Liberty's hand went up and he took it.

  "I shouldn't have been there. I've never been so foolish.

  Slate. I just hope you can forgive me."

  He kissed the back of her hand and tenderly held onto

  it.

  Griffin had gone to the far side of the bed, as had less,

  and when they'd all caught her eye long enough to smile

  or speak to her, Duffy ushered them from the room. Kate

  stayed a moment longer to kiss her cheek, but the last one

  to be seen out by the doctor was Slater.

  "I'll see you tomorrow," he said quietly to Libby. "Sleep

  well."

  Liberty nodded and watched him leave. She didn't

  speak until his steps told her he was down the hall.

  "Tell him he doesn't have to come," Liberty told Duffy.

  "I can't do that."

  Every Little Thing About You 277

  488

  "Why not?"

  "Because he does have to come."

  Liberty blinked. "Says who?"

  "Says me." Duffy bent and kissed her brow. "Go to

  sleep. I'll check on you later."

  Liberty didn't have much choice; she was already

  sleepy. But not at any time before she dropped off did she

  understand what he meant.

  - 3r

  "And then the little horse said he didn't like his hay/'

  Laura said from the foot of Liberty's bed almost a week

  after the shooting. The patient was sitting up against the

  headboard, swathed with quilts and bolstered with pillows.

  There had been a slight fever, but the wound was

  healing fast. Weakness from the loss of blood, however,

  was still apparent.

  489

  "What did his mother do?"

  "I don't know," she said, her little brow perplexed. "I'm

  still figuring that part of the story out."

  Liberty would have laughed, but she'd learned her

  lesson about laughing too much when Laura had come in

  to talk to her every day.

  "Maybe she should take the hay away from him

  because he isn't thankful."

  Laura looked amazed. "That's good, Libby," she said

  intently. "We should write that down."

  Liberty had to laugh then, even though it caused her to

  gasp. And as her little nurse had started to do, she came

  close, careful not to bump Liberty's side, and took her

  sister's hand in both of hers, praying that the pain would

  go away soon. Liberty thought that if her feelings for Laura

  were any more tender, she would melt into a puddle.

  "Hey, Libby," Zach announced as he joined them, "I

  have to go to school."

  "Okay. Thanks for coming in to say goodbye."

  278 lori wick

  490

  "I'll have a new book to read you when I get home

  today."

  "Great 111 look forward to it"

  The little boy came over to kiss her, Liberty leaning

  toward him as best she could. The kiss usually landed in

  midair, but they always caught each other's smiles, and

  Liberty thought about him all day once he was gone.

  Zach hadn't been gone from the room five minutes

  when Kate came in. She shooed Laura downstairs to eat,

  pulled Liberty's curtains open, cracked the window, and

  made sure Libby could reach the cup of coffee she'd just

  brought in. She then took Laura's place at the foot of the

  bed.

  "How'd you sleep?"

  "Not so well. I kept waking up and wanting to turn on

  my bad side. Did I keep you awake?"

  "A little."

  "I do wonder when I'm going to feel like getting out of

  this bed."

  491

  "It'll come. It would seem that everyone will still be

  here, so take your time."

  Liberty found that comment odd, even as she realized

  her mother had said it the day before.

  "What do you mean 'everyone will still be here'?"

  "Your brother, Tess, and the Rawlings have just about

  moved in. I thought you knew that"

  Liberty's mouth opened. "Mam, you can't do that! You

  can't be entertaining all these people and still be taking it

  slow."

  "Liberty, they haven't let me do a thing. If the church

  family isn't bringing something, Tess is cooking. Dakota

  walks Zach to and from school every day, and unless Slater

  is working or sleeping, he's here cleaning something,

  trying to cook, or seeing to the kids."

  Liberty was flabbergasted. She had done a lot of

  sleeping, that was certainly true, but that life was being

  Every Little Thing About You 279

  lived below stairs in such a surprising way was a little hard

  492

  to take in.

  "Why?" was the only word she could find.

  Kate looked very sympathetic. "How else are they

  going to be near you, Lib? Slater especially. He can't exactly

  sit around your bedroom."

  Sadness overwhelmed Liberty. She didn't want Slater

  hanging around because he felt guilty. She was glad that

  everyone had come and taken the burden from her mother,

  but Liberty had reconciled herself to not having the life

  she'd envisioned. For a moment she thought she might be

  selling both God and Slater short, but that didn't seem

  likely.

  "How about some breakfast?" Kate asked.

  "That sounds good."

  Kate was gone for a long time, and when she returned

  with a breakfast tray, it was also to explain that Dakota had

  just been there.

  "He said to tell you goodbye and that he'd come back

  through as soon as he could."

  "I take it he has to go back to work?"

  493

  "Yes. He wished he could see you, but I told him you'd

  understand."

