Every Little Thing About You (Yellow Rose Trilogy 1) (18 page)

landed on the job the next morning was one of the biggest

men Slater had ever seen. A vague remembrance of

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someone lifting a horse from the creek passed through his

mind even as he went forward to see if he still had a job.

"I'm Slater Rawlings," he said as he put out his hand to

the stranger.

"Price Hathaway," the huge man said in return, just

before he engulfed Slater's hand in a gentle grip. "I hear

you've been fillin' in."

"Yes," Slater said congenially, even as his heart sank. It

sounded as though he was no longer needed.

"I've been in Austin," Price informed him.

"I'd heard that. How was it?"

An odd light flickered in the larger man's eyes. "Not

like I thought."

"Did you make friends there?"

"I thought I would, but I didn't"

Slater ached a little for this gigantic young man. He had

the face and eyes of a boy, and maybe the heart of one too.

"What do you want Slater to do, Pa?" Price turned and

asked.

"Same as always," the older Hathaway grunted, not

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bothering to look up.

Price turned back to Slater with a huge grin. "Pa's as

informative as ever."

Slater smiled before he went for a hammer. He came

back and began to stack and organize the lumber. Right

now they were building a house. It wasn't long before Price

was working beside him.

"You ever been to Austin?" the young Hathaway

asked.

"I have, yes."

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"It's big/' he said with awe. "I had heard that, but I

wanted to see for myself."

"Did you get work there?"

"I tried, but nothing panned out."

"What did you want to do?"

"I wanted to build houses--big, fancy ones--but

everyone I met told me I should be in the saloons. I finally

ran out of money and had no choice. I was hired right

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away."

Slater took in the pained look on his face. Yes, he was

the perfect size for a bouncer but clearly not a rough individual.

The combination would not have worked.

"How'd you get home?" Slater asked as he began to

place a board against the studs and nail it into place. Price

worked on a plank of his own.

"I finally saved enough to go. They actually owed me

a little more pay, but I wanted out."

Slater wanted to ask if it was nice to be home, but the

pain on Price's face was too raw.

"Where is that saw I asked for?" Hank called.

Unlike Price's last communication with his father, this

time he didn't smile. His look was clearly longsuffering as ,

he turned to help his parent. Slater watched the two of

them for just a moment, wondering what the week would

bring.

s--3- Sr

"I'm here for my gun," Dakota told Liberty as soon as

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he opened the office door.

Liberty laughed as she stood and took the weapon

from the wall cabinet.

"I really am sorry," she said as she handed it over, eyes

brimming with pleasure.

"You look sorry," he teased back and then shook his

head. "It wasn't a very nice welcome to your fine town."

"That's true," Liberty had to admit.

Every Little Thing About You 129

"Think of my feelings. You've got some patching to

do."

Liberty laughed again. "All right, I'm very, very sorry."

Dakota shook his head. "That won't do. Nothing short

of lunch with me will help."

Liberty's mouth opened in surprise, and she gave an

incredulous laugh. He was certainly smooth, but she was

not going to agree. When her features were composed once

again, she told him plainly, "I'm going home to have lunch

with my mother and sister. You're free to join us, but that's

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my final offer."

Dakota smiled. He liked a lady who would not let

anyone push ner around. Not getting her alone would

make it harder to find out her feelings for Slater, but maybe

he'd learn something after all.

"Your mother won't mind?" Bold as he'd been, he felt

a need to check.

"No." Liberty shook her head. "I've brought stray pups

home before; Mam will understand."

Dakota fought hard not to smile, but it wasn't working.

He had seen how fun she was on Sunday but not had it

directed at him. He'd just found a comeback when a

woman's stringent voice cut through the air.

"I tell you I want something done!"

Both Liberty and Dakota turned as Griffin came

through the door, closely followed by Maddie Flowers.

"I swear those Potters were up all night! Now, are you

the law in this town or not?"

"Have a seat, Mrs. Flowers," Griffin returned calmly as

he took the desk chair and pulled out his report folder. He

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began to write, his head bent, while the lady in front of the

desk went puce with outrage.

"My dog's hair is falling out! If they shot those guns

once, they shot them a hundred times, and I want to know

what you're going to do!"

Griffin took a few notes and then looked up.

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"I'll come out and check on things/ probably later today

or this week for sure."

"Why not now?"

"Because if they roughhoused until that late, they'll all

be dead asleep for most of the day."

"Well, you wake 'em up! That's your job."

