Free Lincoln County Series 1-3 by Sarah Jae Foster

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