A few more tense moments passed before the council resumed their seats. My fingernails carved half-moons in my palms as I prayed that just once they’d break the rigid mold of their traditions. I didn’t even care if it was greed that moved them as long as they moved.

“Camden, the council has agreed to consider your summer plan. We’ll need detailed plans on both the Rose Rowan Mine and the restoration of the Rose Rowan building by the March twenty-ninth meeting, so you have two weeks. As long as everything is in order, I don’t see why you can’t begin working on the mine immediately.” Walter grinned.

My hands covered my mouth as shock and joy took turns overwhelming me. For the first time in my memory, the town of Alba cheered for Camden Daniels.

Reopening the mine implied that he was home for good, and while that sent my heart skipping, it also caused my smile to falter. I could only hide my feelings from Cam for so long, and something told me that working with him was only going to hasten the inevitable.

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Camden

“It’s seen better days.”

I rose from where I was inspecting the pilings on the interior and turned around to see my brother standing in the doorway of the Rose Rowan building. There were only about twenty minutes until Willow would walk into whatever shit storm my brother was here to deliver.

“That could pretty much be the town motto of Alba,” I replied.

“And yet here you are, riding in like some white knight, ready to save us all.” He folded his arms over his chest but still gave me a million-dollar smile.

“Hardly.” The snow crunched beneath my boots as I crossed the fifteen feet to where he stood. “The town is doing just fine. Opening the mine might give it a boost, but that’s it. Honestly, I’m shocked you didn’t think of it first.”

His lips pursed before smoothing. “I knew there was zero chance in hell I was going to get you back here, let alone get you to sign over your half of the mining company. Not to mention find an engineer willing to take it on. That place is a liability nightmare.”

More than half of the mining company. Not that I’d say it, of course. He didn’t need salt rubbed into an openly raw wound.

“I’m not asking you to sign over your portion. But getting on board with this would go a long way, don’t you think? At least politically for you.”

“Is that what you’re looking for? Political clout? Want to run for office now? Cam, you’ve been home all of a minute, and suddenly you know best when it comes to Dad, the mine, the needs of the town. What are you doing?”

“The best I can to keep the promise we made.”