Lincoln County Series 1-3 (39 page)

Stephen was correct in that this law-abiding town were God-fearing folk. Jake didn’t know who took over the preaching, but there were sure a lot of churchgoers and church activities going on. And the interim job of being sheriff was an easy one. Jake was beginning to think that following Ivan to the poker table three weeks ago was likely the most action anyone had seen in some time. During his tenure of doing much of nothing at the jail, Jake realized the desire to hunt down outlaws had truly left him. It hadn’t been a phase—he was done. He hadn’t chosen to leave it behind, but he knew he couldn’t track down another outlaw for money ever again. Aside from the Gun Shop, he wasn’t sure how else he’d come to supplement his income. The reward money had always allowed him to live a comfortable life, so now what?

Sure nothing was going to go down, he decided to lock up the jail and get some air. The town was quiet and had a peaceful element to it that evaded Lincoln County. As he turned to insert the key in the lock he saw one of the girls from the saloon urgently waving her arms to him. Unused adrenaline came awake as he fast made his way to her. “What’s going on?”

“I get not so much as a how-dy?” she pouted.

His brow creased and his breathing slowed. “Pardon?”

“It’s called a greeting,” she said, batting her eyelashes. “You can relax, sheriff. I only wanted you to come join us tonight.” She toyed with the cravat at his neck.

More than anything, her coyness annoyed him, but to his disbelief, he didn’t want to be rude. And although the woman standing before him was beautiful, his mind wasn’t interested. That revelation in itself caused him to grieve over the changes going on inside him. He couldn’t identify them all, but something was happening. He was at his wits’ end with the way his life was turning out, but he’d stopped fighting whatever it was. With gentleness, he took her hand, which was now inching up his nape, and removed it back to her side.

Jutting out her red lips as though injured, she said, “I don’t think you understand my meaning.”

He took a step away from her, before the perfumed and voluptuous body did him in and aided in further life-long regrets. “I assure you. I understand your meaning. I am not interested.”

“Ooooh!” She clenched her fists. “You’re just like Stephen! You two don’t know a good thing when you see it. What a waste!”

She ran off and disappeared into the saloon. Jake watched her go, a bit stunned at the outburst. Before he knew it, he began to chuckle at the scenario before belting out complete and utter laughter for a good piece of time. As it died down he realized he’d been holding himself up against the wall of the saloon. A peace washed over him, which made him feel as though something good just might come his way. Ignoring the few curious looks of passersby, no doubt thinking he’d lost it, he swiped at the wetness on his cheek from the hard laughter and wondered when the last time it was that he’d felt free enough to do so. Somberly, he recalled when he’d felt happy enough to laugh. It had been with Cameron, when once upon a time, he’d taken her for a ride to Spillman’s Creek and picked flowers for her.

He stepped off of the boardwalk and kept walking. Where had that Jake gone? Before Cameron came into his life he was lost, living a life unworthy of even being her friend. He’d changed then, with the intent on being with her. Then he’d blown it with the making of stupid decisions based on self-gratification, sending her into the arms of Andrew. The rest is history. His response was to turn mean and uncaring, dishonoring her more than once, and his loyalty to Andrew he’d been willing to throw away. But Cameron, she was good and pure and lovely. Even more so when she… Jake stumbled. When she’d decided to give herself to God. She never told him she’d done it. She never had to. It was evident, clear as could be. She wasn’t the same Cameron he’d met. It was like she knew her value, her worth, despite her past errors.

Feeling sick, Jake planted himself right down in the dirt. He looked around and grunted. How fitting being surrounded by filth. Stephen’s sermon of weeks ago replayed in his mind, and something was touching his heart. A foreign mess of things whirling around. Not wanting to resist, he allowed it to go on. He was completely weak and out of sorts, but it wasn’t the worst feeling in the world. It felt like old habits were being destroyed and swept away. Placing his face between his hands, he sat there knowing that whatever was at work wasn’t only just now happening. It’d begun the moment he chose not to take Ivan’s life.

Hours later Jake eased himself from the ground and shut himself in his room. He had a lot of things to think about.

*** *** ***

Two weeks later Stephen entered the jail, prompting Jake to get out from behind the desk. Stephen sported a full beard a cocky smile. “Did you enjoy playing sheriff?” he asked, hanging his trench coat onto the hook behind the door.

Jake harrumphed. “Playing is the right word. There isn’t much action around these parts.”

“You’re right about that. But had I told you, you might not have stayed.” He looked Jake up and down. “You seem a bit different.”

“How so?”

“You ain’t so mean-looking for one.”

Jake eased his own coat on, ready to pack it up since Stephen was back. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Stephen took his place behind the desk but didn’t sit. He postured himself to look at Jake with great respect. “You proved me right. You are a man of honor and of your word.”

Uncomfortable, Jake only nodded in response. Before leaving the jail Stephen asked him to stay a few more weeks.

“I best be getting home. I have a business that needs tending to.”

Stephen raised a brow. “Oh? I thought you were only an outlaw chaser.”

“Only when I needed to run away from life. I’m done with all of that. The running and the hunting.” He was sure he saw a smug look wash over the sheriff’s face.

“Glad to hear it. Safe travels Jake Collins.”

Chapter Seventeen

Jake set Hunter up in the barn. He was finally home and greeted by an early snowfall. Looking around his property he noticed that it appeared different than when he’d last seen it. Before, it seemed dreary, unwelcoming. As he made his way to the front door he took mental inventory on the things he wanted to do to fix the place up. Broken post on the porch, windows too caked with dirt to see out of, a loose step. The desire to build upon what he already had, to make a real home he could plant roots in and possibly even enjoy, pushed him onward. And without the heaviness of guilt weighing him down, he knew this was just one of the good things destined to come his way.

