Page 40 of Chasing Liberty

“Lots.”

“That’s supposed to be a good thing. Shows that the baby is thriving.”

Liberty sighed. “What did you do when you had it?”

“Rested. Ate crackers and jelly until I couldn’t look at another saltine. I’m sorry I haven’t been there. It’s been hard not giving in.”

“You made it look easy. You’ve been avoiding me for a while.” Sadness washed over Liberty.

“With pregnancy hormones and missing-sister-syndrome, I’ve been a mess. We need to make a promise to each other to never allow immature feelings to get in the way of our sisterhood.”

Liberty lifted her little finger, honoring the childhood tradition. A pinky promise was unbreakable, no exceptions. “Never again.”

“And if you want my unsolicited advice, have a raw conversation with Wyler. You two have a family now.” They were quiet as they watched the horses grazing in the distance. Then Honor said, “I have a question.”

“Yeah?”

“Did you make the pie for the contest?”

“I sliced. Wyler baked.”

“That’s what I thought.”

Honor hurried off to pee and Liberty dragged her phone out of her back pocket to dial the familiar number. It was answered on the second ring. “I have a job for you. Let’s keepthis between us. Meet me at the Crossbridge tomorrow at noon.” She clicked off the phone. It was time Liberty hired someone to do some digging on Lacey, and Reggie.

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 isnota 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 cleara 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.

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