Lincoln County Series 1-3 Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Three Hearts, One Town Cover

  THREE HEARTS, ONE TOWN

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  A Challenge of the Heart Cover

  A CHALLENGE OF THE HEART

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  A Heart for Love Cover

  A HEART FOR LOVE

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Coming September– 2013

  LINCOLN COUNTY SERIES:

  THREE HEARTS, ONE TOWN

  A CHALLENGE OF THE HEART

  A HEART FOR LOVE

  SARAH JAE FOSTER

  Published by River Valley Publishing.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law.

  Cover design by Scott Carpenter

  Editing by Valerie Susan Hayward

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  Copyright © 2013 by Sarah Jae Foster

  THREE HEARTS, ONE TOWN

  SARAH JAE FOSTER

  Chapter One

  Ludenville, Wyoming, 1882

  For Cameron Engel, it did not happen when her father abandoned her as a young girl or upon her mother’s recent death. Not even last week when Bud Jenkins broke into her home and tried to attack her because she’d turned down his father’s marriage proposal. It didn’t matter that Will Jenkins had six kids and owned a pig farm, or that he was three times her age. The one thing that caused this catapult into a new life was the deathbed confession of her mother. She had a brother. His name was Thomas Engel. He was twelve years older, and lived, according to the one letter he wrote to their mama, in Lincoln County, Kansas, a man who never knew she existed.

  Cameron allotted herself one trunk and one carpetbag. Deciding what to put in them proved more painful than she thought possible. There was not enough room to pack all of her memories. She was giving up her childhood home, selling it to strangers. Even if she never located Thomas, the reason for her leaving all that was familiar was her determination to begin a new life. In all of her nineteen years, she’d never left Ludenville. Everyone always said that the Engels’ were a strong lot, and despite Cameron’s few weeks of falling into an awful state of despair over her mother’s death, she now felt a tingle of excitement. There had been no escaping the thrilling fear of riding on a train to Kansas to see what life held for her in the unknown. For the first time, the courage of her mother, Madeline Engel, her flesh and her blood, seemed to fall upon her like a blanket.

  She gripped up her carpetbag and took a lingering gaze at the home she’d built with her mother. “Well, here I come Thomas Engel, ready or not.”

  *** *** ***

  Three days later a cheerful conductor walked up and down the tight aisle of the roaring train and announced they would be in Lincoln County within an hour’s time. The words hit Cameron and she swallowed hard, it was now permanent and very real. Without a choice, the once naive child of Paul and Madeline Engel would be no more. She was a grown up, and would handle grown up things.

  Finally they arrived at the Lincoln County depot. Opening wide the door for a future destined for Cameron and her brother, or so she hoped.

  She arranged with the station clerk to hold her trunk at the depot and he gave her names of the two hotels in town, with simple directions of how to get to each. For the first time in her life, she did not know where she was going to sleep. The idea of that didn’t frighten her, she was exhilarated—what an adventure!

  Cameron lugged her heavy carpetbag over her shoulder and squeezed through weary and tired passengers awaiting luggage to be unloaded from the hissing train. Despite the late hour people milled about as if it were day. Just two of the streets were wider than the entire town she grew up in, with four corner lampposts lighting the way. Cameron searched her surroundings thoroughly and obediently followed the clerk’s instructions, crossing streets and passing several buildings before she recognized the name of the first hotel.

  She hesitated before the painted sign that read Lacey’s Place and peered through the large window. The tunes being played on the piano drummed against her nose as it touched the pane. The women inside were barely dressed, flirting and sitting on men’s knees. Cameron decided she should move herself to check out the other hotel, which couldn’t be worse. Sleep was what she wanted, not to be man handled.

  A couple strolled past her and the woman snickered, “Now there’s a real goodie goodie.”

  Horrified, Cameron rushed off the boardwalk. She struggled with her bag, getting heavier by the moment, and steadied herself before investigating what the other hotel had to offer. The corner of Sable and Elm Street was what she was on the lookout for. Street names, dozens of buildings, the darkness, this was much more than she had ever dared to imagine. Not making eye contact with anyone seemed to be the wisest decision. Her earlier delight ebbed away and dread readily replaced it.

  As she walked farther down the road, her nagging fear became stronger and her shoulder burned from the weight of the bag. The fact that there were no lanterns beaming in the
corners of this part of town should have sent off a warning signal, but she’d already gone this far and finally stopped in front of the Half Moon.

