Every Little Thing About You (Yellow Rose Trilogy 1) (8 page)

Griffin."

"Good night, Slater."

Griffin watched him walk from the room, reminding

himself that it was way too early to take a full measure of

this man, but the temptation to let his mind wander was

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strong. Liberty needed someone special. The thought no

more formed than Griffin's mouth quirked. What brother

didn't feel that way? That Tess' brothers might not care

suddenly came to mind. As Griffin was coming to expect,

it didn't take much to make him think of that woman.

$-*3r

-5Do

you have to work?" Laura asked Liberty the next day. Bible study had just ended.

"Yes. Griffin and I have to check on something."

"Can you give Griff a hug for me?"

"I certainly can. Is there some special reason?"

Laura only shook her head no, seeming in no hurry to

leave her sister's lap. Their mother was sitting beside Liberty,

and the younger woman decided to question her if she

had a chance. The opportunity came a few minutes later.

Their hostess, Mrs. Caron, offered cookies to the children,

and Laura, looking only mildly interested, left her sister's

lap.

"Did you hear what she said?" Liberty asked quietly.

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"About the hug? Yes. She's been so clingy, Lib. I think

she's coming down with something. She cried this morning

when she got juice on her hand."

Liberty's eyes widened in surprise. Her little sister was

a very plucky gal. Spilled juice would not normally get her

down.

Every tittle Thing About You * 57

"You look tired, Mam." Liberty had just seen it

"Maybe the two of you have a little bug going."

"Maybe."

"I think you should see the doctor," Liberty said, her

eyes sparkling a little. "I hear he gives very personal

service."

Kate laughed and put a hand on her daughter's arm. If she was coming down with something, just talking to Liberty would make her feel better.

"I'll think about your advice."

"All right I'd better go. Griff and I have a case to check

on. I won't stay any longer than I have to in case Laura gets

worse."

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Thank you, dear. Don't forget to eat lunch."

Liberty thanked their hostess and went out front to

where she had tethered Morton. Already dressed for work/

she swung easily into the saddle. Mrs. Tobler's house was

close enough that Liberty could hear the hammers

pounding, but she made herself ride for downtown.

Why would you stop, Libby? She couldn't have lost another

needle, and there's no other reason to go there right now.

This was all the further Liberty would allow these

thoughts to roam. Knowing that she had to go with Griffin

to confront the Potters, a consistently risky event, Liberty

forced her mind to concentrate on her job. A good thing

too. As soon as Griffin spotted her, he exited the office and

climbed into the saddle of his own mount, Benny.

"Has there been more word?" Liberty asked, after

telling Griffin that Laura had sent him a hug.

"Yes. Mrs. Flowers was back in this morning. The party

was still going on last night."

"Ned Potter was nothing short of belligerent the last

time I saw him."

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"When was this?"

"About two weeks back. He was giving Miss Amy a

hard time over the price of eggs and looked mad enough to

kill when I stepped in."

58 lori wick

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Liberty shrugged. "I forgot about it until just now."

"Well, I hope he remembers."

"Why?"

"Because this is just the first. Ned and his boys have

thought themselves above the law just one time too many.

I won't take action today, and maybe not even this year, but

this is the beginning of the end. I'm going to put enough

pressure on to make them uncomfortable."

Liberty agreed with the action but couldn't help wondering

what they'd be letting themselves in for.

"Will we see Maddie Flowers too?"

"Yep. She's a little too self-righteous for my comfort. I

want her to know that I'm aware of what she's up to, and

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that just because she doesn't have drunken binges does not

make her judge and jury."

They fell silent for the rest of the ride. The Potters lived

a ways outside of town. Their place was large and run

down, a marked contrast to Mrs. Flowers' spotless paint

and yard. They had to pass Mrs. Flowers' house on the

way, and both officers caught the way she smugly watched

them from the window, but neither sibling waved or

acknowledged her call.

Things were quiet at the Potter house. A dog as old and

broken-down as most of the rusty farm equipment in the

yard barked a hoarse yap at them, but he didn't have

enough ambition to move from his place under the porch,

not even when Griffin went up the steps and pounded on

the door. It was answered by Critter, the youngest of three

sons.

"Pa's not here," the teen scowled at him, his eyes

squinting against the sun.

"Mind if I come in and look?"

"Yeah, I do!" Critter growled, but Griffin's hand had

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already pushed the door wide. Liberty was right behind

him.

