Tags:
Fiction,
General,
Romance,
Historical,
Western,
Love Stories,
Texas,
Christian fiction,
Religious,
Christian,
INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE
Baskets, pots, bowls, and platters
had been laid out. Towels were lifted and the contents
displayed. Plates in hand, the congregation lined up to
make their choices. A few mothers had to coax children
from the water's edge, but most of the younger set were
ready. \
"If s time to eat," Liberty told Laura and Zach.
"Do you think they catch fish in here?" Zach asked, his
eyes on the creek bed and the minnows that swam near the
bank.
'Til bet they do. You should ask Mr. Miller if you can
fish here sometime."
126
"I could too," Laura put in. "I won't poke anyone with
the hook."
"Papa won't let you fish yet, Laura/' Zach said, his
voice regretful. "You might get hurt"
Laura looked stubborn over this until she caught her
brother's look. It was impossible to get mad at him when
he wanted her to fish.
"We could ask," she said in a quiet voice, all stubbornness
gone. "You could ask, Zach...you could."
Zach contemplated this. His father wouldn't get angry,
but if he said no, Laura would be disappointed. Zach's soft
heart could hardly handle the thought. He wished she
hadn't even asked.
"Are you ready to eat?" Duffy called as he came toward
them. Liberty had come off the quilt she had laid out and
was holding the plates, but she didn't answer for the children.
She was too busy trying not to watch Slater. He was
surrounded by a group of women.
Zach stood staring up at his father until Duffy lowered
his brow in puzzlement Laura was pulling on her
127
brother's sleeve.
"Papa," Zach began, "could Laura come fishing with
us sometime?"
"Sure, Zach. I think thaf s a great idea. You were very
kind to think of her."
Every Little Thing About You * 75
There was no missing the little boy's sigh. He grinned
at his sister, who grinned right back, and then smiled up at
his father in a way that always melted the hearts of those
who loved him.
"Lef s eat," Duffy said softly, and the four proceeded
across the grass. Liberty had a plate for Slater, but she suddenly
felt awkward. She approached the food tables, fully
expecting him to already have a plate in hand. She hadn't
counted on Laura.
"Here," Laura said, as they neared the group that Slater
was a part of and she took a dinner plate from her sister.
Her family watched as she stepped right into the midst and
handed it to Slater.
128
"Here's your plate, Slater. Are you going to come to our
quilt?"
"I am. Thank you, Laura. I'll just come and stand in line
with you right now. Excuse me, ladies."
Liberty could have sunk into the grass. She hadn't put
Laura up to anything, but the looks on the female faces that
watched Slater leave the circle were certainly speculative,
or were they just fascinated with this new man?
"I hope I didn't hold you up," Slater said as they gathered
at the rear of the line.
"Not at all," Duff put in before Liberty could speak.
"We hope we didn't interrupt your conversation."
Slater didn't answer, but Liberty could have hugged
her stepfather. He must have seen her strained, surprised
look when Laura took things into her own hands. Indeed,
her stepfather was bending over to speak to Laura right
then. It wasn't hard to guess that she was being reprimanded
over interrupting.
"Did Griffin happen to tell you how long he would
be?" Slater asked Liberty.
129
"I didn't talk to him at all. Did he have to stay at the
jail?"
"Yes. It was a busy night last night. He didn't get in
until quite late."
76 lori wick
Liberty nodded.
"Do you never work on Saturday nights?" Slater asked,
no longer able to squelch his curiosity over the arrangement.
"Not usually, but that's why I go in on Monday and
Tuesday mornings, so he can do a little catching up on his
rest."
It was on the tip of Slater's tongue to ask how long she
had been at this, along with a dozen other questions, but he
felt he'd asked enough. Pastor Caron had taken most of the
service that morning to tell them what a prayer warrior
Nehemiah had been.
Landon Dixon, Giselle Renarde, Beverly Langland