Page 20 of Chasing Liberty
“Better bone up on your pie baking skills then.” Kaitlynn beamed. “I plan to bake my special cherry pie. Cherries picked straight from my trees. Me and one of the girls from the auxiliary are teaming up this year and we’ll be hard to beat. My baking skills and her organization skills.”
“Doesn’t that sound…fun.” Liberty cooed sarcastically.
“I better be on my way. That pot of chili won’t cook itself. It takes days to prepare.”
“Enjoy the rest of your night,” Wyler said with a friendly smile.
“Thank you, Wyler. It’s always a pleasure seeing you. Both of you.” Kaitlynn’s smile dulled some. She gave her skirt a flirty flip and pranced down the sidewalk like a cat on the prowl.
"Oh, the nerve of that woman," Liberty said tightly, observing Kaitlynn hop into her red convertible and speed off with a roar.
"Couldn't tell you were not fond of her," Wyler remarked with a grin.
"She's deceitful, a fact you overlook, Mr. Adores-His-Chili," she replied, continuing down the sidewalk.
He followed her, remarking, “So that’s how it looks on you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Jealousy,” he said with a chuckle in his voice.
“Jealous of you two? Not at all,” she scoffed. “That's absurd.”
“Maybe it’s because she can cook and you can't?”
She stopped and faced him. “Just for the record, her “special” chili that she is so proud of sends people rushing to the portable toilets in droves. So go ahead and enjoy. I hope you’rehappy. Now we’re locked in on competing…and making a pie of all things nonetheless!” She pivoted and continued toward her car.
He stayed on her footsteps. “This might be a bit foreign, but considering you and your family host the event doesn’t it seem a bit odd that you wouldn’tparticipate? Isn’t it supposed to build bonds between the godlike Rose family and the community?”
"Perhaps you could convince Kaitlynn—or is it Katy—to let go of her current partner so that the both of you could pair up?" Her insides churned. She had managed to avoid morning sickness for the entire day, yet the unfolding drama was beginning to make her queasy.
"You're envious, and there was no need to be that harsh to her regardless of your feelings."
Deeply affected by his words, she paused and regarded him with a sharp eye. "Of course, you'd see it like that. When did you start defending Kaitlynn? You two must have grown quite tight recently."
"I'm not her guardian. I'm simply stating the obvious. It's our responsibility to instill good manners in our kid."
"You quickly switched from being an irate father-to-be to a top-notch dad. Well done, cowboy." She wanted to end the discussion.
"You can't just ignore this, Liberty."
"Watch me." She moved briskly towards where she parked. When she was close, he blocked her path. "Step aside, Wyler."
"We haven't finished our conversation."
"You need to go."
"As I've mentioned, I won't be dictated to by you or your relatives."
A sense of discomfort crept into her chest and rose. Heat flushed through her and suddenly, without warning, her stomach revolted, resulting in the contents of her only meal that day spilling out over Wyler’s most cherished boots.
Chapter Five
"Feeling any better?"
"Just dandy." Liberty was seated opposite him in the diner booth, while resting her chin on her hands. "Apologies for your boots."
The last encounter with Wyler had ended with her retching on his boots before she hurried off. "They're clean now."