Every Little Thing About You (Yellow Rose Trilogy 1) (37 page)

hurt, why did you come?"

He shook his head. "Slater was not at all happy that

Libby came out to the Potters'. He was pretty hard on her."

The words were no more out of his mouth than a thunderstruck

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look crossed his face.

"Slater!" he whispered in soft dismay.

"He doesn't know?"

"No."

Kate was relieved. She had worried that Slater was

deliberately staying away.

Griffin, still watching Liberty's face, put his hat back

on. He knew how he would feel if he'd been hard on Tess

and she was harmed before he'd made it right. Maybe Liberty

had needed to hear what Slater said, but that wouldn't

change the way he felt when he learned she was hurt and

he'd just ridden away. Much as he knew his deputy would

be upset, Griffin had to tell him. Telling his family he

would be back as soon as he could and to tell Liberty he'd

been there, he left the room, intent on finding Slater and

explaining as gently as he could.

tfwnfo

liberty thought she might be floating. She was warm,

almost hot, and for some time she couldn't tell where she

was. She saw flowers along the creek bank, little yellow

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ones. They were so pretty and so early for this time of year.

Reaching out with her arm, she bent to pick one but found

herself gasping in pain. Her eyes flew open, and after a

moment, she found herself staring at the ceiling in her own

bedroom. Her sigh was very soft as memory returned.

I never believed it would come to this. Lord. I never thought

I would not be able to let go. Giving up the job has been hurting

and bothering me for a long time, but I didn't think I was capable

of doing what I did today.

Liberty shuddered with shame as she remembered. It

was as if she had taken leave of her senses, but that hadn't

happened. Completely in her right mind, she'd been desperate

to be involved, sure that no one else could handle it

Arrogant. Just as Slater had said.

Liberty's whole frame shook for a moment She

couldn't think of Slater--not now--not ever. He was sure

to be gone soon. I thought you were the one. I wanted to marry

you. Both statements in the past tense. He might stay until

Griffin could find a replacement, but he'd only come

through town on a whim in the first place. It would just be

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a matter of time before he went on his way. Liberty knew

she mustn't do anything to stop him. She would make sure

she apologized and thanked him for taking her measure so

correctly, but she must never make him feel that he must

stay.

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But first, she had to see Dakota. Liberty prayed even

now that he was still in town. There was no excuse for the

way she'd treated him, but she would still ask for his forgiveness

and hope that he didn't despise her.

A noise at the door just then carried Liberty's eyes that

way. Duffy came in quietly even when he saw that she was

awake. He laid a hand on her cheek. She was getting warm,

but that might be the covers.

"Are you too warm?" he asked.

"No. My feet are cold."

Duffy took the quilt from the brass footboard and laid

it across her feet and lower legs. He then came back to the

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rocking chair and pulled it even closer so he could talk with

her.

"Griff was here."

"Was I asleep?"

"Yeah. He was pretty shaken."

Liberty looked away.

"What happened out there, Libby, that no one knew of

this?"

Liberty did not answer. She was ashamed of her

actions, but it was more than that. She didn't feel she could

explain yet how blameless the men had been. She thought

that whatever she said, Duffy would think they should

have come to her aid.

"Oh, Libby," Duffy whispered softly. "What's happened

to hurt you so much?"

Liberty's heart broke over the caring in his voice.

"My own sin, mostly, a complete lack of trust. And I

think that's the reason if s so hard for me to talk about it."

"Have you confessed it?"

"Yes."

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"Then there's no reason for you to be ashamed in front

of me,"

Liberty felt as though she had been released. Going slowly, working to gather her thoughts and remember the details, she rilled Duffy in, not surprised that his eyes were

Every Little Thing About You 273

full of compassion even when she admitted to what she

considered reprehensible actions toward the Rawlings

brothers, especially Dakota.

"Slater will want to see you, honey/' Duffy said when

she had finished.

Liberty smiled sadly. "I guess he probably will. Ill have

to find a way to tell him he did the right thing."

Duffy knew this was not the time to argue, but Slater

should have let Liberty speak. The doctor somehow knew

that he would regret that more than anything else.

"I'm going to pray for Slater," Duffy said. "I think he'll

need it."

Liberty nodded. It was just like Duffy to be willing to

walk in the other man's shoes. Had Liberty seen Griffin just

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then, she'd have also known how timely her stepfather's

prayers would be.

%r

"Could I see you both a moment?" Griffin asked Slater

and Dakota the moment he stepped into the Hathaways'

living room. The men were buried in the newspaper, Mr.

