Cameron's Quest (10 page)

****

Lacey stood and excused herself to the group. “Since
you ladies were kind enough to bring lunch, the girls and I will adjourn to the
kitchen and get everything ready.” She motioned to the girls to follow her.

“You just sit yourselves back down,” said
Winnie. “You are the guests of honor. We’ll get lunch set out.”

Zakia and Leah nodded, getting to their feet.

“I remember what it was like to be pregnant,”
Lacey said, shaking her head. “And we don’t mind.”

“Then our pregnant ladies can relax, and I’ll
give you a hand in the kitchen.” Winnie’s tone brooked no argument as she led
the way from the room.

“We’re already on our feet, so we’ll come along
and keep you company,” Zakia said, hooking her arm in Leah’s and following the
other women.

Lacey thought it a good thing that
Cam
’s kitchen was a large one as the seven of them filed
in. Still, she was used to being in control in a kitchen and today proved no
different. “Do any of the dishes need to be reheated?”

“Mine does,” said Winnie. “It’s a ham and potato
scallop casserole.”

“I brought salad,” Leah said, “so it’s okay.”

“And I brought a mixture. The baked beans are in
the Crock-Pot so we just need to plug it in to heat up. We could warm the
dinner rolls if you like, and the tray of sweets is for dessert.”

“My word, girl! You’ve been busy,” Lacey said as
she plugged in the Crock-Pot. “Where do you find the energy? You look as if you’re
due any day.”

Zakia shrugged her shoulders and smiled. “I like
to keep busy. I’m not due for another two months.”

Lacey considered the size of the woman’s
protruding girth. “Twins again?”

“Lord, I hope not. The ultrasound only showed
one, but the technician thought she heard two heartbeats.”

“And Leah? When is your baby arriving?” Lacey
asked as she turned to face her.

“Sometime in June, I think. My ultrasound is
next week. I already know I’m having a girl,” Leah said as she rubbed a loving
hand over her stomach.

“I hope we’re still here when the babies arrive,”
Abby said, a look of longing on her face.

“Wouldn’t that be great?” said Rena.

“Yeah,” said Lynne. “I’d love to see the ranch
in summer.”

“It’s not uncommon to have an early spring
around here,” Winnie commented. “One good Chinook and the snow melts pretty
quick.”

“What’s a Chinook?” asked Lynne.

Winnie smiled at Lynne’s question. “It’s a warm
wind that swoops in and can melt a foot of snow in one day. I’ve seen
temperatures go from minus twenty degrees Celsius to twenty degrees Celsius and
stay with us for several days before plummeting again. Doesn’t take much of
that for the snow to disappear.”

“Do you think there will be one this year?”
asked Abby.

“We never know. Could be.”

“Then I guess Dad better take us skiing before
that happens,” Rena joked. “Hard to ski without snow.”

While they talked, Lacey saw Rena walk to a
pantry closet and come back with two huge wooden center sections to extend the
table. It was so uncanny how she knew where everything was. She even unearthed
a bright yellow tablecloth, making the scene just a little more festive.

The girls set the table and Winnie put her
casserole in the oven to heat. The rolls were in the warming oven of the wood
stove, and Lacey had brewed a fresh pot of coffee. “Thanks for thinking to
bring a coffee urn, Zakia. With this crew, we’d be forever jumping up and down
to make more. Does anyone prefer tea?”

“Lucas and I should, but we’re fine with coffee,”
Winnie answered. “He grabs one every chance he can get.”

“I used to cater, and the urn does come in handy.
I brought a thermos of decaf for Leah and me. Too much caffeine isn’t good for
the babies or my nerves.” Zakia laughed, a soft sound that did a lot toward
making Lacey feel more like a friend…or a member of the family. Either way, it
was a good feeling. The other ladies joined in, and Lacey couldn’t help feeling
that there was nothing better than shared laughter to make a person feel
welcome.

Cam
entered the kitchen while they were all
laughing and smiling. His gaze locked with hers, and she knew just how happy he
was to have her here. Maybe it wasn’t too late for them after all.

“Is lunch just about ready? That brother of mine
is always starving.”

“Yes, you can tell the men to come on back,”
said Lacey.

“And that rascal husband of mine better stick to
his diet,” Winnie declared.

“Aw, come on, luv,” Lucas appealed as he came to
stand beside
Cam
. “It’s a celebration. Don’t
be naggin’ on me today.”

“All right, but just a little of each. I intend
to keep you around for a good long time.”

“Yes, luv,” he said, his eyes lighting up.

Lacey didn’t know if it was due to his wife’s
words or the food set out, but Lucas was positively beaming with happiness as
he took a seat at one end of the table.

When Rena switched seats with Abby, refusing to
sit by the patio door, it caused Lacey a brief moment of concern. Was it
something to do with her dream? She’d have to speak with her after their
company left. Otherwise, lunch was a splendid time of sharing and getting to
know one another. Even the twins were well-behaved, which earned them an extra
treat for dessert.

“There’s a new club in town I’ve been wanting to
check out,” said Michael. “It’s called The Rodeo, country music, western line
dances and everything. Would you girls be interested in accompanying me?”

“When?” asked Rena, clearly excited.

Michael smiled in response. “Tonight okay? I
have tomorrow off.”

“Mama?” All three girls looked at her, expecting
an answer, even Abby, the shyest of the three.

“You are all beyond the age where you have to
ask permission. I think it’s nice of Michael to want to show you around,” she
said.

“Show them off is more like it. I’ll be the envy
of every guy there.” Michael preened comically and laughter surrounded the
table.

“Will you be drinking?” asked
Cam
.

