Silver Creek: Silver Springs, #2

By Tima S. Dowding

Welcome back to Silver Springs where two lost souls reunite over the loss of someone they both loved…

It has been over twenty years since Samantha and Brian dated, but for Samantha the feelings she felt for him all those years ago still linger, and she has never forgotten him.  Seeing him again has stirred a longing deep within her, and although she can't have him she can't control what her heart wants.  Besides, he would never move back to the sleepy little town of Silver Springs after leaving it so long ago, or would he?

For Brian, returning to Silver Springs felt like being home again.  Here he feels at peace, a feeling he hasn't felt in a very long time.  Especially when the beautiful kind-hearted Samantha is ready to steal his heart again.  Leaving her all those years ago had been one of the most difficult things he's ever had to do in his life, and it's something he has never told her.  Now he must decide if he's willing give up everything he has for a second chance with her?

Join Samantha and Brian as they rekindle what they once had, while trying desperately to mend their broken hearts…

The Inn at Silver Springs - Book three of the Silver Springs collection now available.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tima S. Dowding
• Release date: Feb 14, 2018
• ISBN: 9781775242888

Book preview

Silver Creek

Also by Tima S. Dowding

Silver Springs Collection

Silver Mountain

Silver Creek

The Inn at Silver Springs

(Available Summer 2018)

Silver Creek

By Tima S. Dowding

Book Two of the Silver Springs Collection

This is a work of fiction.  All names, characters, places and circumstance are products of the authors imagination and are fictitious.  No actual reference to any real person, living or dead, is intended or inferred.

This book is intended for adult readers and contains some sexual content.

Copyright © 2018 by Tima S. Dowding

All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by recording, photocopying or other mechanical or electronic means.  Including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review and other certain non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Written and Edited by Tima S. Dowding

Cover Art by Tima S. Dowding

Dedication

To the four guys who make my life interesting and keep me on my toes. My sons, Alexander, Blade & Cole for whom I would move mountains for, and my husband David who defines what true love is.

Acknowledgments

To my husband David, for his continued love and support throughout the years, and to my brother and my sister-in-law Geordie and Tracy MacDermaid, who continually show me how much my family means to me.  Also, an acknowledgement to a Mr. Jaka Pang, who was the first person to buy one of my books when I published my first novel, Silver Mountain, thank you.

Table of Content

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Epilogue

The Inn at Silver Springs

Chapter One

Alone.  That one word summed up how Samantha was feeling right now.  She was sitting in her bay window looking out at the mountains in the fading daylight.  Hugging her golden retriever Baxter to her, she tried to take comfort in his companionship, but it wasn’t working.

Tomorrow was the Memorial Service for Keith.  She still couldn’t believe that he was gone.  Her best friend of over twenty-five years had died last week in a tragic accident.  Keith was a paramedic and had been out on a call responding to a multi-car pileup on the highway.  On the way there he and his partner had been struck by a landslide.  Their ambulance had been swept off the road and over the roadside cliff to land hundreds of feet below.  Neither of them had survived.

Trying desperately not to cry again, Samantha wiped her eyes and tried to concentrate on everything that needed to be done for tomorrow.  She had taken it on herself to make all the arrangements since Keith had no living relatives left, except for his older brother Brian, who would be arriving tomorrow morning.

Brian.  What would it be like to see him again?  It had been a little over six years since she had last seen him, and it had only been briefly.  Samantha had been married at the time, but she still remembered the butterflies in her stomach when she has seen him.  She had dated Brian in their senior year of high school, but they had broken it off when he left right after graduation to backpack across the country.  He had wanted to leave the small-town life behind and explore the world.  Samantha had not wanted to go as she would be attending the University of British Columbia in the fall, so they had parted ways, but as friends.

Now he would be back and this time she was single.  Her marriage had ended five years ago when her and her ex-husband Tom had grown apart due to a personal tragedy.  A tragedy she tried not to think of.  So much heartache she thought sadly.

Thinking of Brian again, she wondered how he was dealing with the loss of his brother.  She had only spoken to him briefly on the phone twice after the accident and she had not been able to gauge his emotions over the phone.  From the last she had heard from Keith, Brian was still single, having never married.  But at this time of loss she wondered if he had had anyone to turn to help him grieve?  She hated the thought of him being alone.

The sound of her cellphone ringing brought her out of her thoughts and she sighed when she saw her close friend Racheal’s name on the screen. No doubt that Racheal was calling to check up on her.

