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Every Little Thing About You Page 4


  settled things with Shotgun's sheriff. He then began to fill

  his pockets with his possessions.

  "Where will you head from here?" Griffin asked after

  he'd sat on the desk, his legs dangling down the side.

  Slater looked to the window. "I don't know. I like

  Shotgun, especially the church. Maybe I'll stick around."

  Griffin nodded. "What took you so long to decide?"

  Slater shook his head. "Stubborn-mule pride, and I just

  quit my job. Ten bucks is a lot of money."

  "What do you do?"

  Slater looked him in the eye. "I was a Texas Ranger

  until last month."

  Every Little Thing About You 35

  56

  Griffin's brows rose as a dozen more questions rolled

  through his mind. When did a man question and when did

  a man leave a person his privacy? Griffin thought of one

  safe inquiry.

  "Did the church service this morning have anything to

  do with your decision?"

  "It had a lot to do with it. There's nothing like hearing

  about Nehemiah's qualities to make me see how short I

  am."

  "I felt that same way."

  Slater threw his saddlebags over one shoulder and

  started to say thank you. Griffin cut him off.

  "Have you got a place to sleep tonight?"

  Slater's mouth quirked. "You mean other than the

  woods?"

  Griffin smiled. "I live next door to my mother and

  Duffy. You're welcome to one of the bedrooms.''

  Slater nodded. "Thank you."

  "If I'm not there when you get in, use the back door and

  take any bedroom upstairs."

  57

  "I'll plan on that"

  "One more thing," Griffin said. "The hotel gives a full

  plate of food for 15 cents. It's not fancy, but if s always hot

  and filling."

  Slater's hand came out. "Thank you, sheriff."

  "You can call me Griffin."

  Slater nodded, shook the man's hand, and went to the

  door. It was a quiet Sunday afternoon, the sun shining, but

  the breeze was cool as he walked down the street. Slater

  held his expectations at bay, but on the way to church that

  morning he thought he'd spotted a bathhouse. It might not

  be open, but he had to give it a try. If that didn't work, he'd

  get Arrow from the livery and ride out until he found a

  deep spot in the creek.

  "that you, slater?" griffin called when he heard the

  back door open after 8:00 that night.

  "Yeah. I couldn't tell if you were here or not."

  Griffin appeared at the doorway, a lantern in his hand.

  He set it on the kitchen table, noticed Slater's slicked-back

  hair, and grinned.

  58

  "If I'd known you were looking for a bath, I'd have told

  you to use my tub."

  Slater shook his head. "The bathhouse was closed, and

  I couldn't find any privacy on the creek. I had to wait until

  after dark. That water is cold."

  "Come on through here," Griffin invited. He led the

  way to the living room where he'd been cleaning a gun.

  This room had gas lighting that cast a warm glow to every

  corner but didn't penetrate the dark curtains over the windows.

  The house had looked dark and deserted when

  Slater rode up. He had taken the liberty of stabling his

  horse in the back and letting himself in.

  "How far did you ride up the creek?"

  "About a mile. It's pretty country."

  "I think so. Did you get some supper?"

  "The hotel. I'm not crazy about lamb, but I've had

  worse. By the way, do you live alone? Should I be watching

  not to scare the life out of someone?"

  "No, I'm on my own. This was Duffy's mother's house.

  I moved over when she died."

  59

  "Duffy's not your father?"

  37

  38 lori wick

  "No. My father died when I was a kid. Mam married

  Duff about two years later."

  "And had Zach and Laura."

  "Yeah," Griffin smiled. There was little that got to his

  heart faster than his little brother and sister. He suddenly

  remembered Laura's question at the table and chuckled.

  Slater had thought of it too. "Unless I miss my guess,

  she's something of a character."

  "Laura? Yes. She makes me laugh every time I talk to

  her."

  "I thought your sister would choke."

  "Libby's like another mother to Laura but with very

  little discipline; Mam and Duffy see to that. It's the same

  with Zach."

  60

  "He seems like a bright young man."

  "He's better read thart some adults my age. He has a

  sensitive heart too."

  Slater wanted to ask if Griffin would marry and have

  his own brood, but he knew it wasn't his affair. The pretty

  blonde who had come into the jailhouse was clearly

  willing. Slater wondered if Shotgun's sheriff was holding

  back for some reason.

  "I was in bed late and up early," Griffin suddenly said,

  finishing his work and putting it aside. "I hope you won't

  mind if I turn in."

  "Not at all. I was hoping to turn in soon."

  The men said their goodnights, but Griffin ended up

  showing Slater to the most comfortable room. He told him

  to come downstairs if he needed anything and left him

  alone with the lantern. Slater climbed into bed, intent on

  reading the whole book of Nehemiah. But he only got

  halfway through. He was asleep just five seconds after

  turning down the lantern.

