"You might even feel like telling me whaf s bothering you."
It was said so smoothly that for a moment Liberty
missed it. When they stopped and she looked up at him,
his raised brows told her she had heard him right.
Every Little Thing About You 111
"I'm sorry I was so distracted. Slater. Did it ruin the
dance for you?"
"Not at all, but you could have told me no; I would
have understood that Tess needed you."
193
Liberty was horrified to feel tears fill her eyes.
"Did you see the size of this gopher mound?" Slater
quickly asked, his hand to Liberty's arm now as he moved
her a few feet away. "They sure make a mess of things."
Liberty worked to catch her breath as he turned her
away from the gathering and chattered inanely.
"Thank you, Slater," Liberty said when she had herself
under control.
"My pleasure."
Liberty smiled a little. "Do you have a sister, Slater?"
"No, why?"
Liberty shrugged, almost sorry she'd said anything.
"You just seem to know what to say. It makes me think
some older sister influenced you."
Slater laughed. "My mother would be pleased to know
mat all of her work paid off."
"Did she keep on you?"
"On all three of us, yes. She had very definite ideas, and
woe to the son who forgot to hold the door or let a lady go
first."
194
"What would she do if you forgot?"
Slater shuddered a little. "She'd give us the eye."
Liberty found this highly amusing.
"You wouldn't laugh if you could see it," her told her,
his eyes filled with dramatic fear. "She was tough."
"You poor baby." Liberty was teasing him when she
saw that Tess and Griffin were approaching. She was
relieved to see that Tess was looking more like herself, but
her heart still speculated on what the other woman had
said to her-The
four of them talked for a few minutes, but
the two walls that were built were ready to go into place,
and the walls remaining to be built needed crews of men.
Hank Hathaway was giving orders as though the barn
112 lori wick
were his, and Slater and Griffin went over to put their
hands to the task. Some of the women started to lay out the
tablecloths and set out the food, plates, and flatware. less
and Liberty joined them.
195
"Is it my imagination, or is Mr. Rawlings rather interested
in you, Libby?"
"I don't know," Liberty told her honestly, although she wished it was true. "Have you seen something that makes you think that?"
Tess smiled. "You mean, other than the way he stares at
you and then asks you to dance?"
"Oh," Liberty said quietly, suddenly at a loss.
Tess put a hand on her arm. "Oh, Lib, sometimes I think
you don't have a due."
Liberty laughed a little. "Why is that?"
"You're so busy looking for lawbreakers, you never
notice how cute any of them are or how much they watch
you."
'Tess Locken!" Liberty had a good laugh over this.
"Where do you come up with this stuff?"
Tess' jaw dropped. "Libby, it's true. I swear to you."
"Swearing, Tess? I'm ashamed of you."
Both women turned to see a smiling Dr. Duffy Peterson
behind them.
"She's been coming up with all sorts of wild notions,
196
Duff," Liberty told him. "You might hear anything out of
her."
"Yes, Dr. Peterson," Tess chimed right in, hands on her
hips, a smile in her voice and eyes. "I was telling Libby
how men notice her, and she thinks I don't know what I'm
talking about."
Duffy turned such a surprised face to Liberty that that
woman shook her head.
"No, Duff," she began. "Don't join Tess and tease me
about this."
Duffy looked a little more stunned, his brows rising
slightly, as he saw that his stepdaughter was quite serious.
Every Little Thing About You 113
"Duffy?" Liberty began, her face now showing that she
was very confused. Duffy put a hand on her arm.
"We'll have to get back to this, Lib. All right? Don't give
Liberty's eyes went back and forth between the two of
197
them, their faces reminding her how much they cared. This
was a subject she would need to know more about, but
Duffy was right. This was not the time or place.
"Hi, Tess. Hi, Libby," Laura greeted them as she
arrived. "Did you dance yet?"
"I did/' Liberty said, glad to have the subject changed.
Her mother was coming, Zach in tow, and all hands fell to
food preparation as Duffy went to help the men. In no time
at all dozens of people would be gathering to eat. Time for
small talk had ended.
fy *3r
"My brother is in town," Slater told Griffin when he
had the chance.
"He is? That's great."
Slater nodded, his face thoughtful.
"Is it great, Slater?" the lawman asked sensitively.
"It is," Slater agreed, "but he came looking for some
answers, and I know he won't like everything he hears."
198
"Well, let me know if I can help."
"Thanks, Griffin."
"Oh, and don't hesitate to have him stay at the house
for as long as he needs."
"Okay."
"Where is he, by the way?"