Hi Rach, how are things over at the store? she asked her friend when she answered.

Later that night Samantha wandered aimlessly around her empty house after attempting to eat a small dinner.  But she had not had the appetite for it, so it sat forgotten on her kitchen island.  Unable to relax, Samantha picked up her coat and whistled for Baxter.  Maybe some fresh air and a walk would help.  Baxter tried to contain his excitement over the prospect of a walk, wagged his tail madly and wriggled so much that it was hard for her to get his leash on.  Grabbing her keys on the way out, Samantha left the house and headed down the road towards the center of town.

Lost in her thoughts, Samantha took no notice of her surroundings and realized she had aimlessly made her way to Sam’s Bookshop & Café.  The store’s awning was lite up with white lights and a few Poinsettias left over from the holidays were on the tables.  Sam’s was a cozy little book store where patrons could sit and enjoy a beverage or baked goods while reading their new purchases or perusing the many books that were left out for them.  There were a few customers in the store looking through the shelves of books and a couple sat on the one of the two sofas near the fire enjoying a hot drink and each other’s company.  Not everyone that came into the store bought something.  Many people liked to just stop in and enjoy what the café had to offer.  Sam’s Café was always stocked with fresh baked goods from the local bakery owned by Mrs. Parker, and they were delicious and popular.

Samantha smiled as she gazed through the window, her first smile in days.  Out of everything that had happened to her over the years this store was her pride and joy.  She had opened the store nine years ago with Tom and after their separation she had bought him out, since the store was her passion, not Tom’s.  Plus, he had moved away from Silver Springs after right their separation was finalized. 

Baxter sat patiently beside her and watched the people passing by.  Giving a little sigh Samantha opened the door and Baxter followed her in.  She greeted the couple by the fire and headed back towards the cashier’s counter.

Hi Boss Lady, I didn’t think I would see you in here tonight, her friend Racheal greeted her.  Racheal was one of Samantha’s oldest and dearest friends, going back to elementary school.  She had hired her when she had opened the store nine years ago and Racheal still worked for her.

I wasn’t planning to, but I needed to get out of the house and ended up here, Samantha replied to her friend as Racheal came around the counter to pet Baxter.

Who’s a good boy? Are you taking care of Sam for us? Racheal asked Baxter while she pet him.  He licked her face in response, happy for the attention.

He’s been a comfort to me, that’s for sure, Samantha replied. So, is everything ready for tomorrow afternoon?  Is there anything that needs to be done or did I forget anything?

No, I think everything has been taken care of.  Mrs. Parkers son Craig will be in tomorrow morning around eight to help set everything up for the reception and Mrs. Parker said she would have all the deserts brought in by noon.  The flowers will be delivered first thing in the morning and the ones from the funeral home will be brought over after the Memorial Service. Matt from the Silver Mountain Ski Resort Restaurant will be by around noon with two of his waiters to set up the food they are providing.  Oh, and I’ll make sure to bring the picture of Keith you had blown up over from the funeral home.

Sounds like everything is taken care of.  You don’t know how much I appreciate you helping me out with all the planning these past few days.  Without you I don’t think I could have done it.

Think nothing of it, you know I would do anything for you after all you have done for me over the years.  And Keith was my friend too.  I’m going to miss him, and it just won’t be the same without him coming in to get his morning coffee every day.  Racheal looked at the floor with tears in her eyes that she tried desperately not to show.  Samantha felt for her with tears coming to her eyes again and gave her friend a hug, a hug that they both desperately needed right now.

We’ll get through this Rach, haven’t we always in the past?

Yes, we have. 

The two women separated and wiped the tears from their eyes.  Samantha took a close look at her friend and could see the true depth of her pain.  She knew that Racheal had had feelings for Keith and was hoping that one day their friendship would develop into something more, but now that would never happen.  Her heart hurt for Racheal and she knew that it would be a long time before her friend recovered from this. 

Rach it’s slow right now so why don’t you call it a night and go home to your son.  I’m sure he needs you right now too since he was so close to Keith.  I’ll close the store tonight.  Besides I need something to keep me busy, and I’ve got Baxter here to keep me company, Liz said trying to smile at her friend.

Thanks Sam, I appreciate it.  It really would be nice to go home to Cody.  But promise me that if you need me that you will call me.

I will, now go.

