Every Little Thing About You

by Lori Wick

  would have to wait until Zach and Laura were in bed. He

  found them flanking Kate on the davenport and listening

  as she read. He did not interrupt but sat on Zach's other

  side and listened as well.

  "Libby will be all right," Laura leaned around her

  mother to tell the doctor.

  "You're interrupting Mam, Laura," he told her.

  Laura looked up at her mother. "She wants Libby to be

  all right too."

  Duffy didn't try to correct her, and Kate stopped

  reading. Maybe it was best to talk about what had happened

  and not try to distract the children with a story.

  Maybe the time would be better spent in prayer.

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  "I think that Libby will be all right too, Laura, but tell

  me why you think so."

  "Well, she's always been all right before, and we're

  going to pray for her/' she offered, her little heart speaking

  with great confidence.

  Duffy thought about how confident believers could be

  in God, even if things didn't turn out exactly as they hoped

  for, and for this reason he only smiled at his daughter,

  thanked her, and suggested they turn in a little early. Kate

  finished reading the story she was on, and Duffy said it

  was time to head up.

  "Kiss Mam," he ordered, not wanting her to move from

  her seat

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  The children embraced her warmly, and Kate held

  them tight, but she was nothing short of relieved that Duffy

  was putting them to bed. Her first thought was to run to

  Liberty's side and be with her, but she tried to act as normally

  as possible.

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  Rising and putting the book away, she went to the

  kitchen. She had not eaten but still wasn't hungry. She

  filled a plate for her husband and put it on the stove to stay

  warm. Then she started the cleanup, something so routine

  that it gave her a chance to pray continuously. She was just

  finishing the dirty dishes when the back door opened and

  Griffin walked in.

  "Hi, Mam," he said, kissing her cheek when he saw

  how drained she looked.

  "Hello, dear."

  "How's Libby?" Griffin asked innocently. She was the

  reason he'd come, but not for the reason his mother

  thought.

  "The bleeding has stopped, and she's resting quietly.

  Duffy thinks she'll be fine, but she's awfully--" Kate stumbled

  to a halt as she watched her son's face. "Griffin, what

  is it?"

  "Why is Libby bleeding?"

  Kate was stunned. No wonder he hadn't come earlier,

  or for that matter, taken her to Duffy's office.

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  "She was shot today, Griffin. I had no idea you didn't

  know."

  "Where is she?" he asked, already moving toward the

  door.

  "In her room, but Griff--" his mother stopped him,

  "Duffy just put the kids down; please don't go rushing up

  there and frighten them if they're still awake."

  Griffin put his hand up in understanding. He nodded

  and took some deep breaths, this time moving slowly to

  the stairs. Kate didn't go with him but could tell that he

  was walking at a more controlled pace. And indeed she

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  was right. Griffin's pace was slow, giving complete lie to

  the way his heart nearly pounded through his chest

  Oh, Father in heaven, Libby's been hit. I didn't know, Lord,

  I didn't know. My sister, who I love so much. I can't believe it.

  I've wrestled with this whole issue, not really wanting to face it,

  and now this has happened. Please help her. Please touch her and

  heal her.

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  Griffin was at the doorway of Liberty's room now and

  found Duffy in the rocking chair by the bed, his Bible open

  in his hand and his head turned to catch the soft light of the

  lantern. Griffin spoke when the older man looked up.

  "I didn't know."

  Duffy nodded. He had wondered why Griffin and

  Slater had not been around, but his main thought was Liberty.

  Griffin came in, his eyes glued to Liberty's colorless

  cheeks. He came to the side of the bed and just stood

  looking down at her.

  "How bad?" he whispered to Duffy without shifting

  his gaze.

  "It passed clear through. She thought it might have ricocheted."

  "Where was she hit?"

  "Her left side."

  Griffin licked his lips, wishing she would wake up so

  he could talk to her. He could count on one hand the

  amount of times he had been this upset His father's death

  came to mind, as did the night Liberty told him that Tess

  thought he might as well be dead. Now his sister lay hurt

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  and vulnerable, and something deep inside Griffin told

  him he could have prevented it. His father's death was

  beyond his control. When he learned of Tess' feelings, he

  had instantly acted. Not so with Liberty. He had been

  thinking about her involvement for a long time, and now

  he'd waited too long.

  Griffin broke from his reverie when he heard movement

  at the door. He turned to see his mother enter. The

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  fullness under her apron was another reminder of the

  many people who were affected. He watched his mother as

  she stepped up and joined him. If Liberty's even breathing

  was any indication, she was deeply asleep; nevertheless,

  they whispered.

  "Tell me, Griffin," Kate commented, having recovered

  enough to question him, "if you didn't know Libby was

  hurt, why did you come?"

