Grief weighed down his soul.
Camerons late wife had been gone four years, and the pain of heading home to an empty house still ate at him.
Is that going to change anytime soon, Lord?
The elevator inched to a halt, and the doors whispered open. The outside world beyond the long wall of lobby windows was dark, and he hated the thought of going out in it.
Then he saw Kendra through a glass partition in the far wall. The overhead light haloed her golden hair and caressed her creamy complexion. She looked so lovely.
Cameron supposed it was loneliness that made him look. He missed a womans soft and gentle presence in his life. Hed glimpsed plenty of women over the years, but not one of them made him feel as if the world had simply melted away until there was only her.
Kendra didnt know he was watching as she leaned against the counter, turning to talk to her sister. She sparkled, laughing, tilting back her head to study the array of cheerful balloons floating just out of reach.
Looking heavenward, he couldnt help thinking the good Lord had just given him his answer.
JILLIAN HART
makes her home in Washington State, where she has lived most of her life. When Jillian is not hard at work on her next story, she loves to read, go to lunch with her friends and spend quiet evenings with her family.
Almost Heaven
Jillian Hart
www.millsandboon.co.uk
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Corinthians 13:7
Dear Reader,
Thank you for choosing Almost Heaven. It has been my pleasure to return to the McKaslin family and tell another sisters story. Kendra aches for a family of her own but believes an earlier tragedy will keep her from trusting a man again. Thankfully, Cameron enters her life, a man as stalwart as the Montana mountains. He teaches her an important lesson: that true love is strong enough to heal any wound and bring us into the light.
Wishing you peace and a life filled with love,
Contents
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
Epilogue
Chapter One
It had been a long, hot day. Exhaustion dulled the edges of Kendras vision, but the familiar sight of her hometown fortified her, as it always did. The green of a well-kept park. The neat line of railroad tracks on one side of the main street and the tidy row of old-fashioned buildings on the other. The cheerful awnings of businesses. The friendly neon sign of her familys coffee shop still burned a bright blue and green in the front window.
She glanced at the clock on the dashboardthirty-four minutes past four. Maybe shed stop and beg for food and drink so she wouldnt have to find something in her practically empty cupboards at home. There was probably a box of her beloved macaroni and cheese, but she lacked the energy and the will to make it.
The brief blast of a siren startled her and she glanced in her side-view mirror. Sure enough, there was a patrol car behind her. Was she speeding? No, the speedometers needle was a hair past twenty. If anything she was going too slow.
Maybe the sheriff needed to go around her. Well, she was towing a full four-horse trailer. There was no oncoming traffic. Couldnt he just pass her?
No, he stayed stubbornly behind her, not looking as if he intended to pass. That must mean he wanted her.
What did she do? Too many cars were parked along the street, so she signaled and crossed the yellow lines to the other side of the road. She hoped that wasnt illegal or anything, but it wasnt as if she had a choice.
The patrol car followed her over, lights flashing. Brace yourself, Kendra, here he comes.
The town sheriff stalked toward her. Gun on one hip, his powerful arms held to his sides, he walked with an athletes strength and confidence.
Cameron Durango. One of the last men she wanted to be alone with in the universe. Had he always looked this good in his uniform? Why hadnt she noticed that before?
She was staring at him! And he was likely to notice that. What was wrong with her? Shed given up putting her faith in men a long time ago. It was a done deal, signed, sealed and delivered. A life decision shed made, and that was that.
The last thing she should be noticing was how striking Cameron looked in his uniform. Get a grip, Kendra. Hes the sheriff. Nothing more. Nothing less. He arrests people. He pulls over perfectly innocent drivers for no reason at all.
His boots crunched in the gravel beside her pickup.
Dont look at him. I wasnt speeding.
Hey, Kendra. He whipped off his hat and the breeze ruffled the dark ends of his military short hair. How are you doing this fine summers day?
Hot.
Yeah? A fine rig like this ought to have air-conditioning standard, right?
Sure, but Im pulling a full load. I dont want to overheat the engine.
I understand. Id baby a new truck if I had one. You got this, what, a month ago?
She stared straight ahead, not wanting to answer. Okay, she wasnt rude by nature and she felt lame acting that way. But Cameron Durango knew something about her that nobody else did, not even her sisters.
It didnt matter how fine he looked or how friendly he seemed, he reminded her of things best left forgotten.
Couldnt he just go?
Yeah, she finally said. Thats why I havent been driving around the truck I used to have, the one that kept breaking down on me.
Right. Maybe he got the hint, because he paused, as if debating what to do next. Did he leave? No. He rested his forearms on the door of her truck. Bet youre wondering what you did wrong to get me on your tail?
No. I wasnt speeding. Maybe if she was difficult, hed leave her alone. Ticket her or whatever he was going to do and be on his way. So she wouldnt have to remember.
I was sitting in the shade in my air-conditioning, tucked behind the Town Welcomes You sign, hoping to catch a hoard of speeding tourists and boost the towns income, when you meander along, driving responsibly and under the limit.
You admit it.
I noticed you were about to lose a tire on your trailer and decided to leave my shady spot behind to come warn you.
Was he trying to be friendly? And it bugged her because she didnt want to like him. It would be way easier if he was going to unjustly ticket her, instead of help her.
She didnt need his or any mans assistance. Ive got doubles.
Still, youre carrying a heavy load.
I checked all the tires before I left the auction. He was right, and she realized the same thing herself, but was she going to tell him that? No. Which tire?
Back right. Wouldnt want you to have a blowout or anything. You could get hurt.
He had kind eyes, dark and deep, and a rugged face. Not classically handsome but chiseled as if made from granite. He had a straight blade of a nose, an uncompromising mouth and a square jaw that gave him an air of integrity.
