Every Little Thing About You Read online

ways, she could be quite a card.

  She was also a good cook, and the food they brought

  from the kitchen not many minutes later smelled wonderful.

  "Gingerbread?" Zach asked after peeking into the

  basket.

  "Yes, just like you asked me."

  "Thanks, Lib."

  "You're welcome, Zach."

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  Brother and sister shared a smile, and watching them,

  Slater thought he might have missed something by not

  having a sister.

  "The Millers have water in their backyard," Laura told

  Slater. "They can get wet anytime they want."

  "That sounds fun," Slater responded as he turned to

  talk with her. "Will you get wet today?"

  "If I'm lucky," Laura said in all seriousness and turned

  back around.

  Slater faced forward again, his shoulders shaking a

  little. "Has she always been so profound?"

  "No," Liberty told him. "She couldn't talk until she was

  two."

  Smiling to himself, Slater suddenly knew just where

  she'd picked up her charming wit.

  5-2Jr

  -5^

  "What a privilege this is, Father God," Bill Miller

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  prayed from his place under the big oak tree after the

  group had quieted, "to gather in Your name for fellowship

  and food. We thank You for each person here, and pray that

  our time in You would be sweet. Bless this food as we partake.

  In Christ's name we pray. Amen."

  74 lori wick

  Tables had been set up. Baskets, pots, bowls, and platters

  had been laid out. Towels were lifted and the contents

  displayed. Plates in hand, the congregation lined up to

  make their choices. A few mothers had to coax children

  from the water's edge, but most of the younger set were

  ready.

  "If s time to eat," Liberty told Laura and Zach.

  "Do you think they catch fish in here?" Zach asked, his

  eyes on the creek bed and the minnows that swam near the

  bank.

  'Til bet they do. You should ask Mr. Miller if you can

  fish here sometime."

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  "I could too," Laura put in. "I won't poke anyone with

  the hook."

  "Papa won't let you fish yet, Laura/' Zach said, his

  voice regretful. "You might get hurt"

  Laura looked stubborn over this until she caught her

  brother's look. It was impossible to get mad at him when

  he wanted her to fish.

  "We could ask," she said in a quiet voice, all stubbornness

  gone. "You could ask, Zach...you could."

  Zach contemplated this. His father wouldn't get angry,

  but if he said no, Laura would be disappointed. Zach's soft

  heart could hardly handle the thought. He wished she

  hadn't even asked.

  "Are you ready to eat?" Duffy called as he came toward

  them. Liberty had come off the quilt she had laid out and

  was holding the plates, but she didn't answer for the children.

  She was too busy trying not to watch Slater. He was

  surrounded by a group of women.

  Zach stood staring up at his father until Duffy lowered

  his brow in puzzlement Laura was pulling on her

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  brother's sleeve.

  "Papa," Zach began, "could Laura come fishing with

  us sometime?"

  "Sure, Zach. I think thaf s a great idea. You were very

  kind to think of her."

  Every Little Thing About You * 75

  There was no missing the little boy's sigh. He grinned

  at his sister, who grinned right back, and then smiled up at

  his father in a way that always melted the hearts of those

  who loved him.

  "Lef s eat," Duffy said softly, and the four proceeded

  across the grass. Liberty had a plate for Slater, but she suddenly

  felt awkward. She approached the food tables, fully

  expecting him to already have a plate in hand. She hadn't

  counted on Laura.

  "Here," Laura said, as they neared the group that Slater

  was a part of and she took a dinner plate from her sister.

  Her family watched as she stepped right into the midst and

  handed it to Slater.

  128

  "Here's your plate, Slater. Are you going to come to our

  quilt?"

  "I am. Thank you, Laura. I'll just come and stand in line

  with you right now. Excuse me, ladies."

  Liberty could have sunk into the grass. She hadn't put

  Laura up to anything, but the looks on the female faces that

  watched Slater leave the circle were certainly speculative,

  or were they just fascinated with this new man?

  "I hope I didn't hold you up," Slater said as they gathered

  at the rear of the line.

  "Not at all," Duff put in before Liberty could speak.

  "We hope we didn't interrupt your conversation."

  Slater didn't answer, but Liberty could have hugged

  her stepfather. He must have seen her strained, surprised

  look when Laura took things into her own hands. Indeed,

  her stepfather was bending over to speak to Laura right

  then. It wasn't hard to guess that she was being reprimanded

  over interrupting.

  "Did Griffin happen to tell you how long he would

  be?" Slater asked Liberty.

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  "I didn't talk to him at all. Did he have to stay at the

  jail?"

  "Yes. It was a busy night last night. He didn't get in

  until quite late."

  76 lori wick

  Liberty nodded.

  "Do you never work on Saturday nights?" Slater asked,

  no longer able to squelch his curiosity over the arrangement.

  "Not usually, but that's why I go in on Monday and

  Tuesday mornings, so he can do a little catching up on his

  rest."