  He shook his head. "Slater was not at all happy that

  Libby came out to the Potters'. He was pretty hard on her."

  The words were no more out of his mouth than a thunderstruck

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  look crossed his face.

  "Slater!" he whispered in soft dismay.

  "He doesn't know?"

  "No."

  Kate was relieved. She had worried that Slater was

  deliberately staying away.

  Griffin, still watching Liberty's face, put his hat back

  on. He knew how he would feel if he'd been hard on Tess

  and she was harmed before he'd made it right. Maybe Liberty

  had needed to hear what Slater said, but that wouldn't

  change the way he felt when he learned she was hurt and

  he'd just ridden away. Much as he knew his deputy would

  be upset, Griffin had to tell him. Telling his family he

  would be back as soon as he could and to tell Liberty he'd

  been there, he left the room, intent on finding Slater and

  explaining as gently as he could.

  tfwnfo

  liberty thought she might be floating. She was warm,

  almost hot, and for some time she couldn't tell where she

  was. She saw flowers along the creek bank, little yellow

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  ones. They were so pretty and so early for this time of year.

  Reaching out with her arm, she bent to pick one but found

  herself gasping in pain. Her eyes flew open, and after a

  moment, she found herself staring at the ceiling in her own

 
; bedroom. Her sigh was very soft as memory returned.

  I never believed it would come to this. Lord. I never thought

  I would not be able to let go. Giving up the job has been hurting

  and bothering me for a long time, but I didn't think I was capable

  of doing what I did today.

  Liberty shuddered with shame as she remembered. It

  was as if she had taken leave of her senses, but that hadn't

  happened. Completely in her right mind, she'd been desperate

  to be involved, sure that no one else could handle it

  Arrogant. Just as Slater had said.

  Liberty's whole frame shook for a moment She

  couldn't think of Slater--not now--not ever. He was sure

  to be gone soon. I thought you were the one. I wanted to marry

  you. Both statements in the past tense. He might stay until

  Griffin could find a replacement, but he'd only come

  through town on a whim in the first place. It would just be

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  a matter of time before he went on his way. Liberty knew

  she mustn't do anything to stop him. She would make sure

  she apologized and thanked him for taking her measure so

  correctly, but she must never make him feel that he must

  stay.

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  But first, she had to see Dakota. Liberty prayed even

  now that he was still in town. There was no excuse for the

  way she'd treated him, but she would still ask for his forgiveness

  and hope that he didn't despise her.

  A noise at the door just then carried Liberty's eyes that

  way. Duffy came in quietly even when he saw that she was

  awake. He laid a hand on her cheek. She was getting warm,

  but that might be the covers.

  "Are you too warm?" he asked.

  "No. My feet are cold."

  Duffy took the quilt from the brass footboard and laid

  it across her feet and lower legs. He then came back to the

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  rocking chair and pulled it even closer so he could talk with

  her.

  "Griff was here."

  "Was I asleep?"

  "Yeah. He was pretty shaken."

  Liberty looked away.

  "What happened out there, Libby, that no one knew of

  this?"

  Liberty did not answer. She was ashamed of her

  actions, but it was more than that. She didn't feel she could

  explain yet how blameless the men had been. She thought

  that whatever she said, Duffy would think they should

  have come to her aid.

  "Oh, Libby," Duffy whispered softly. "What's happened

  to hurt you so much?"

  Liberty's heart broke over the caring in his voice.

  "My own sin, mostly, a complete lack of trust. And I

  think that's the reason if s so hard for me to talk about it."

  "Have you confessed it?"

  "Yes."

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  "Then there's no reason for you to be ashamed in front

  of me,"

  Liberty felt as though she had been released. Going slowly, working to gather her thoughts and remember the details, she rilled Duffy in, not surprised that his eyes were

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  full of compassion even when she admitted to what she

  considered reprehensible actions toward the Rawlings

  brothers, especially Dakota.

  "Slater will want to see you, honey/' Duffy said when

  she had finished.

  Liberty smiled sadly. "I guess he probably will. Ill have

  to find a way to tell him he did the right thing."

  Duffy knew this was not the time to argue, but Slater

  should have let Liberty speak. The doctor somehow knew

  that he would regret that more than anything else.

  "I'm going to pray for Slater," Duffy said. "I think he'll

  need it."

  Liberty nodded. It was just like Duffy to be willing to

  walk in the other man's shoes. Had Liberty seen Griffin just

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  then, she'd have also known how timely her stepfather's

  prayers would be.

  %r

  "Could I see you both a moment?" Griffin asked Slater

  and Dakota the moment he stepped into the Hathaways'

  living room. The men were buried in the newspaper, Mr.

  Hathaway as well. Mrs. Hathaway had opened the front

  door, looking delighted that "her boys" had company.

