Every Little Thing About You (Yellow Rose Trilogy 1) (34 page)

to be crowding in more than she ever had before.

5-

"He asked whom he should talk to, Griffin or Duffy,"

Liberty told Tess that same morning. "He told me he's not

playing games."

Tess gave Liberty a squeeze, wanting to holler with

delight.

"What did you say?" Tess asked as she dragged Liberty

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into the living room.

"That he should go to Duffy. I don't know when he

will, but he said he'd take care of it soon."

Tess sighed. "He's wonderful, Libby. Griff thinks so

much of him."

"He is wonderful. Even the way his family has come

into town and liked us all so much seems like more evidence

that we're to be together."

"And how do you feel, Lib? Would you say you're in

love, or are you still thinking on it?"

"I think I'm in love. I feel something for Slater that I've

never felt for anyone. I know we have to be careful not to

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just follow our hearts, but feelings do play a part, don't

they, Tess?"

"Yes, they do, but you're right, we can only go on emotions

when every thought and action is biblical."

Liberty blinked. "I think I want you to explain that to

me."

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"Well, when I met Griff, I was instantly attracted. Had

my family not liked him, or had he proven to be a nonbeiever

or someone who said he believed but didn't live it,

then I would have to have taken a step back, no matter

what my heart said.

"If at any point I had started to feel that I couldn't live

without him, then I would have had to examine my own

heart and see that as sin. The only Person I can't live

without is Christ."

"That's why you felt such a peace about marrying Griff,

even in his line of work?"

"Yes. Don't misunderstand me, Libby. I want Griffin

with me forever, but if God has a better plan, I have to be

open to that."

Liberty nodded, and for a moment Tess hesitated in

indecision. It was on her heart to ask Liberty if she and

Slater had ever worked out the issue of Liberty's acting as

deputy. Tess didn't know why, but she was afraid to open

the subject.

"I told Mam I would help her with the laundry," Liberty

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said, rising slowly. She wanted to sit and dream with

Tess all day.

"I'd better get to work too," Tess said, feeling guilty.

"My mother asked us to dinner, and I said I would make

dessert."

"Thanks for letting me come over and share."

"Anytime," Tess said lightly, her heart telling her that

she was letting an opportunity slip away.

Liberty waved and went on her way, completely unsuspecting.

Her heart still in a quandary, Tess stood for a time

Every Little Thing About You 249

after she left, planning to ask Griffin about it as soon as he

got home.

*

Slater wondered how many times Liberty had done

this. Moving slowly on his way to the Brass Spittoon, he

thought this had to be much like her first encounter with

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him. Having seen Griffin's way of handling these situations,

Slater went right to the bar and spoke with Gordie.

That man nodded in the direction of a corner table. Slater

turned. Even with his back to the main room, there was no

missing Dakota Rawlings.

Slater went toward him, his sense of danger draining

away. He walked until he stood beside him, but Dakota

didn't look up.

"Hand it over," Slater ordered, wasting no time.

Dakota, on the other hand, tipped his hat back and

looked slowly up at Slater as though he had all the time in

flie world.

"Something wrong, deputy?"

Slater put his hand out.

Looking rather amused, Dakota put the pistol in

Slater's hand.

"I would think you'd have other things to do," Slater

muttered and turned away. Dakota rose and stayed right

with him. Slater was well aware of Dakota behind hinvbut

remembering the way the older Rawlings had left things,

437

he was suddenly angry. They were half a block down the

street before Slater gave vent to it

"And if you think," Slater suddenly turned and said

with quiet fierceness, "that everything is fine between us

after you left here like a spoiled child, you can think again!"

Dakota was not given time to answer, so he slowly followed

Slater down the street. The deputy headed to the

office and took a seat behind the desk. Dakota came

through the door in time to see him unload the gun, tag it.

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and put it on one corner of the desk. Slater then looked at

him, and as stern as Slater appeared, Dakota took a seat

and spoke.

"I'm sorry, Slate. I did leave here like a child, and I

wasn't ten miles down the trail before I was regretting it"

"Why didn't you return?" Slater asked, his voice

having calmed completely.

"Because I still don't agree. I'd have paid dearly if anything

had happened to you before I returned, but I still

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don't agree."

"Tell me, Dak, Exactly what is it that you find so impossible

to accept?"

Dakota looked at him. "Maybe it's the change. I didn't

think you needed saving from anything, but you are different.

