by Lori Wick
At the moment, Slater was never more glad that he had
saved himself for marriage. His parents, although not
believers, were very moral people and had strong convictions
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on the subject. Respect for women and future mates
was instilled from a young age. Slater had been unbelievably
tempted over the years to throw it all away, but he had
not. Even though his faith was new, he did not regret his
actions in that area of his life.
Sometime after midnight, Slater woke to find the
lantern still burning. He blew it out, realizing he must have
fallen asleep while praying. It took a moment to remember
what had been on his mind. Liberty floated back into his
consciousness just before sleep, and right after he told the
Lord he would talk to Him in the morning.
5--3r
Every little Thing About You 101
Liberty knew that being called to the saloon on a Saturday
before noon was nothing to worry about. Saturdays
didn't heat up until evening, and mornings were especially
quiet, stemming from Friday late-nighters. For these reasons,
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Liberty walked into the Brass Spittoon with confidence,
a confidence that died as soon as she spotted him.
Like the last time, the room was sprinkled with regulars.
The gun-toting stranger stood out like a sore thumb. And he
was big--big and dark--making him look all the more
menacing. Liberty approached, praying for calm and for her
own safety, and stood next to the table until he looked up.
"Excuse me, sir," she began politely, I'll need you to
surrender your firearm to me. Shotgun has outlawed
firearms in the saloons and after dark."
Liberty steeled herself when his hand instantly went
down to his side. All he did, however, was set his side arm
on the table and keep his hand on top of it. It seemed to be
going fine until he didn't move his hand. Black eyes
weighed Liberty, and with more calm than she felt, Liberty
stared right back. This was the reason she knew the exact
minute his gaze shifted behind her.
"You're going to get yourself shot," she said in a voice
that was measured and in control, "as well as whoever
you're looking at behind me, if you don't gently push the
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gun across the table."
The dark man did just that, his touch light, his eyes
back on Liberty.
"Thank you," she said simply. "Do you have any
more?"
"No, ma'am/' he replied softly.
"You're welcome to pick this up at the jailhouse later
today. It's a block and a half down, on this side."
The black-haired, black-eyed man nodded, and Liberty
glanced at the man at the table with him, his crooked-tooth
smile in place.
"Well, at least ya didn't haul this one away."
102 lori wick
Liberty shook her head. "As always, you're a big help,
Lance."
The man only cackled, and Liberty turned to go. She
glanced around but didn't see anyone who appeared to
know the stranger. Realizing there was still a chance that
he could be ornery enough to pull a hidden gun or a knife
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and get her from the back, she made herself walk away. He
had certainly looked big, without even standing up. She
spoke with Gordie before going back to the jailhouse, all
the time hoping Griffin would be back before the man at
the table came looking for his gun.
"Did that really just happen," Dakota Rawlings asked
his brother the moment he exited the saloon, "or did I
imagine the whole thing?"
Slater smiled. "At least you didn't get thrown in jail."
Dakota's look was shrewd. "Meaning you did?"
Slater nodded, and Dakota's gaze narrowed a bit more.
"Why didn't you come inside?"
Slater shrugged. "You didn't seem to need me."
Again, this response was carefully weighed as Dakota's
eyes narrowed. "Where can we talk?" he asked bluntly.
"You mean, where can we go so you can give me the
third degree and then lecture me?"
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"That about sums it up," the older Rawlings said
without apology.
Slater had all he could do not to laugh, but he didn't
think Dakota, his senior by just one year, was in the mood
for levity. Slater turned and started down the boardwalk.
Dakota moved to untie a huge black horse at the hitching
post and then followed slowly behind his brother.
Dakota missed little. His experience with the Texas
Rangers had made his senses as honed as the knife in his
boot. He noticed the way Slater walked with ease and even
greeted by name some of the folks he passed, and how they
Every Little Thing About You 103
passed the sheriff's office on the way out of the downtown
and into a residential neighborhood. The last thing he
noticed was the way Slater walked right in the back door
of the house he approached.
Dakota saw the barn out back but opted to tie Eli's reins
to a tree before following his brother inside. Slater was
waiting in what Dakota found to be the kitchen, but the
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younger man turned and led the way the moment Dakota
shut the door. When he walked into a nicely furnished
living room and sat down like he owned the building,
Dakota was more intrigued than ever.
"Start talking," Dakota, recovering swiftly, ordered, his
seat having just hit the chair opposite Slater's.
"About what?"
"Don't play games with me, Slate. I've seen Brace, and
I've been tracking you for days. Now I want to know why
you left the Rangers."
