Pass on the chance he might see her. She’d had a lovely time with him. But where was Paul? She’d give anything to see him, but he didn’t even call. Because, she reminded herself, I’m not a woman to him. I’m his best friend’s wife; he loves me like a sister, whether he’ll admit it or not. Hadn’t it always been like that?
Cameron was introduced to Preacher, who was very welcoming, if a little distracted by the dinner he was working on. With him in the kitchen was Christopher, who he introduced as his son except the boy called him John. Then there was Mike Valenzuela and Jack’s sister, Brie. Cameron sat down with them for a little while and learned that Mike was a former police detective and sergeant and Brie a former prosecutor. He hadn’t imagined he’d be meeting professionals with such sophisticated educations and experience in a little place like this.
He was offered dinner of pork loin, garlic mashed potatoes and green beans, but he chose to wait for Vanessa to finish with the baby. And while he waited a beautiful young pregnant woman came in, followed by an old man carrying a young child. The woman leaned across the bar to kiss Jack and then Jack took immediate charge of the child. Cameron was soon introduced to Doc Mullins and Mel Sheridan. A couple more tables were pushed together and they joined the group while Jack, with his son on his hip, fetched the high chair from the kitchen.
“Mel, I’m fascinated by your work. You deliver most of the town, I’m told,” Cameron said.
“I don’t know about that. I do for the women who don’t have a lot of insurance. Or for special cases like Vanni. She doesn’t look it, but she’s kind of granola natural—she wanted to give birth at her father’s house, and she did a fantastic job. Textbook. In fact, we had a wonderful birthing party.”
“A birthing party?” Cameron asked.
“It kind of fell into place. When I was called out, Jack let it slip that she was in labor, so Preacher and Paige packed up dinner from the kitchen and closed the bar. Mike and Brie came out in case any of the children needed tending. With the general and Tommy, Jack and Davie, and of course Paul helping with the delivery, we were a full and happy house. It was great fun.”
“Wasn’t it a little melancholy? It being Vanni’s late husband’s child?”
“That’s the thing about babies, Cameron. They give you such hope. Such joy. That’s why I love this business.”
He laughed and said, “You obviously take it personally.”
She rubbed her swollen middle. “Not much longer. Jack promises we’re going to take a break after this one. And I’ve promised that if he doesn’t keep his word, I’m going to shoot him in his sleep.”
While Doc had his whiskey, Cameron grilled him with questions about small town doctoring, asked Mel about some of her other cases and quizzed Mike about local policing. He asked Brie what kind of law she was practicing and learned that while she’d been a prosecutor in Sacramento, she was now occupied with small cases that included divorces, property closures, water rights disputes and such. The county D.A. used her as a consultant on some cases, as well. He was completely fascinated, completely enchanted. Before long Vanni joined them, Mattie full and content against her shoulder. Cameron reached for the baby across the table and said, “Get yourself a beer. Lucky for you, it’s good for nursing mothers.” When Jack joined them, they were ready for dinner together.
Cameron enjoyed this excursion far more than he expected to. He had hoped for an opportunity to be with Vanni on the excuse of checking out Virgin River, but it had happened that he was delighted by the town, the people and the families that gathered at Jack’s.
“Are you staying at the general’s?” Jack asked him.
“No, there’s a motel in Fortuna that has plenty of room.”
“You’re welcome to stay with us,” Vanessa said.
“Or, I can give you another option,” Jack offered. “The cabin Mel and I just moved out of is empty and furnished, and right here in Virgin River. Clean sheets on the bed, towels in the bathroom, but no food in the fridge. If you want it, it’s yours. I can even fix you up with food and drink to take with you—I’m tight with the cook.”
“Are you sure?” Cameron asked.
“Absolutely. Let me draw you a map—the door is never locked.”
“Hey, that’s fantastic of you. Since it’s already kind of late, I really appreciate it.”
“I’ll write my number at home and at the bar on this map,” he said, drawing on the back of a napkin. “Give me a call anytime. If my family isn’t visiting and using the cabin, you’re welcome to it.”
“What can I pay you for it?” Cameron asked.
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s there for friends and family.” He finished with the map and turned it around to Cameron. “Any friend of Vanni’s is a friend of ours.”
The night was still young when Mike and Brie said good night. Not long after Jack fetched his son out of the high chair and swept his family away. Doc Mullins said goodbye.
Cameron had enjoyed his dinner while holding Mattie against his chest; he had loved looking across the table at the beautiful and sexy Vanessa. Julia Roberts, that was what she was. Leggy, full-breasted, her hair a reddish hue shot through with blond, her smile wild and spontaneous, her laugh loud and free. He didn’t think he’d ever run into a woman like this in his life.
“What do you think? Time for you and the baby to go home?”
“Yeah,” she said, and she smiled as though she’d had a good time.
“Let’s get going. If you’re not too busy tomorrow, maybe you could introduce me to the horses before I head back to Grants Pass.”
“Sure,” she said. “We should go for a ride. The bear are just coming out of hibernation with their cubs, and the deer have fawns now.”
“I would love that. But is it dangerous? Any worry about the bear?”
“Not for you,” she said with a big laugh. “I carry a rifle. I’ll take care of you.” Then she laughed some more.
As they stepped out onto the porch of the bar, Cameron stopped and listened. He looked up at the sky—the magnificent clear, black sky studded with a billion stars—and heard in the background the gentle strumming and picking of a Spanish guitar. He held the baby against him with one arm, put the other around Vanessa. “Do you hear that?”
“Hmm. That’s Mike. Miguel, actually. Isn’t it beautiful?”
He leaned closer to her. “I love this place.”
When Jack had settled Mel and Davie into bed, he crept into the kitchen and placed a long-distance call. Paul Haggerty answered and Jack said, “Hey, it’s me.”
“Hey, Jack. What’s up?”
“What’s up is that doctor. Cameron what’s his name. Down here putting the moves on Vanessa. Paul, I’m not going to tell you twice. You better not let this happen.”
“Jack, listen. She’s not ready.”
“You sure it’s not you who’s not ready?”
“I was there when she met him—at Matt’s parents’ house. She told me—she’s not ready.”
“But the problem is, he’s ready. Buddy, don’t be stupid.”
“Yeah,” Paul said. “Okay. Thanks.”
When they hung up and Jack went back to Mel, crawling into bed and slipping his hands under the T-shirt to feel her belly, she said, “You’re doing it again, aren’t you?”
He sighed. “I thought you were asleep.”
“You’re getting in the middle of stuff.”
“Mel, I