Hathaway as well. Mrs. Hathaway had opened the front

door, looking delighted that "her boys" had company.

"If you need privacy," Mrs. Hathaway said as she

joined mem, "feel free to talk in the kitchen."

"Thank you," Griffin replied as she handed him a

lantern. He went in the direction she pointed and waited

until Slater and Dakota were both inside the door.

"Dakota," Griffin wasted no time in asking, "did you

ride back with Libby today?"

"Yes. She went to Duffy's as soon as she got to town."

Griffin nodded. "She was shot out there today."

Not surprisingly, both men looked thunderstruck.

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"Where?" Slater asked, his voice hoarse.

"In the side. It's clean, but she's lost some blood. Duffy

says she'll be all right."

274 lori wick

Slater began to move away and turned back. "Is she

home?"

"Yes."

There was no need for other words. Dakota went

through to tell their hosts that they would be out for a

while, and by the time he got bade, Slater had already

jumped onto Arrow's bare back and started down the

street.

Slater had never felt like this. He had not lost anyone

he loved, unusual for a man in his position, and although

he'd been saddened by death many times, his heart had

never been deeply involved. Knowing that Liberty was

hurt and realizing that he hadn't been there for her were

the most painful things he could ever recalL

Arriving on the Petersons' street. Slater rode between

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the two houses. Not bothering to tie Arrow's reins, he

entered the kitchen without knocking. Kate and less were

talking at the table. Slater looked between them and then

toward the door.

"Duffy's up there, Slater," Kate said kindly. "I'm sure it

will be fine if you go up."

"Thank you." The words came automatically as he

moved through the kitchen.

Realizing he wasn't going to know the way, Kate followed

him. She directed him toward the light spilling into

the dark hall and stood back as he filled the doorway.

"I was just thinking of you, Slater," Duffy said. His gaze

swung to Liberty for a moment "She just fell back to

sleep."

Slater tried to speak, but there was no moisture in his

mouth. He moved toward the bed, his heart frozen with

fear. She might not get up again. She might die before he

could tell her how sorry he was and how much he loved

her. They might never have a life together, and he wanted

that so much.

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"Duffy?" Liberty said with her eyes closed.

"I'm right here."

Every little Thing About you 275

"I have to see Dakota. I have to make it right."

"Okay. If he comes, I'll tell him. Would you like to see

Slater?"

Liberty sighed. "He'll just feel bad," she said, her voice

fading. "He shouldn't feel bad."

"Libby," Slater tried her name, having drawn close, but

Liberty only mumbled and fell back to sleep.

Slater stared at her face, her dark hair in a riot around

her head and on the pillow. She was the prettiest little thing

he'd ever seen. Her dark lashes, always so thick and long,

made little fans on her pale cheeks. Slater felt his breath

catch in his throat. Never had anyone been so precious to

him. It was as if she were already his. It felt as though she'd

been his for all time.

"Sit down," Duffy directed softly, having given up his

chair.

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Slater obeyed without thought. He stared at Liberty a

time longer and then turned to her stepfather.

"Did she tell you what happened?"

"Just that one of Critter's bullets must have ricocheted."

Slater nodded. "Did she tell you she tried to speak to

me and I wouldn't let her?"

"Yes."

"Was she going to tell me she was hurt or something

else?"

Duffy's silence was answer enough. It was almost more

than the tall blond cowboy could take. His eyes went

upward as they filled with tears.

You left her! You wouldn't even let her speak!

Noise at the door brought both men's heads around.

Griffin was there, Dakota just behind him. They were on

their way into the room when Liberty spoke, her eyes still

dosed.

"Mam?"

"I'm here," Kate said as she came in behind the men,

followed by Tess.

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276 lori wick

For a moment she didn't say anything, so Duffy spoke.

"You have quite a bit of company here, Libby."

"Do any of them have any candy? I wish I had a peppermint."

Griffin didn't even try to hold his laughter. Liberty

smiled when she heard it and opened her eyes.

"Here we are/' Griffin began, "scared to death, and you

want candy."

Liberty smiled a little, but her eyes found Dakota, and

her face grew sad.

"I'm sorry," she said to him, her eyes filling. "I was

such a fool Everyone misses, and if I had missed when I

shot at you, I might have hurt or killed you. Please forgive

me, Dakota."

"If s all right, Libby," he said, barely able to speak. She

might not believe him, but he really did understand.