  "Yes, I do. I appreciate how gracious he's been."

  "Yes. As special as he is right now, it's wonderful to

  think of who he would be if he came to Christ"

  "Slater and I have talked about that very thing."

  Kate took in the wistful expression that came into her

  daughter's eyes and knew that it was about more than

  Dakota's need for salvation. With a word about checking

  on her soon, Kate made sure Libby had the Bible, pencil,

  and paper she'd asked for and slipped from the room. Liberty

  had not asked to be alone, but it wasn't hard to see that

  this was just what she needed.

  5* *3* -S*

  280 lori wick

  "We have to talk to you," Griffin said the next day,

  coming into her room one week to the day after Liberty had

  494

  been hurt.

  Liberty looked into Tess and Griffin's faces. They

  would certainly be more happy if a baby was on the way,

  but she hoped that their news was good.

  "We owe you an apology, Lib," Tess began. "I feel very

  much at fault for waiting so long. Griffin said he's to blame,

  but I've been very cowardly."

  Liberty still looked between them, her face open.

  "Libby," Griffin sad down in the rocker and leaned

  dose. "It's been on my mind for some time now, especially

  knowing how Slater feels, that I shouldn't be using you

  to back me up, I felt the Lord speaking to my heart, but it
>
  was easier to depend on you. I called on you for help with

  Bernie and then thought afterward that maybe she lets

  herself go just to get you to come.

  "And I can't help but wonder if I had put in my vote of

  disapproval about your coming last week and not left the

  whole thing in Slater's hands you might have listened. I'm

  sorry, Libby. I'm sorry I didn't obey the Lord and prevent

  495

  this from happening in the first place."

  "And I didn't speak to you as a friend, Libby," Tess now

  put in. "I knew the way Slater felt but never asked you

  about it. I'm sorry."

  Liberty nodded and said quietly, "I must admit that

  I've always taken the family's support as a positive sign,

  but Slater's strong feelings have certainly made me think."

  They fell silent for a moment before Tess said, "Are you

  all right, Libby?"

  1 Liberty's thoughts had turned to Slater, causing the

  region around her heart to ache, but she forced herself to

  nod and smile. Griffin rescued her by turning the conversation

  to business.

  "The circuit judge will be through in about two weeks.

  The Potters are back on the farm, but they've stayed very

  Every Little Thing About You 281

  quiet, especially because I told them one of their bullets hit

  and could have killed someone."

  496

  "Slater and Griffin went out to Maddie Flowers' too/'

  Tess added. "Her still is gone as well."

  "I can guess how she took that," Liberty said dryly.

  Griffin chuckled. "I thought she would faint, but she

  was quiet even when we smashed her medicinal bottles."

  Liberty now laughed a little too. "And what of Davis

  Mills? Any word yet?"

  Griffin shook his head. "Only that the law in Austin

  thinks he must have pulled a lot of little jobs and been

  storing the money under his aunt's floor, since there's been

  no report of a large bank holdup. He's left almost no trail,

  but I plan to keep my eyes and ears open."

  Liberty smiled at him, thinking he was the man to do

  it. Hard as her own situation was, Liberty believed with all

  her heart that her brother was a fine lawman. Shotgun was

  blessed to have him.

  Griffin and Tess didn't stay much longer, something for

  which Liberty was grateful. She had some more thinking to

  do and that, along with their visit, seemed to wear her out.

  She settled against her pillow, knowing that if she had it to

  497

  do over again, out of her love for Slater, she would do

  whatever he asked.

  It wouldn't come easily to me, Father. Not only am I comfortable

  withagun, I'm also too quick to want to do Your job, but

  I would try. I would try with all my heart. I can see now that

  Slater only wanted to protect and take care of me. I wish he still

  did.

  Liberty fell asleep while telling God that she didn't

  think she'd ever get over him.

  S' "3" S'

  "You're certainly in a good mood," Griffin commented

  to his deputy on the first day of March.

  "I am," Slater agreed.

  282 LoRiWiCK

  "Going to tell me why?"

  "Well," he drew the word out, clearly having a fine time. "As a matter of fact, a little bird told me that a certain lady was out of bed 498 yesterday for the first time. I'm hoping

  111 find her downstairs when I go by at lunch."

  Griffin tried not to smile when he said, "I don't suppose

  I'll get another moment of work out of you until you

  see her."

  "Probably not," Slater said unrepentantly, looking out

  the window, hands behind his back as he rocked on his

  heels.

  "Someone could probably be holding up Price and

  Amy, and you would just smile."

  "Now, that I wouldn't do," Slater turned and said with

  mischievous eyes. "It might keep me from seeing your

  sister."

  Griffin could only laugh. "Get out of here, Slate. I don't

  want to see your face until Libby smiles at you and you're

  ready to work."

  Slater was not going to argue. With hat in place and a

  certain Drake on his mind, he made a beeline for the door.

