Every Little Thing About You Page 8
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.
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"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.
129
"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
130
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
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
131
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
134
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
138
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