Cameron's Quest (12 page)

“Honey, what’s wrong?” she asked as she sat and gathered
her daughter into her arms.

“My dream, Mama,” she hiccupped through a sob.

“What about your dream, dear?”

“Tonight I met the dead man from my dream.”

“Oh my God! Rena, who is he? Where did he die in
your dream?”

“His name is Walt Carson. He died on Daddy’s
back deck. Mama, I’m scared. What’s happening to me?”

“It was only a dream, honey.”

“Just like I knew where everything was in the
kitchen? No, Mama. He’s going to die…here, on the ranch.”

“But why, Rena? This doesn’t make any sense.”

Rena sat up and brushed the tears from her eyes.
“When I saw him, I knew right away he was the man from my dream. He was drunk,
Mama. He asked me to dance, and I said no and backed away from him. Then
Michael took my arm and steered me toward the dance floor. We danced, but he
kept watching me and I felt so weird, like he could see through me or
something. I had to leave.”

“Did your sisters come home with you?”

“Yes, but they went back out with Michael. I told
them I had a headache.”

Rena was subject to migraines when there was a
lot of noise, so Lynne and Abby would have believed her easily enough.

“I didn’t see you when I got home. Where were
you?”

“In the shower.”

“And Dad?”

“Probably in his room or the kitchen. I don’t
know.”

“You two fighting?” Rena asked.

“No, why do you ask?”

“Geesh, Mama. If I was alone with a handsome man
that I’d loved forever, I’d be jumping his bones.”

Lacey giggled, feeling her cheeks heat up. “You
would, huh?”

“Darn tootin’.”

“I’ll keep that in mind for next time. Now, if
you’re all right, I’ll go downstairs and see what
Cam
is up to.”

“Go ahead. I’m okay now. It was just such a
shock, seeing him.”

“Try not to think about him. Want to come with
me and raid the refrigerator?”

“No thanks, but I could use a hot cocoa. It’s
cold out there.”

“Want me to bring one up to you?”

“No, I’ll be down in a few. Just want to get my
jammies on first.”

“Okay. I’ll put the milk on to heat.”

“You don’t have to. Dad has instant in the
pantry cupboard.”

“He does?”

“See, I told you. I know things. It’s scary
sometimes. You know?”

“Yes,” she said thoughtfully. “I can see where
it would be. I’ll meet you in the kitchen. Don’t be long.”

Lacey worried about Rena and her premonitions.
She’d never experienced anything like it before. Why now? On reaching the
kitchen, she put the kettle on and found the instant cocoa right where Rena
said it would be. Then she went searching for
Cam
,
finding him in the den.

“Rena thinks I should have jumped your bones.”

Cam
chuckled. “Smart girl. What brought her home so
early? I’d have thought she’d be the last one wanting to leave.”

“She met a walking, talking dead man.”

“What?”

“
Cam
, do you
know a Walt Carson?”

“Yep, fired his ass years ago for stealing
stock. Why?”

“Rena’s dreamed of him since arriving here, and
it weirded her out to actually meet him tonight.”

“He’s a weird one all right. If he hurt her… You
say she dreamed of him?” he asked, just now seeming to clue in.

Lacey nodded. “She dreamed he died, here, at the
house.”

Cam
shook his head. “He knows better than to set
foot on Manning land. Walt wouldn’t come here.”

“Good. I’d hate to have that dream come true.
She’s psyched out enough just knowing where you have everything, as if she’d
been here before.”

Cam
rubbed his chin as if deep in thought. “Maybe
she has been.”

Lacey perched on the edge of a Queen Anne chair
directly across from him. “I think you’d better explain.”

“Don’t get me wrong, Lacey. I love all three of
our girls, but Rena is the apple of my eye. She’s so full of life and vitality.
I could see her fitting in here so easily and I thought of her often. Maybe,
somehow, some way, my thoughts traveled the distance, drawing her into my home,
my life, in the only way possible at the time.”

“That’s nonsense.”

“Is it? Leah claims to have talked to my father,
her grandfather. Says he welcomed her home. She felt his presence, his calming
touch, and knew everything would work out. Why would this be any more difficult
to believe?”

Lacey stood and paced the room. “This is Rena we’re
talking about. She’s never had these visions before. I’m worried about her,
Cam
.”

He stood. A gentle hand on her arm stopped her
pacing. She turned to him, immediately enveloped in his warm embrace. “Nothing’s
going to happen to any of you on my watch. She’ll be fine.”

“But…”

He kissed her. “No buts. Now quit worrying.”

“I’ll try.”

“Good girl.”

“I’m making hot chocolate. Want some?” she
asked.

“Sure. I’ll grab the marshmallows.”

However, when they arrived in the kitchen, Rena
was there already stirring the sweet treat into her cocoa.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I raided the pantry.
Grabbed your cookie stash too.” She grinned at her father, and Lacey could
hardly believe she’d been crying a few minutes ago.

“Help yourself. I’ve told you to make yourself
at home and I meant it.”

“Thanks, Daddy. Mind if I take this to the
living room and watch TV?”

“Go ahead. We’ll join you as soon as your mother
makes ours.”

“Is that right?” Lacey asked, hands on hips.

“Well, you did offer.”

Lacey laughed. “So I did. I’ll let you off the
hook this time.” She busied herself at the counter as Rena left the room with
her mug and a cookie jar.

“She seems fine now,”
Cam
whispered in her ear.

“Yes, I know. Rena’s prone to her moods but
always did spring back pretty quick.”

