Leaving Liberty

by Virginia Carmichael

  “You’re okay biking to the library in the rain?”

  “I like it. Once I figured out I needed a really long raincoat and a hood, otherwise the tire spatter makes a trail from my rear to my head.”

  He choked back a laugh. “Like a skunk stripe.”

  “Exactly. Not attractive.” She shrugged one shoulder. He had the strangest urge to blurt that she’d be beautiful in anything, covered in mud or not. But he resisted. Barely.

  “I wanted to warn you about the creek behind the cabin. It’s pretty high. In case you wander back there, I thought you should know it’s a lot faster than it seems.”

  Daisy glanced at him. He wondered if she was going to be offended by his warning. She wasn’t a true city girl, but she hadn’t been in Liberty for a long time. He’d rather hurt her feelings than find out she’d been swept downstream.

  “Thank you,” she said. “Nita told me the Corps of Engineers has been up at South Platte all week, marking the rise and checking the levee a few miles down.”

  “It doesn’t look good. There’s a reason the city was declared a flood zone. FEMA said that levee just isn’t up to standards.”

  “I always figured flooding to be a plains problem, like in Kansas somewhere.”

  Lane slowed the truck, looking for a spot to park. The diner was at the end of Main and there were quite a few cars in the parking lot. Early dinner crowd. The seniors liked to get in there before anybody else so they could spend a few hours over their chicken fried steak and hot coffee.

  “About a hundred years ago the South Platte went through Denver and tore out the bridges all the way to Colfax Avenue. The snowmelt and summer rains are a disastrous mix sometimes,” he said.

  “What about now? The grants might come in and we can repair the library. We might also raise enough funds to cover the flood insurance for a long ways in the future. But we can’t fight a flood.” Her voice was tight with worry.

  Lane turned at the end of the block before answering. We. When she’d first arrived, they’d been on opposite sides. Now they were a team and he couldn’t help but notice how right it felt. “That’s a worst case scenario. They have sandbags at the armory.”

  They pulled up behind of Sal’s Diner and he set the brake. The old truck let out a groan as it settled. He saw Daisy’s lips lift a bit. She’d probably be really glad to get back to Fresno and civilization, away from old trucks and greasy diners. Lane yanked on the brim of his hat and went to open the passenger door.

  Daisy was already sliding out and she glanced up at him. “Are you okay? You look mad.”

  “Do I?” He smoothed out his expression as best he could. There was no reason to be irritated at the thought of her hating his truck. Why did he care? Wasn’t a man always supposed to love his truck more than his girl?

  Lane offered his hand and she took it. As her feet hit the ground, his own thoughts caught up to him. His girl. The realization made him suck in a breath. Daisy wasn’t his girl, no matter how much Nita hinted or how long the summer seemed or how much he wished it would be true.

  “There.” Daisy leaned forward. “You can’t tell me you’re not mad about something. Your eyes are all squinchy and your mouth is…” She pressed her lips together and squinted in a pretty fair imitation of what he looked like when he was ticked.

  “I’m not mad.” He made an effort to smile, feeling the tension in his jaw.

  “Ugh. That’s even worse. Now you look like you’re in pain.” Daisy tossed her ponytail over one shoulder and headed toward the diner. “For a guy who loves this place, you sure get irritated a lot.”

  He followed behind her, wanting to argue but not really able to explain that he loved this town and had lived perfectly happily in this town until just a few months ago. He wasn’t bothered by anything in Liberty… except for Daisy McConnell.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Daisy let Lane follow in her wake as she made her way up the sidewalk of Sal’s Diner. She knew that resigned and angry look. He didn’t want to be with her in such a public place because it would get the rumor mill churning at top speed. Didn’t he think she felt the same way?

  Her high heeled sandals clicked on the cement walk and the sound of his thick-soled hiking boots sounded behind her. She should probably slow down and wait for him but she needed a few seconds to soothe her injured pride.