"You won't like the answer."
Slater's voice and expression calmed Dakota immediately.
He loved his brother; he was devoted to him. The last
thing he wanted to do was make him feel attacked over his
beliefs. He was, however, desperate to understand.
"Can you tell me this?" Dakota began again. "Why
don't you think God wants us to keep law and order in
Texas?"
"I do think that God wants that, Dak. I know He does.
But I can't keep roaming around the country. I can't keep
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on the move like I have been. I want to be settled in one
place and regularly attending church. I need consistent
teaching and fellowship, not grabbing what I can, when I
can."
"And Shotgun gives you that? How did you even hear
of this place?"
"I didn't. I was just traveling at an easy pace and found
myself in jail. When the sheriff asked me to church, I went
I haven't wanted to leave. It's not any more complicated
than that."
'"*
104 lori wick
Dakota didn't agree, but for the moment he kept silent.
In his opinion, this whole thing was miserably complicated.
He was still getting used to the first change in Slater;
now he'd gone and made another one.
"Just so I have it straight/' Dakota began. "You now
&n
bsp; believe the way Grandma and Cash do--that the only way
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to heaven and happiness on this earth is through the
Christ?"
"Yes."
Dakota nodded before asking, "What was wrong with
your life, Slate, that you needed that?"
Slater had to think about that one. The question didn't
stump him, but wording the answer for his brother did.
"If you've never experienced a gnawing ache, Dak,
then this won't make any sense," Slater began, his voice
soft and serious as he remembered the pain. "But gnawing
ache is the best way I can describe how I felt. Texas is a big
land. It's easy to look at the sky and landscape and feel
completely insignificant. I felt that way often. I found
myself asking more and more what the point was. I
believed in my work, and I was glad when I did a good job,
but the fulfillment I once had was gone. I knew I had to
find something that gave my life more meaning.
"Thaf s why I talked with Desmond Curtis. I know
there are men who can both walk the path God has laid out
for His children and travel. Des is a good example of that
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But I couldn't, Dakota. That's all the more I can tell you."
Dakota worked to calm the frustration rising inside of
him. Slater was a good Ranger. He needed to be on the job.
Dakota had just figured out what to say to him concerning
that very subject when Slater stood.
"I've got to get cleaned up."
"We're not done talking." In the blink of an eye, Dakota
became authoritative again.
"I'm afraid we are," Slater said calmly. "I'm going to a
barn-raising party. Now, you're welcome to join me--in
Every Little Thing About You 105
fact, I hope you do--but for right now the discussion is
over."
"Slater," Dakota began, but the blond man was already
headed toward the stairs. Dakota rose, went to the bottom
step, and called his name again.
"We have to leave here in about 30 minutes, Dak/ was
all Slater would say. He didn't even turn around. "You
won't want to smell like a horse."
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For the first time in days, a smile threatened at Dakota's
mouth. His brother knew just where to hit. With a shake of
his head, he went for his saddlebags, seeing no help for it but to get cleaned up so he could accompany his little brother and keep an eye on the whole situation.
'**.
No one knew exactly how the fire started, but the
Coppersmiths' barn had burned down three weeks back.
The stock was rescued, but the building was lost The
townsfolk, many of them from the church, now gathered
on the third Saturday of November to build a new structure.
A level wooden floor had been laid on a stone foundation,
and the plan for the day was to raise the walls and
the" roof before dark--all of this after the square dance.
Wagons arrived bearing families, baskets of food, and
tools for the workers. Stacks of lumber, boxes of nails, and
work supplies were set in place for the main event. Quilts
were laid out, but many tables were set up too. The children
chased each other, the adults visited, and in one
corner of the barn, a small trio was tuning up--two fiddles
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and a strum bucket. In no time at all, the floor was being
used.
By the time Slater and Dakota arrived, the square dance
was in full swing. From her place under a tree, liberty happened
to look up and see Slater joining a group of men as
they were talking. She noticed the dark-haired man with
him but didn't make the connection. She was telling herself
not to stare when Tess joined her.
"Hi,Tess."
"Hi, Libby." Tess smiled in her direction, but Liberty
could see that she was not her bubbly self.
"How are you?"
"I'm okay. How are you?"
107
#*
,"#
v?
187
108 lori wick
"Fine," Liberty said honestly but kept an eye on less.
"Are you sure you're all right?"
"How's your mom, Ubby?" Tess asked, ignoring the
question.
"She's feeling pretty good. Duffy had to work until
2:00, so she'll come with him then."
