Every Little Thing About You (Yellow Rose Trilogy 1) (15 page)

Rangers had made his senses as honed as the knife in his

boot. He noticed the way Slater walked with ease and even

greeted by name some of the folks he passed, and how they

Every Little Thing About You 103

passed the sheriff's office on the way out of the downtown

and into a residential neighborhood. The last thing he

noticed was the way Slater walked right in the back door

of the house he approached.

Dakota saw the barn out back but opted to tie Eli's reins

to a tree before following his brother inside. Slater was

waiting in what Dakota found to be the kitchen, but the

181

younger man turned and led the way the moment Dakota

shut the door. When he walked into a nicely furnished

living room and sat down like he owned the building,

Dakota was more intrigued than ever.

"Start talking," Dakota, recovering swiftly, ordered, his

seat having just hit the chair opposite Slater's.

"About what?"

"Don't play games with me, Slate. I've seen Brace, and

I've been tracking you for days. Now I want to know why

you left the Rangers."

"You won't like the answer."

Slater's voice and expression calmed Dakota immediately.

He loved his brother; he was devoted to him. The last

thing he wanted to do was make him feel attacked over his

beliefs. He was, however, desperate to understand.

"Can you tell me this?" Dakota began again. "Why

don't you think God wants us to keep law and order in

Texas?"

"I do think that God wants that, Dak. I know He does.

But I can't keep roaming around the country. I can't keep

182

on the move like I have been. I want to be settled in one

place and regularly attending church. I need consistent

teaching and fellowship, not grabbing what I can, when I

can."

"And Shotgun gives you that? How did you even hear

of this place?"

"I didn't. I was just traveling at an easy pace and found

myself in jail. When the sheriff asked me to church, I went

I haven't wanted to leave. It's not any more complicated

than that."

'"*

104 lori wick

Dakota didn't agree, but for the moment he kept silent.

In his opinion, this whole thing was miserably complicated.

He was still getting used to the first change in Slater;

now he'd gone and made another one.

"Just so I have it straight/' Dakota began. "You now

believe the way Grandma and Cash do--that the only way

183

to heaven and happiness on this earth is through the

Christ?"

"Yes."

Dakota nodded before asking, "What was wrong with

your life, Slate, that you needed that?"

Slater had to think about that one. The question didn't

stump him, but wording the answer for his brother did.

"If you've never experienced a gnawing ache, Dak,

then this won't make any sense," Slater began, his voice

soft and serious as he remembered the pain. "But gnawing

ache is the best way I can describe how I felt. Texas is a big

land. It's easy to look at the sky and landscape and feel

completely insignificant. I felt that way often. I found

myself asking more and more what the point was. I

believed in my work, and I was glad when I did a good job,

but the fulfillment I once had was gone. I knew I had to

find something that gave my life more meaning.

"Thaf s why I talked with Desmond Curtis. I know

there are men who can both walk the path God has laid out

for His children and travel. Des is a good example of that

184

But I couldn't, Dakota. That's all the more I can tell you."

Dakota worked to calm the frustration rising inside of

him. Slater was a good Ranger. He needed to be on the job.

Dakota had just figured out what to say to him concerning

that very subject when Slater stood.

"I've got to get cleaned up."

"We're not done talking." In the blink of an eye, Dakota

became authoritative again.

"I'm afraid we are," Slater said calmly. "I'm going to a

barn-raising party. Now, you're welcome to join me--in

Every Little Thing About You 105

fact, I hope you do--but for right now the discussion is

over."

"Slater," Dakota began, but the blond man was already

headed toward the stairs. Dakota rose, went to the bottom

step, and called his name again.

"We have to leave here in about 30 minutes, Dak/ was

all Slater would say. He didn't even turn around. "You

won't want to smell like a horse."

185

For the first time in days, a smile threatened at Dakota's

mouth. His brother knew just where to hit. With a shake of

his head, he went for his saddlebags, seeing no help for it but to get cleaned up so he could accompany his little brother and keep an eye on the whole situation.

'**.

No one knew exactly how the fire started, but the

Coppersmiths' barn had burned down three weeks back.

The stock was rescued, but the building was lost The

townsfolk, many of them from the church, now gathered

on the third Saturday of November to build a new structure.

A level wooden floor had been laid on a stone foundation,

and the plan for the day was to raise the walls and

the" roof before dark--all of this after the square dance.