Not delaying, Jake went to the lumber mill and loaded his wagon bed with a hefty purchase. The Keiser’s lived nearby and he saw Penny outside with a little one clinging to her. Puzzled, he drove slightly out of his way to see how they fared, a gesture he hadn’t exactly been known for in the past. So he wasn’t surprised that Penny hung back at his arrival. Had he really been so intimidating before? Knowing Mary was a widow and Penny too young, heaven forbid, to have a child he inquired, “How’s things going with you and your ma?”

With her hesitation, he physically attempted to bring a smile to his mouth and tried miserably to create a kind outlook. If anything, it broke her confusion and she giggled at him. He couldn’t help then to form a genuine smile. “Well? Who do you got there on your hip?”

Just then the babe turned his way and panic shot through him. She ruffled the fuzzy hair on his head and answered needlessly, “This is Drew Jackson.”

He looked towards the house, wondering if Cameron was inside. He wasn’t prepared to see her. “We’re lookin’ after him.”

Alarm replaced every other emotion and he jumped down from the wagon. “What’s happened? Where’s Cameron?”

Penny gave him a look that told him she knew much more than she ought to about their relationship, more than for her own good. “Mr. Collins, she’s just at the church. There’s some preparation going on for the Christmas program. Rather than him getting under foot, my ma offered him to stay here.”

His posture eased and his mind followed. He took in Drew. Chubby, healthy and happy and looking more like his mother than he’d last seen.

“Wanna hold him?”

Penny had him at arm’s length and it seemed rude to reject both of them, especially with Drew eyeing him, vetting him for safety most likely. He could do this.

Stiffly, he retrieved Drew who promptly batted at his cheek and smiled so wide that Jake could see all of four teeth. A string of slobber escaped and landed on Jake’s arm before Drew buried his face into his coat and slathered it around. Penny laughed. “He’s washing hisself on ya.”

Instinctively Jake placed a hand to the back of Drew’s head, reveling in its softness as he settled into his chest and stopped squirming. His heart restricted. Penny observed them a moment and stepped forward. “He’s ready for a nap.” She got Drew back in her arms and asked, “Did you need something Mr. Collins?”

His thoughts were blank a moment before remembering. “I was just passing by and saw you. Wondered if your ma needed anything.”

She squinted at him curiously. Certainly she knew this was out of his character. “Nah, we’re good. I’ll tell ma you asked though.”

More subdued than in all his life, Jake headed back home where he stayed for nearly another month, painting, sawing, pounding in nails and putting together his house.

*** *** ***

The chill in the air caused Jake to pull up his collar even more, and despite wearing heavy gloves, the coldness bit through to his skin. He’d finished with his home and was now looking for something else to occupy his time. Having been at the Gun Shop only once since his return to check on the finances and sales, he figured heading there seemed to be the next logical thing to do.

The bell at the door chimed, announcing his presence, and his associate’s bald head popped up from one of the glass display cases he’d been polishing. Setting the rag on the counter he welcomed Jake. “Good afternoon, sir.”

Rather than head straight to his office as he’d always done before, he inquired, “Things going well here?”

“We’ve had a few good days.” He stood at attention, waiting for Jake’s departure.

Jake smiled. “Well then let’s keep doing whatever it is you’re doing. I’ve come to do the books. Let me know if you need anything.” And with that he moved to his desk, all the while feeling curious eyes follow every step. It took a moment, but soon he heard the cleaning resume.

Once he’d wrapped up doing the books Jake readied to make a deposit. He’d done these things before, but they’d always felt like a chore, something he did because it was required of him. Today he experienced something broader than that—purpose. He exited the Gun Shop and crossed the thoroughfare and up the steps to the bank. Amy Swanson stood in line in front of him and when she noticed him her spine went rigid. He shook his head and bit back the temptation to have some fun at her expense. She was too much a nervous soul for it to have any effect other than a bad one. Her sister burst into the bank, out of breath and ran to Amy, bumping him in the process. When she saw it was him she apologized over and over as if he would pull out a gun and shoot her like a no good outlaw. His jaw clenched with impatience. He was
not
a tyrant, blast it!

Settling his irritation, he opted to let her off. “It’s no problem, ma’am.”

Amy gave him an unsure smile and spoke to her sister. “What is all of this rushing about?”

“Next!” announced the teller. And they all moved up a step. Jake was polite and waiting his turn, but he had to listen to their conversation as he did so.

“Mrs. Jackson gave me the lead part in the play! Oooh I’m so excited!” She bounded up and down as if she were a child instead of a spinster adult woman.

Naturally, at the mention of Cameron, Jake’s ears tuned in. Amy commented sullenly, “I’m glad for you. I wonder if there’s anything I can help with.”

Animated, she shook her head, a bit insensitively Jake thought. “She doesn’t have any speaking parts left. But I do know that she’s looking for people to build up some stage elements.”

Jake’s gaze went to Amy and a strange feeling of compassion formed. “Excuse me, but what do you mean by stage elements?”

Amy answered, looking pleased to have him enter their conversation. “A manger, a cradle for baby Jesus, things of that nature.”

“Why don’t I help?”

A look of bashfulness passed between the two, making it clear they were misunderstanding his intentions. But Amy seized the opportunity. “Since I don’t have a part, why don’t we volunteer together?”

Jake had a sinking feeling at the meaning of his commitment, but he wanted to help Cameron create a quality stage. After their last encounter, he didn’t wish to cause her any more distress. He looked at Amy and decided to take the gamble, “I can’t have Cam… Mrs. Jackson know that I am assisting.”

He could see the secret intrigued her. She instantly displayed more excitement than he was comfortable with. But he needed to contribute and this could be the only way. “We won’t have to worry ourselves with that. I will do all communicating with Mrs. Jackson.”