Every Little Thing About You
Page 23
Slater's look was telling.
"I knew it was probably the other way around/' Cash
confessed, knowing which of his brothers needed more
guidance at the moment. "What happened?"
Slater gave his brother a detailed account of the bank
shooting, the death of Desna Frank, and Desna's funeral
service. Cash had no trouble catching on.
"I wonder how long he's going to fight this."
"I don't know, but this is the most riled up I've ever
seen him. He's still angry with me over leaving the
Rangers, and it's not like him to carry things around. He
left here in a huff. I hated to have him go like that. With our
jobs, it could be the last time we ever lay eyes on each other,
but he didn't give me much choice."
"No, he didn't, but you did the right thing by letting
him go. Dak is a big boy--too old to be leaving in a rage-- but to beg 385 him to stay wouldn't have been wise. He needs to see that you're man enough to make this choice and not
just his kid brother anymore."
"He's certainly protective. If I hadn't met Libby's
family, he probably would have trussed me up, thrown me
over his saddle, and carried me off."
"So he has at least seen that you've made a life here?"
"Yes. In fact, I think he was on his way to accepting
that, but the service set him off. He'd even been coming to
church with me, and he's threatened me if I let Libby get
away."
Cash suddenly frowned. "He also mumbled something
about her arresting you."
Slater took some time to explain the way he'd met Liberty,
and then said, "You can pray for us, Cash, because her
acting as deputy is something I can't live with."
Every Little Thing About You 221
"I will pray, and although I'm not an expert, I will tell
you: You're doing well to remember that you can't marry
her and expect to change her."
386
They suddenly smiled at each other, remembering that
their mother had learned this the hard way. Charles Rawlngs
Sr. was as independent a man as any they'd ever
known. He raised his boys to be the same way. As much as
he loved Virginia Rawlings, Charles was not going to be
slowed down. If he wanted to travel, he traveled. Virginia
was welcome to go along, but if she didn't want to go, he
went without her. He was as faithful as any husband could
be, but having a wife and children was not going to alter
his lifestyle. Following in the wake of her vagabond husband,
Virginia had seen much of the countryside.
"So when can I meet her?" Cash wanted to know.
"It just happens that I'm invited to dinner tonight. I
can't stay long since I'll be on duty, but I'm sure they would
welcome you with open arms."
"All right. Should I leave my gear at the hotel?"
"Not if you don't mind sharing a bed. It's fairly wide,
and as I recall, you don't snore too loudly."
Cash only snorted in disbelief and asked, "By the way,
what happened to your eye and cheek?"
387
"I was attacked by a pair of shoes."
Cash's right brow winged upward. "I think I need to
hear about this."
"You will," Slater decided swiftly, "but only after you
meet Libby."
Cash smiled again. It was so good to see his brother, but
seeing him also reminded him of how little time they'd
spent together in the last few years. For his part, Cash
didn't care if Slater snored all night. The day, however, had
the possibilities of dragging. He was most anxious to meet
this woman named Libby.
-S'
Sr
222 lori wick
"When Mam has her baby, I'll help her because I'm the
big sister. Even if the baby is a boy; Til still be the big sister."
"I'm sure you'll do a fine job," Cash said seriously. He
388
was being welcomed as his brothers had, by witnessing
Laura firsthand and falling just as swiftly in love with her.
"Do you have a baby?" Laura wished to know.
"No. I'm not married."
Laura nodded seriously. "You can share ours when you
come to town."
"Thank you very much."
Liberty took that moment to slip into the room. She sat
next to Zach and whispered, "What is Laura sharing?"
"The baby."
Liberty's eyes became hysterically round, and Zach
had to cover his mouth to muffle laughter. Cash chose that
moment to look up at them.
"Cash Rawlings," Slater began, having been waiting
for this moment, "please meet Liberty Drake."
"The pleasure is all mine," Cash said as he rose,
moving to shake Liberty's hand and bending slightly over
her, his eyes alight with pleasure.
"You're tall/' Liberty told him.
"Yes. Dakota got the strength; Slater got the manners;
389
and I'm just tall."
Looking at those broad shoulders and the way he bent
to catch her eye, Liberty wasn't fooled. She was still smiling
at him when Duffy called them to the table.
"Your brother's nice/' Liberty had a chance to say
softly to Slater as he seated her at the table.
"I was hoping you would think so."
"I can't remember--are any more of you going to show
up?"
Slater smiled. "No. Just the three of us. Had enough?"
"Since I haven't figured you out--yes."
"What's to figure out?"