  "If you need privacy," Mrs. Hathaway said as she

  joined mem, "feel free to talk in the kitchen."

  "Thank you," Griffin replied as she handed him a

  lantern. He went in the direction she pointed and waited

  until Slater and Dakota were both inside the door.

  "Dakota," Griffin wasted no time in asking, "did you

  ride back with Libby today?"

  "Yes. She went to Duffy's as soon as she got to town."

  Griffin nodded. "She was shot out there today."

  Not surprisingly, both men looked thunderstruck.

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  "Where?" Slater asked, his voice hoarse.

  "In the side. It's clean, but she's lost some blood. Duffy

  says she'll be all right."

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  Slater began to move away and turned back. "Is she

  home?"

  "Yes."

  There was no need for other words. Dakota went

  through to tell their hosts that they would be out for a

  while, and by the time he got bade, Slater had already

  jumped onto Arrow's bare back and started down the

  street.

  Slater had never felt like this. He had not lost anyone

  he loved, unusual for a man in his position, and although

  he'd been saddened by death many times, his heart had

  never been deeply involved. Knowing that Liberty was

  hurt and realizing that he hadn't been there for her were

  the most painful things he could ever recalL

  Arriving on the Petersons' street. Slater rode between

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  the two houses. Not bothering to tie Arrow's reins, he

  entered the kitchen without knocking. Kate and less were

  talking at the table. Slater looked between them and then

  toward the door.

  "Duffy's up there, Slater," Kate said kindly. "I'm sure it

  will be fine if you go up."

  "Thank you." The words came automatically as he

  moved through the kitchen.

  Realizing he wasn't going to know the way, Kate followed

  him. She directed him toward the light spilling into

  the dark hall and stood back as he filled the doorway.

  "I was just thinking of you, Slater," Duffy said. His gaze

  swung to Liberty for a moment "She just fell back to

  sleep."

  Slater tried to speak, but there was no moisture in his

  mouth. He moved toward the bed, his heart frozen with

  fear. She might not get up again. She might die before he

  could tell her how sorry he was and how much he loved

  her. They might never have a life together, and he wanted

  that so much.

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  "Duffy?" Liberty said with her eyes closed.

  "I'm right here."

  Every little Thing About you 275

  "I have to see Dakota. I have to make it right."

  "Okay. If he comes, I'll tell him. Would you like to see

  Slater?"

  Liberty sighed. "He'll just feel bad," she said, her voice

  fading. "He shouldn't feel
bad."

  "Libby," Slater tried her name, having drawn close, but

  Liberty only mumbled and fell back to sleep.

  Slater stared at her face, her dark hair in a riot around

  her head and on the pillow. She was the prettiest little thing

  he'd ever seen. Her dark lashes, always so thick and long,

  made little fans on her pale cheeks. Slater felt his breath

  catch in his throat. Never had anyone been so precious to

  him. It was as if she were already his. It felt as though she'd

  been his for all time.

  "Sit down," Duffy directed softly, having given up his

  chair.

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  Slater obeyed without thought. He stared at Liberty a

  time longer and then turned to her stepfather.

  "Did she tell you what happened?"

  "Just that one of Critter's bullets must have ricocheted."

  Slater nodded. "Did she tell you she tried to speak to

  me and I wouldn't let her?"

  "Yes."

  "Was she going to tell me she was hurt or something

  else?"

  Duffy's silence was answer enough. It was almost more

  than the tall blond cowboy could take. His eyes went

  upward as they filled with tears.

  You left her! You wouldn't even let her speak!

  Noise at the door brought both men's heads around.

  Griffin was there, Dakota just behind him. They were on

  their way into the room when Liberty spoke, her eyes still

  dosed.

  "Mam?"

  "I'm here," Kate said as she came in behind the men,

  followed by Tess.

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  276 lori wick

  For a moment she didn't say anything, so Duffy spoke.

  "You have quite a bit of company here, Libby."

  "Do any of them have any candy? I wish I had a peppermint."

  Griffin didn't even try to hold his laughter. Liberty

  smiled when she heard it and opened her eyes.

  "Here we are/' Griffin began, "scared to death, and you

  want candy."

  Liberty smiled a little, but her eyes found Dakota, and

  her face grew sad.

  "I'm sorry," she said to him, her eyes filling. "I was

  such a fool Everyone misses, and if I had missed when I

  shot at you, I might have hurt or killed you. Please forgive

  me, Dakota."

  "If s all right, Libby," he said, barely able to speak. She

  might not believe him, but he really did understand.

  Movement out of the corner of her eye caused her to

  look that way. Not until that moment had she seen Slater,

  who was by her side near her pillow.

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  "I'm sorry, Libby," were the first words out of his

  mouth. "I should have let you talk."