Chapter Ten
The newly erected barn was alive as Wyler stood in the shadows. A twilight settled outside the sliding double doors that were open as everyone trickled in. The band started playing the first chords of a guitar solo and flasks were being passed around by the older generation. One of them had shoved a plastic cup of whiskey into his hand and Wyler was putting it to good use, hoping to ease his increasing tension.
He heard a few of the men say they had moonshine in their trucks. After all, what was a shindig without moonshine? Not a Sagebrush shindig, that was for sure.
After Liberty had disappeared earlier, he’d gone in search of her and found her talking to Honor. He left the duo alone, satisfied knowing that Liberty was okay, but still a bit perturbed that she’d left him hanging. He’d never been in a position before where he had to worry about someone.
He scanned the area looking for her. Lanterns were scattered throughout the space, casting a golden glow on the rustic walls of the barn. After the blind guide and pie contest, she’d been whisked away by her sisters for the basket auction. He hadn’t seen her since.
Then he saw her come through the open doors like sunshine on a cloudy day. She’d changed into a blue sundress that swung around her body as she sashayed through the barn. There was just something about a cowgirl in a sundress. Mm-hmm.
He lifted the cup and sipped, squinting as the whiskey burn lit his chest, matching the scorching heat in the pit of his stomach.
Dancers filled the floor, stomping their feet in a line dance. They raised the roof with shenanigans, and laughter was in abundance
He downed the last drops of whiskey and crushed his cup, dropping it into the trashcan on his way across the planked floor. He knew the instant Liberty saw him because her smile slipped some. Why? What was on her mind? Hell, something was always on her mind.
Their gazes locked as he continued to stroll in her direction. He was tipsy enough to cause her a little bit of a challenge.
“We won. You should be smiling,” Wyler told her.
She looked up at him. Her eyes were caught in the overhead twinkling lights strung from the beams of the barn. “A tie is not a win,” she stated stubbornly. “Technically, we only won the blind guide competition.”
“When it comes to pie, it’s close enough,” he said with a chuckle.
“You boys did a great job with erecting the barn. It looks great.”
“It kept us busy.” He continued to stare at her. The scattering of freckles across her nose were darker and her skin more golden from the time spent outdoors today. “Liberty, I—”
“Wyler! I have a bone to pick with you, young man!” Aunt Rita’s shrill voice cut off his words.
Reluctantly, he tore his gaze from Liberty and onto the short, round woman who moved quicker than a racehorse. She held her cane out in front of her as if wielding it to clear a path through the crowd. He had a hard time taking the woman seriously when she had a baby carrier strapped to her chest, but inside was no baby. The cat looked pissed at being restrained. “Hello, Rita. Nice to see you again.” He leaned in and respectfully gave her a solid kiss on her plump cheek.
She made a low huffing sound as she shook her head in despair. “Don’t try and charm me, young man. I’m as old as a tongue.”
“What has you all in a bind, ma’am?” he asked. A lot of people didn’t like how the woman seemed to enjoy raking others through the coals, but Wyler had a good idea that she had a heart underneath all that antagonism.
“Marriage isn’t a bag of potato chips, Wyler. You must stop at one.” She lifted her cane and jabbed his leg with the tip.
“Aunt Rita—” Liberty chimed in, but the woman shushed her.
“I’m speaking to Wyler, not you.” She lifted her gaze to Wyler. “I know Liberty is a pill to swallow. Lord knows I’ve watched these Rose girls cause their daddy so much grief from the day they were born. You’re part of the Rose family now. We’re not quitters. That goes for you too, young lady.” She leaned on the cane as if the tirade took a lot out of her. Even though she was no taller than four-foot-nine, she managed to look down her nose at both Liberty and Wyler.
“Didn’t she tell you we’re giving things another whirl?” Wyler asked.
“She didn’t say a word. Tight-lipped this one. Had to hear it through the grapevine.” She adjusted the strap of the carrier. The cat meowed in annoyance. “An aunt’s not supposed to be kept in the dark.” She gave her chin a haughty lift that caused the loose skin to wiggle.
“Thanks for your input,” Liberty simply said.
Some of the harsh lines around Rita’s eyes softened. “You two belong together.” Then something grabbed her attention, and the lines of contention returned. “Oh no! Would you look at that Bethany Steele. Atrocious. She’s gone and planted a peacock on her head.”
“That’s not a peacock. It’s a hat.” Liberty bit back a smile. Her aunt couldn’t see any better than Doc.
Rita squinted, surveying the hat. “That makes it much worse. We can’t have a lady of the auxiliary walking around with an eyesore flopping around like two pigs wrestling under a blanket. She’ll give us all a bad name.” She wrinkled her nose. She left in a frenzy of squeaky practical shoes and jetted toward poor, unsuspecting Bethany who was as quiet as a church mouse.