Liberty's look was pointed, but Slater had no time to
question her.
Every Littk Thing About You 223
"So tell us, Cash," Kate began, "how large is your
ranch?"
That started the conversation ball rolling, and in seemingly
no time at all, Slater said he had to get to work,
390
thanked his host and hostess, and stood.
"I'll walk you out," Liberty offered after Cash told him
he would see him that night at the Hathaways'.
Slater stopped on the porclj, turning to Liberty as she
came out and shut the door.
"So whaf s to figure out?"
"What?" Liberty questioned right back.
"Thafs right. What?"
Liberty laughed. "I think next time I'll keep my mouth
shut."
"Don't do that. 111 never find out."
Liberty could hear the smile in his voice. There was so
much she wanted to say but found her mouth empty.
"Griff will be looking for me/' Slater spoke when she
didn't. "I'd better scoot."
"Okay. Thanks for coming.''
"Thank you. Take care of Cash for me."
"We'll do that."
Slater hesitated. There had been one advantage about
working construction: Come darkness, you had to quit
391
Seeing no hope for it, he bid Liberty goodnight and went
on his way, asking himself when he was going to have time
to get to know this woman better.
"It was nice of you to show me the way, Ubby," Cash
said as they walked toward the Hathaways'. "If s too bad
Slater couldn't be with us."
When Liberty didn't answer, Cash pressed her a l
ittle
more.
"You do wish Slater could join us, don't you, Libby?"
"I wouldn't have believed it!" she exclaimed suddenly.
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"What?" Cash asked from some distance over her
head, his voice indicating true confusion.
"Your Texas Ranger brother was something of a matchmaker
too. I wouldn't have thought it could run in the
family."
392
Cash hooted with laughter, but just as soon as he found
his breath, he tried again.
"What did Dak learn?"
"No more than you're going to."
"Come on, Libby," he coaxed, having swiftly fallen into
easy familiarity with her. "Just a hint."
Liberty stopped in the street and looked up at him,
dark as it was.
"What is it you want to know?"
"Just how you feel about Shotgun's deputy. Nothing
more."
"Is that all? Well, if I had known that..."
Liberty began walking again/-and Cash fell into step
beside her.
"In case you haven't noticed, Dak and I think a lot of
Slater," he said after half a block. "Watching him with you
makes us care about you as well."
Liberty stopped suddenly, her heart coming to her
throat.
"What do you see when he's with me?"
393
"Ah, Libby," Cash replied, his voice gentle. "He'll have
to tell you that."
Cash heard her sigh in the dark.
"Going to finish walkingme to the house now?"
"I already did. That's the Hathaways' right there."
Cash looked toward the trim two-story and back to his
companion. "Well, thank you, Libby. I appreciate your
showing me."
"You're welcome, Cash. I'm glad you can stay a few
days. It should be fun."
"Indeed."
Every Little Thing About You 225
"Goodnight," Liberty said and started away, coming
to a stop only when Cash fell into step beside her. "Where
are you going?"
"I'm going to walk you back," Cash said simply. "I
can't let a lady walk all the way home after dark. And
besides," he added outrageously, "I just might get some
information out of you yet."
394
They started back toward the Peterson house to the
sound of Liberty's laughter.
gr
"Oh, you're cold. Have you been outside?" Tess asked
as Griffin climbed into bed late Friday night
"Yes. We had to check out a disturbance at the Potters'
--one that turned out to be nothing at all--and
Maddie Flowers kept us standing on her porch until she
was completely dressed."
"And all for nothing."
"Yes. The Potters must have started early in the day,
because everyone but Rush was passed-out drunk."
"What had Mrs. Flowers wanted?"
"She said she heard noises, and this time we thought
we'd catch them in the act. It was dead quiet by the time
we arrived, and she was ready for bed."
Tess laughed at his disgruntled tone. Griffin kissed her.
"Your man is freezing in the cold, and all you can do is
395
laugh."
Tess chuckled again.
"If I wasn't so tired, I'd kiss you again," he threatened.
Tess only snuggled close. "There's always the morning."
Griffin sighed "and talked to himself. "It's like you've
known for some time now, Griff, you should have married
the woman the moment you laid eyes on her."
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Tess chuckled softly this time, thanking God as she
often did that He had brought her husband home safely
one more time.
gl-%r
kay/'
Liberty said to her small charges the next
morning, "we're going into the general store next. Josie,
you stick close to Laura, and both of you remember to look
with your eyes, not your hands."