Wagons arrived bearing families, baskets of food, and

tools for the workers. Stacks of lumber, boxes of nails, and

work supplies were set in place for the main event. Quilts

were laid out, but many tables were set up too. The children

chased each other, the adults visited, and in one

corner of the barn, a small trio was tuning up--two fiddles

186

and a strum bucket. In no time at all, the floor was being

used.

By the time Slater and Dakota arrived, the square dance

was in full swing. From her place under a tree, liberty happened

to look up and see Slater joining a group of men as

they were talking. She noticed the dark-haired man with

him but didn't make the connection. She was telling herself

not to stare when Tess joined her.

"Hi,Tess."

"Hi, Libby." Tess smiled in her direction, but Liberty

could see that she was not her bubbly self.

"How are you?"

"I'm okay. How are you?"

107

#*

,"#

v?

187

108 lori wick

"Fine," Liberty said honestly but kept an eye on less.

"Are you sure you're all right?"

"How's your mom, Ubby?" Tess asked, ignoring the

question.

"She's feeling pretty good. Duffy had to work until

2:00, so she'll come with him then."

The women were silent for a moment. The floor was

quite full now, and the music was wonderful. Both women

enjoyed a good square dance, but each wanted to be asked

only by certain men. Liberty suddenly caught sight of

Slater again. This time many women had joined the group,

and as Liberty watched, one put her hand on his arm. Liberty

glanced at Tess in an effort to shift her gaze and knew she had to forget herself and ask the question again.

"Tess?" Liberty's voice was soft. "Are you sure you're

all right?"

Tess sighed and admitted, "I will be, but Papa said he

would come today, and then he backed out. Mama didn't

want to come either, so I rode with the Millers. I was okay

188

until I got here and saw all the families grouped off. It

makes me feel a little lonely."

Liberty's heart ached for her, and wishing to be a comfort,

she said, "Maybe you'll have a family of your own one

day, Tess."

"I suppose it could happen," Tess said. "I guess I have

to keep trusting."

"Is that your way of saying that you haven't been?"

Tess' blue eyes met Liberty's gaze. "I will admit to you.

Lib, that it's been pretty hard lately." Tess gave a little shake

of her head. "It's so awful, Libby--all this hurt. I really am

glad for your family that Griffin is still alive, but it occurred

to me just as I was turning in last night, that for me, he

might as well be dead."

Liberty's breath caught in her throat. The pain on Tess'

face was unlike any she'd ever seen. Her words only confirmed

the fact that this was miserable for her.

Every Little Thing About You 109

"I'm wicked, aren't I?" Tess whispered, tears coming to

189

her eyes.

"No, Tess," Liberty whispered right back, a hand going

to the other woman's arm. "I would never think that. And

do you know what? You're right. I wish it wasn't so, but

you're completely right about Griff. There's nothing

anyone can do. There's certainly nothing I can say. I wish

there were."

Tess nodded, her eyes going to her hands, which were

fiddling with the pleats in her dress. Liberty dropped her

own hand, thinking she would have both of them sobbing

if she didn't let the subject go. For a time the women sat in

silence. Liberty was slowly growing more stunned over

what Tess had revealed, and Tess felt guilty for having the

thought and admitting it.

"Hello, ladies." Slater was suddenly in front of them,

his eyes smiling and kind. Liberty thought him adorable in

a crisp plaid shirt and dark denim pants. His light-colored

hat was in place, and Liberty thought as she had before that

the hat always worked to accentuate his eyes.

"How are you, Mr. Rawlings?" Tess asked.

190

"I'm fine. Are you enjoying yourself?"

Tess smiled, not wanting to lie, and said, "It's certainly

a nice day for a barn raising."

"Indeed. Is your family around?" Slater asked now, this

time of Liberty.

"They're coming in a little while," she explained. For a

moment she had been rather lost in the sight of him, but

her gaze had drifted as she wondered whether Griffin

knew of Tess' thoughts.

"Would you care to join me in the next set?"

Probably not. Tess said that it had just occurred to her last

night.

"Would you like to dance, Libby?"

Then again, they may have seen each other earlier today, I'd

like to think that this news would affect Griffin like it has me, so

maybe he doesn't know after...

110 lori wick

"Lflbby!" less' voice came through to the daydreaming

deputy at the same time she shook her arm. "Mr. Rawlings

191

is trying to ask you something."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Liberty looked to Slater to find him

smiling in great amusement

"Would you care to dance?"

Liberty blinked. "You want me to dance?"

Slater's smile grew. "Well, we could start to work with

the hammer and nails, but I thought dancing might be a bit