by Lori Wick
had seen had been part of a large job.
"Griffin told me that dozens of cases go unsolved every
year," Mrs. Mills said. "I fear this might be one we'll have
419
to live with."
"Will it make things awkward for you when you see your husband's family?" Liberty asked.
"No. We're so spread out these days, and in truth, my
brother-in-law and I are not on good terms. He doesn't like
the way I've never settled down. As if every woman must
be dominated and ruled by a husband. Well, some of us
just won't be!" These last words were said with an indignant
sniff, and Liberty had all she could do not to ask Mrs.
Mills how she'd become a Mrs. when she felt that way. Or
maybe that was it: She had been ruled and dominated in
her marriage and was glad to have the man gone. Liberty
wondered if the older woman might explain, but someone
knocked on the door just then. Liberty was sitting with a
perfect view of that portal and couldn't stop the thundering
of her heart when she saw that it was Slater.
"Why, Mr. Rawlings," Mrs. Mills nearly gushed.
"Come in."
"Thank you, Mrs. Mills. I hope I'm not disturbing you."
"Not at all. Libby is here visiting me. Come right in."
Slater's hat had come off, and he gave Liberty a smile
420
as he took the chair his hostess indicated.
"What can we do for you, Mr. Rawlings?" Mrs. Mills
asked.
"Actually, I just came by to ask Libby if I could see her
home."
240 * lori wick
For all her seemingly negative ideas about marriage
and men, Mrs. Mills beamed at them.
"Of course, what a wonderful idea. Libby and I were
just visiting--something we can do anytime."
Liberty didn't remember too much more as she found
herself embarrassed, not only by Mrs. Mills' obvious efforts
to put them together, but by her own thoughts about Slater
and Miss Winters. But she did suddenly find herself outside
with Slater, that man taking the reins of both horses in
one hand and leading the way.
"I hope that was all right, Libby. I hope I didn't interrupt."
"Not at all. How did you know I was there?"
"I have the rest of the day off, so I went to your house
421
and your mother told me where to find you."
"Were you looking for me for a reason?"
"Do I need a reason?" he asked softly, and Liberty gave
him a sideways glance but didn't answer.
"How was your day?" he now tried. They had seen
each other so briefly that morning, and he had known she
was upset over Griffin's treatment of Bernice. Slater wondered
if Griffin had told Liberty how Bernice had taken it.
That woman had curled up on the bunk and gone sound
asleep for the next four hours.
"Enlightening," she said cryptically.
"Oh!" was all Slater could think to say.
They walked in silence for a time.
"Are you going to enlighten me?" Slater finally ventured.
Liberty laughed. "Not exactly. Let's just say I learned
some things about myself that were very helpful"
Slater studied her profile and waited for her to look at
him. When she did, she couldn't look away from his eyes.
She even stumbled in the road a little, but that only caused
Slater to take her hand. He held it all the way to title small
422
barn at the back of the Petersons' house.
Every Little Thing About You 241
Without a word of conversation, Slater tied Arrow to
the hitching post outside the barn and went inside to stable
Morton. Liberty followed, pulling hay from the rack so the
horse could reach it, applying the water bucket, and then
standing back against the wall, out of the way, until Slater
was done. Slater eventually turned to see where she'd disappeared
to and found her in the shadows. Like a powerful
magnet, he went to her, his hands going to the wall around
her, as he leaned close.
"I thought about you all day," he admitted.
"Oh, Slater."
"Tell me that means you thought of me too."
"It does."
Slater sighed and didn't even try to fight the temptation.
Not rushing or hesitating, his head lowered. His lips
caught Liberty's in a kiss that sent both their senses staggering.
Not content to keep his arms free of her, with hands
423
to her waist, he pulled her close. Liberty needed no other
prompting. Her own arms went around his neck, and she
kissed him back.
They were both gasping when Slater broke away, only
to study Liberty's face and kiss her again. She was a wonderful
fit in his arms, and for long moments she was his
only thought.
"I have to go inside!" Zach's young voice suddenly
shouted. He was up by the house but must have been
calling to the boys who'd walked with him from school.
The sound was just enough to bring Slater back to earth. He
began to move away, but Liberty caught his arm; she was
still in a fog of sensation.
"Slater?"
"Yes?"
"Will you come to dinner tonight? Are you free?"
He nodded, his eyes still on her face and then her
mouth. "The usual time?"
"Yes," Liberty said softly. She had never been kissed
before, and now she'd been kissed by the man she loved.
424
242 Low wick
The thought of being separated from him made her anxious.