Every Little Thing About You 59

"Get out," Critter said. The officers ignored him. He

started a string of curses but stopped when he realized no

one was listening. The house was in awful shape, and Liberty

couldn't help but wonder how they all stood the smell

and the filth. She had never needed to come in here before,

but Griffin seemed to know his way around.

"What'd ya want?" Critter tried again as Griffin

slipped upstairs, but again no one paid him any heed.

Still taking in the broken furniture, stained walls, and

liquor bottles, Liberty thought she and Critter couldn't be

too many years apart in age, but their lives had been lived

in separate worlds.

"I think I'll have a look at the bam," Griffin said casually

as he came slowly back down the stairs.

It wasn't lost on either sibling the way Critter came to

attention.

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"Pa don't like anybody nosin' out there."

"Well, come with us," Griffin offered mildly. "Give us

the grand tour."

Critter seemed at a momentary loss before turning to

the door, his body saying very clearly that the law in

Shotgun was unjust.

As always, Liberty kept to the rear. More than once she

had protected her brother's back, and as Griffin swung the

barn door open, hinges howling, she took her standard

position. Critter was mutinously silent. He walked in

behind the sheriff, not seeming to notice the way Liberty

hung back.

"What's in here?" Griffin asked as he approached a

wagon covered by a tarpaulin. Without permission, Griffin

untied the edge and threw it back.

"Nice load of corn, Critter. If s a little late in the year for

planting."

The eyes that followed him were dark with rage.

Watching him, Liberty thought he might still be a little

done-in from the night before, which would slow his reaction

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time. His reputation, however, did not lead to trust.

60 lori wick

She watched while Griffin came from the stall, his head

tipped back inspecting the rafters. With a move that gave

nothing away, he approached Critter.

"The shinin's going to stop, Critter. I just want you to

know that." Griffin walked as he talked, and the youngest

Potter, against his will, was backed up to the wall. "You

give your Pa and brothers a message from me: I'm going to

shut you down. I can't have you out here gettin' drunk,

lightin' fires, and shootin' off shotguns all night. If s gotta

stop."

Griffin had Critter flat against the wall now, his eyes

hard and serious. Critter's own gaze was no more friendly,

and when he suddenly felt a sickle on the wall, he started

to reach for it. He had barely moved when the wood near

his fingers splintered from a bullet. Critter froze. He'd completely

forgotten the deputy. He could have lost part of his

hand!

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"Have I made myself clear?" Griffin asked.

"You wouldn't be so tough if Pa was here!" Critter spat

The fear had swiftly left, and he was angry again. "He

won't be too pleased to know you were here nosin'

around."

"He's welcome to come by the jailhouse and lodge a

complaint." This said, Griffin held the younger man's eyes

for several seconds and then pushed away from the wall.

He walked from the barn, Liberty having already moved

ahead of him this time, her eyes watching Critter. She was

satisfied when he took his eyes from them. Critter's hand

went to the back of his neck, and he leaned against the wall

with a shake of his head. Liberty had already bolstered her

gun but now felt free to turn and mount her horse.

Griffin had been watching as well and climbed into his

own saddle after Liberty was settled. They turned and rode

from the Potters' yard, the dog letting out a few more obligatory

woofs.

"Why now, Griff?" Liberty asked as they rode back up

the road toward Maddie Flowers'. "You've been sheriff for

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Every Little Thing About You 61

three years. Why are you putting the pressure on the Potters

now?"

"Because Shotgun is growing. I've not wanted to disturb

the waters since they've always lived so far out, but

the town is moving out here fast. I can't have townspeople

in danger because of the Potters' moonshine."

Liberty nodded but still worried. What would old man

Potter do when he discovered Griffin had been out? She

found herself praying for their safety and also that God

would bring a peaceful end to this. Never once did she

pray for patience, something she desperately needed once

they entered Maddie Flowers' house and were forced for

the next hour to listen to her excuses about making moonshine.

5'' '3'' "5*

"I thought you said you weren't any good in the

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kitchen?" Griffin accused Slater on Thursday evening.

Slater laughed. "Spoken like a hungry man."

"No, Slater, I mean it. It was very good."

Slater inclined his head modestly and rose to clear the

table. Griffin started peeling a bar of soap into a basin of

hot water, thinking that Slater was as easy to live with as

any man could be. He was quiet, polite, clean, generous

with the rent money and food he bought, and pulled his

weight in the kitchen. But one question still lingered in

Griffin's mind: Why had he left the Rangers? For some odd

reason Griffin was hesitant to ask, fearing the answer