  It was on the tip of Slater's tongue to ask how long she

  had been at this, along with a dozen other questions, but he

  felt he'd asked enough. Pastor Caron had taken most of the

  service that morning to tell them what a prayer warrior

  Nehemiah had been. Slater determined to emulate that

  Bible character and to start immediately.

  Covertly watching Slater, Liberty tried to figure out

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  what he might be thinking. Had he been very disappointed

  to be taken from the group? Had Laura rescued him, or

  was he being polite to a little girl? Liberty had no idea how

  she could find out and made herself rest in the matter.

  Easier said than done. She found herself glancing at him often to see where he was looking. She was quite fascinated to note that she never once saw him glancing back to the

  group of young women who had finally fallen into line.

  "I don't like beets," Liberty heard Laura say. She

  watched as Duffy gave her something else. Zach's plate

  wobbled a little, but before Liberty could reach for it,

  Slater's hand was there. For the briefest of moments, Liberty

  had the unwanted feeling of not being needed but

  managed to push it away and concentrate on getting her

  food. While she did this, she had a stern talk with herself.

  You enjoy Slater's company, and he's chosen to eat with your

  family. After all Griffin invited him. Now, you can relax and take
r />   pleasure in this, or you can examine every move the man makes

  and be miserable. You're too old to be so distracted by a pair of

  warm blue eyes, a tall build, wavy blond hair, broad shoulders, a

  great smile... Stop it, Libby! Liberty shouted to herself just in

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  time.

  Every Little Thing About You 77

  "Why don't I take our plates, Libby." Slater turned and

  offered, "and you can get our drinks?"

  "Oh--all right," Liberty said but moved away from the

  crowd only a little and stood looking at him.

  "I'm getting that look again," he said, his eyes smiling.

  Liberty's eyes narrowed in an effort to hide her feelings.

  "I'm still figuring you out."

  Slater smiled slowly. "Well, I hope you keep at it."

  Liberty had no idea what he meant by this, so she

  simply said, "I think there's coffee, lemonade, and water.

  Which would you like?"

  "Lemonade, please," Slater said, watching her closely

  and thinking he found her a little more fascinating every

  time they talked.

  Liberty ended up with a tray holding five lemonades

  and then walked beside Slater back to the quilt. The Millers

  had a quilt next to theirs, and Laura joined their family to

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  be with little Kathy Miller. Slater waited until Liberty had

  doled out the drinks and taken a seat on the quilt and then

  gave her her plate. Watching his solicitous manner, Duffy

  couldn't stop his smile.

  "You're looking pleased with yourself, Duffy

  Peterson," Liberty said, knowing her stepfather well and

  reading his sparkling eyes.

  "Am I?" he evaded.

  Liberty only looked at him and smiled when he

  winked. She might have given him a hard time, but Zach

  suddenly said, "It's Griff and Tess! Over here. Griffin."

  The couple made their way over to the quilt, Tess'

  mother coming with them. It was on Liberty's mind to find

  out what Duffy had been thinking, but the afternoon suddenly

  rushed on, and she never got back to it.

  m

  "Dro you pop the question?" Liberty came right out

  and asked her brother.

  133

  "No," he told her honestly, his voice mild.

  "Why not?"

  They were still at the picnic, but Laura had wandered

  too dose to the bank and fallen completely into the water.

  Slater had plucked her out, and Mrs. Miller had told Duffy

  to bring her to the house. Slater had gone with them. Zach

  had wandered off with a schoolmate, and Tess and Mrs.

  Locken had gone to see the Carons, who were sitting closer

  to the house.

  "I have my reasons," Griffin said, effectively shutting

  the door in his sister's face. Griffin didn't realize this until

  he looked over at her. Liberty's eyes, large and somber as

  she looked at the children playing near the water, were

  hurt

  "I didn't mean it that way, Lib. I have some more

  thinking to do and someone I must talk to. I just know if s

  not time right now. It may never be time."

  Liberty stared at him. "Then why do you spend so

  much time with her, Griff?"

  Griffin sighed before admitting, "Because I'm selfish

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  and unfeeling. I want to be with her--I want to see her--

  even if it hurts later."

  Liberty nodded, glad that he had been so honest.

  Knowing she needed to be careful about what she said, she

  reminded herself that her brother was not answerable to

  her; she was not in charge.

  79

  80 lori wick

  "Griffin/' Liberty said suddenly, "Slater is headed this

  way, and I want to ask him something. You may not like it,

  so I won't if you don't want me to."

  "About what?"

  "Marriage and law enforcement."

  Griffin shrugged. "I don't care."

  "Is this a bad time?" Slater asked as he neared--little

  wonder with the serious looks on Liberty's and Griffin's

  faces.

  135

  "No/' Griffin told him. "Please join us."

  "Does Duffy need me to do anything with Laura?" Liberty

  asked Slater.