"Ill see you then."
"Okay."
Liberty wasn't sure why she didn't invite him inside
right then, but with a final look into his eyes, she made her
way across the backyard and to the house. Slater watched
her go, his arms still aching to hold her, but his heart telling
him how wrong he'd been.
"What a mess," he said softly, causing Morton's ears to
twitch. It was a good thing that he had some time before
dinner; he had a good deal of thinking to do and a fair
measure of confessing. He wasn't playing games where
Liberty Drake was concerned, but she was not his to hold
and kiss as he'd just done.
"And it's time you remember that," he said, pulling
himself into Arrow's saddle and going for a long ride.
3-*3r
425
-Jr
"Maybe I shouldn't have invited Slater," Liberty said to
her mother as she checked on her in her room.
"Not at all, Libby," Kate said genuinely, but she was too
tired to rise. "I'm glad you did, but I'm not feeling the best,
so I think I'll stay right here."
"All right. I'll bring something up for you. Do you want
it before we eat or later?"
Liberty felt alarmed when her mother didn't answer
but then realized she'd fallen asleep that fast. She was glad,
however, that as she was leaving the room, Duffy was
coming down the halL
"Zach told me she's not feeling well."
"That's what she told me. She fell asleep almost in mid-sentence."
"I'll check on her and be d
own soon."
"We'll wait for you."
Every Little Thing About You 243
426
Duffy thanked her, and Liberty continued on downstairs,
only to find Slater in the kitchen with her brother
and sister.
"May I see you a moment, Libby?" he asked without
preamble.
"Certainly."
Liberty was on the verge of asking where, when Slater
turned toward the door. Liberty followed him.
"I had no right to kiss you," Slater began as soon as the
door was shut. They stood facing each other on the step.
"I've confessed to the Lord, and now I'm repenting to you.
I'm sorry I did that."
"I started feeling pretty awful about 30 minutes after
you left. I'm sorry too, Slater."
"Liberty," Slater said, moving so close and bending
over her that had Liberty not known better, she might have
thought she would be kissed again. "I'm not playing games
here. I want you to understand that. With whom do I talk?
Do I go to Griffin or Duffy and tell him I want to court you?
Just tell me, and I'll take care of it as soon as I can."
427
"Duffy," Liberty barely managed/ wanting to kiss him
all over again.
Slater nodded and worked to study her face in the
dusky light.
"You do things to my heart, Liberty Kathleen. I want
you to know that."
Liberty thought that if he could feel her own heart, he'd
know he wasn't alone, but no words would come.
"Libby?" Laura called through the door. "Are you out
there?"
Slater reached to squeeze Liberty's hand and then
opened the back door for her to go in. He didn't know how
he would manage the waiting. He wanted to be married
right now. He wanted to move fast, but the only way they
would be sure not to make a mistake was to go slowly.
Slater joined the family for dinner that night, his heart
light with the knowledge that Liberty was open to his suit
244 lori wick
It would be some days before he remembered the issue that
428
was not settled between them, and hoping it would go
away was not going to make it happen.
"WELL, hello, slater," Duffy said the following day.
He'd only just arrived at his office and was not expecting
anyone for almost an hour.
"Is this bad timing, Duffy?"
"Not at all."
This was normally the time Duffy read his Bible, but he
could see that Slater had something on his mind.
"How is Kate?" the younger man asked. His eyes
showed that he cared, but his stance carried a good deal of
tension.
"Much better. We think she was just tired. She was up
early this morning and ready to go."
"Good," Slater said and then fell quiet. This was so
much easier when it was just he and Liberty. With Duffy
looking at him, kind as he was, Slater felt oddly tongue-tied.
When he didn't say anything, Duffy caught on and
also saw a way to have a little fun at Slater's expense.
429
"Are you not feeling well, Slater?"
"No, I'm fine," Slater assured him.
"There are colds going around. You're sure you haven't
caught something?"
"I'm sure not."
"Old Mrs. Featherpenny--" Duffy went on expansively,
making up a name, "she was in recently with a horrible
rash. Itched and itched. Thought she would go mad.
I gave her some ointment, but sometimes these things take
a while. You don't have a rash, do you?"
245
246 lori wick
Slater shook his head, now looking at Duffy as though
the man had lost his senses.
"This is only mid-February, but you know we do have
our fair share of fevers in the spring, people fancying themselves
in love and mooning about with their heads in the
430
clouds."
Catching the glint in the doctor's eyes, Slater finally
smiled.
"And can a doctor help with that?"
