She had a silent discussion with her daughter that included a lot of eyebrow raising and narrowing of eyes. “Fine. Just don’t be a pest to Cam. Promise?”

“Promise!” Rose nodded.

“Go ahead,” Willow urged. “I’ll meet you up there as soon as I can.” She leaned up, and I bent to kiss her out of habit. “Be good,” she whispered against my lips.

“I’m not the one with self-control issues,” I teased.

She scoffed but was smiling when she walked into the building.

“Mrs. Bradley.” I nodded to her mom.

“She’s happy.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Keep her that way.” Her gaze hardened for a second in motherly warning, and a pang of longing for my mother hit me.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Satisfied, she told Rose to be good, then joined her daughter.

“You survived,” Charity noted, lightly punching my shoulder.

“The battle. The war remains to be seen.” I scooped Rose up in my arms and sat her on my shoulders. “Now, the crowd can’t swallow you.”

Rose’s nose scrunched as she grinned. “See, Mom?”

“I see. You take care of my girl, Cam.” She pointed a finger at me.

“You take care of mine, Charity,” I countered as I turned…and barely swallowed a swear word.

Judge Bradley glared up at me from the bottom step. “Put my granddaughter down.”

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Camden

“Hi, Grandpa!” Rose waved, swaying on my shoulders.

“Rosie,” he replied with a softer smile toward her. “Put her—”

Charity stepped to my side, earning an icy glower from her father. She didn’t speak, simply tilted her head.

“I’m going to Cam’s building!” Rose informed him.

“The assayer’s office,” I added, in case he thought she meant the yet-to-be-repaired mining building.

His attention went to Rose, skipping right over me. “Have fun, sweetheart.” Then he sidestepped and walked up the stairs, passing Charity without a word.

Charity gave my arm a reassuring pat in farewell, and I carried Rose out into the crowd.

“What’s wrong?” Rose asked as she leaned over.

“You Bradley girls are trouble,” I complained with an exaggerated shake of my head, adjusting my grip on her legs.

“Technically, I’m a Maylard.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I crossed Main Street, taking deep breaths when the crowd pushed in.

“I can see everything from up here! You okay?” Rose asked.

“Yep. I just don’t like crowds.” Especially ones I couldn’t control or observe.

“I don’t like snakes.”

“Oh yeah?” I held her tighter to keep people from bumping into her.

“They move without legs. It’s weird.”

“Good point.”

The crowd eased at the boardwalk, and I quickly climbed the steps into the assayer’s office. About a dozen tourists filled the space, some sorting through the raised wooden bins of ore and others waiting their turn to have their finds assessed.