!” Andrew ordered dryly.

Jake raised both of his hands and released his forefinger from the trigger.

“Ya really gonna shoot an old friend, Reverend?” He pivoted slightly so Andrew could see his profile in the pale moonlight.

“You scared me half to death, man!”

“If it were anyone else robbing me, I would be hanging him from the nearest tree.” Jake looked at the empty display cases where his guns once were. The few boxes of ammunition that remained were scattered across the floor. “Are you really ready to shoot someone? I know you’re no coward, but doesn’t it go against...heck, I don’t know, against God or something?”

“I’m here to do what needs done. That’s all there is to it.”

“Let’s go to it then.”

Andrew and Jake were soon next to Thomas, who was slouched behind a wagon bed. Without greeting or spite, he filled them in. “I counted three men down that way, to the right, protecting their horses.”

Andrew turned to find an outlaw coming up on Jake. He had no choice and fired his weapon. The man fell to the ground, writhing around. Under cover, Andrew belly crawled to the body, aiming his gun at the man’s head to complete the job, the vision of his burning church raw in his mind. He looked at the blood flowing from the gut wound and hesitated.

“Finish it!” the man pleaded, groaning in agony.

Andrew’s hand shook. “Oh, God! I can’t do it!” Not like that, so close and so brutal. He heard a shot zing past him, striking the man in the head.

Jake fired the final shot on his behalf.

*** *** ***

This town was madness! Shots were being fired back and forth, but Cameron had no idea who was shooting at who.

A moment later she heard Thomas’s voice ring through the night air. “Took ya long enough to find me, Ken Murphy. Your men are a bit anxious with their guns. I’ve killed me three already,” he boasted. “There’s gonna be a whole lot more dead if you don’t come out now and fight like a man ‘stead of hidin’ behind skirts.”

Cameron and Lacey looked at each other. Did Thomas have to taunt their captor so? Unfortunately, she’d come to know how Thomas dealt with lawlessness in his town. He cared nothing about hostages or innocent bystanders. His only concern was showing the offenders he was boss. Waves of nausea swept over her. If they didn’t fight to get themselves out of this, there was no telling what might happen to them in the hands of Ken’s men. Or, the more she thought about it, at the hands of her brother.

Ken made clear his purpose and threat. “We just want you, Thomas. I’ll give back these whores the moment I see your face!”

“And I think you’re gonna kill ’em anyway!”

Lacey looked ready to jump through the window and throttle him. “If Thomas thinks he’s going to leave us in here do die for his despicable pride, I’m going to give him what’s coming to him!”