Griffin let her rail for a time but eventually turned a

deaf ear.

"How'd it go?" he asked Liberty.

"Fine. I never left the office. Duffy stopped by with the

mail. I left it there for you."

"All right. Thanks, Lib. What are you up to, Dakota?"

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"I just talked my way into lunch at your mother's," he

answered, but went on to say what he was thinking. "Has

Slate ever mentioned what I do?"

"Yes, he has," Griffin remembered even as he said it.

Dakota nodded. "If I can be of help while I'm in town,

please say the word."

"Thank you."

Maddie's voice had quieted, but she was still sitting

there seething and muttering to herself. Knowing that

Griffin would best know how to deal with her, Liberty

moved to the door, Dakota on her heels.

"Tell me, Libby," Dakota asked almost as soon as they

were outside, "how did you become the deputy?"

"My father taught me to shoot, and I've filled in as

Griffin's deputy ever since he's had the office. I think most

of Griff's deputies have come into the job with stars in iheir

eyes. They think it's going to be exciting and action-packed,

but Shotgun's a very peaceful town. Deputies hear

of something bigger or better and move on."

"But not you."

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"No, not me. I grew up here, and I love it. My father

was the sheriff for years. He died in the line of duty."

"And what compelled him to teach you to fast-draw?"

Liberty shrugged. "He worked with Griff, and I was

interested. He let me try." Liberty shrugged again, and

Every Little Thing About You 131

Dakota, even though he'd never seen her draw, sensed that

there was more to it than that. He might have tried to find

out, but the house was in sight Much as he wanted to

know more about Liberty's work with a gun, Dakota actually

hoped that her heart would be revealed at lunch.

fy *3r -5"

"My brother is getting married," Laura told Dakota,

her eyes shining with the news. They had just sat down to

eat

"He is?" Dakota asked; the Ranger had not heard this.

Laura nodded. "He loves Tess."

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Dakota smiled. He had certainly seen Shotgun's sheriff

with a lovely blonde on Saturday but not made any suppositions.

"I get to watch," Laura went on. "Mam and Papa said.

I just have to stay quiet."

Dakota smiled again and looked up to see Kate

watching her daughter, her eyes alight with love.

"Well," Dakota put in, "let me offer my congratulations

on your getting a new sister-in-law."

Laura's eyes widened, and she told her mother.

"Another sister! And she's going to help Libby when she

helps Griffin with the law."

"No, dear," Kate said gently and explained Tess' title to

Laura. The little girl did a lot of nodding but waited only

until Kate turned away before whispering to Dakota, "Did

Tess break the law?"

Dakota could not stop laugjiing. He had never encountered

a child quite like her. She was so full of wonder and

news. He was still trying to compose himself when Liberty

tried to explain. More nodding followed, but no one was

very certain if Laura understood.

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"Dakota," Kate began kindly, thinking they all needed

a change, "did Slater say you are older than he is?"

"Yes, ma'am, by just a year."

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"And I can't remember if you have other siblings.""

"I'm the middle of three brothers. Cash runs the family

ranch in Kinkade."

"Well, if you don't think you can make it home for

Thanksgiving, the church always has a dinner. We attend,

and we'd be happy to have you join us."

"Thank you, Mrs. Peterson, I think Slater talked about

doing that, so I'll probably tag along."

"What will your family do?" Liberty asked.

"My parents, who moved back to St. Louis about five

years ago, will dine with friends, but my brother will do as

you're doing, meet with families from the church he

attends. My grandmother, who lives in Hilldale but visits

the ranch each winter, will probably do the same thing."

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Dakota said all this very politely and had no qualms

about sharing, but he did have a motive. He wanted to

know more about this family--more specifically, Liberty.

He spent the next hour hoping some tidbit would be

revealed, but it was not to happen. Much as he enjoyed the

meal and company, he left the house feeling as though he

hadn't accomplished a thing.

5-o*"

Liberty suddenly made the connection from the comment

in the sheriff's office. Dakota was the brother who

was a Texas Ranger. Liberty had already changed into her

dress, but she felt a need to check on Griffin. Heading from

the house with a brief word to her mother, she moved

swiftly back downtown.

"What's up?" Griffin asked when she came in panting

just a little.

"I just realized I heard you say you might go to the Potters'.

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I wondered if you needed me."

''Thanks, Lib, but Dakota's going with me. He was just

in to check about it and went back to get his horse. I figure

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