Every Little Thing About You (Yellow Rose Trilogy 1) (12 page)

did the town fathers. Innocent people still die, Griffin--

they always will--but there's no comparison to what it

used to be like."

"And you would have no trouble with my marrying a

woman who could end up alone like you did?"

"It's crazy to say I don't have any trouble with it. I

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would be crushed if I lost you, but I remind myself of one

thing: God is still in control. If it is God's will that you die,

then you could go swimming with less on your honeymoon

and drown. If it isn't God's will that you die, then a

thousand bullets fired at you wouldn't make it happen."

In so many words, both Duffy and Pastor Caron had

voiced the same thoughts to him. It was good to be

reminded. Too often he wanted God to reveal His will

before it was time. Griffin knew he was suffering from a

lack of trust and that he needed to grow in this area.

"lhanks, Mam," Griffin said. 'I'm still not certain what

would be the wise course, but I needed that reminder."

"I'll keep praying for you, Griff, and if you need to talk

again, come straight back. You know Duffy feels the same

way."

"Can I come back in now?"

"May I come back in," Kate corrected, "and, yes, you

may."

Laura flew through the doorway, kissed her mother,

and scrambled into Griffin's lap. Watching her, Kate's

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prayers intensified for her son. It was so easy to skip

through life without thought of the future. Griffin was wise

to take it seriously. Looking at Laura, Kate was reminded

that she might someday be forced to look at Griffin's children,

just as she had her own, and wish that their father

was still there to hold them.

sk* "St* -3very

Little Thing About You 87

/ don't know her well--at least not yet, Slater prayed a

few weeks later. He was on his horse and headed to

dinner at the Carons'. But I like her...I like her so much. I've

been here only six weeks, and already I feel at home and cared

for. Can that be possible? I loved my job, Lord. I fought You

tooth and nail about leaving it. But I don't miss the long rides,

unpredictable hours, and meager pay. I've never known such a

sense of completeness. I want to stay in Shotgun. I miss taking care of folks, and it's not always easy to work with Hank, but the thought of leaving Griffin and his family, especially Libby,

really bothers me.

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I need to know Your will in this. The letters from the ranch

have been encouraging. I'm glad they want me to stay here since

I've found a good church, but I should probably visit them sometime

soon. I'm still surprised that Dakota hasn't shown up.

Please be with him, Father; touch his heart wherever he is.

Slater could have prayed on for the next hour, but the

Carons' house was in sight He had honestly appreciated

being asked over, but he had been more thankful before

Duffy extended an invitation for the same night. He'd had

no choice but to go to the Carons'--he'd been asked there

first--but it was hard to see Griffin head next door and

know that he had to go elsewhere. With a prayer for a

thankful heart, Slater tethered his horse and went to the

door.

4" or "

"Do you think he's cute?" Mayann asked her mother

while they were preparing the coffee tray.

"Mr. Rawlings? Yes, he's very nice-looking," Felicia

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said kindly, but she was not going to do too much encouraging.

Mayann was growing up fast, but she was not ready

to be in a relationship, especially one with a man Slater's

age. Felicia wasn't certain, but she figured him somewhere

in his midtwenties; not to mention the fact that they were

still getting to know him. However, Betsy, their oldest

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daughter, suddenly sprang to mind. Felicia was not about

to start pushing her daughter at anyone--she did not want

to play God in the matter--but if Slater should show some

interest in Betsy, Felicia didn't think she'd have any trouble

with that at all. Felicia determined to discuss it with Ross

later that evening.

"I think Betsy is in love," Mayann said, her voice a little

too loud. Felicia came and put a hand on her daughter's

shoulder.

"I don't want you to talk like that, Mayann. If Betsy has

feelings for Mr. Rawlings, then we'll deal with that in its

time, but don't you start planting ideas."

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"All right. But do you think he likes her?"

Mayann had Felicia there. In truth, she had never seen

Slater Rawlings give any of the young women preferential

treatment. He was extremely polite, a real gentleman, but

not at any time did she feel he was playing games with the

young women of the church.

"Papa sent me out to help/' Tanner, suddenly

appearing in the doorway, said. "Do you want me to carry

the tray?"

"Thank you. Tanner," Felicia responded, but his question

brought her up short. How many minutes had she

stood here daydreaming?

Lord, she prayed as she followed her children out of the

kitchen and into the living room. Mr. Rawlings needs my love

and hospitality, not my matchmaking skills. Please help me to

want his spiritual growth more than a husband for my daughter.