  61

  -

  Every

  Little Thing About You 39

  Pulling the belt on her dressing gown tightly around

  her, Liberty slipped out of the house on Monday morning

  and dashed across to Griffin's house. She had left her

  revolver in his kitchen--he had volunteered to clean it for

  heiv-but she didn't know if he'd gotten to it or not. She

  was headed to the office this morning and didn't want to

  forget.

  Liberty slipped in the back door and groped around

  until she had the lantern lit. Griffin was a fairly light

  sleeper, and Liberty hoped she could get out without disturbing

  him. She was still looking for the gun when she

  heard him at the door.

  "Sorry, Griff," Liberty spoke while facing the counter.

  "I just thought I'd better get my gun before I head downtown."

  "Why would you leave your gun here?" Slater asked

  before he thought.

  62

  Liberty had only just laid her hands on the weapon. She

  spun so fast that Slater blinked. The gun was up and aimed

  at his chest

  "When did you get out?"

  "Yesterday, right after lunch."

  "What are you doing here?" Her voice was deadly

  calm, the gun completely steady.

  "I just got up." Slater was a little sleepy but waking fast

  "Where's my brother?"

  "Probably asleep."

  "If you've hurt him--" Liberty began, but Slater cut her

  off, having just remembered the night before.

  "You'll what?" he asked mildly. "Shoot me with a gun

  that has no bullets?''
/>
  "How do you know whether or not it has bullets?" Liberty

  asked, still not dropping her guard or the weapon.

  "Because thaf s the gun I watched your brother clean

  last night, and somehow I don't think he loaded it"

  40 lori wick

  63

  Liberty didn't answer. He was probably right, but until

  she saw Griffin...

  "What's up, Libby?" the man of her worries asked as he

  came in behind Slater. He summed up the scene in a

  moment, leaning against the opposite wall to address her.

  ''I asked him to spend the night."

  Liberty slowly lowered the gun, feeling foolish.

  "Fix your robe, Lib," Griffin said softly, and Liberty fell

  completely apart. She nearly dropped the gun as she set it

  aside, only to scoop it up the moment she'd drawn the

  front of her dressing gown back together. She was on the

  verge of leaving when she realized what she'd done. Liberty

  made herself turn back and meet Slater's eyes.

  "I'm sorry."

  He was not given a chance to reply. Liberty quietly

  thanked Griffin for cleaning the gun and hurried back out

  the door.

  The kitchen was very quiet on her exit. Slater had his

  eyes on the door but looked over to see Griffin staring at

  him, his expression one of complete puzzlement.

  64

  "I've never seen her so rattled," he said, almost to himself.

  "She must have been embarrassed." Slater's hand went

  to his bare chest. "It never occurred to me that you might

  have company this early in the morning, or I'd have stayed

  in my room."

  "Well," Griffin shrugged, "she lives next door, and we

  all kind of come and go as we please." Griffin paused and

  looked at his guest. This man was nothing like he had first

  figured. The line about being a Texas Ranger could all be a

  farce, but Griffin didn't think so. Something inside of him

  wanted to reach out. "If you find work, Slater, and want to live here, you're welcome. If that ends up being the case, I'll warn the family."

  Slater, who had been praying about that very thing,

  nodded his head and thanked Griffin.

  "How did you sleep?" the law officer wished to know.

  Every Little Thing About You 41

  "Very well. The bed and room are comfortable. Can we

  set up some type of rent system if I find work here in

  65

  town?"

  "That would be fine, but I'm not worried about it right

  now."

  Slater nodded, taking him at his word on that subject

  but quite certain there was something else on the man's

  mind. Slater felt it was best to leave him with his thoughts.

  "I'll clean up now/' the visitor said.

  "Sure. There's water in the bucket there."

  Slater used the pitcher that sat close by, filled it, and

  exited the room. He wasn't gone a second before his head

  came back around the door frame.

  "You dean Liberty's gun?"

  Griffin laughed before he said, "It's my own fault. I did

  it for her once, and she liked it so well, I've been roped into

  it ever since. She's the fast hand and I'm the gunsmith."

  "Where did she learn to draw?" Slater couldn't help

  asking.

  "Our father. He worked with both of us from the time

  we were small, but Liberty was different. She took to handling

  weapons like a kitten takes to its mother. For as long

  66

  as I can remember, it's been as natural as breathing for her."

  Slater suddenly felt out of words. After a look at his

  host to see if he expected a reply, Slater turned and made

  his way upstairs. This was a most unusual situation, and

  he didn't know how he felt about it. The family he'd met

  yesterday had been warm and caring. But if they cared,

  how could they put one of their women in such a dangerous

  position? Slater did not understand. It made him

  uncomfortable, but at the same time he wanted to know

  them better. He wished to be invited into their home as a

  guest, not a prisoner. For this reason alone, he held his

  tongue about the things that confused him. Maybe in time

  it would be clear.