Slater nodded his head toward a large, dark man some
30 feet away who was driving nails into the wood with one
blow. Griffin, surprised that he was even there, stared at
Dakota for a moment and then turned his attention back to
Slater.
"Was your brother in the saloon earlier today?"
l .-
'
$
- *
;
'
114 lori wick
199
Slater smiled. "Yep. Libby was ready to put him away,
but he gave up the gun."
"She said it was some big guy with dark hair. Does she
know he's your brother?"
"No. I'm not sure how long hell stick around or how
much hell want to become known. He moved away from
me the moment we arrived. Actually, I was surprised that
he even came here today. I'm going to invite him to everything
but let him make the choice/' Slater chuckled, "not
that I could do much else."
"Is he older than you?" Griffin thought Slater might
have said but couldn't remember.
"Yes, but not by as much as it looks. Do you want to
meet him now or later?"
"Later is fine. Be sure and tell him that Mam and Duffy
are expecting us after church tomorrow."
"I'll do that. I'll be very satisfied if he joins me for either
one." This said, Slater went back to work, his heart asking
God to let Dakota stay long enough to have contact with
200
folks who could make such a difference in his life.
*gr
"When did you meet her?" Dakota
asked the minute
they were in the door that evening.
"Who?"
"The woman you're going to marry."
Slater blinked. "You spent too much time bending over
a hammer today, Dak. Get some rest."
"Not until you tell me."
"How can I tell you when I don't know what you're
talking about?"
"I'll tell you what I'm talking about. You arrive and
every female under 25 comes crowding around. They look
at you as if you've just dropped from heaven, but do you
ask one of them to dance? No. You leave them all for the
Every Little Thing About You 115
small, dark-haired beauty who wanted to put me in jail this
201
morning."
Slater was speechless. Dakota had perfectly described
the scene. So why had the younger Rawlings thought mat
no one would notice his special interest in Liberty Drake?
"I haven't asked Ubby to marry me, not even close,"
was all Slater could think to say.
"What's her name?" Dakota pressed him.
Slater closed his mouth. If Dakota wasn't going to stay
in town long, he wasn't sure how much he wanted to share
with him.
"You can meet her tomorrow," Slater finally said, "if
you're sticking around that long."
Dakota's eyes narrowed. Slater had always held
Dakota in high regard, and Dakota respected Slater in
return, but if Dakota ever wanted the upper hand, he knew
just how to get it. Having his younger brother refuse him
anything or not answer a question took some getting used
to.
"I take it she goes to your church."
"Yes, she does, but thaf s not where you would meet
202
her. Griffin and I go to lunch at her parents' home on Sundays."
"And Griffin is the one who owns this house?" Dakota
asked as he gestured to the room in general.
"Yes."
"How is he tied into this Libby woman?" ^
Slater opened his mouth but shut it again. Finally he
said, "Why don't you come tomorrow and find out?"
Those dark eyes narrowed in his direction again but
nothing more was said. Griffin came in a short time later,
met Dakota Rawlings, and then took himself downtown to
check on the Saturday night activity. Both Slater and
Dakota turned in without another word on the subject
w~ " S'*
116 lori wick
Slater didn't know when he'd been so distracted. Never
in his wildest dreams did he think that Dakota would be
203
sitting next to him in church. His presence caused Slater to
listen with new ears. Things that made complete sense to
him caused him to wonder if Dakota had a due. His
brother had not seemed overly intrigued or even resigned,
but fairly early that morning he had come to Slater's room
and asked when he needed to be ready for church. Slater
was glad that he had some time alone after telling him. He
spent that time praying, thanking God for His work, and
asking Him to soften Dakota's heart.
"I want you to pay close attention to Nehemiah's
prayer life," Pastor Caron instructed now. "Almost a dozen
times the verses tell us that Nehemiah engaged in prayer.
I'm just going to point out a few. He goes to God in prayer
starting in chapter 1:4, and then while he's talking to the
king in 2:4. Chapter 4 has several verses on the subject; 6:9
is a prayer, and the book ends with a plea to God from
Nehemiah." Pastor Caron went back and read those verses
before pausing and meeting the eyes of his congregation.
"As I've been saying for weeks now, this man teaches
me so much. Is he teaching you? Are you trying to serve
204
God without talking to Him? Are you forgetting that after
we believe, He is with us always? How many of you can
spend hours in someone's presence and not utter a word to
him?"
Slater had to stop himself from smiling. Thinking that
if Hank Hathaway were present he could raise his hand, he
forced himself to concentrate on the sermon.