If he were mean, it would have been much easier not to like him. But he wasnt. The worst thing about Cameron Durango was that he was a decent guy. He may carry a gun on his hip and look powerful enough to take down a two-hundred-pound criminal with a body blow, but he had a good heart.
Not that you could tell it from the outside.
Dont think about that night. Cold snaked through her veins, where her heart used to be. If there had been anything redeeming about that horrible night when everything changed for her, it was Camerons kindness. Hed been truly kind, when shed neither wanted it nor needed it.
Remembering, she couldnt meet his gaze. Staring hard at the steering wheel, she ran her fingertip around the bottom of the rim. Since that night she hadnt wanted to be alone with any man. Especially Cameron.
Ill get that changed. Thanks for letting me know. It was decent of you.
I try to be decent when I can. Especially to a pretty lady like you.
The way he said it wasnt flirtatious or anything, but he was sounding friendly. It made her start to shake.
She really wanted him to go. Thanks again.
But he didnt leave. Let me guess. You were at the sale today. The Bureau of Land Managements auction.
Was he trying to make small talk? It was probably a slow day for him. Hardly anyone was out and about in this heat, but still. She didnt know Cameron well and thats the way she wanted it. Could she be outright rude and tell him so? No.
I saw the flierit came to the office. You got wild mustangs back there?
Yes.
She kept staring at her steering wheel. Icy sweat broke out on her palms. This was the way it was whenever she was alone with any man near her age.
Would it always be this way? Prayer had helped her; at least she didnt shake so hard that he might notice.
Wow. Mind if I take a peek at them?
Oh, so he was interested in the horses. Kendra relaxed a little but the quaking didnt stop. Sure. Just be careful. Theyre not used to people yet.
Ill just look. His grin was in his voice.
Kendras gaze flashed to the side mirror where he was ambling away, his boots striking the dirt at the side of the road with a muffled rhythm.
With his spine straight and shoulders squared, he looked invincible. Undefeatable. Like everything honest and good and all-American. Just as hed been for her, a calm strength when the world was smashing apart around her.
Get a grip, Kendra. That night was a long time ago. It isnt worth thinking about. Jerrod was gone and a part of the past. Look forward, not back.
Cameron crunched through the gravel as he returned. Those are some fine-looking animals you got.
Thanks. She appreciated Camerons help, but now she knew about the tire. She would fix it and be on her wayonce he was on his. I dont want to hold you up. I know you have speeders to catch and tickets to write.
Are you trying to get rid of me?
Yes. Here comes a car right now. You might need to check your radar. Could be income for the town.
He peered in the direction of the luxury sedan creeping down the main street. Mrs. Greenley? Nah, shes driving under the limit, like she always does. Ive clocked her for the better part of the six years Ive worked in this town and never caught her speeding once. The town is safe from rampaging, careless drivers for a few more seconds, it looks like.
You can never be too sure. You go back to your speed trap and Ill take care of the tire.
Afraid I cant let you do that, Kendra. Cameron planted his hands on his hips, emphasizing the power in his arms and the gun on his hip. This is my jurisdiction, maam, and I believe theres an ordinance that states I must aid stranded motorists in my town or suffer serious consequences.
Her left eyebrow shot up. Youre kidding.
Would I do that? Absolutely. There wasnt any such ordinance, but he wasnt about to tell her that? If I dont make sure your vehicles safe to drive in this town, Id be breaking my own laws.
What laws?
The ones that say Id have to write myself a ticket.
Go ahead. I dont mind.
I would. He had her, he knew it by the twinkle in her pretty eyes. Might even have to throw myself in jail and thats not how I want to spend my day.
So, why would I care? Im perfectly capable of changing the tire.
Yeah, but I have a flawless record. Not a single infraction to date. You wouldnt want my reputation besmirched, would you?
Sure I would.
Humor tugged at the corners of her soft, lush mouth. Cam felt some pride about that. Kendra McKaslin might look cool and unapproachable, but she seemed like a real nice lady.
Hed been trying to approach her for the last few months, but he had a lot of questions about horses. He didnt know where to start. He didnt want to look like a dummy. After all, a man had his pride.
But Kendra didnt strike him as someone whod made anyone feel dumb. She seemed as sweet as spring, with her long blond hair shimmering down her back like liquid gold in the sunlight. Shed grown up in one of the wealthier families in their humble valley, but was she snooty?
No. Down to earth, filled with common sense, Kendra was country-girl goodness soul-deep. He could feel it. Hed watched her kindness to her horses every time shed ridden one of them into town on an errand to the store or to visit her familys coffee shop.
She appeared to be real good with the animals. Everyone said she was the best in the area when it came to horsemanship. But he hadnt gotten up his courage to talk to her.
Now was his chance. I know youre an independent kind of woman. Youre more than capable of changing that tire on your own.
So why are you still standing here? The hint of her smile grew into a real one.
Ive got an election coming up. What would folks think if they see you stranded here in obvious need of help
Stranded? I dont think so!
Still, theyll watch me drive off and leave you behind and draw their own conclusions. All folks will see is that their elected official abandoned a woman stuck along the side of the road, slacking off on his duties.
Like anyone would think you were a slacker.
I cant risk it. Folks might vote for my opponent come September. Id lose my job. Wont be able to pay my bills. You dont want to be responsible for that, do you?
Sure. There were more sparkles in her pretty blue eyes.
She had a quiet kind of beauty, one that wasnt only skin-deep.
His chest gave a strange hitch in the vicinity of his heart as he opened the trucks door for her. That was odd, considering how he hadnt felt much beside grief since Debs death. Your sisters sign is still on in the window. Why dont you go in, say hello and get something cool to drink? Give me twenty minutes and Ill have this taken care of.
Thats not right. Its my trailer.