Racheal went behind the counter to get her purse and coat then headed for the front doors after giving Samantha a quick squeeze on her arm as she passed by.  Samantha took Baxter behind the counter and told him to stay there while she started tidying things up for the night.  Allie, who worked in the café, was cleaning up the lounge area where the young couple had been earlier.  Looking at the clock she saw there was only a half hour left until closing time.

Allie, why don’t you finish cleaning up for the night and head home as well.  I can take care of everything else here, Samantha said.

Cool, thanks boss! Allie said cheerfully.  Samantha knew that Allie would be more than happy to leave early, being a teenager and probably wanting to go hang out with her boyfriend before going home.

No problem, I’ll see you tomorrow, she said as she turned around and went to the back of the store to get the broom.  She figured she might as well start with the floors before she cashed out for the night.

Twenty minutes later, Samantha figured that there would be no more customers for the night, so she turned the open sign off and went to cash out.  Lost in her own thoughts didn’t hear someone come in through the front door, which she had forgotten to lock, until she felt someone standing in front of her.

Looking up she met a pair of hazelnut eyes with hints of green looking at her sadly.  Samantha let out a little gasp of surprise and instantly tears came to her eyes.

Chapter Two

Brian was back in town a day early.  Samantha hadn’t been expecting him to arrive until tomorrow morning.  He looked tired and his normally neatly groomed hair was a mess, like he had been constantly running his fingers through it.  But even in his unkempt state he was still the most handsome man Samantha had ever met.

Instead of saying anything, Brian walked around the counter and gathered Samantha into his arms.  She felt the cold coming off his coat but quickly forgot that as she sank into his strong arms.  For the first time in days she didn’t feel alone.  Here was the one other person who felt her grief as much as she did but also on a higher level.  Keith had been like brother to her, but he had been Brian’s brother.  Growing up they had been close and had maintained that closeness even after Brian moved away.  Sighing, she leaned her head on his chest and closed her eyes.  If she never had to move she would be a very happy woman.  Here was the one person who could relate to her and help ease the pain.

After what felt like an eternity but was only a few minutes, they separated, and Samantha backed up a few feet until her back was against the counter.  On the floor Baxter was trying to nudge Brian into paying attention to him, not wanting to be left out.

Hello there, Brian said to Baxter while petting him on the head.  Who might you be?

That’s Baxter, he’s mine and likes to keep me company here at the store, Liz answered.  Looks like you’ve made a new friend there.  Baxter was now licking Brian happily and wanted more attention.

Okay boy, that’s enough now.  I know you just want some attention but let me talk to your mom here and I’ll play with you after.  Brian had a hint of a smile on his face as he talked to the dog and Samantha’s heart warmed to see just that little tiny bit of joy that her dog was able to bring him.

Come on Bax, let’s get you a treat and then I want you to go sit by the fire, Liz said while pulling out a bone from a bag of treats that she kept for him under the counter.  He eagerly followed her as she walked over to the fire with his treat and sat before being told to.  Good boy Bax, stay here.

Sitting down on the sofa, Samantha indicated for Brian to sit down as well.  Complying, he sat down beside her and laid his head back tiredly and closed his eyes.  After a moment he spoke.

It’s so good to just sit down.  It was a long drive from the airport and I feel like I haven’t stopped in days.  I’ve been keeping busy, hoping that I would be too exhausted to feel the pain of Keith being gone.  But now that I’m back here in Silver Springs I just can’t stop thinking of him.  I want to, but I can’t.  Stephen broke off as he rubbed his temples and tried desperately to hold it together.

Samantha picked up his hand and gently squeezed it.  I know how you feel, I’m the same way... Oh Brian! Why? Why did it have to be Keith?  I just can’t bear the thought of him being gone.  I keep expecting him to walk through the door and order a coffee to go for his shift.  I miss him so much.

I know, so do I.  It shouldn’t have been Keith.  Anyone but Keith, he said brokenly.

The two of them sat there quietly, each in their own world of pain and not knowing what else to say.  Sensing the mood in the room, Baxter came over to sit in front of them and laid his head on their hands that were still clasped together.  Whining softly, he looked at the two of them, not knowing what else to do.  Samantha scratched him behind his ear with her free hand and stared at the fire.  Although it was giving off a soft glow and heat, she did not feel it.  She felt so cold, and empty.  But having Brian here was helping, and she did not realize until that moment just how much she had needed him to be there with her, even if they were only friends.  Feeling somewhat comfortable for the first time in days, Samantha risked laying her head on Brian’s shoulder and closed her eyes.

Liz woke to someone gently shaking