“Sorry about that, but you know she’s a feisty one,” Liberty said to Wyler.
“I find her entertaining.” He winked. “Now about what we were talking about…”
Her color faded some. “You were about to tell me something.”
He leaned in a few inches. “You look amazing.”
She looked up at him through the veil of her lashes. “Thank you.”
“Now, what are you hiding?”
“What makes you think I have something to hide?”
“Let’s dance.” He took her hand. “It’s not too much to ask for one dance with a man’s wife, is it?” He led her to a spot on the floor away from the others. The air filled with the lazy, gentle strains of the guitar.
He pulled her in against him and laid his hand on the small of her back, feeling her body relax into his embrace.
“You can’t keep pushing me away, Liberty,” he said in a low voice.
“You’re imagining things, Wyler.”
“How did the talk go with Honor? Fences all mended now?” He felt the tension invade her body again.
“Splendid. Everything is as right as rain.”
“Wonderful.” He kissed her forehead. “You two need each other.”
She lifted her chin. Her gaze met his and the universe tilted on its axis. The conversation around them faded as if they were the only two souls in the barn. “True.”
“Hmm, I’d like to pick your brain.”
“A woman’s allowed to have some secrets,” she said stubbornly. “That’s in response to you accusing me of hiding something.”
“Can’t argue that. Makes me feel a little better since I’ve been keeping one of my own.” He almost laughed when she shrewdly narrowed her gaze. “What? Can’t a man have a few of his own?”
“I suppose so,” she huffed.
“It’s a bit like you to expect more than you give.” He swung her around then dipped her, which made her laugh.
“You’re wrong. But now that you’ve mentioned a secret, would you like to clue me in?” Her joy faded some.
They glided in unison as the gentle tune enveloped them like a sheet of satin.
“I don’t mind sharing at all. I bought a house.”
“A house?” She stopped dancing which caused a traffic jam as other couples were forced to step around them.
He gently guided her to the edge of the dance floor. “Why do you look so surprised. After all, you were worried about me not having any spot to put that cradle. It’s a fixer-upper, but I know a guy who’ll take care of what I need.”
“But a house, Wyler.? That’s’ a big purchase. We have the Rose Manor.”
“Not since you invited the hands to take up residence there.”
“That’s temporary.”
Her eyes glistened in the stringed lights strung in the rafters above them. He couldn’t quite tell if she was more shocked or angry.
“The Manor is yours, sweetheart. I’m a guest there.” He pulled her back into his arms as the music swelled, a crescendo that held the world’s sorrow and joy. And as the music finally faded into a crisp, clear note, he still held her.
Liberty pulled free and walked away, but he quickly caught up to her. “Are you angry?”
“Of course not.”
“Aren’t you going to ask where the house is?”
She stopped walking and turned to face him. “I’m sorry. Of course, where is the house?”
“Shaw Lane. The old cabin on the crooked part of the river.”
Her mouth dropped open. “How did you manage that? I’ve been trying to get my hands on that property for a few years.”
He blew on his knuckles and swiped them down the front of his shirt. “Kaitlynn had a contact, and I took it from there.”
“Kaitlynn wears many hats in your life.”
“I’m starting to figure you out, Liberty.”
She cocked her chin, looking at him through the delicate sweep of her thick lashes. The twinkling lights seemed to highlight the deep depths of her ocean blue eyes and made them into pulses of light like stars exploding in the galaxy. “That must be a bit scary, cowboy.” One corner of her mouth played with a smile.
“It certainly isn’t for the weak hearted.”
“I’m curious. What have you figured out?”
“Your heart is much bigger than you let on. You care for others, but you keep your walls up because you believe it’s hard for others to care for you.”
She cleared her throat and shrugged, saying, "Continue."
"It’s simpler to push others away than face the possibility of them keeping their distance because they deem you unworthy. Living with that loneliness must be hard, holding onto all those emotions and self-reliance within yourself. And the constant fear of being rejected."
“That’s a little far-fetched.”
“Really? I think I’ve hit the nail on the head. I also believe that people have been wrong. You’re not the “evil twin” townsfolk have labeled you as. You’ve only been a protector. Protecting Honor, and all your sisters. Taking the heat for every mischievous act that ever happened. So much so that you started giving others what they expected. A defiant cowgirl persona as a shield to prevent emotional pain.”
“Are you trying to say I’m innocent, cowboy?
“Not at all because we all know there’s not a Rose in Wyoming that could be branded as innocent. What I’m saying is, it wasn’t Honor that paid for Jinx’s medical bills when he had the accident. He found out, didn’t he?”
“How did you find out?”
“It was a good guess.” He winked. “You were also the main contributor behind the Feed Sagebrush Pine Movement. You’ve had free groceries delivered to two-thirds of this town.”
