Temptation Ridge (Virgin River #6)(100)

Cameron ate, drank, got to know the people from town and felt, for the first time in a very long time, a part of something personal and important. Something both hearty and delicate. There were very few single people among this happy throng, but it didn’t affect him in the way being out with his married partners had depressed him, made him feel like he didn’t belong anywhere. Here, he felt like one of them, though he was absent a partner with whom to share it all.

At some point in the early evening, Mel told him Jack would bring him home and she’d see him later. Jack helped settle his family in the Hummer so Mel could take the babies home to bed. Little by little people bid good-night and wandered off and then at nine o’clock the bar seemed to empty of patrons, bidding him good-night and expressing, again, their grateful thanks and earnest welcome. And then it was down to Jack, Preacher and Cam.

Jack got down a couple of glasses. “We usually pour a shot at the end of the day, after the bar clears out. I’ll drive you out to the house if you’re up to one more.”

“You bet,” Cameron said. “Jack, this was great, what you did.”

Jack tipped a bottle of good, aged Glenlivet over three glasses. “I didn’t do it, Doc. These things happen when word gets out. It’s a real spontaneous place.”

“God, they’re wonderful,” Cam said.

“They don’t have much money, they’re not real sophisticated, they haven’t read the classics—most of them haven’t, anyway—but this place has heart. It’s a simple thing, really. They can’t feed your pocketbook too much, but they know the value of friendship and gratitude. You’ll never get hungry or lonely. That’s what the town gets by on. You’ll like that.”

“I’ve never felt unappreciated in my work, but this is something new.” He lifted a glass toward Preacher and Jack. “To new beginnings,” he said.

“To satisfaction,” Jack added.

Cameron drank to it. “I’m really glad I did this.”

“Had to be a big risk, Doc,” Preacher observed.

“Was it for you?” Cameron asked him.

“Naw,” Preacher said. “Once I got up here and saw what Jack had set up, it was a no-brainer.”

“I can see that,” Cameron said. “Thank you for giving me the chance,” he added.

Luke had drawn Shelby away from the party welcoming Cameron Michaels just after the crowd had begun to disperse. Luke took Art in his car and Shelby followed him out to the house and cabins in her Jeep. Once there, she went first to Art’s cabin to make sure he was all settled.

“Doing okay, Art?”

“I’m doing very good,” he said, grinning.

“I thought I’d check on you before turning in for the night. Sleep tight, okay?”

“Don’t let the bedbugs bite,” he said, echoing something she often said to him.

She laughed. “I won’t. Don’t forget your prayers.”

“I don’t ever,” he promised.

“And don’t forget to brush and floss.”

“I don’t ever,” he said.

Then she went up on Luke’s front porch, where he was waiting for her, grinning. “I thought I saved his ass, but it’s you he worships.”

“I don’t think it’s quite as serious as that,” she said, letting him enfold her in his embrace. “Eventually you should talk to someone about him. Let his people know where he is, maybe have him evaluated. I’m sure they won’t have any problem with him being here, as long as he’s safe and healthy.”

“Yeah, I got a start on that. I found out where he’s from—not a good place. I’ll talk to Mike and Brie about how to get him out of there,” he said, kissing her.

She pulled away. “And keep him?”

Luke shrugged. “It’s not like I’m going to adopt him. I’ll give him a place to stay and he’ll do chores. But he shouldn’t have to do chores for someone who hits him.” He kissed her again and then he pulled her into the cabin.

“But you’ll be responsible for him?”

“Shelby, it’s not exactly a strain on me. He doesn’t need much watching, just a safe place.”

“And when you sell the cabins and leave here?”

He shrugged. “If that happens, it shouldn’t be any trouble to find him a good place. One I’m sure isn’t some Social Services scam.”

“But aren’t you worried that will hurt him? Confuse him?”

“I know how sensitive he is—I’ll treat that carefully. But I think maybe I’ll put off worry until it’s necessary.”

Shelby had known him a few months, a couple of months she’d known him intimately, and for her it had been thrilling. The way they came together was so amazing to her; just thinking about him filled her with shivering anticipation. She had no regrets about waiting so long to find out what this was about because she was certain it could never have been like this with any other man.

To her it was a miracle. Fate, putting her with the one man perfect for her. When he touched her, she believed he felt the same way. But he gave no other sign.

After the lovemaking, he held her close to him. He could never stop kissing her, touching her, stroking her. It mystified her that he could be like this—so tender, so involved in her, so loving—and yet not in love at all. She wondered how he did that. She thought if she understood it, maybe she could walk away without being torn to pieces over him.