Little heads bobbed in agreement, and Liberty watched
396
as her sister, an old pro at shopping, led Josie down the
aisle that displayed the toys. When she saw that they were
safely ensconced, she began on her list. So much had been
on her mind lately. She could still feel herself in that closet;
Desna Frank's funeral often came to mind; the Lord was
showing her new things in the book of Romans; she was
still trying to sort out Slater's feelings on her wearing a
badge--and then there was Slater himself. It was a relief for
her mother to ask her to shop.
"We've got to stop meeting like this," a soft voice whispered
in her ear.
Liberty couldn't stop her smile as she turned to see
Slater at her shoulder.
"How are you?" he asked warmly.
"I'm fine. How about yourself?"
"Better all the time."
Liberty smiled into his eyes, her thoughts very loving,
and then caught herself.
"We had fun with Cash last night," she said, pretending
to be interested in the set of bowls on the shelf.
397
"He said he enjoyed it too," Slater answered as he
studied her profile. He thought her nose turned up in the
most adorable way. "He said a very pretty lady escorted
him home."
Liberty laughed. "Did he tell you he escorted her right
back?"
Every Little Thing About You 227
"He didn't have to. I would have been surprised if he'd
done anything else."
Liberty shook her head. "I think the mold was broken
after the Rawlings boys were born. I've never known such
manners."
"I'll teU Mother next time I write."
"How often do you hear from her?" Liberty wondered
aloud.
"Every few months."
"Are they pleased with what you're doing here? I
mean, do they wish you'd settled closer to them or the
ranch?"
398
"They know that we're Texans through and through,
but my mother would like to see us more often."
"Not your father?"
Slater smiled. "He loves us, but that man is an adventurer.
As long as we write and tell him what we're doing
and what we've seen, he's happy."
The thought crossed Liberty's mind that his father's
feelings might change if there were grandchildren
involved. She thought about saying so and then realized
how embarrassing that would be.
"Are you blushing?" Slater asked without thinking,
causing Liberty to turn even redder.
Slater's manners kicked in at that point and he turned
away, only to see Laura and Josie coming toward him.
"Hello, girls," he said quietly. Much as he wanted to
question her, he turned away to give Liberty a chance to
compose herself. "How are you today?"
"This is my friend Josie. She likes toys too."
"I think toys are pretty fun. Did you have a favorite,
Josie?"
399
"Is the deputy in her ?" a man's voice called from the
door, and Slater turned away to answer. The three females
didn't hear why he was needed. Liberty was tempted to
/> follow and see if she could help, but she would not leave
the girls in anyone else's care, not with Josie along. They
228 lori wick
went on with their shopping before heading to Duffy's
office for a visit. Liberty, never knowing where her sister's
mind would head, was glad that Laura waited to talk to her
until they were gone from the general store, their purchases
wrapped in neat brown paper.
"I want to tell you something but not have you be
shocked/' Laura said as they neared Duffy's office door,
Josie going in ahead of them.
"I'll do my best not to be shocked/' Liberty told her,
already wanting to laugh.
"I hope you marry Slater."
"Why do you hope that?"
"So you can protect each other with your guns."
400
Liberty only smiled, leaned close, and kissed her soft
cheek.
"Now, can I tell you something?"
Laura nodded yes.
"Thank you for not saying anything in front of Slater or
anyone else. As long as you always talk quietly to me about
Slater, without everyone listening, I won't be shocked.
Deal?"
"Deal."
The two joined Josie in Duffy's office, and he was
delighted to have them. Liberty, on the other hand, spent
some time looking out the window that gave a view of
Main Street. She could hear the girls' chatter and Duffy's
soothing replies, but her mind was elsewhere; namely, on
why Slater had been called away. It was all Liberty could
do not to head home, change, and go to his aid. That he
wouldn't thank her for this did not enter her mind. She
only knew she wanted to protect and be with that man.
S-* 3' ^*
401
Slater and Cash made their way up to the Petersons'
front door. Ready as they were for Sunday dinner, they
moved slowly. They had the rest of the day together, but
Every Little Thing About You 229
Cash was leaving in the morning, and they didn't know
when they would see each other again.
"I knew from your letter, Slate, that you were growing
in your church, but it was good to be here and see it firsthand.
Pastor Caron does a fine job."
"He's taught me a lot. Griffin has too and probably
doesn't even know it"
"It will be great to give such a good report to Grandma,
but I know that Dakota is not going to be happy with me.
He'll want to have heard that I came here and straightened
you out."
"Tess Drake said something to me one day that was a
big help with that. She said that Dakota might run into the