Every Little Thing About You (Yellow Rose Trilogy 1) (6 page)

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.

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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.

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"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

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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.

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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

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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

back of Mrs. Tobler's house. Should have done it years ago;

nothing but west sun for hours every day."

Every Little Thing About you 45

Slater smiled a little. If he'd wanted information, he'd

come to the right place.

5-*5"

w"

"You ever even held a hammer?" the scruffy-looking

old man asked Slater about 15 minutes after he left the barbershop.

73

"Yes, sir. I've done some building."

"You won't get rich," Hank said,

"I didn't plan on it. Some food and covering the rent

would be nice, maybe a new shirt now and again."

Still Hank weighed him. He wasn't as big as his sort,

but then not many men were. He was polite enough; Hank

had to give him that

"I'll give you a try and pay you when you work, but if

I say you're gone, you're gone."

"Yes, sir."

"You can start by lifting the other end of that board and

holding it in place. Hold it steady now."

Slater immediately bent to the task, glad he'd seen fit to

return his horse to the stable at Griffin's. He'd asked God

to help him find work. He now asked His help in not

shrinking from any task.

%r ^" S'*

Griffin came in reading the mail. He stood a few feet

74

from the desk, his mind otherwise occupied, so it took several

minutes for him to realize his sister was staring at him

from the desk chair.

"What's up?" he asked.

"Whatever compelled you to ask him to spend the

night at your house?"

Remembering how embarrassed she'd been, Griffin

put the mail aside.

46 lori wick

Every Little Thing About You 47

"He's not a bad guy, Lib. I was really impressed with

the way he wanted to go to church and the way he followed

along in his Bible. He found the book of Nehemiah

without a bit of help from me."

"He agreed to go to church with you yesterday?"

"Yes, we sat in the back."

This gave Liberty pause; she had not expected this.

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Griffin often asked prisoners to join him in church, but few

accepted.

"I feel worse now," Liberty admitted.

"Why?"

"While he was still behind bars, he wanted something

from his saddlebags. I told him he'd have to wait for you,

and then I never told you. He probably wanted his Bible."

"Don't be too hard on yourself, Lib. He admitted to me

that he was being stubborn about paying the fine. If he'd

wanted out enough to get his Bible, he could have paid the

ten dollars at any time."

Liberty was thankful for her brother's understanding

but still felt uncomfortable about that whole ordeal. Ah,

well he'll be miles from here in no time. I'll just have to put it

from my mind.

"Were things quiet this morning?" Griffin asked, the

other subject slipping from his mind.

/'No trouble, but Maddie Flowers stopped to say that

her neighbors were on a drunken binge all weekend. She

said they've been making their own brew and that we'd do

76

well to burn down that barn of theirs/ since thaf s where the

trouble always starts."

Griffin shook his head. "And of course Maddie's brew

is only for medicinal purposes, so we should leave her still

alone."

Liberty grinned.

"Lets go out in the morning," Griffin suggested.

"You'll be in?"

"Midmorning. Right after Bible study."

"All right. I'll see you then."

Liberty left the jailhouse and sheriff's office, thinking it

was a nice day for a walk. She untied her horse's reins but

didn't climb into the saddle. She even went the long way

home. She worked on Monday and Tuesday mornings, and

at odd times when Griffin needed her. So far Griffin had

not met anyone he felt qualified for the job. The town was

getting big enough to consider more law enforcement, but

that didn't mean men were available.

"Libby!Isthatyou?"

77

Liberty looked over to see old Mrs. Tobler waving a

dishtowel in her direction.

"Hi, Mrs. Tobler."

"Come in here!" the old gal demanded. "I can't find my

needle. Come in and look for it."

Liberty changed directions without hesitation. Mrs.

Tobler was a dear old thing, if a little bossy. It never

occurred to her to ask for anything--it was always

demanded--but beyond that, she was kindness itself.

"It's slipped down the cushion, I'm sure!" Mrs. Tobler

informed Liberty as she neared. "I don't know how I'm

supposed to get anything done without my needle."

"What are you working on right now?"

"Pillow slips! And Christmas right around the corner."

Liberty hid a smile as she went in the old woman's

front door. Not for anything would she have mentioned

that Christmas was well over two months away or that

Mrs. Tobler's closet was so full of things she'd made that

she probably could give up sewing for the rest of her life.

"All right," Liberty said, standing in the overcrowded

78

living room. "Where were you sitting?"

"Right here. I like to keep an eye on the work out back,

so I moved my chair."

"What's going on out back?" Liberty asked as she

dropped to her knees and began to search.

"A covered porch," Mrs. Tobler said absently, having

moved to the window to peer out. "No, no!" the older

woman suddenly exclaimed and dashed out of the room.

48 LoRiWrac

Liberty could hear the side door bang and Mrs. Tobler's

voice raised in irritation. Shotgun's deputy only shook her

head and kept searching. She pulled the cushion from the

chair, but that only produced some popcorn kernels and a

button. The floor was next

Liberty was searching, her nose nearly on the rug,

when she spotted them. Liberty stared at the cowboy boots

in confusion, until she realized someone was wearing

them. She tipped her head back and literally gawked into

the face of Slater Rawlings. With his haircut and beard

79

gone, he was a different man.

"Aren't you going to pull your gun?" he asked quietly.

Liberty blinked before saying, "Why should I do that?"

"That's what you've done every time you've seen me,

so I thought you might have gotten into the habit"

Liberty bit her lip but it didn't work; a smile peeked

through, and then a laugh. She moved to get up, and

Slater's hand was suddenly right there to help her.

"I really am sorry about this morning."

"It's all right," Slater said. Having seen the way she

looked without the men's clothes, he could now see the real

Liberty Drake, even in this outfit. She had the most

amazing hazel eyes, more gold than anything else. And

that hair! Slater wanted to stare and stare.

"You're very understanding."

"And you're looking for something. What is it?"

"A needle."

Comprehension dawned on Slater's face. "That's what

she sent me in to do--look for a needle with you."

Liberty frowned. "How do you know Mrs. Tobler?"

80

"I'm working on her porch with Hank Hathaway."

Liberty's eyes went to the window and back to Slater.

"You're working here in town?"

"Yep." Slater's thumbs went to his belt loops, and he

rocked back on his heels. "Hired just four hours ago. I'm

the town's newest carpenter."

Every Little Thing About You 49

Liberty found him so cute that she couldn't stop her