In the early afternoon, Sarah walked in. She pulled her bonnet and shawl off and placed them neatly onto the seat of a chair. "How are you today, Camille? I needed to walk, so decided to come visit for a bit."
Camille was delighted to have company. "I'm so glad you came. Feeling a bit lonely today. The shop has been busy, yet no one to converse with really."
Her friend nodded. "I understand. We had several people come into the clinic so I helped Father all morning. He shooed me out the door after I got a bit snappy with Mrs. Cunningham.” Sarah giggled. "The woman had the nerve to tell me I was incapable."
"Seriously?" Camille was ready to rise to her friend's defense. "Why, that is horrible."
"I saw Lucas on my way over here."
Sarah's abrupt change in subject caught Camille off guard and she smiled widely at her friend. "Did he say anything? What was he doing?"
Realizing her mistake too late, she tried to come up with an excuse for her breathless outburst. "I mean...I find it interesting that you mention him." Her face became hot and she cursed how easy she'd let her guard down.
Sarah's lips curved and she lifted a brow. "He asked me where I was going. I told him I was coming here and then he informed me that he planned to take you to supper again."
In vain, Camille tried to keep her expression neutral. "Is that so?"
"I think it's wonderful that he court you. He is a very nice man, Camille. Easy going and very attractive don't you think?"
"He is attractive," she admitted. "But I am not sure he is the man for me."
"Why ever not?"
What to say? She could not admit the truth and there was no good answer to why she and Lucas could not be. Camille hated not being honest with Sarah. She'd never had a good friend before. A friendship should be built on trust, yet she was not brave enough to speak of her past. Not yet.
"I am not ready for any kind of relationship, Sarah."
Sarah studied her for a long moment. "You are hiding something." When Camille started to speak, her friend held her hand up. "That's fine. I respect that perhaps you have a hurtful past. Hear me on this. Everyone has something disagreeable in their past. Do you not think Lucas has something in his past he'd rather forget?"
Camille could only look away. Her past wasn't exactly the problem. It was her present as well. "How are your wedding plans coming along? Just another month and you'll be Mrs. Hage."
Sarah's face brightened. "Yes. I can hardly wait. I've already started decorating the house. I hate that Lucas insists on moving into the rooms behind the jailhouse after I move into the house they live in now. But he won't change his mind on it no matter how much Brogan and I tell him it's not necessary."
"It makes sense to me. Newlyweds need their privacy." Camille felt a twinge of envy. If only she could look forward to a day married to a man who loved her like Brogan Hage loved Sarah.
"You'll be my maid of honor, of course. We've already made all the arrangements with the pastor for the ceremony. Now all I have to do is finish my dress."
They continued talking, mostly about the wedding. All the while, Camille could not stop thinking about Lucas and how to dissuade him from attempting to spend more time with her.
CHAPTER FIVE
WHEN HE SPOTTED CAMILLE walking across the street toward the mercantile, Lucas rushed to her. "Good day, Camille."
She stopped in her tracks and turned her face up to his. "How are you? Have a good day." She attempted to keep walking, but he stopped her with a hand on her arm.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, of course not. I'm going to pick up some items and then going back to the shop. I don't want to be away from there too long."
He took her elbow and guided her down the walkway. "We are going for a walk."
"What?" She didn't struggle. Instead, she allowed him to take her in the opposite direction. They walked at a leisurely pace away from the main street to a grassy meadow. She looked across to a pasture and her lips curved. "It's a beautiful day."
"Which makes it a pity for you to remain indoors for most of it." He slid a glance at her noticing the corners of her lips curved into a soft smile. "Admit it."
She pursed her lips and met his gaze. "I did need the fresh air. However, Mr. McKade, I depend on whatever sales I make throughout the day to live on. I don't have the luxury of daily walks or time away because I can lose a sale."
"I will buy some tea then."
The tinkle of laughter made him smile. "Is that so? Which type do you prefer?"
He'd not tasted tea in years and had no idea of the different kinds. So he changed the subject. "How long have you lived here in Silver City?"
Her smile vanished. "Almost five years. I moved here from my family home in Montana. My parents died and I sold the property since it was much too large for me to handle alone."