by Lori Wick
the key dropping might give her away, but she was determined
367
to get out of this closet. She had sat quietly for the
longest time before realizing that Mr. Mills was working.
Feeling that she had little to lose, she decided to try. She
thought she might have just gotten it when the door
opened.
Without a word from her captor the sewing implement
was plucked from her hand, and she looked up into
enraged features.
"The thought of trussing you up is abhorrent to me, but
if that's what it takes to keep you quiet, I'll do it. You must
understand that I won't let anything stop me from leaving
here. Now this is my last warning."
The door dosing once again, Liberty let her shoulders
slump. This was such a mess. How long would it be before
she was missed at home? Quite possibly hours. Her mother
knew what Mrs. Tobler was like and would assume that
she'd wanted her to stay all day. Liberty worked to keep
Every Little Thing About You 211
her head clear, but it was getting hard. For the first time
368
since she could remember, she wanted to panic.
Stretching out on her side, she prayed and tried to calm
her heart. She thought of every verse that would come to
mind, going slowly over the words and even singing
hymns in her heart. While mentally going through the song
she was supposed to play in church on Sunday morning,
her fingers moving over imaginary keys, she must have
fallen asleep. She hadn't planned to do that, but the door
was suddenly opening again and she'd heard no footsteps.
"I have to take care of this now/' her jailer began by
saying. "I won't have your death on my mind."
Liberty stared at him as he set a basket, presumably of
food, and a jug beside her.
"You'll have to eat sparingly, but you won't starve."
"You can't be serious!" Liberty said in outrage, coming
awake in a hurry. "You can't leave me in here."
"I don't think it, will be long. Aunt likes her home too
much. She should be back any day now."
Liberty had come to her feet, causing Davis to back
away a little.
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"If I die," she said fiercely, "it'll be on your head. Don't
try to tell yourself anything else!"
"You'll be fine," he said with an irritating confidence,
the door starting to dose. "And don't forget," he immediately
opened it again to say, "I will tie you up if you make
a single noise."
Liberty had never known such frustration. To be this
helpless was maddening. She made herself sit back down
and take slow, even breaths. Bumping the jug, she realized
she was thirsty. She'd missed lunch, but as soon as she'd
had a drink, her mind went back to obtaining her freedom.
It might take some time, but she would come up with a
plan.
-3--5
212 lori wick
"And then Mam fell asleep during her sandwich,"
Laura told Griffin. Knowing he would have to work late,
he had stopped by the house and found her home with
370
less. "She was tired."
"What did you do?"
"I just sat there beside her."
"That was nice of you. Did Libby get you the milk you
wanted?" /
"Libby wasn't home. She's been at Mrs. Tobler's all day
getting a new dress. She didn't even come home for lunch
or to help Mam start dinner."
Griffin's entire frame stiffened. Mr. Saint, Mrs. Mills,
and Mrs. Tobler had been on his mind since he'd started
making plans for that night. But this news about Liberty
could not wait that long.
"I need to head out for a little bit," Griffin rose and said.
"I'll check back with you, Tess." He gave her a swift kiss.
"All right," Tess said calmly, thinking of the little girl
next to her. But she knew something was wrong and began
to pray.
"'Bye, Laura," he said as he kissed the top of her head.
"'Bye."
Griffin tried not to run. He debated going all the way
371
to the Hathaways' to get Slater but decided to swing by the
office instead. His heart slowed with relief to see Arrow out
front.
"I need you" was all he said, his head going swiftly
inside and back out again. Slater was fast to respond, and
on the way to the Mills', Griffin gave him the news.
"I hope it's just an uncomfortable hunch that doesn't
pan out."
"You and me both," Slater agreed. Hunch or not, it
needed to be checked. If Liberty was there and they didn't
follow this lead, they would never forgive themselves.
In the next few seconds Griffin told Slater what he
wanted to do. They had given Davis Mills the benefit of the
Every Little Thing About You 213
doubt earlier that day and knocked on the front door.
Griffin was not going to make that mistake again.
Sr
372
Liberty listened to the noise of doors opening or furniture
moving, she couldn't decide which. She did know one
thing, however--if he was moving furniture, that meant
that the hole was covered and he was getting ready to
leave. Even if he had the gun with him again, Liberty was
not going to take this lying down. The pointed-heel shoes
in her hands, she launched her assault against the door
with a vengeance.
"Let me out! Do you tear me? I said, GET ME OUT OF
HERE!"
Liberty continued to shout, kick, and beat against the
door until her hair flew in her face and her throat felt raw.
