Free Every Little Thing About You (Yellow Rose Trilogy 1) by Lori Wick Page A

her? Was she ever frightened
    or rattled? He had all he could do not to shake his head. He
    would be treating this woman like a precious flower, not
    like a gunman. He stopped the judgment going on in his
    mind. It wasn't his place. He didn't have all the facts. He
    was also out of time. Griffin was taking the cuffed man
    away. After taking the whip from his hand and thanking
    him, Liberty followed in her brother's wake.
    $-
    -
    "And
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    I hope yall can join us at the picnic," Pastor
    Caron said after the closing prayer. "If you've never joined
    us at one of our fellowships, just ask and someone will give
    you directions to the Millers'. We picnic on the creek at the
    back of their place. We'll gather for a blessing under the big
    oak tree in about 30 minutes. I hope you can all come."
    Slater stood, his Bible going under his arm and his hat
    in his hand. He smiled at the two young ladies who kept
    looking back at him and then moved out the door, wishing
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    Every Little Thing About You 73
    Griffin could have been there. Griffin said his mother usually
    made plenty, but not expecting to be on his own, Slater
    felt very awkward in just assuming he was welcome to
    their food.
    "Slater," Zach piped up, suddenly speaking from his
    side.
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    "Hi, Zach."
    "Papa asked me to tell you that you can come with us."
    "Oh, thank you, Zach. I'll do that."
    The little boy smiled up at him, and Slater saw Griffin's
    dark eyes.
    "You can come with me, and I'll show you the wagon."
    "All right."
    Slater passed a group of young ladies--others had
    joined the two who had smiled at him after the service-- and he would have been blind not to see their interest. Even if he had been blind, he would have still heard
    someone say his name as he walked away. They all looked
    sweet--nice girls--but his mind was elsewhere at the
    moment.
    "Thank you, Zach," Duffy said as soon as he and Slater
    neared. "We weren't sure if you knew the way."
    "Thank you, sir. I was hoping Griffin would get here,
    but I don't see him."
    "Maybe he'll join us later."
    "We need to go by the house, Duff/' Liberty reminded
    him.
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    "All right. Laura, are you sitting down?"
    The little girl's seat landed fast "Yes."
    "Is your mother still not well, Libby?" Slater asked
    from the seat beside her. The wagon had one wide seat. The
    younger two children were in the back.
    "She is feeling better but still tired. She was ready to
    come, but Duffy put his foot down."
    "You make me sound like an ogre," Duffy said, his
    hands controlling the reins.
    "I think the word Mam used was beast, Duffy; never
    think of yourself as an ogre."
    Duffy shook his head. For all Liberty's rather quiet
    ways, she could be quite a card.
    She was also a good cook, and the food they brought
    from the kitchen not many minutes later smelled wonderful.
    "Gingerbread?" Zach asked after peeking into the
    basket.
    "Yes, just like you asked me."
    "Thanks, Lib."
    "You're welcome, Zach."
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    Brother and sister shared a smile, and watching them,
    Slater thought he might have missed something by not
    having a sister.
    "The Millers have water in their backyard," Laura told
    Slater. "They can get wet anytime they want."
    "That sounds fun," Slater responded as he turned to
    talk with her. "Will you get wet today?"
    "If I'm lucky," Laura said in all seriousness and turned
    back around.
    Slater faced forward again, his shoulders shaking a
    little. "Has she always been so profound?"
    "No," Liberty told him. "She couldn't talk until she was
    two."
    Smiling to himself, Slater suddenly knew just where
    she'd picked up her charming wit.
    5-2Jr
    -5^
    "What a privilege this is, Father God," Bill Miller
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    prayed from his place under the big oak tree after the
    group had quieted, "to gather in Your name for fellowship
    and food. We thank You for each person here, and pray that
    our time in You would be sweet. Bless this food as we partake.
    In Christ's name we pray. Amen."
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    Tables had been set up.