  "I don't think so. She had Mrs. Miller laughing when I

  left."

  "What did she say this time?"

  "She assumed the Millers had special get-wet clothes.

  When Kathy didn't know what she was talking about,

  Laura asked, 'So you just get wet in whatever you're

  wearing?'"

  Griffin laughed, and Liberty shook her head.

  "Her logic is always a challenge/' Griffin said.

  "I was looking at her as her head came out of the water.

  She was very shocked to have fallen in," Slater told them.

  "Well," Liberty said, "Duff told her she couldn't wade

  in because it meant removing her stockings, but I know she

  still wanted to. I don't think getting completely wet was in

  her mind at all."

  "Probably not. I think I heard a few tears when she

  thanked me."

  136

  "I'm glad she remembered to do that/' Griffin said quietly.

  "Slater," Liberty began, choosing that moment to

  plunge in, "may I ask you a question about your family?"

  "Shoot."

  "Did you say your brother is a Texas Ranger?"

  "Yes."

  "Is he married?"

  Every Little Thing About You 81

  "No."

  Liberty nodded but didn't go on.

  Slater watched her.

  "Why did you ask, Libby?" Surprisingly enough, this

  came from Griffin, who felt she'd left Slater at sea.

  "I just wondered if he had any views on the subject

  because of his job, or if he wasn't married because the right

  girl hadn't come along."

  "His job requires him to move around a lot, and

  Dakota, that's my brother," Slater explained, "enjoys his

  work, even though it doesn't make marriage very practical."

  137

  "Do you think he worries about leaving a widow if he

  were to marry?"

  "I would say he does. He's not at all easy on people

  who break the law, but he's usually very polite and caring

  of women. I think he would consider marriage a serious

  move for someone in his position."

  Liberty nodded. She'd gotten her answer, but it wasn't

  one that would comfort Tess if she'd heard it. Liberty

  glanced at Griffin but only found him staring at Slater. He

  appeared to be waiting for something, and Liberty wondered

  if Griffin had wished she'd kept her mouth shut.

  Slater, on the other hand, thought that Liberty's questions

  stemmed entirely from her own situation. Did she

  fear marrying someone because her job was so dangerous?

  Again, Slater was pained at the thought that she had to live

  like this. His own gaze swung to Griffin, whom Slater felt

  was very responsible for his sister. But that man was

  watching Tess and her mother return to the quilt. Asking

  God to help him be patient over matters that might never

  become clear, Slater shifted his mind away from the torturous

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  thoughts.

  ^-*3r


  %r

  82 lori wick

  "How are you feeling?" Liberty asked Kate first thing

  Monday morning. Kate was still in bed; Duffy had gone

  downstairs to start breakfast

  "As well as can be expected," Kate said, her voice light.

  Liberty stared at her mother, and Kate smiled at her.

  "Duffy and I were talking last night and again this

  morning. Sometimes surprises are very nice things."

  Liberty caught on swiftly, her eyes growing in size.

  "Oh, Mam, are you really?"

  "Well, Duffy thinks so, but he's only a doctor."

  Liberty rushed over and hugged her mother for a long

  time. Kate eventually pushed up against the headboard

  and the two sat talking.

  139

  "You didn't have Laura's cold at all."

  "I don't think I did. I'm just tired."

  "Not queasy?"

  "Only around certain food."

  "When do you think the baby is due?"

  "Well, by my calculations, sometime in June--mid to

  late."

  Liberty smiled. "Remember Zach's first day of school?

  You cried, not only because he was leaving, but because

  you knew mat next year Laura would be gone too."

  "I do remember that." Kate's voice was fond. "I asked

  the Lord to give me strength on that day and all the ones to

  come, but not to worry about tomorrow. It never occurred

  to me that we would have more children, but I can't tell

  you how pleased I am."

  "When will you tell Zach and Laura?"

  "Not until I'm ready for the whole world to know."

  Liberty laughed. "But, Mam, Laura would tell the

  world in such a warmhearted manner. It might not be

  something we'd want to miss."

  140

  "This sounds like fun," Duffy offered as he came in the

  door with a steaming mug of coffee for his wife. Zach was

  close on his heels.

  Every Little Thing About You 83

  "Thank you, dear," Kate said as she took a sip and then

  set the drink aside so Zach could come close and cuddle

  with her. "Are you all ready for school?"

  "Yes. We had oatmeal."

  "Was it good?"

  "Yes, but I think if s the only breakfast Papa can make."

  Zach looked over at his father. "What did you eat before

  you married Mam?"

  "Oatmeal," Duffy told him, and Zach laughed at the

  way his eyes crossed.

  Their voices woke Laura, who did not always rise with

  the rest of the family. Tousled and sleep-warm in a small

  flannel gown, she came in to snuggle next to her mother as

  well. Liberty had to be at the jailhouse soon, but she made

  time before she left to thank God for this new little person