“You read the invoices in my desk? That’s considered spying.”
“Spying? Nah, I overheard you talking on the phone. You’re too used to living alone.”
She sighed. “My efforts are not a big deal. Anyone with money could have done the same. The church provides families with hot meals daily and they don’t win an award.”
“Dolly and I were talking earlier.”
“Wonderful. Congratulations,” she said with sass.
“You purchased a house for her recently. She’s looking to retire, and you made it comfortable for her to do so.”
“The house was a gift from Daddy actually.”
“It might have been his money, but it was your idea. Bunkhouse gossip isn’t just all naughty things.”
“Are you trying to convince me that I’m a saint, or for your own peace of mind?” She steadied her gaze on him.
“You’re not going to push me away, Liberty. I’m a man with thick skin and perseverance. I wanted to make that clear.”
“Wyler…”
“Liberty.” He sighed. “You should know that we’re going to need each other. Our child needs us. I need you.”
She took a quick step back. “I—”
“Liberty!” Kaitlynn interrupted all in a tizzy. “Do you mind if I borrow Wyler for a tad moment? We have a catastrophe. Milton Bigsby hurt his back and he can’t move the tables. My first thought was you, Wyler.”
“Sure. Wyler, go save the day.” Liberty held his gaze for a moment, then took a step away. She’d been about to tell him how she felt. For the first time ever, she was grateful for Kaitlynn’s intrusion.
“I’ll be back in a jiffy,” Wyler said looking a bit miffed.
Liberty made her way around the dancers and over to the finger food table, reached for a breaded mushroom and popped it into her mouth. She chewed thoughtfully. Kaitlynn certainly did have an amazing knack of interrupting at the most opportune times.
“You okay?” Hope asked when she joined Liberty.
Liberty reached for another mushroom. “Just peachy.”
“It’s okay if you have a desire to punch her,” Hope said with a laugh. “In fact, I’m surprised you haven’t yet. Or at least pulled her hair.”
“Who?”
“Kaitlynn. Obviously, she can’t keep her hands off Wyler.”
Liberty shrugged as indifferently as swatting a fly. “It’d take too much energy so why would I bother?” Although her words held disinterest, her gaze drifted across the space of the barn. She watched as a spectator as Wyler moved the tables with Kaitlynn’s direction.
“I’m grabbing myself a cowboy and dancing,” Hope said and shuffled toward a group of cowboys.
The soft hair on Liberty’s neck lifted as she continued to watch Wyler. Kaitlynn’s laughter rose above the strings of the band and the chatter of people. Liberty frowned. There was a subtle play of expressions that flitted across Kaitlynn’s face, settling with a coy smile that made Wyler’s brow raise. Her smile slipped some and there was an exchange of a glance. Liberty wondered if she just happened to not be in the picture would Wyler be attracted to Kaitlynn. Maybe he was. She probably was the type to give foot massages and blow jobs every single night.
More power to her.
The flirting woman leaned in, her fingers attached to Wyler’s wrist, a gesture very deliberate in keeping his attention on her. Her eyes sparked with something that Liberty could see clear across the barn. Wyler smiled, but Liberty noticed it didn’t quite reach his eyes. His posture was a bit uneasy.
Liberty mused on Kaitlynn’s less than subtle flirtation.
Needing a break from the scene, Liberty stepped outside to breathe in the cooler evening air. Relishing the breeze that washed over her, she closed her eyes a moment. The band’s tunes wafted out to mingle with the symphony of night sounds. The sun had dipped below the horizon and the velvet cloak of darkness had covered the ranch in a mosaic blanket. The night had come alive with strains of the guitar.
Liberty reveled in the peace she found out of the crowd of townsfolk.
Until she heard…
“Mind some company?”
Liberty groaned at the sound of Kaitlynn’s voice. Could there be no relief of the woman?
“I was taking a break. Is there something I can do for you?” Liberty didn’t bother keeping her tone irritation free. Her patience with the woman had run its course.
Kaitlynn looked up into the starlit sky and inhaled sharply. “I love this time of evening. Everything is so peaceful. It’s a lover’s time.”
“Something tells me you didn’t come out here to admire the stars.” Liberty just wanted to get this over with. She was smart enough to see the train wreck a mile away.
“I didn’t,” Kaitlynn said, facing Liberty. “There’s something I’m curious about. It’s been rolling around inside my head for a few weeks now. You’re a no-nonsense woman so I’m guessing the truth won’t hurt.”
“Spit it out.”
“You and Wyler…I’m a bit lost on where you two are.”
Liberty snorted. “And that’s any of your business how?”
“It is my business, Liberty. Wyler and I are friends—”
“You can stop right there. Don’t belittle my intelligence. We both know that you have your lasso ready to snag him the moment he shoots out of the gate.”
