Lover's Leap by Emily March Page B

against him. It wasn’t his fault that his father was a sorry rat bastard. She should be sensitive to that fact. Wasn’t the whole “sins of the father” nonsense at the heart of this trouble? She would be above that. Besides, she needed the help. “Okay. Thank you, um, Donnie?”
    “Devin.” He stepped up and smoothly slipped the cash box from her hand. “You have a price list somewhere?”
    “Yes.” She tugged a tri-fold brochure sporting the Fresh logo from a plastic display box and gave it to him. “Thanks.”
    “Happy to help.” Devin turned to the tourists and flashed a smile. “G’day, ladies. Would you two lovelies care for a drink with your muffins? Looks like we have lemonade, iced tea, or bottled water.”
    For just a moment, Sarah stood, watching the teenager from Australia flirt with the middle-aged women from Georgia. Devin appeared to be completely comfortable with the situation, and she had no more reason to delay. Besides, Cam looked like he was about to blow.
    She moved out from behind her sales booth and took off walking up Second Street, away from the crowd, away from Pauline the Nosy. Cam Murphy strode along beside her.
    Cam Murphy at her side! Sarah swallowed hard against a nervous giggle. Holy Moses . This was certainly a first. She and Cam had never walked together in public when they were teenagers. Had she ever dared, her parents would have heard the news before she’d ever made it home. Her dad would have met her at the door with his arms crossed and his brow furrowed in a disapproving frown. Her mom would have wrung her hands with worry, tears pooling in her eyes. It would have been just like the afternoon that they confronted her about her obviously pregnant belly.
    What a difference twenty years made. Dad wasn’t alive to frown, and Mom didn’t know how to worry anymore. Am I lucky or what?
    A strangled laugh escaped her. You’re hysterical, that’s what you are .
    Sarah fought for control by focusing on her surroundings. It was a beautiful afternoon in Eternity Springs. The sky above was clear and a crisp, brilliant blue. Sunshine warmed the easy breeze fanning through the mountain valley. On any other day, she would have taken delight in the sight of a red-tailed hawk making lazy circles around the spire of Sacred Heart Church. Ordinarily, she would have appreciated the riot of pinks, reds, yellows, and purples blooming in flowerpots and baskets at every residence and business along the street. Today she barely noticed the beauty surrounding her.
    The beast at her side overwhelmed all her senses.
    Anger emanated from him in waves. The farther they walked, the faster he walked. Since she took two strides to every one of his, Sarah soon jogged to keep up even as she wondered why she bothered. Then, just as they approached Cottonwood Avenue and Angel Creek beyond, a thought occurred to Sarah that brought her to an abrupt halt. Whoa, did I dodge a bullet .
    Lori had considered coming home this weekend for a visit, but a last-minute camping invitation from a college friend had changed her mind. Sarah had been disappointed, but since she knew she’d be busy due to the quilt festival, she hadn’t protested. Now she realized that the camping opportunity had been a blessing for them both.
    Cam’s voice broke into her thoughts. “Do you really want to do this here? Beside a trash dumpster?”
    “What? Oh. That’s not … No, I thought we’d go there.” She gestured toward Angel Creek and the grounds of Angel’s Rest. But before she could explain further, a familiar voice interrupted her.
    “Sarah, my dear,” Reverend Hart called out from the porch of Alton and Wendy Davis’s home. “I’m surprised to see you away from the Fresh tent. Don’t tell me you’ve sold out already. I’ve been planning to blow my diet on one of your brownies.”
    The Methodist minister wore a welcoming smile as his gaze shifted expectantly toward Cam. Oh, no . Sarah had no intention of