A Bride for Cameron by Barbara Goss (read novels website .txt) 📗

“No, I didn’t.  I just gave the facts, but there’s something you need to know about lawyers— they are paid to do a job,  and they do their best,  even if the man is guilty.”

“Isn’t that dishonest?” she asked, a bit shocked.

“Every person has the right to a lawyer who will give competent, aggressive legal representation.”

“What if he’s a murderer?”

“Every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.  It’s the jury’s job to decide.”

Hannah wasn’t sure if she could accept his explanation.  She was sure that,  if she were a lawyer,  she would not defend a guilty person. Hannah needed to give his words some thought.

Before she could ask him another question,  a man walked up behind Cameron and clapped his shoulder,  causing him a startle.  When he looked up at the man,  he laughed.  “Hannah, you remember Joe Simmons, my business partner?”

Joe took Hannah’s hand and patted it.  “How do you like Hunter’s Grove so far?”

He released her hand,  and she returned his smile.  “I find this small town rather endearing.”

“May I join you?” Joe asked.

“Yes,” Cameron said, pointing to an empty chair.

Joe pulled up the chair and sat between them at the end of the table.  “I’ve come for your answer, Cameron.  I have to get things moving.” He looked at Hannah, “Your husband will make a fine senator,  and this town will grow.”

Hannah stared at Cameron,  wondering what he needed to answer.

Cameron sat quietly,  playing idly with the food on his plate.  “I’ve given it a lot of thought,  and my wife and I have decided I won’t be running for the state Senate.”

Hannah couldn’t believe her ears.  It was the reason he'd married her,  and the reason he'd adopted the children,  and now he was passing it by?

Joe sighed loudly.  “I was counting on you, Cameron.  I already have a hundred citizen signatures—what am I to do now?”

Cameron said,   “You should have waited.”

“We’ll talk later,” Joe said, standing.  He pushed his chair back roughly and stormed from the eatery.

“But Cameron, we never even discussed this.  How can you say it was a mutual decision?”

Cameron shrugged.  “I know how you feel about my dishonesty, and even the few church services I sat through told me I’ve behaved disgracefully.  I want you and the children to be proud of me but not because I fooled the voters to gain a seat in the Senate.  Once I was elected, would I continue being dishonest?  Probably so.   If just one person discovered my lie,  I’d have shamed myself and my family.  No,   I won’t continue being dishonest.”

Hannah smiled slightly.  “I’m glad, but does this mean you’ll undo our marriage and take the children back?”

 “Not on your life!”  Cameron exclaimed.  “I’ve become quite fond of you and the children.  We no longer have to hide how we met or how we got the children.  I want to be a father the children can be proud of... ” he added softly, “and you,  as well.”

Cameron pushed his half-eaten dinner away.  “You seem to be enjoying the mystery of who killed Monroe—why?”

“I’ve always enjoyed reading mysteries and the mystery has to be solved by the book’s ending or it never really ends,  so I want to find out who really killed Monroe.”

Cameron smiled and patted her hand as it laid on the table.  “Let’s solve it then... together.”

“Really?  You’ll help me?” she asked.

“I’m curious,  too, and I don’t like you investigating by yourself.  It could get dangerous.”

Chapter Fifteen

Cameron walked into Joe’s office as soon as he arrived at work.

“Just the man I want to see,” Joe said.  “Sit down.”

Cameron took a seat and prepared for an argument.

Joe shook a stack of papers at him. “All these citizens want you for senator.  Now,  what am I supposed to tell them?”

“Hannah and I were discussing the matter just this morning at breakfast.  If you want me to run, I will.”

Joe smiled broadly. “You will?”

“On one condition:  I will not be dishonest.  I’ll give a speech in the town square and tell them all the truth.”

“They won’t like it,” Joe said.

“Then I’ll withdraw.”

“Marriage sure has changed you.”

“It has.  I’m a church-going man with a family.  I went about everything the wrong way, but you know what?  It all turned out perfectly.  I have two of the most precious children and a virtuous, lovely wife—what more could a man ask for?  If the people turn me down, it was meant to be.  Or, as Hannah would say, it’s God’s will.”

Joe sighed.  “All right.  I’ll set up the date and time for your speech.”

“I also need afternoons off for a few weeks; can you cover for me?”

“Certainly.  Our caseloads aren’t exactly full.  We need that railroad line.”

Cameron stood and walked to the door.  “I’ll do my best, but honestly so.”

That afternoon, after the nanny arrived, Hannah and Cameron rode to Chloe’s neighbor’s home.

Cameron knocked on the door of Mrs. Kepler’s small, well-kept house.  When a little,  elderly woman answered the door, Cameron introduced them.  As they followed her into the sitting room,  Hannah noticed her limp.  “Are you all right, Mrs. Kepler?”

“Oh, posh, yes—it’s just my hip acting up again. You two can call me Elsie.”  She squinted  up at Cameron.  “Say, aren’t you that lawyer fellow that defended Charles Wilson?”

Cameron nodded.  “Yes, and my wife and I are trying to find the real killer.”

“Oh,  dear!” Elsie said. “It wasn’t me, I assure you.  Would you care for some tea?”

“No, but thank you,” Hannah said.  “Chloe and I are friends, and the sheriff seems to be pointing the finger in her direction.  We want to help.”

“Chloe wouldn’t harm a fly.”  Elsie folded her hands in her lap.  “How can I