  Discouraged, she shivered. It was dark, dirty, unkempt, and...awful. Her eyes welled with tears. She was angry to have been defeated on the first night of her freeing adventure, on the first night of possibly being in the same place as her brother—a brother who was probably home somewhere, tucking his children into bed and sitting by the fire with a wife. A brother whom Cameron fervently hoped would take to her. She backed away, knowing it was her choice to stay here in this dreadful place or the bright, colorfully wild hotel several streets away.

  Walking as fast as her weary legs would take her, she rounded the corner back onto Main Street. Keeping her eyes to the ground landed her smack into a man’s hard chest. She let out a small cry, and in surprise, dropped her bag onto the dusty street. What was going to happen to her now? Bud Jenkins lust filled gaze shot through her mind.

  “I startled you.”

  She heard her would be attacker’s voice but couldn’t see his face for the deep shadows and the low brim of his hat. Naturally she had to recall the words of a man on the train “...ruthless, lawless, gunslingers,” and after tonight, she would probably add murderer to the long list.

  “I know it’s none of my business, but what in blazes are you doing walking alone in this part of town?”

  The scolding in his voice caught her off guard—she wasn’t a child!

  “Here,” he said softer. “Let me help you.”

  He bent down, retrieved the bag and handed it to her.

  She inhaled the night air, feeling like a fool. After a deep breath, she accepted her carpetbag from his gloved hand. “I was just on my way to Lacey’s Place, excuse me.”

  “Well, you’re a bit lost I would say.”

  “I’m not lost, I know the way.” She hoisted the bag, which she could no longer bear the weight of, and soldiered on.

  She refused to look back to see if he were following, although a little bit of her hoped he was. Unless he was a great liar, she didn’t believe he’d hurt her. He could have already done that and without one witness about.

  After checking into the hotel, Cameron climbed the wide flight of stairs and unlocked the room’s door. Once inside she massaged her sore shoulder. All the emotions of the night, added to the strain of travel, had drained her. Soon enough, the noise from the rowdy saloon below faded into the darkness of her mind. Nothing short of that iron horse of a train coming through the doors could move her.

  Chapter Two

  A grumbling stomach woke up Cameron. She stretched lazily and slowly opened her eyes. After some time adjusting to new body aches, she sat up and took in her surroundings. With no energy the night before to even care what the room was like, she was surprised now at the touches of femininity about her. The room was filled with a fresh, clean smell—lilacs. Gold colored wallpaper patterned with blood-red roses adorned her four walls. The furniture was an ivory color painted with gold-tone trim. There was a small window covered with red velvet drapery, tied back with golden ropes. The hotel was quiet and her room more elegant than anything she’d before known.

  Cameron eased her tender but rested body out of bed, vaguely remembering where the dark haired lady who had checked her in last night said the privy was. After putting on her wrapper, she ventured into the hallway until she spotted the shared toilet. She hesitated and looked around—no one in sight. She could not have waited until she got dressed appropriately and made a dash for it.

  A few minutes later, she put on a brown riding skirt, light blue blouse and twisted her hair into a bun at the base of her neck. She pulled open the drapes completely and looked out the window to see the sun high in the clear sky. It was time to find some food.

  The saloon was now void of raucous townspeople and cleaned up, the chairs upside down on the tabletops, as if they were sleeping off their long night. Cameron entered the dining room on the other side of the hotel, the side that didn’t appear tainted by the brothel across the foyer.

  “Grab yourself a seat. I’ll be right with you,” the dark haired woman from the night prior called out over her shoulder as she walked past, bearing two copper pots. Cameron obeyed, wishing she wasn’t so quick to judge the place last night. This side of the inn was stylish and beautiful. She chose one of the few remaining burgundy velvet upholstered booths. Each table had a crystal vase filled with fresh flowers centered on a doily.

  The lady soon placed a china cup on a saucer in front of Cameron. “Coffee?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “Where are you visiting from?”

  “Ludenville, Wyoming. I’m here to find my brother.”

  “What’s his name?”

  “Thomas Engel.”

  She pulled her dark eyebrows together and it seemed all kindness left her. “Why can’t you find him? Aren’t you family?”

  Cameron cradled her fingers over the cup. “It’s a long story.”

  The noise level in the dining room increased as late risers began to arrive.

  “My name’s Lacey, I’d love to hear this long story of yours. I’ll be back with a plate of ham and flapjacks for you, then you’ll stay put until things slow down a little, yes?”