  Reaching the glass door, she paused, watching his reflection in the glass. His head was down, brim of his cap shading his face. The line of his mouth was even tighter. Hands pushed deep into pockets and shoulders hunched, he looked like a man being led to the gallows. Daisy felt a sharp pain near her heart and tried to force the thought away.

  He looked up and caught her gaze in the reflection. His expression didn’t change as he came nearer, until finally he stood directly behind her, their gaze locked. A beat passed where all she knew was the sound of his breathing, slow and deep, and his steady presence behind her. The thud of her own heart echoed in her ears.

  His eyes were dark. “It’ll be okay.”

  She said nothing. Of course he was talking about the gossips inside, but she wasn’t afraid of them. She’d faced down bitter old people before. It was the rest of her life, stretching out in years and decades before her that made ice cold fear slide through the pit of her stomach. She’d thought she was dying to go home to Fresno, but in the few seconds it took him to reach her, she’d realized something that shook her to the core. She didn’t want to go back.

  It was all she could do not to turn around and wrap her arms around Lane, begging him to whisper those words into her ear and make them true. She wanted everything to be okay, wanted it desperately.

  Pushing the emotions deep down, she pushed the glass door and stepped inside. A dozen heads popped up from the plates on the table, a dozen pairs of eyes latched on to her. She felt their curiosity like a cold shower. Forks paused in mid-air and she could have sworn she heard chewing slow as they passed the tables to the front counter.

  “Come on. Let’s find Breezy.” Lane reached for her hand and pulled her toward the counter.

  She should have slipped her hand from his, but the warmth of his fingers and the pressure of his palm were like a shot of pure comfort. Her shoulders relaxed and she felt a smile pass over her face. Lane was asking for a wildfire of rumors, but at the moment, she didn’t care. A crazy sense of well-being and safety was short-circuiting her brain.

  Breezy came out from behind the long counter, frown in place. “What’s going on? Is Jasmine okay?”

  “She’s fine. We wanted to show you what Lane found in one of the ranges.” Daisy held out the little bear and watched Breezy’s expression flicker from shock to happiness.

  “I can’t believe it! I was sure she’d left it in the park or maybe in a cart at the Pack-n-Produce.”

  “Nope. I guess it was at the library all along,” Lane said. “We could take it over to Brenda’s but Daisy thought we should ask whether you wanted to do that yourself.”

  Breezy’s gaze flitted from Daisy to the bear and back again. “You go head. You were the one who told her she was like that Corduroy and exploring the library.” Her eyes softened. “I’m so glad you found her. She’s all Jasmine has now.”

  “That’s not true. I know what it’s like to have no one and Jasmine isn’t alone. She has you,” Daisy said.

  She glanced up, tears glinting in her eyes. “I don’t feel like I’m enough for her.”

  The dinner crowd had picked up their forks again and the low murmur of conversation covered her next words. Daisy leaned forward, putting her hand over Breezy’s.

  “One person can never be enough for another, not completely. Even a mother can’t be everything for her child. You do the best you can, like we all do, and pray that good people step forward and fill in the gaps.” People like Marie. She who stood in the gap when Daisy’s world was falling apart. “We’re not meant to completely fill another person’s needs. That’s God’s job.”

  Bree
zy’s eyes widened and she nodded. “I never thought of it like that.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to deliver Kayla the Warrior Princess?”

  She shook her head, a small smile crossing her face. “I can’t wait to hear what she thinks she’s been doing all that time in the library.”

  “Reading, of course.” Lane chuckled and Daisy had to sneak a glance. She loved that smile, those dimples.

  “Okay, we’re off to Brenda’s.” Daisy gave Breezy a quick hug. The girl felt more fragile than she appeared and after a few seconds, Breezy returned the hug fiercely.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “Welcome,” Daisy answered, but the words were lost in the tightness of her throat.

  Lane turned to shake hands with a young man with a crew cut. He leaned forward, eyes assessing Daisy. “So this is our librarian? I keep meaning to get over there. I’m Butch. Anything you need, you call me. Rookie here is a good chauffer, but if you need the real tour, you let me know.”

  Daisy noticed the irritation in Lane’s eyes and grinned. Rookie? She wanted to laugh. Lane must be at least five years older than this kid, probably more.