The women were silent for a moment. The floor was
quite full now, and the music was wonderful. Both women
enjoyed a good square dance, but each wanted to be asked
only by certain men. Liberty suddenly caught sight of
Slater again. This time many women had joined the group,
and as Liberty watched, one put her hand on his arm. Liberty
glanced at Tess in an effort to shift her gaze and knew she had to forget herself and ask the question again.
"Tess?" Liberty's voice was soft. "Are you sure you're
all right?"
Tess sighed and admitted, "I will be, but Papa said he
would come today, and then he backed out. Mama didn't
want to come either, so I rode with the Millers. I was okay
188
until I got here and saw all the families grouped off. It
makes me feel a little lonely."
Liberty's heart ached for her, and wishing to be a comfort,
she said, "Maybe you'll have a family of your own one
day, Tess."
"I suppose it could happen," Tess said. "I guess I have
to keep trusting."
"Is that your way of saying that you haven't been?"
Tess' blue eyes met Liberty's gaze. "I will admit to you.
Lib, that it's been pretty hard lately." Tess gave a little shake
of her head. "It's so awful, Libby--all this hurt. I really am
glad for your family that Griffin is still alive, but it occurred
to me just as I was turning in last night, that for me, he
might as well be dead."
Liberty's breath caught in her throat. The pain on Tess'
face was unlike any she'd ever seen. Her words only confirmed
the fact that this was miserable for her.
Every Little Thing About You 109
"I'm wicked, aren't I?" Tess whispered, tears coming to
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her eyes.
"No, Tess," Liberty whispered right back, a hand going
to the other woman's arm. "I would never think that. And
do you know what? You're right. I wish it wasn't so, but
you're completely right about Griff. There's nothing
anyone can do. There's certainly nothing I can say. I wish
there were."
Tess nodded, her eyes going to her hands, which were
fiddling with the pleats in her dress. Liberty dropped her
own hand, thinking she would have both of them sobbing
if she didn't let the subject go. For a time the women sat in
silence. Liberty was slowly growing more stunned over
what Tess had revealed, and Tess felt guilty for having the
thought and admitting it.
"Hello, ladies." Slater was suddenly in front of them,
his eyes smiling and kind. Liberty thought him adorable in
a crisp plaid shirt and dark denim pants. His light-colored
hat was in place, and Liberty thought as she had before that
the hat always worked to
accentuate his eyes.
"How are you, Mr. Rawlings?" Tess asked.
190
"I'm fine. Are you enjoying yourself?"
Tess smiled, not wanting to lie, and said, "It's certainly
a nice day for a barn raising."
"Indeed. Is your family around?" Slater asked now, this
time of Liberty.
"They're coming in a little while," she explained. For a
moment she had been rather lost in the sight of him, but
her gaze had drifted as she wondered whether Griffin
knew of Tess' thoughts.
"Would you care to join me in the next set?"
Probably not. Tess said that it had just occurred to her last
night.
"Would you like to dance, Libby?"
Then again, they may have seen each other earlier today, I'd
like to think that this news would affect Griffin like it has me, so
maybe he doesn't know after...
110 lori wick
"Lflbby!" less' voice came through to the daydreaming
deputy at the same time she shook her arm. "Mr. Rawlings
191
is trying to ask you something."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Liberty looked to Slater to find him
smiling in great amusement
"Would you care to dance?"
Liberty blinked. "You want me to dance?"
Slater's smile grew. "Well, we could start to work with
the hammer and nails, but I thought dancing might be a bit
more fun."
Liberty laughed and stood. Slater offered her his arm,
and just a minute later they had joined a group. There was
no time for talking, something that suited Liberty fine. She
smiled and laughed as they spun around, changed partners,
stood opposite each other, and promenaded from one
end of the floor to another. They were breathless when the
set was through and only too glad to turn the floor over to
the next group.
"Hiank you," Slater said as they stepped off the floor.
"How about some water?"
"That sounds good, thank you."
They stood in line with the other couples for a chance
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at the clipper, and it was there that Slater caught Liberty
looking back at Tess. He looked as well and saw that Griffin
had joined her. Liberty's eyes took on a look he hadn't seen
before.
"Here you go, Libby," Slater said as he offered her the
ladle. Liberty drank and handed it back. She watched
Slater drink, realizing only then that she'd been distracted.
Even so, she took one more peek at Tess and her brother.
"Why don't we come over here out of the way," Slater
was saying, her hand captured in his as he urged her along.