I think I'm all right, and I'm happy with that belief.

I don't feel I need more."

Slater nodded but still said, "Do you remember the

fights Mother used to have with Father? They never ended

without Father saying, 'Your mother and I can agree, just

as long as I don't confuse her with the facts.' We used to

laugh about that, but sometimes I think if s very true. The

facts are staring you in the face, Dak, but you're happy

with what you have." Slater shook his head in wonder. "No

man knows how long he's going to live. I hope you won't

take too long deciding if what you have will take you

through eternity."

"Maybe there is no eternity," Dakota stated. "Preachers

have been spooking people with that line for years."

"I guess you used the operative word, Dak--maybe. I believe with all my 439 heart that we are eternal beings. You're not sure. It sounds to me as though you need to be as prepared

as I am when death knocks on your door."

Dakota would not have said so at the moment, but

Slater had given him something to think about. He was

quiet while he digested all of this, unaware of the way

Slater watched him.

"How long are you in town for?" Slater asked.

Every Little Thing About You 251

"That depends on you."

"Meaning?"

"If you want me to leave, 111 go."

"Don't be ridiculous, Dak. I didn't want you to leave

the first time."

Dakota took the olive branch that Slater offered him.

He would have to head back out on the trail soon--he

hated the thought of doing that, something he'd never

experienced before. He knew it was because of the way

he'd left

"Griffin ever get married?"

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"Indeed," Slater told him and went on to say where he

was living and that Dakota would be welcomed at the

Hathaways'. They talked for a time before Slater headed

out to walk the,streets and keep an eye on things. Dakota

accompanied him, the conversation turning to Cash's visit.

For right now the younger brother knew he had to let the

other subject go. It didn't stop his praying though--something he did fervently--asking God for another chance to share his faith.

%r

"Anybody here?"

The afternoon was slipping away fast, and the temperature

was dropping as Tess stepped into Kate's kitchen and

called to her.

"In the living room, Tess," her mother-in-law answered.

Tess went through the house and found Kate and Liberty

rehanging curtains.

"Hi, Tess," Kate greeted her. "Be prepared to get

dusty."

441

Tess laughed. "That's fine. As long as I don't have to sit

by myself, I can stand a little dust."

Both women were instantly alert

"Bad news?" Liberty asked.

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"If s hard to say. Griffin stopped for an extra gun. Mrs.

Flowers was in again. He and Slater are headed to confront

the Potters. It doesn't sound as though he'll give them any

quarter this time."

"Oh, less," Kate began, but Liberty cut her off.

"I've got to go/' she said softly and moved toward the

door.

Tess watched Kate as she went utterly still. She waited

for the older woman to say something to stop Liberty, but

it didn't happen. Tess felt torn inside. Another gun would

be so helpful, but she also knew that Slater would not find

it worth the risk. Neither woman spoke, and in almost

record time, Liberty was back downstairs, clothes changed,

gun belt in place.

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"Please be careful," her mother finally managed.

"Yes, Libby, do," Tess was able to add.

Liberty called her assurance back to them, and

moments later they heard Morton's hooves. The swiftness

of her actions caused Tess' heart to sink with dread. She

didn't like rushed things. Too often one was left to repent

for a long time to follow.

"Let's pray," Kate suggested.

Tess had no argument with that. She didn't know if she

would see her husband again, but Kate had more on

the line: Half of her children were riding into battle.

No, Tess didn't need to be asked twice. She sat with her

mother-in-law, content to pray for as long as she wanted.

'3* -3he

men were on their horses, their faces grim. Both

had known it would come to this, but neither man looked

forward to it. Maddie Flowers had just come and said that

the Potters had caroused all night. Griffin felt he'd given

them enough time. Slater wished that Dakota hadn't left to

443

run an errand, but he hoped he wouldn't be gone long and

would find the note he left.

Every Little Thing About You 253

"What in the world?" Griffin exclaimed. Slater looked

up to follow his gaze. Coming toward them, her face full of

determination, was Liberty. Slater didn't waste any time.

His mouth tight with equal resolve, he turned back to the

sheriff.

"I'll handle this," he told Griffin as soon as their eyes

met, and from the look in his deputy's eyes, Griffin

wouldn't have argued for the world.

Slater was already off his horse when Liberty arrived,

and just as soon as she slid off Morton's back, ready to ask

about the plan, Slater took her hand. He led her into the

office and spoke with his face just inches from her own.