"If your goal is to grow and to serve the Lord, you've
got to be praying. I don't know that any of us will be called
to do something as huge as Nehemiah did, but no matter
what your task, God is standing by to help you. He doesn't
want to just observe; He delights in the prayers of His children
and wants to give you the power and strength to succeed."
Every little Thing About You 117
Slater felt Dakota shift beside him, and for a moment he
thought he might rise and leave. In an effort to accept
God's will in his brother's life, no matter what it was. Slater
prayed and steeled himself for the worst, but nothing came
of it. The service ended and Dakota headed right for the
205
door, but not a mention was made of the service. Slater
found him by the horses, asked him if he wanted to go to
the Petersons', and took his quiet nod as a yes. Tempted as
he was to question the older man's look, Slater held his
tongue, praying all the way down the street.
fy
"Zach can read," Laura told Dakota, leaning from her
chair to make sure he could hear. "He goes to school."
"Does he?" Dakota's words were soft, his tone warm.
The change had come over him as soon as he met Laura
Peterson. "Do you go to school?"
"Next year. I'll be big then."
Dakota smiled, learning swiftly what many already
knew: Laura was a heartwarmer.
"Is your horse the big black one?"
"Yes, it is."
"He looks like you," she announced.
"Laura!" Zach's shocked voice could be heard as he
206
entered the room.
"Oh," Laura's eyes widened. "I'm sorry," she apologized.
She had learned what Zach's looks meant. She
wasn't sure what she had said, but her brother was looking
horrified.
"That's all right," Dakota reassured her. "I guess Eli
and I do look alike."
"His name is EH?" Her face showed her disillusionment.
"I was hoping it was a girl."
Dakota smiled before exchanging looks with Slater,
who was glad to sit back and take this all in.
118 * lori wick
"I'm glad you don't have handcuffs on/' Laura proclaimed.
Dakota blinked at her. "What?"
"Slater did when he first came."
This got another shocked tone out of Zach, even as
Dakota turned compelling eyes onto his brother. Laura
simply sat back and shut her mouth. The last time she had
said too much she experienced a visit to the pantry with the
207
wooden spoon. Laura had only just made her wise decision
when Liberty came through the door.
"I think we're ready to eat," she announced.
The children scooted from the parlor on this note, but
both men stood on her entrance, Slater ready to do the
honors.
"Libby, this is my brother, Dakota. Dakota, this is Liberty
Drake."
Liberty's eyes told the men that s
he was thinking fast,
even while she heard Dakota say, "I've been wondering
what you would look like for a long time."
"Dakota," his brother warned, but Liberty only looked
confused. A moment later, still not having heard what
Dakota said, she made the connection she'd been working
through her mind.
"Oh, my," she said softly. "I didn't know." Indeed, Liberty
was shocked. With his hat off, a freshly shaved face,
and warm eyes, Dakota took some moments to place.
"It's all right." Dakota came to her rescue. "You were
just doing your job."
208
Liberty suddenly bit her lip. "I did the same thing to
Slater," she admitted on a laugh, relieved when the men
joined her.
"Did Slater say the name was Liberty?" Dakota asked
after she invited them to follow her to the dining room.
"Yes."
"Born on the Fourth of July?" Dakota asked, his eyes
not missing a thing.
Every Little Thing About You 119
Liberty laughed again. "As a matter of fact, I was," she
told him, all the time causing Slater to wonder why he had
never asked.
"Here you are," Duffy said as they entered. "I'm sorry
we didn't get to do more than meet you, Dakota. Did Laura
do a good job as hostess?"
"Yes." Dakota told the truth, but Laura's eyes darted to
their guest and swiftly away.
"Do we need to talk, Laura?" her father asked quietly.
"I shocked Zach two times," she admitted.
209
Duffy's hand came to his mouth, but he managed,
"Well, did you say you were sorry?"
"I think so." She looked on the verge of tears, and
Slater, feeling free to do so, stepped in.
"She handled it very well, as did Zach."
"Thank you, Slater," Duffy said with a nod. "Good job,
children." He smiled at both of them before bowing his
head. "What a privilege it is, Father, to gather around this
table to eat, and also to have Slater's brother join us this
day. We thank You for all Your blessings, from the food to
the warm shelter You have lovingly placed over us. In Your
will and timing, we ask that Griffin's business downtown
will go smoothly, so that he may join us for dinner. In Your
Son's holy name I pray. Amen."
The bowls were passed, and in an instant, Dakota was
experiencing what Slater had experienced the first time he
sat at this table. He hadn't heard anything too disagreeable
from the preacher that morning, but he didn't think he
wanted to go to church all the time. He was, however,