  It was a little early for lunch, but Liberty still might be

  downstairs.

  499

  The separation had been torture. Slater found himself

  able to be downstairs with less, the children, or Kate,

  people he cared for very much but didn't feel desperate to

  see. When he asked after Liberty's health, he knew they

  told him the truth, but he had a natural need to see her for

  himself; and not just see her, but be close, talk to her, and

  watch her face for signs of the old Liberty.

  "Well, Slater," Kate said when he knocked and slipped

  in the kitchen door, "this is a surprise."

  Slater smiled. Not until he'd gotten very close to Liberty's

  mother had he discovered that she had a very subtle

  sense of humor. You had to spend a great amount of time

  with her to see it, but it was there.

  Every Little Thing About You 283

  "I just thought you might need me to sweep the floor

  or burn some trash."

  Kate could barely keep from smiling. "Actually," she

  began, turning back to the pudding she was stirring in

  order to hide her gleaming eyes, "I was hoping you could

  500

  dust the living room."

  "I'll do it," he said, hoping she was only kidding but

  ready to do as she asked.

  "Just go on through. I think you'll know what to do

  when you get there."

  Slater did not waste any time. He left his hat by the

  door, smoothing his hair and trying to keep his pace

  normal as he went. Still, he must have been heard because

  Liberty's and Laura's faces were turned to him as soon as

  he stepped across the threshold.

  "Slater!" Laura cried, launching herself in his direction.

  Slater swung her up into his arms for a hug and kissed

  her small cheek.

  "How are you today?"

  "I'm very good. Libby and I are very good."

  Slater finally let his eyes swing to where Liberty sat

  quietly on the sofa. She wore a black and white checked

  dress with tiny pink flowers running over the fabric. Her

  feet were on the footstool, and she had a thick quilt over

  her legs and lap. Slater moved toward her now, sitting in

  501

  the chair closest to the sofa and fighting the urge to sit right

  beside her. He settled Laura in his lap and spoke.

  "Do you agree with Laura's diagnosis? Are you very

  good?"

  Liberty smiled. "Yes, I would say I am. I don't care to

  pull myself into a buggy or throw a ball, but I'm doing

  fine."

  "You look wonderful," Slater said softly, his eyes not

  missing a thing, not even when her cheeks turned a little

  pink and she shifted her gaze to the window.

  "Are you working today?" Liberty asked, her eyes and

  hands busy with the quilt now.

  284 lori wick

  "Yes, I'm just taking a long lunch."

  Liberty nodded
. "How's Griff?"

  "Doing fine. He had a meeting with the town council

  this morning. They've voted to hire more men. Griff is

  thinking about putting ads in the Austin papers to get a

  little more exposure."

  502

  Liberty smiled. "My mother still has the newspaper

  clipping from San Antonio that my father answered to get

  the job here."

  "I'd like to see that."

  "I can ask her," Laura volunteered, startling both

  adults. They had been so preoccupied with one another

  that Laura had been momentarily forgotten.

  "That would be nice of you, Laura," Liberty said with

  a smile, not realizing the little girl meant to go right then.

  Not until she moved from the room did Liberty realize her

  mistake. She didn't feel emotionally ready to be alone with

  this man she still loved, but it was too late. She looked over to find his eyes on her and knew he was ready to speak.

  m

  tfwwfo-

  "I want to thank you," Liberty blurted before Slater

  could utter a word.

  "Thank me?"

  503

  "Yes," Liberty nodded, still embarrassed and having a

  hard time meeting his eyes. "I never saw my actions for

  what they were. I was arrogant and untrusting. You helped

  me to see that. If I had it to do over again, I would do it differently.

  That's why I'm thanking you."

  "When you were still laid up, my mind wandered and

  I had some moments when I feared you might hate me,"

  Slater admitted. "All I ever wanted to do was protect you,

  but I think I came across as overbearing and stubborn."

  "You were overbearing and stubborn at times, Slater,

  but it was over something you believed in. That makes

  complete sense to me now."

  Slater had so much he wanted to say, but fell rather

  silent for a moment. The silence allowed Slater to hear Kate

  and Laura in the kitchen. It reminded him of how hard it

  was to find time alone with Liberty. For this reason, Slater

  moved forward a little bit in his chair, his forearms resting

  on the top of his thighs as he leaned closer.

  "Every little thing about you fascinates me, "Slater surprised

  504

  Liberty by saying. "I've never known a woman with

  such a wide range of talents, Libby, and I mean that. I can't

  tell you how my thoughts whirled to find the woman

  who'd pulled a gun on me in a saloon walking up the aisle

  285

  286 lori wick

  to play the piano at church. And playing beautifully, I

  might add. Then at lunch, I see you helping with the meal.

  "Added to that, you're a marvelous care giver. You love