"Well, it depends on the doctor, I might be a bit of help
in Ubby or Laura's case, but I wasn't much help to Tess."
"Now that you've mentioned Libby..." Slater, seeing his
opportunity, eased in. "She said I should talk to you."
"About a rash?" Duffy teased one more time.
Slater laughed.
"Sometimes I think that would be easier."
"What's hard about Libby?"
"Going slow."
Duffy nodded wisely. He well-remembered that he was
ready to marry Kate long before the date arrived.
"Are you here today to tell me you love my girl,
Slater?"
"That just about sums it up. You can see how little I
have. I don't even have my own place. But I'd like to visit
with Libby with the intent of finding out what we have
431
here."
"My blessing doesn't hinge on the answer to this question,
but do you plan to stay in Shotgun?"
"I do, yes. I love the church here, and I can easily see
myself settled down in this town."
"Liberty would be glad to know that. She loves
Shotgun."
"It's a fine town. People care."
"Indeed, they do. Well, Slater, I think I can speak for
both Kate and myself. You're free in our eyes to see Libby
and to court her. You did say that she told you to talk to
me?"
Every Little Thing About You 247
"Yes."
"Then I assume you have her consent"
"It certainly looks that way."
"How long have you been living here?" Duffy could
not remember.
"A little over four months. It seems longer, maybe
432
because Libby and I have seen each other a lot during that
time."
"That'll do it."
Both men were thankful that Dr. Peterson's first patient
waited until that moment to come through the door.
Entering any sooner might have made it awkward all
around. Slater was able to leave knowing he'd done what
he set out to do. The only problem that remained the rest of
the day was keeping his mind on the job. Liberty seemed
to be crowding in more than she ever had before.
5-
"He asked whom he should talk to, Griffin or Duffy,"
Liberty told Tess that same morning. "He told me he's not
playing games."
Tess gave Liberty a squeeze, wanting to holler with
delight.
"What did you say?" Tess asked as she dragged Liberty
433
into the living room.
"That he should go to Duffy. I don't know when he
will, but he said he'd take care of it soon."
Tess sighed. "He's wonderful, Libby. Griff thinks so
much of him."
"He is wonderful. Even the way his family has come
into town and liked us all so much seems like more evidence
that we're to be together."
"And how do you feel, Lib? Would you say you're in
love, or are you still thinking on it?"
"I think I'm in love. I feel something for Slater that I've
never
felt for anyone. I know we have to be careful not to
248 lori wick
just follow our hearts, but feelings do play a part, don't
they, Tess?"
"Yes, they do, but you're right, we can only go on emotions
when every thought and action is biblical."
Liberty blinked. "I think I want you to explain that to
me."
434
"Well, when I met Griff, I was instantly attracted. Had
my family not liked him, or had he proven to be a nonbeiever
or someone who said he believed but didn't live it,
then I would have to have taken a step back, no matter
what my heart said.
"If at any point I had started to feel that I couldn't live
without him, then I would have had to examine my own
heart and see that as sin. The only Person I can't live
without is Christ."
"That's why you felt such a peace about marrying Griff,
even in his line of work?"
"Yes. Don't misunderstand me, Libby. I want Griffin
with me forever, but if God has a better plan, I have to be
open to that."
Liberty nodded, and for a moment Tess hesitated in
indecision. It was on her heart to ask Liberty if she and
Slater had ever worked out the issue of Liberty's acting as
deputy. Tess didn't know why, but she was afraid to open
the subject.
"I told Mam I would help her with the laundry," Liberty
435
said, rising slowly. She wanted to sit and dream with
Tess all day.
"I'd better get to work too," Tess said, feeling guilty.
"My mother asked us to dinner, and I said I would make
dessert."
"Thanks for letting me come over and share."
"Anytime," Tess said lightly, her heart telling her that
she was letting an opportunity slip away.
Liberty waved and went on her way, completely unsuspecting.
Her heart still in a quandary, Tess stood for a time
Every Little Thing About You 249
after she left, planning to ask Griffin about it as soon as he
got home.
*
Slater wondered how many times Liberty had done
this. Moving slowly on his way to the Brass Spittoon, he
thought this had to be much like her first encounter with
436
him. Having seen Griffin's way of handling these situations,
Slater went right to the bar and spoke with Gordie.
That man nodded in the direction of a corner table. Slater
turned. Even with his back to the main room, there was no
missing Dakota Rawlings.
Slater went toward him, his sense of danger draining
away. He walked until he stood beside him, but Dakota
didn't look up.
