Page 43 of Chasing Liberty

“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.

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