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and to pray for his safe arrival. As she watched her
family--Duffy was on the bed too--she didn't think that
God could give another child to a more godly, loving
couple. In her opinion, next June couldn't come soon
enough.
r /
Did you pop the question? Why not? The questions Liberty
had asked Griffin more than two weeks earlier were
almost constantly on his mind. He had even double-checked
with his sister to make sure she wasn't upset by
his cold reply.
And why had he been so formal with her? He had
thought it might help to speak with his mother, but Griffin
used the excuse that she wasn't feeling well long after it
was valid. No longer. Slater had left for work, Liberty was
at the jailhouse, Zach was at school, and Duffy would also
have gone to work. It was time to pay a visit to his mother.
Griffin spent some time in prayer about their meeting and
142
then went next door, hoping very much that she didn't
have plans or company for the morning.
84 lori wick
"Well, Griff," Kate greeted him warmly as they
exchanged a hug, "I was just about to have some coffee and
read my Bible. Would you like a cup?"
"I would if it wouldn't be interrupting."
"Not at all. You've been busy lately, and I don't want to
miss a chance to talk with you."
Griffin realized that she always did that: made him feel
special and wanted.
"Unless I miss my guess, you have something on your
mind/' Kate said as she put a steaming mug in front of him,
not even giving him a chance to ask how she was feeling,
especially with the baby coming.
"How did you know?"
"Because Libby told me she said something to you at
the picnic and felt bad about it. She got the impression that
you were upset by her probing. Did she not get back to you
143
as she planned?"
"Well, I had to talk to her about the way I acted, and she
tried to make sure I was all right with her, but now that you
mention it, I think I was a little too busy making sure she
wasn't upset with me to listen."
Kate nodded. "You're in terrible pain, Griff. I can see
it."
Griffin dropped his head, his hand going to the back of
his neck.
"All this time I should have been talking to you, but it
never occurred to me. I think you could give me some
answers--you have insight into being a lawman's wife-- and it only just recently occurred to me to ask."
Kate smiled. "Sometimes we're like that, a little slow to
start."
"Hi, Griff!" a cheery voice called just before Laura
launched herself at her oldest brother. "I didn't know you
were here."
Griffin gave her a hug and kissed her cheek. "How are
you today?" he asked.
144
Every Little Thing About You 85
"I'm drawing a picture of our house. I did Mam and
Papa's room and the kitchen."
"Well, you still have a lot of rooms to cover."
Laura agreed with a nod of her head but still plopped
down in a kitchen chair as if she had all day.
"Laura," her mother said gently, "I need you to play on
your own for a little longer."
Laura looked between the two adults.
"Are you talking to Griffin?"
"Yes."
"Is it because he loves Tess?" Laura asked, a little frown
on her brow.
"That is none of your concern," her mother told her,
and Laura tucked her lower lip under her teeth and gave
Griffin an apologetic look. She left, looking back at them
only once, and when she was gone, Griffin smiled.
"Just so long as she doesn't see you laughing," Kate
told her son. "She's precocious enough as it is, and at times,
145
nosey. Now! Let's get back to you. Ask me anything, Griff,
and I'll try to answer."
was a sheriff, but did you know he wanted to be the
sheriff?"
"Yes, I did. I can't say that I didn't worry, Griff, but I
will admit that I didn't worry much. My father hadn't died
from a bullet wound, so I didn't have that on my mind like
you do. I knew the risks, but not until your father pushed
to have the laws changed did I really start to see how dangerous
his job would become."
"Tell me about the firearms law," Griffin requested. "I
can't remember how long he waited to implement that."
"Less than a year after he took the job. And then he
died not long after it went into effect. Because of that, there
were some who said the law didn't do any good. All this
clamping down on guns, only to have your father shot
while enforcing the new statute. But he was the only one
killed for a long time, and even though the job came with
146
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86 lori wick
risks, we both believed in it. I still do. And thankfully, so
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
147
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
148
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.
149
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
150
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
88 lori wick
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."
151
"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
152
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."
153
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."
154
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.
155
Never in his wildest dreams d
id 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
156
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.
157
"I don't know. He wants me to stay quiet."
"Put it down!" The shout came from overhead, and
Liberty scrambled loose and ran, Slater right behind her.
They both heard Leonard's drunken wailing and the crack
of the whip as they raced up the alley. Liberty, knowing the
town well, ran for a ladder at the side of the bank building.
She started to climb but found herself lifted by the waist
and set back on her feet.
"Give me your gun!" Slater said in a voice that was not