  Slater stepped in front of the mirror, the one that sat over

  the washbowl in his room. He scowled at his reflection. His

  42 lori wick

  desire to grow a beard was waning. His hair was just light

  enough that the attempt only made him look unkempt.

  Knowing he needed a trip to the barber anyway, he opted

  67

  to leave the beard until he got downtown.

  A shave and a haircut, and then off to find work.

  '3'" ^"

  Liberty stood in her bedroom, her brow drawn into

  serious contemplation. At the moment she wondered if she

  would ever comfortably walk into her brother's house

  again. She shook her head, thinking she had never been so

  surprised. The sheriff's office, the saloons, and even the

  streets of Shotgun were places she had to be on guard-- never here at home and never at Griffin's. Now all that felt as though it had changed. Liberty worked at not being

  angry at her brother or the blond cowboy who had wandered

  into town.

  "Libby," her mother called from down the stairs,

  "should I put some pancakes on for you?"

  "Yes, please," Liberty called back. She hurried to button

  the baggy shirt she'd put on before placing the vest over

  the top. She didn't bother to look in the mirror; it was easier

  that way.

  68

  Oh, stop it! she chided herself. What do you care what you

  look like right now? You have a job to do! People are counting on

  you. But it wasn't quite that simple. For some reason the

  blond cowboy's eyes kept coming to mind. He had looked

  at her when she arrested him, and even in the jail, but the

  eyes he'd turned on her at the dinner table the day before

  had been entirely different.

  "If s just that if s never happened before," she said

  softly, her feet leaving the last step and turning toward the

  dining room. "Everyone else in town is used to seeing you

  both ways."

  "Were you talking to us, dear?" her mother asked.

  "No, just to myself."

  Every Little Thing About You 43

  Kate took in Liberty's face and felt concern. Duffy must

  have seen something too because he asked from his place

  at the table, "Are you all right, Lib?"

  Liberty thought of the way she'd held a gun on her

  brother's houseguest that morning. It would have been

  69

  easy to say no, she wasn't all right, but she wasn't up to

  explaining right then.

  "I'm just thinking," Liberty told them.

  Kate and Duffy let it go, but both were watchful.

  "Can I go to work with you today, Libby?" Laura

  asked.

  "Don't talk with food in your mouth," her mother corrected.

  Laura swallowed with great show and asked again.

  "Not today, Laura. If Griffin is with me you might come

  sometime, but if I'm on my own and needed, you'd be left

  by yourself."

  "I could sit at the desk."

  "Thaf
s true, but I would want someone with you."

  "Zach has a desk at school, and Mam has one in the

  kitchen."

  Liberty only smiled at her before looking at her parents/

  who had been taking in the whole exchange. Zach's going

  off to school had been very hard for Laura, and the year

  had just begun. Duffy and Kate had been talking about getting

  her a small desk for Christmas, and it seemed that

  70

  might still be a good idea.

  Liberty tucked into her food, all the while listening to

  Zach tell about the book he was reading. Liberty remembered

  reading that very book when she was about his age

  and almost shook her head at the difference. Zach was

  most impressed with the way the boy had worked to earn

  money to buy his teacher a present; Liberty remembered

  little but the girl in the story and the way she took care of

  her baby sister. She chalked it up to the difference between

  the genders and then remembered the incident from the

  morning.

  44 lori wick

  "We're still quite far apart/' she mumbled to herself as

  she headed out the door for work.

  $ %r

  "Shave and a haircut?" the barber asked solicitously,

  now that Slater was in the chair.

  71

  "Yes, please."

  "You're a polite one," the man with the razor commented

  as he laid Slater back and began to lather his face.

  "Why wouldn't I be?"

  "No reason, but I don't often see young cowboys stopping

  to help ladies with their bags or children when their

  dog runs off."

  Slater's eyes went to the large windows that overlooked

  Main Street.

  "You don't miss much, do you?"

  The barber grinned unrepentantly. "Nope."

  Little more was said as the barber got down to business.

  Slater had slept well but felt himself relaxing under

  the man's capable hands. He still had gainful employment

  on his mind and suddenly realized whom he could talk to.

  "Any work to be had in town?" Slater' asked as the

  barber started on his hair.

  "What do you do?"

  , "A little of everything, I guess."

  The barber looked at him in the mirror for a moment.

  72

  "Hank Hathaway's boy just left for the bright lights of

  Austin. Hank builds houses. He might be looking for a

  hand."

  Slater's brows rose. It had been a while since he'd

  worked with a hammer, but he didn't think he'd forgotten

  any of the basics.

  "Do you know where I might find him?"

  "A few blocks over. He's puttin' a covered porch on the