  *** *** ***

  As promised, Cameron waited around until the restaurant was near empty. It wasn’t hard to do. She had nowhere else to go. Once Lacey came and sat across from her Cameron observed, “Seems awful busy for one person to serve all of these guests.”

  “This town is a popular place. People settling all over the area now that the Indians are on reservations.”

  “Do you own the hotel, then?”

  “My no-good husband owned it all before he up and left two years ago. The hotel is still in his name, but I’m claiming it as my own...since he saw fit to desert it, and me. A good man named Liam keeps the saloon across the foyer, which he rents from me. I want nothing to do with whores.”

  Cameron was curious. “Do you know where your husband is?”

  “Nope, and I don’t care. He left me a note one morning saying he was bored with life and needed some adventure. Funny thing is, Della Carter seems to have disappeared the same time he did.” Lacey’s full lips spread into a friendly smile. “I’m sure that was all more than you wanted to hear!”

  “I did ask,” Cameron replied. “My pa left us when I was a little girl. He was the town drunk so my mother and I didn’t mind too much.”

  “Well I guess we have some things in common.” Lacey fiddled with a napkin a moment. “Tell me about Thomas. Why would you be looking for him?”

  “He doesn’t know about me. My mother said she was carrying him in her belly when she met my father. An unwed woman you know. I had no idea of any of this until last month. Apparently my pa hated Thomas. I guess our mother forced him to leave one day. She said my pa was going to kill him. She was expecting me at the time, but Thomas didn’t know.” Cameron peered at her. “Now you tell me, why did you respond that way when I told you his name?”

  “I don’t care much for your brother or his gang.”

  “His… gang?”

  “Mmm hmmm, they pretty much run Lincoln County. They don’t do any harm to the townspeople, in fact they are like heroes to some. They are the only ones who took care of Ken Murphy—a man who once ruled this territory. He brought new meaning to the word ‘terror’ let me tell you. I suppose in his own way, Thomas believes he does us all good. By the way, what’s your name?”

  “Cameron.”

  Lacey’s brows furrowed, “Seems to be an odder name than most.”

  Used to the puzzled response, Cameron explained as she’s had to whenever she encountered someone new. “I was named after my mama’s town of birth.”

  “Well, Cameron. You can’t just go up to his ranch and declare your intentions. Sister or no, it doesn’t mean he’ll believe you. He’s mean. You need to know that.”

  “I promised our mother, on her
deathbed.”

  Lacey folded the napkin into a square before making a suggestion. “Then let me ask someone to help you.”

  “I have his letter to our ma as proof.”

  “In turn, I have a favor to ask of you,” Lacey propositioned. “Could you work for me until you find out about Thomas? I really need the help and you can stay as long as you need.”

  “I could do that.”

  “The tables aren’t going to clean themselves. I best get to them. You be careful.” Lacey removed herself from the booth.

  Cameron sighed, she needed to get her thoughts wrapped around the fact that her brother was in a gang. In her mind, men in gangs were bank robbers like Jesse James, or killers… Yes, she could wait a while longer before declaring herself as Thomas Engel’s kid sister.

  *** *** ***

  The man who walked into the restaurant during the supper hour was both stunning and dangerous looking. Cameron had never laid eyes on such a man in her entire life.

  Lacey’s laughter was light and came from behind her. “That’s Jake Collins. Every female on the face of this earth looks at him like that. Young, old, married, you name it. Even the schoolgirls have playground fights about who’s going to marry him. Close your mouth dear and I’ll introduce you.”

  Cameron snapped her jaw together.

  “Don’t worry,” Lacey added. “He doesn’t realize the extent of his effect on the female race. If you want to go to Thomas’s place, Jake’s your best bet.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Because he’s the only one in this town who doesn’t give a fig about Thomas. Jake is controlled by no one.”

  Cameron didn’t care if Jake was willing to help her or not. There was no way in the world she could go anywhere with him.

  “Is the food any good today?” Jake took both of Lacey’s hands in his and kissed her cheek.

  “The best food in Kansas is served here and you know it!” She stepped aside. “Jake, I’d like you to meet my new friend.” Lacey turned back to where she’d been standing. “Cameron?”

  “I’m here.” She stepped forward.

  Jake’s mouth spread into a teasing grin. “Looks like you found the place after all. We’ve already met.”