She screamed for all she was worth, and when the door
was opened, she attacked the man with the shoes, her arms
swinging in a desperate attempt to gain the upper hand.
She found herself subdued, arms locked at her sides in
a tight grasp. It happened so swiftly that for a moment she
couldn't breathe. When she did find her breath, she looked
up into Slater Rawlings' face.
"Oh, Slater," Liberty whispered. "Did I hurt you?"
373
Slater smiled, but the answer was clear: His cheek was
bleeding and one eyelid was already beginning to swell.
"Are you all right?" was all he wanted to know.
"Yes. Oh, Slater," she cried again.
"What happened here, Libby?"
It was Griffin. Liberty hadn't even seen him. For the
first time in her life, Liberty began to babble. Both Griffin
and Slater listened to words like "dirt mounds, money
sacks, water jug, derringer, front door, key, shoes," and so
on. They both tried to take in the sequence, but she kept
changing directions on them, all the time gesturing to the
214 lori wick
room and pointing out the dust that lay in thick layers on
the furniture.
"Take her home/' Griffin said. "Ill make a final check
here and with Mr. Saint, then see if the neighbors spotted
anyone."
Liberty told herself to offer her services, but Griffin had
looked at her
strangely. It was then that she realized this
374
had been more upsetting than she first thought.
"I'm sorry," she heard herself say.
Griffin hugged her. "We're just glad you're all right."
"I should be helping you."
Griffin shook his head. "I'll be by later and we'll talk
about it, okay?"
Liberty nodded, and Slater took her by the arm. She
was shocked to see it was almost dark out. Why had she
thought that just a few hours had passed? And when had
she left Mrs. Tobler's to head home?
"Here we go," Slater said, and Liberty looked up to see
that he'd brought his horse close to the step and was
reaching for her. Liberty automatically lifted her arms, and
a moment later she was sitting across the front of Arrow's
saddle. Slater's arms came around her to hold the reins,
and Liberty let herself relax against him. Actually, she gave
no thought to what she was doing. She just didn't have the
strength right now to sit up straight.
"Slater?"
"Yeah?"
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"He took the floor apart and had bags of money buried
in the dirt."
"In the living room?"
"Yes. He wouldn't let me out of the closet." She sighed
a little. "I thought about you."
"Good thoughts?"
She nodded against him, and Slater had everything he
could do not to tip her head back and kiss her. It was so
nice to have her close.
Every Little Thing About You 215
Liberty's full weight was leaning against Slater by the
time they arrived at the house, and for an instant he wondered
if she might have fallen asleep. She wasn't asleep,
but he had to steady her on her feet once they dismounted.
"Well, Libby," her mother said as soon as they both
walked in the kitchen door, "Mrs. Tobler must have been
sewing with a vengeance."
Liberty shrugged a little as her mother got a better look
376
at her.
"Is Duffy here, Kate?" Slater asked.
"In the living room reading with Zach," she answered
while taking in the marks on his face. "What's happened?"
The next hour was spent explaining and checking
wounds. Liberty changed clothes and ate with the family,
but her disappointment over Slater not staying was keen.
He'd gone back to check on Griffin.
When Griffin learned that no one had seen a thing, he'd
gone back to the office, searched through the wanted circulars,
and filled out a report, readying it completely to be
mailed thenext day. He'd also gone back to the house and
checked out what Liberty had told Slater about the living
room floor, but there was nothing else he could do. Davis
Mills had to be miles out of town by now, and Shotgun's
sheriff had to leave it at that. He only hoped that Mrs. Mills
would return soon and not be buried under her own living
room floor.
%r
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"All this time, Duff--" Kate said after they were in bed
that night. "All this time I thought if Libby wasn't in law
enforcement, she'd be safe, and here she gets grabbed just
trying to check on Mrs. Mills. I can't help but wonder what
things are coming to."
"If s like we've talked about before, Kate. Don't expect
things to get better. It won't happen."
216 lori wick
Kate nodded. Sometimes Duffy's logical mind infuriated
her, but not now. She needed to think clearly, or she
would never let Liberty out of the house again.
"I'm so glad Griffin and Slater were there, Duffy, so
very glad. I don't know if I could lose my Libby. I don't
think I can."
Kate's first tears flowed. She had wanted to cry when
she heard what happened but held herself in check, trying
to be strong for her daughter, who still looked a little
378
shocked and confused during dinner.
"She's always been the calm one, Duffy," Kate sobbed.