  “Thanks, Butch. We’re planning a festival as a fundraiser soon. Maybe you can help out at one of the booths.”

  Butch nodded eagerly. “Whatever you need, I’ll do it.”

  “See you later, Butch.” Lane took her hand again and they walked toward the door, greeting people as they passed.

  As the door swung closed behind him, Daisy turned. “You’re asking for trouble with this.” She lifted their hands, fingers laced together.

  His brows drew down and his eyes narrowed. “How so?”

  “They all took one look and started counting down the days to the wedding invitations.”

  He let out a short laugh. “True. I know it must be hard for you to be in Liberty. The woods, the cabin, the library, those are all okay. Sal’s Diner is probably not on your top ten list of great hang outs. I didn’t want you to feel like you were walking into the lion’s den without anyone at your back.”

  She didn’t know what to say to that. She wanted to tell him she was strong and competent and not at all unnerved by a greasy diner full of old folks having the senior special at four in the afternoon. But it would have been an outright lie.

  Opening the passenger door, she swung onto the seat. The only person who’d ever stood at her side was Marie and Marie was gone. She’d never thought there could be another person in Liberty that would come close. But somehow, it had happened. There was someone beside her who didn’t owe her a second of his time but was walking her through this town like it was a stroll in the park. He did it effortlessly, holding hands with the angry loner, the misfit, the neglected kid whom no one expected to succeed.

  Why would Lane go so far out of his way for her? She wanted to trust him, to accept his generosity with a smile. But she couldn’t. Sometimes the wounds were too deep and too painful to forget. She took back her hand and stared down at the worn teddy bear on her lap.

  “Always the hero.” Aiming for off-hand, it came out sounding bitter.

  He didn’t step back. “It’s not such a big sacrifice.”

  Of course it was nothing to him. She shrugged and waited for him to move away.

  “Daisy,” he said. She glanced up and for a moment their gaze locked. His eyes had gone soft. Leaning forward, the shadow from his hat falling across his face, he seemed to be waiting for her to say something.

  She could smell the soap he used and the warmth of his skin. Her eyes went wide as his gaze dropped to her lips. She fought back the urge to grab the front of his shirt and drag him close. He was about as close to perfection as a man could get and the memory of their kiss flashed in her mind. A second later, panic joined the desire. Perfection or not, there was no future for her with Lane. “You better watch out. You’re going to ruin your good reputation.”

  “I’ve never been particularly worried about my reputation.”

  She should sit back and put on her seat belt, but instead she leaned forward into him. Her hand dropped to his arm and warmth radiated through the fabric of his shirt. His eyes went half-closed and he dipped his head, lips brushing along her cheek, whispering something she couldn’t hear over the pounding of her heart.

  “Lane!” A woman’s voice cut across the moment and he straightened up, swiveling around.

  A woman strode toward them, deep auburn hair flowing in long, loose curls behind her. Bright pink tank top and white shorts were perfectly casual summer wear but her heavy make-up said she was a girl in search of a party. “Lane!” she called again, waving her hand.

  Daisy glanced at his face and saw emotions pass over it faster than she could track.

  “Hey, Tara.” He cleared his throat, shooting a look at Daisy and then back to Tara. “I didn’t know you were back in town.”

  Daisy felt her heart stutter to a stop and slide sideways, settling at an angle. Tara. The ex-girlfriend. All her self-admonishment over getting too close to Lane and complicating their friendship was for nothing. All she really needed was to see Tara in the flesh to realize Lane would never fall for a girl like her. If Tara was his type, then Daisy didn’t have any worries. Daisy had always been bean-pole thin, scrawny, awkwardly long-limbed. The woman coming toward them was curvy and soft in all the places a woman should be. She was petite, womanly, and feminine.

  Tara squinted into the truck. “You still have this old thing? I thought you got your promotion.”

  There was a beat of silence. “Sure did. But I like my truck. Didn’t see the need to change.”