They arrived in the living room to see that Rena
was watching a favorite sitcom, a good choice to lift her mood. Lacey sat
beside
Cam
on the sofa and earned a smirk from
her daughter in exchange. Lacey just smiled and relaxed against him, prepared
to enjoy the show in comfort. His arm came around her shoulder, holding her
close, and Lacey couldn’t remember ever feeling so loved.

****

Cam
caught the smirk directed toward Lacey and
figured it was something to do with their earlier conversation about her
jumping his bones. Which she had done. Beautifully. He couldn’t help wearing a
smirk of his own. He’d almost given up on them being a couple and resigned
himself to just being a father to the girls. Today had changed all that. Now that
he knew she still wanted him, he’d move heaven and earth to keep her by his
side. True, she hadn’t exactly said she loved him, but saving herself for him
all these years spoke for itself. He’d been awed by that, humbled in a way that
would’ve brought him to his knees if he’d been standing.

The rumble of an engine signaled that the partygoers
had returned. Michael escorted Lynne and Abby into the house.

“Hi, Rena. Feeling better?” he asked as he
helped Lynne and Abby off with their coats.

“Yes, much better. Sorry to cut out on you the
way I did.”

“No problem. There’ll be other times. I
guarantee it.”

The smile he directed at Rena seemed filled with
sexual innuendo, and
Cam
wasn’t sure he liked
that one little bit. “Thanks for seeing the girls home safely. Would you care
for a drink?’

“Not tonight. It’s starting to snow, and the
weatherman is forecasting a blizzard. I’d better get home and make sure there’s
enough wood in, or Lucas will be out there overdoing it.”

Cam
chuckled. “Yep, and then your mother would hang
you out to dry. Drive careful then.”

“Always do. Good night, ladies. Thank you for
coming out with me. I enjoyed being the envy of every man there.”

Lynne stepped forward and gave him a hug. “And
all the single women there darted jealous looks at us, but it was fun. Thanks,
Michael.”

“Yes, thank you, Michael.”

“My pleasure. See you soon.”

With those parting words, he left and Lynne
closed the door behind him.
Cam
heard the snick
of the lock as it clicked into place and he frowned. Had something happened
tonight to make the girls nervous? Why would Lynne lock up so fast? Maybe it
was just a habit she’d gotten used to.

“Did you have a good time? Still worried about
fitting in?” he asked.

“We had a marvelous time and met a lot of the
locals,” Lynne replied, grinning as she came in to join them. “It would seem
that we fit in just fine.”

“Uh-huh. Plenty of handsome cowboys to choose
from,” said Abby.

Cam
searched her face. “Why do I feel there’s a ‘but’
in there somewhere?”

Lynne and Abby exchanged glances.

“Because there is. A few of the cowboys and a
couple of the women were downright rude,” said Abby.

Lynne screwed her beautiful face up in disgust. “They
were pretty liquored up, and the cowboys didn’t want to take no for an answer.
Their dates took offense, but Michael handled it all without much fuss.”

Cam
nodded his head. “I expect that he would, being
the law around these parts. There’s bound to be a few like that. When the
wranglers get a chance to party, they go all out. I hope it didn’t sour you on
the nightlife around here.”

“Not at all. Michael is an excellent dancer and
his buddies doted on us. We really did have a great time.” Lynne speared a
suspicious glance toward Rena. “Too bad you had to come home. You missed out on
a lot of fun.”

“Yeah, well, like Michael said, there’ll be
other times.” Rena rose to her feet. “I’m for bed. See you in the morning.”

They chorused their good nights, but
Cam
couldn’t help worrying about Rena. That dream had
really disturbed her. Hopefully, she’d sleep well tonight.

“I’m heading to bed too. I intend to dream of
hunky cowboys all night.” Lynne laughed as she went up the stairs.

Abby giggled. “Some of them sure were handsome,
and so polite. I can see why Daddy appealed to you, Mama. He’s the best of them
all.” She leaned over to give
Cam
and Lacey
each hugs. “Good night.”

Cam
sat in silence, watching as she climbed the
stairs to her room. Her words really touched him. “That girl sure knows how to
turn a man to mush.”

“Her mother, too.”

A quick glance caught Lacey wiping moisture from
her eyes. “I think we have their approval to proceed.”

Lacey laughed, tears streaming down her face as
she did so. “You think?”

He knew she was trying to make light of it, but
having the girls approve of their daddy meant a lot to him.
Cam
hugged her close and, with one finger, tipped her chin up and searched her
eyes. “Are those happy tears, love?”

“Oh,
Cam
! I’ve
never been so happy.”

He kissed her then, starting with her forehead
and working his way to her luscious lips. “Nor I,” he said before claiming her
mouth for a passion-filled kiss that rocked him to his socks. Her tongue dueled
with his and her arms came around him, holding him tight. His heart swelled to
bursting, and he was afraid his zipper would split apart at the seams. He broke
off the kiss and took in deep lungfuls of air. “Will you come to my room with
me?”

She nodded and he rose to his feet, holding her
hand to bring her with him.

Lacey glanced up toward the loft. “What if one
of the girls comes back down?”

Cam
looked up and smiled. “Well, your bedroom door
is closed, so as long as we don’t make too much noise, they’ll never know.”

A slow, sexy smile graced her features as she
wiped away the last of her tears.
Cam
led her
to his room, turning off the downstairs lights as they went. He couldn’t
believe she’d given in so easily. She was always trying to set a good example
for their daughters. But they were both adults, and it wasn’t like the girls
didn’t know where babies came from. They’d obviously done the deed before in
order to have three such lovely daughters.