Frowning, she touched the delicate lace. “I’m not certain the waist can be let out, dear, once you start gaining…once baby starts growing more. We’re pushing it at seven months, and I do believe it’s now or never for your lovely gown.”
An awkward silence fell over the room. Liberty stood. “This is my problem, and I’ve made everyone feel that it’s theirs. I’m going to walk down to the jail and talk to Duke.”
“You should change first, dear,” Pansy observed mildly. “Duke would probably be more receptive to you when you aren’t wearing white.”
“She didn’t mean that the way it sounded, Libby,” Helen hurried to say, but Liberty shook her head.
“It’s all right.” Hugging Pansy to melt the expression of dismay on her elderly friend’s face, she said, “I’ll wear black. That ought to suit his mood since he clearly thinks I’m the evil witch of Tulips.”
“Black is sexy,” Valentine noted.
“Yes, but I don’t think he’s in the mood to see me as sexy. To him, I’m the villainess of this play,” Liberty said, “and I can’t blame him. Unzip me, if you don’t mind, Helen.”
“Such a pretty gown,” Helen murmured.
Liberty could feel the woman’s fingers tremble at the delicate shell buttons and zipper at the back. “It’s just that Duke’s so strong,” she said to the room at large, as all the women watched the fantasy wedding gown coming undone with sad, wistful eyes. “He’s very opinionated. I got scared,” she said, trying to apologize, or at least explain her actions to the women who cared so much about her. She could feel their heartbreak and their concern. Of course, she’d had no idea she was pregnant at the time. Would she still have jilted Duke?
“Strong is good,” one of the younger women murmured. “I like a strong man.”
“Mmm. John Wayne,” someone else said.
“But a man can be too opinionated,” Valentine said, and Liberty felt better.
“Depends on where and how he decides to express his opinions,” someone commented, drawing a few giggles, though not from Liberty, Pansy, Helen or Valentine.
The heavy doors of the Tulips Saloon crashed open. All the ladies gasped, not the least because of the fabulous stained-glass design of hot pink and red tulips that adorned the door, but mainly from the shock of being startled from their conversation—again.
“Liberty!” Duke’s voice could have drowned out a cannon’s boom. She whirled to look at him, holding her hands to the sweetheart neckline of the dress so it wouldn’t fall from her shoulders.
She raised her chin, not about to answer him meekly. “You snarled?”
“We need to talk,” he said, his arms crossed.
“Need has never been one of my favorite words,” she said. “I prefer would like to, or even should.”
“Phrased nicely,” Pansy said, bobbing her head so that her spectacles danced. “‘We should talk’ would sound ever so much more chivalrous.”
“I’ll wait for you outside.” He tipped his hat to the room and left.
Liberty looked at her friends. “That is the definition of strong.”
“Well,” Valentine said, “he is upset.”
“He does need some sugar on that temper of his,” someone suggested.
“Of course, he was devastated when she left,” another matron sympathized.
“Well,” Helen said with a sigh, “go change, honey. Let him cool his heels a minute. I’ll tell him you’ll be right out, and maybe that will settle him.” She picked up a delicate teacup, poured some fresh tea in it and bravely headed outside to offer it to the sheriff.
Liberty went into a back room and slipped out of the beautiful gown with Valentine’s help. Valentine hung the dress for her, covering it in plastic. Even beneath the cover, the dress shimmered with hope and dreams of happiness. Liberty had sewn every single one of those sequins and crystal beads herself, and had cut the satiny fabric with trembling fingers while Pansy and Helen helped her keep it from snagging or getting dirty. That dress had been a labor of love on all their parts.
“The ladies say he really is a teddy bear,” Valentine said.
“He is,” Liberty agreed, “when he’s not being a horse’s ass. You don’t get one without the other with Duke.”
Valentine giggled. “I heard his brother, Zach, is the same way.”
“Zach may be worse. Although Pepper takes the cake,” Liberty said. “Little sister knows exactly how to tame those brothers of hers.”
“Where is Pepper, anyway?” Valentine asked, carefully smoothing the plastic covering the dream dress.
“I don’t know. Off somewhere, being a wild woman.” She smiled as she pulled on jeans and a loose white sweater. “I think the fact that Pepper and I were best friends growing up gives me insight into the family. Zach and I were close, almost as much as Pepper and I were. But not Duke. I think I fell in love with him when I was five years old. I was watching him catch tadpoles, and I remember thinking he could do anything.” He had been her hero.
A part of her still thought he was.
She shook her head as she stepped back into her high-heeled wedding shoes. There wasn’t going to be a wedding but she might as well wear them, even if they might be the color of sin in Duke’s eyes. The heels would make her a little taller when talking to him—and a little sexier, despite her pregnancy.
“Your shoes and sweater match,” Valentine said. “You look so pretty, Liberty. No one would ever guess you’re seven months pregnant. I hope you don’t mind me saying so.”
Liberty smiled. “Thanks.”
“I’m going to head back to Union Junction. I’ll give your dress to Helen and Pansy.” She hugged Liberty. “In the meantime, good luck with Duke.”
Pansy poked her head around the door. “Duke says he’s gotten a call and he’s got to leave, so you’d best hurry, dear.”
Liberty hugged Valentine again and followed Pansy out, waving to her friends who watched her depart with some concern. Outside the saloon, Duke stood on the sidewalk, sexy as all get out and clearly disgruntled.
“I have to go,” he said. “I have a call. But we should talk.”
Noting he’d used the ladies’ more courteous phrasing, she gave him points for trying and nodded. “All right.”
“You can ride with me if you like.” He eyed her wedding shoes. “Although we’ll be going into the country on a family crisis call.”
“Who is it?” She followed Duke with quick steps as he strode away.
“The Carmines. Mrs. Carmine says her husband left last night and she wants someone to talk to. She thinks he may have gotten lost.”