“Not planning to, but if I do, I’ll call for a
ride back. All right?”

Cam
nodded, apparently pleased by Michael’s
assurance.

“Should we wait up just in case?” asked Lacey.

“Nope. I have an entire precinct at my beck and
call. Not to worry.” Michael’s charming smile eased her tension as much as his
words.

Cam
rose and went to the key rack on the wall. “Here.
You’ll be needing a key if we’ve gone to bed.” He passed it to Lynne, who was
sitting the closest to where he stood.

“Thanks, Papa.”

Everyone seemed to take that as a cue to leave.
They got up from the table and had everything cleared away and the kitchen
spotless in no time.

On his way out the door, Michael said, “How
about I pick you girls up around six? I’ll show you around town and take you to
dinner before we hit the bar.”

“That sounds fantastic,” said Rena, never one to
miss out on a good thing. Lynne and Abby only nodded, but Lacey could tell they
were eagerly anticipating a night on the town with Winnie’s handsome son.

Which meant she’d be alone with Cameron. She
shot a quick glance his way, relieved to see him in conversation with his
brother. For brothers, they certainly looked nothing alike. She preferred
Cam
’s classically handsome features to the rugged,
outdoors look of Lucas.

What would he feel at their being alone tonight?
Would their time together be filled with uncomfortable silence or would they
work toward…what? Dare she put a name to it? She’d been so attracted to him in
Ireland
, yet
the fear of his leaving again had kept her at arm’s length. That attraction was
still there and had kept her awake most of the night. Should she tell him? No,
she’d wait and see how things played out.

“Thank you for putting up with this crew today.
We were all dying to meet you,” said Winnie as she enveloped her in a warm hug.

“We’ve been anxious to meet
Cam
’s
family, too. Thank you all for providing lunch.”

“You’re welcome. And I must say, you did a fine
job raising those girls. They’re a joy.”

“Thank you, Winnie.”

No sooner did the door close behind their
departing guests than the girls started squealing and talking excitedly.

“What am I going to wear?”

“I need to wash my hair.”

“I’m going to hit the shower.”

Their chatter continued all the way upstairs.
Lacey stood beside
Cam
and watched them go.

“Do they always get so wound up over a simple
date?” asked
Cam
, his lips curved upward in a
grin so sexy, Lacey had to lean against the wall behind her or fall in a heap
at his feet.

“No, but this isn’t just any date. It’s their
first date in a different country. They’ll soon be back, worried about what to
say or do, or not say or do most likely.”

Cam
laughed. “No need to worry. I think they’ll fit
in just fine.”

“I hope so.” A worried frown drew her skin tight
across her forehead as she thought about
Cam
as a randy young cowboy. He’d charmed the socks off her, and she’d fallen so
deeply in love with him that no one else had ever come close. She’d spent many
lonely nights thinking of the love they’d shared…the love she thought was lost
to her for all time. She hoped her girls found a man like
Cam
—one
who would travel to the ends of the earth to find them if they ever had to
part.

That was love, and she looked at
Cam
with fresh eyes, just now realizing how much he must still
love her to go looking for her after all this time.

****

Cam
sat with a book in his hands, although he’d
long since given up on trying to read. Bemused by all the fuss as Lacey ran
back and forth between the three girls, he could only imagine what she went
through bringing them up by herself. If only he’d known. He’d missed so much.

“Mama, will you fix my hair?”

“Can I borrow your green skirt, Mama?”

“I can’t find my nail polish!”

Lacey came in and plunked herself down in the
chair opposite him.

“It sure takes a lot of time to get three girls
ready for a date,” he commented.

Lacey snorted a laugh. “You’re telling me? All
you’ve done is sit and read.”

“Hey, it wasn’t me they were hollering for.” He
smiled at Lacey and was rewarded with a smile in return.

“Now they’re worrying about looking out of place
in a country bar.”

“Why would they think that?”
Cam
asked.

“No boots.”

“They have boots by the door.”

Lacey shook her head. “Cowgirl boots.”

“Oh.”
Cam
glanced at the watch on his wrist. “Get your coat and boots on. We have just
enough time for a quick trip to town.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. Now get a move on.”

He saw Lynne in the upper hallway. “Lynne, your
mother and I are going for a drive. Be back in a few.”

“What? Now?” Her stupendous tone was in direct reaction
to his words. That was the only way he could think to describe it.

“Yep, now. Don’t worry. We’ll be back before
Michael shows up.”

“Uh, okay.”

Cam
shrugged into his coat and boots by the time
Lacey returned with her purse. He held her jacket while she slipped it on and then
watched as she bent over to pull on her boots. A perfect view to tease him. He
felt himself growing hard and tried valiantly to put a stop to it.

“I’m ready.”

“Good.”
Cam
breathed a sigh of relief as she straightened up. He escorted her out to his
truck and assisted her into the passenger seat before going around to the
driver’s side to climb in behind the wheel. As he turned the key in the
ignition, he realized they were alone…completely alone…for the first time. And
he couldn’t do a damned thing about it.

“So where are we headed?”

“Riley’s has the best inventory of ladies’
boots. I thought we’d check there.”

“Okay.”

Lacey sat primly, her hands folded in her lap.
How could she be so calm when they were alone together in the close confines of
the truck’s cab?

“You warm enough?” he asked once the heat kicked
in.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

He didn’t know whether to be glad
Calgary
was such a short
distance away or wish it were farther so they’d have more time. Then it hit
him. They’d be alone tonight.
Bless you,
Michael.
If Lacey wondered why he suddenly started humming a happy tune,
she gave no indication.