"She looked just like a lost child, and then I saw Slater's
face. I know he loves her. I know it killed him to have to
leave before she came back downstairs."
Duffy held her and thought about God's promises.
Never did He tell His children that this life would be safe
and pain free. Indeed, every book in the Bible indicated
otherwise. Nevertheless, God did promise never to desert
His loved ones or give them more than they could handle.
Picturing Liberty in that closet was a sickening thing. The
man could have done anything, but they all had to choose
to take God at His Word, which meant Liberty wasn't
alone. The all-powerful God of the universe had been right
there beside her at every moment.
"I have to sleep now," Kate said, her voice slurred with
fatigue.
"Okay. I'm going to check on the kids one more time.
I'll see you in the morning."
"I love you, Duffy."
379
"I love you too, Kate," he said before kissing her cheek.
The doctor slipped quietly from the room, heading
down the hall to see Laura and Zach, and finally to knock
gently before opening Liberty's door a crack. There was no
light on, but the moonlight coming from the window told
him Liberty was standing at the glass looking out.
"Are you all right?" her stepfather asked.
Every Little Thing About You 217
"Just a little restless," Liberty told him as she turned
and let the curtain fall back into place. "I can't stop
thinking about everything he said and trying to decipher if
he gave any clues as to where he was headed."
"Will you take some advice?"
"Certainly."
"Stop being an officer of the law and try to sleep. All of
this will still be here in the morning."
"All right," Liberty agreed and even thanked Duffy as
he shut the door, but his words took her off in another
direction. Stop being an officer of the law. Why did that one
380
simple sentence hurt so much? Right now Liberty didn't
have a clue, and the prospect of finding out made her feel
pretty helpless.
Seeing no other option, she climbed into bed, willing
herself to sleep. It took some time and some confessing,
since she'd started to worry, but by the time she drifted off
to sleep, she was ready to leave the whole affair in God's
capable hands.
3'
Three mornings after the uproar at Mrs. Mills' house, a
newcomer walked from the hotel, his eyes taking in the
neat, even streets of Shotgun's small community. He'd
arrived rather late the night before and opted to bunk at the
hotel for that night. The room had been comfortable and
warm, and he felt rested as he started up the street.
He hadn't gone far when he spotted Shotgun's deputy.
Slater stood in front of the general store with a mountain of
a man and a tiny, enraged woman.
381
"I tell you it's robbery!" Mrs. Swenson insisted, her
whole frame vib
rating in irritation. "And I want this man
arrested."
"Mrs. Swenson." Slater's voice was remarkably
patient. "Price and Amy may charge whatever they want.
It's their store."
218 lori wick
"Nonsense! Why, only last year I paid half that much
for a tin of peaches. I tell you it's against the law."
Price tried to reason with her, but she would have none
of it She ended up storming down the boardwalk, muttering
all the way.
"She'll cool down," Amy said as she came on the scene.
"My guess is she'll be back in the morning and pay without
a whimper."
Slater nodded as the couple thanked him and went
back inside. Slater turned up the street, only then seeing the
tall, slim man with the dark red hair who had come from
the hotel. He'd leaned against the side of the building,
382
watching the whole scene with great interest. Slater
thought he had the warmest brown eyes in Texas. It wasn't
hard to figure that Dakota must have headed straight
home. Slater began to smile. Cash Rawlings had come tp
town.
GHutiew,
As soon as the brothers were back at the sheriff's
office, they embraced for a long time.
"I've missed you, Cash," Slater said, feeling strangely
choked up as they drew back.
"You could have come home," the oldest Rawlings
said, not unkindly.
"I planned on it but found it wasn't so easy."
Cash smiled. "Dak says her name is Ubby."
Slater laughed. "She's not the only reason, but she's a
good one."
"What's she like?"
"Oh, Cash," Slater sighed. "How much time have you
383
got?"
Cash smiled again; somehow he'd always known that
softhearted Slater would be the first to fall.
"Does she know?" he asked next.
"Not directly, but we're getting there."
"So she loves you in return?"
"I hope so."
For a moment they were silent.
"Grandma sends her love."
"How is she?"
"Doing* well. Surprisingly enough, she's getting a little
more independent. She cut her visit short this last time and
headed home. Said she had things to do."
Slater laughed, wishing he could see their father's
mother, who, although her son and daughter-in-law had
returned to St. Louis, had stayed in Texas.
219
220 lori wick
384
"I take it Dak came home?" Slater asked.
"On the verge of apoplexy. Said you needed straightening
out."