"So where will we go after Nehemiah?" Felicia heard

Slater ask her husband as she entered.

"I think the book of Mark. I try to alternate Old and New Testament books, but before we do that, I have some topics I feel we need to cover. Tell me, Slater, does sharing

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your faith come easily to you?"

"Not as a rule. I don't know how to open the subject

with strangers."

Every Little Thing About You 89

"That's my point exactly. So often I think we try to

press Jesus Christ onto someone who has given no sign of

interest. What if we got to know our neighbors? What if we

loved the people we worked with, without ever mentioning

our faith, and then when they noticed the difference

in us--making sure they've seen one--vie lovingly

explained why we're different and how they can be different

too?"

Slater sat back and stared at him. "I almost want to

laugh with the irony of your suggestion. I work with Hank

Hathaway, and it's been on my mind to share with him, but

he never wants to talk. He never lets me into his world,

even a little, and for that reason I just haven't felt free to

mention my decision for Christ. You've put it so well. He

needs to see a difference in my life first."

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Ross Caron nodded, thinking this young man was a

balm for his heart. Unless he missed his guess, both his

daughters thought he was nice to look at, but that wasn't

Pastor Caron's main concern. He believed the church

needed strong male leadership. If Slater Rawlings stayed

around and continued to grow, he could be a help in

leading this church to strength and maturity.

"When did you come to Christ, Mr. Rawlings?" Felicia

now asked.

"Less than two years ago. A man I'd been working with

talked to me. I had a tendency to search in all the wrong

places. Some of my family had come to Christ, but I didn't

think it was for me." Slater smiled. "I'll never forget that

day. I told the Lord that I didn't think I would be any good

as His child, that I could never love and serve Him like my

brother was trying to do, but if He wanted a rotten sinner

like me, I would do my best." Again Slater smiled. "I was

in for quite a surprise. The Bible, a book I had always found

dry as dust, became so exciting to me that I couldn't get

enough of it."

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Slater was on the verge of saying that that was just the

beginning when he looked over to see the oldest Caron girl,

90 lori wick

he thought she had been introduced as Betty, staring at him

with a dreamy look on her face. Slater smiled at her but

stopped just short of pulling at his collar, which suddenly

felt tight. Had he been invited over here as a prospective

son-in-law? The thought chilled Slater to the bone, until a

glance at his hosts put him at ease. They were looking at

their daughter, neither one happy, and when the younger

Caron girl saw it, she dropped her eyes and turned red.

Slater busied himself with his coffee cup and was glad

when Tanner changed the subject

They fellowshipped for the next hour, and everyone,

even Betsy after she realized what she'd been doing, joined

in the conversation and had fun. Slater left, his heart at

peace and very thankful as he rode through town toward

Griffin's house. The church family was wonderful. All he'd

wanted to do was escape to the cool of the mountains.

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Never in his wildest dreams did he think God would--

Slater's mind ceased its wandering. From the corner of

his eye he'd caught movement on a downtown roof not far

from the bank. He thought he heard a raised voice, but one

of the saloons was nearby and he couldn't be sure of the

direction. A second later he brought Arrow to a full halt

Another man was on the roof, and this one looked like

Griffin. Slater was out of the saddle in a flash, tying

Arrow's reins to a post and moving silently toward the

alley between the buildings. Slater had gone only ten feet

into the alley when someone moved ahead of him.

Thinking that the bank was being robbed or cased, Slater

touched the Bowie knife in his boot for reassurance and

crept forward, not making a sound. A moment later he

grabbed the guy in front of him with an arm around the

neck, and Slater knew in an instant that this was not a man.

With a swift hand to what was sure to be Liberty's mouth,

he pulled her into the shadows.

"It's Slater," he whispered in her ear to stop her struggling

and to also keep from being shot The moment she

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calmed, he turned her to face him but did not let her out of

Every Little Thing About You 91

his arms. He bent again to catch her ear. "What are you

doing in this alley?"

"Leonard is drunk again," she spoke against his chest

"He's on the roof with his whip."

"Where's Griffin?"

"Up there with him. He wanted me here."

Slater sighed. Her voice was so pragmatic. Didn't

anyone know this wasn't normal?

"What does he expect you to do?"

"Just to keep watch if something should happen, or if

he calls."

Slater sighed again, this time over his emotions. Even

in what was sure to be her deputy outfit, she smelled so

nice, and holding her, even loosely in his arms, was

nothing short of delightful.

"How do I let Griffin know that I'm here to help?"

Slater, making himself concentrate, asked.