Katlynn hooked her thumbs into the front pockets of her jeans. “You’re right. I think we need to have a woman-to-woman conversation. I do like Wyler. A lot. For a sliver of a moment, I thought he liked me too, and then you reeled him back into that sticky web of yours. I’m just curious. Is this to spite me?”
It took Liberty a moment to wrap her head around what the woman was saying. “Kaitlynn, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Nothing—especially regarding my husband—has anything to do with you. I think it’s time you and I did have this conversation. Wyler and I are still married. I think you should take your curiosity and put it in your back pocket instead of announcing it to the entire town that you want to sink your claws into my husband. It’s embarrassing. It’s ridiculous. Nice chat.” She brushed past Kaitlynn as she made her way back into the barn, but she didn’t make it far.
Chihuahua Katy bit at Liberty’s heels.
“Really?” Kaitlynn’s voice rose above the clapping and cheering of the dancers. “We all know you have no intention of keeping Wyler around. He’s a plaything. A current amusement until the next handsome cowboy comes along. You Rose sisters are alike. Wyler is too good for this scenario. He’s too good for you. I’m just here to let you know that when he gets smart and calls it quits, or you grow tired first, I’m going to be there to pick up the pieces and glue him back together. We both know that won’t be long, judging by your track record.”
Irritation made every soft hair on Liberty’s body stand to attention. She turned and retraced her steps to face the woman who had the impudence to smile. “I wouldn’t hold my breath. If I were you. You see, Wyler and I are having a baby.” When Kaitlynn’s jaw dropped, Liberty should have felt validated but instead more anger washed through her. “Yes, you heard right. I’m pregnant.”
“I-I didn’t—”
“No, you didn’t. Just for the record, keep your hands off my husband. Do I make myself clear?”
With Kaitlynn’s stiff nod of agreement, Liberty turned and stomped away. She swiped her gaze from left to right until she found Wyler standing among a group of men. Feeling a bit feisty, she marched into the center of the circle and looked him directly in the eye. “Hi!”
“Hi,” he said with a startled expression.
She stood on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on him that stunned everyone around them. Hoots and hollers sounded as she pulled back, keeping her gaze connected with his. “Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse us, I’m stealing my husband for the egg pass.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him away from the silenced men. Stares remained on them, but she didn’t give a care in the world.
“What the hell has gotten into you?” Wyler asked, his eyes still wide.
“Are you complaining?” she said saucily.
“Not one bit. I like those greetings. I want more of those.” His smile spread from one ear to the other. “I thought you said you didn’t want to do the egg pass?”
“I’ve changed my mind. A lady can do that, you know.” She signed the signup sheet, grabbed a raw egg and two plastic spoons from the table, and handed Wyler one. “Have you ever done an egg pass before?”
“Nah, but it seems pretty cut and dry.”
Liberty gave Kaitlynn a side-eye as she passed the table to fetch an egg “There’s a certain technique.”
“Let me guess. Hold the egg in the spoon. Pass the egg carefully to the other spoon. And book it to the end of the line while still holding your egg. Doesn’t sound too complicated if you ask me.”
She lifted her chin, narrowing her eyes on him. “Take this seriously. I want that jar of pinecones.”
He chuckled. “Does this have something to do with the tie for the pie contest?”
“It has everything to do with the tie. We need to win this.”
“Liberty, it’s just a race for fun.”
“Yeah, fun to win.”
He gave his head a little shake. “I don’t like that look in your eye.”
“What look?”
“Like there’s a demon wanting to get out.”
“Let’s not be too overdramatic.” She sniffed loudly, partly listening to Kaitlynn asking one of the band members if he’d partner with her for the race.
Wyler leaned in and whispered, “I didn’t know you had one of those until lately.”
“What?”
“A jealous streak a mile wide.” His grin developed deep dimples in his cheeks.
“Wrong!” She laid her hands on her hips, pinning him with her gaze.
“There’s nothing between Kaitlynn and me. You have nothing to be concerned about.” He brushed his lips over her cheek.
“ Hmph . Well, just for the sake of keeping things real, Kaitlynn seems to think there could be something. By the way. I think I did something I shouldn’t have done.”
“Again?” He lifted a brow over curious eyes. “Should I be troubled?”
“I just informed Kaitlynn that I’m pregnant.” She watched his expression, and she couldn’t read much.
His lips curved into a satisfied grin. “For someone intent on being discreet, you really burst out of seclusion with energy and speed.”
“I was angry. I blurted the news before I thought about the consequences.”
“Sweetheart, it’s okay. I’d like to announce it on the top of the mountain for all to hear if you’d give me permission.” He slipped a tendril of her hair behind her ear. “Stop worrying about what these people say and focus on being you because you’re something special.”
“Thank you, Wyler.”
“How about we go win you those pinecones?”