  “Oh, honey,” she laughed, putting a hand in almost exactly the same spot that Daisy’s hand had just vacated. “You need to put more effort into your appearance. You’ve got to look the part or you won’t ever be really successful.” She brushed her hair back and gazed up at him. “You’ve got everything else. You just need to show the world you shouldn’t be ignored.”

  Daisy wanted to roll her eyes. That was kind of rich coming from the girlfriend who dumped him.

  As if she’d actually made a comment out loud, Tara looked over and her mouth made a little ‘o’, seeming to notice Daisy for the first time. “Why, hello there.”

  Lane cleared his throat and motioned between the two. “This is Daisy McConnell. She’s our librarian for the summer.”

  “Just the summer?” Her eyes flicked up and down Daisy’s outfit. Daisy had felt summery and dressy earlier this morning, but now her khaki skirt felt drab and old-fashioned.

  “Right. I’ll be back in Fresno in the Fall.”

  “Well, nothing like a little vacation in the country, right?” She didn’t expect a response since she was already turning back to Lane. “Sweetie, are you free this weekend? I thought we could catch up.”

  He shook his head. “Sorry, maybe another time.”

  Tara flicked her gaze to Daisy and back. “Busy?”

  “Yup.” He softened the word with a smile. She was fishing for information and it didn’t look like Lane was ready to share.

  It occurred to Daisy that Lane really did have other plans, maybe even a date. Then she rejected the thought. He wasn’t the type of guy to be dating one girl while kissing another. And since his lips had made direct contact with her skin just seconds before Tara showed up, she was pretty sure he didn’t have a date.

  “I’ll give you a call and we can do lunch.” Tara rose up on tiptoes and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Wiggling her fingers at Daisy, she turned and sashayed away down the sidewalk.

  Daisy fought back the urge to throw her shoe at the back of Tara’s head. Letting out a breath, she forced a bright smile. “Ready to go?”

  He cocked his head and leaned against the truck door frame. A small smile touched his lips. “Aren’t you going to ask what I’m doing this weekend?”

  “No. I’m sure you have a very busy social life.”

  He snorted. “Uh-huh. All my summer flings.”

 
; Her face went hot as she remembered the last time they’d talked about summer flings. That kiss in the driveway stood out in her memory like a neon sign. Unforgettable and inescapable.

  Laughing softly, he leaned closer. “I was hoping you might come over for dinner on Sunday.”

  Oh, yes! Or maybe not. She chewed her lip. She’d agreed to let him cook for her some night but that was back on their trip to Denver. It seemed ages ago. “I’m not sure if that’s a great idea.”

  “It’s not. Otherwise I would have asked you over a lot sooner.” His eyes were in shadow under his hat, but she could tell he was serious.

  “Just us?” The idea filled her with a potent mixture of excitement and anxiety. “Oh, wait. What about Ana?” She felt ridiculous admitting that she’d forgotten her best friend was in town and staying at the cabin.

  He grinned. “Ana, too. I’ll invite Jamie and her husband and their kids.”

  She couldn’t see the harm in it, really. There wasn’t any way she could live in Liberty and avoid him completely. And Jamie seemed like a really nice person. A small part of her knew she was rationalizing, but she was tired of fighting. She liked Lane. She wanted to be near him, to spend time with him, to get to know his family. If that meant breaking her heart a month from now, she wasn’t sure she really cared.

  “Okay,” she said, and looked over in time to see his smile widen. Her breath lodged in her throat. He was one of the most attractive men she’d ever known, but when he smiled like that, he was heart-stopping. Happiness showed in the tiny wrinkles around his eyes and her heart couldn’t help but respond with its own jolt of joy.

  “Excellent. Now let’s go deliver Kayla, Warrior Princess to her rightful owner.”

  ***

  Lane drove down the long dirt road to Brenda Knopp’s daycare. So maybe he’d held her hand in front of half of Liberty. And maybe he’d let his heart talk over the warning sirens in his head and got closer than he should have. And then just maybe he’d pulled an about-face and decided it wasn’t a terrible idea to spend some time with Daisy, bringing together her friend and his family.