A Texas Sky (Yellow Rose Trilogy) (19 page)

back toward the house, muttering all the way. She hit the

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door so angry she completely forgot that she wanted to

make a favorable impression on Cassy.

"Do you know," she nearly shouted when she got

inside, "that he plans to keep me?"

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"He said as much," Cassy admitted, turning from the

stove top and wiping her hands on her checkered apron.

"And do you condone this, or are you going to help me

get out of here?"

"I can't help you leave, if thaf s what you're asking me.

I wish Seth had done this another way, but I still won't

interfere."

"Then you're a part of it."

Cassy shrugged. "I guess I am."

Darvi looked as stunned as she felt.

"He's a big boy, Darvi. I don't try to tell him what to do.

I'm sure you can appreciate that."

As a matter of fact, Darvi could. She knew she must not

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take this out on anyone but Seth. In fact, she somehow

sensed that not even Eliot was involved.

"We got ten!" Nate shouted as he and Lindy came

through the front door. "Ten eggs!"

"Good job. Did anyone get pecked?"

The children proudly displayed their small hands.

"Hi, Darvi," Nate said when he spotted her. Lindy

waved her greeting, but Darvi offered only a limp smile in

return.

"Okay, you two," Cassy chimed in. "Get your slates.

We've got some arithmetic to work on."

Cassy put the eggs to one side and came to stand near

Darvi, her voice low.

"Is this your traveling suit?"

"Yes."

"It doesn't look like you're going to be getting on the

train today. I've got some dresses if you want to change."

"I have two more dresses with me, but I thank you."

"Let me know if you need anything," Cassy said as she

moved to her children.

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A way out was Darvi's only thought, but she kept this to

herself.

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But we allf with open faces beholding as in a glass the glory

of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory,

even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Therefore, seeing we have this

ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not, but have

renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness,

nor handling the word of Cod deceitfully, but by manifestation

of the truth commending ourselves to every man's

conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hidden it is

hidden to them that are lost. In whom the god of this world hath

blinded the minds of them who believe not, lest the light of the

glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine

upon them.

Darvi read the verses from 2 Corinthians 3 and 4 a

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second and third time before sitting back thoughtfully.

She would not have chosen to be in this place, but she

knew from other passages that God was in control. It was

hard to imagine a reason for this, but she understood now

that if others couldn't see the gospel--the good news of

Christ--in her, they might remain lost Darvi read the

verses again.

But does that mean I just sit here? Or do I do something to

get back to town? Darvi had no answer and kept on praying. Lord, I need You to show me a way out of this. I will never love Seth Redding because he doesn't love You, but those verses say

I'm to care about the souls of these people. Part of my heart still

can't believe this has happened, but I know that You have Your

eye on me.

Darvi spent a little more time in prayer and in reading

her Bible before changing into an everyday dress and going

back out to the big room. Cassy and the children were still

working at the table. They looked up when she came in.

"Are you any good with spelling?" Cassy asked.

"Pretty good. It all depends."

Cassy raised the book when Darvi approached.

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"Is there a rule I can tell the kids about adding ed or ing to a word?"

"What words do you have for examples?"

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"Well, "study" for one. Studied puts an i in, and

studying leaves the y in place."

"Oh." Darvi was sympathetic. "That is a hard one."

While the women pored over this, the children's noses

pressed dose as they listened, Seth came back. He had not

wanted to rush Darvi, knowing she would need time to see

that, unconventional though his approach may be, he

wanted only to take care of her. He thought it might be

easier if he made himself scarce for a time, but it had then

occurred to him that she might be giving Cassy a hard time.

He knew he couldn't allow that. Seeing her working at the

table with some of the people he loved most in the world

did his heart a world of good.

Not waiting to be invited, Seth joined them. Undy went

right for his lap, and when Cassy had the kids go back to

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their spelling words, she stayed right where she was. It was

not lost on Seth, however, that Darvi never spoke to him or

even looked at him. This surprised him--she didn't seem

to be that type of person--but considering all the circumstances,

he thought she might not have seen herself as

having any other recourse.

He was relieved when Cassy had something else for the

kids to do and called them away. Seth spoke quietly before

Darvi could get away.

"Darvi, please don't tell me you're going to spend every

day not looking at me or talking to me."

Darvi finally looked him in the eye, her own gaze

regretful. "I have no desire to be mean or rude to you, and

I appreciate your not hurting me or threatening me, but

you need to know that if I could leave here, I would. You

need to understand that I'm hoping you'll come to your

senses and return me to town. I'm praying for that very

thing."

Seth looked thoughtful, even as he reminded himself he

was going to have to be patient.

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"At least I know where I stand/' he finally said. "And

since you're so sure of your feelings, you can't object to my

trying to change them."

He wasn't listening. Darvi shook her head to clear the

confusing mix of emotions.

"I'm not the woman for you, Seth, and the sooner you

face that, the easier all this will be."

"Now, there you're wrong. You are the woman for me.

I know you are, and given time, you'll know it too."

Darvi looked into his eyes. He was completely serious.

She had been close to only one other man in love, and that

had been Brandon. Seth's eyes looked the same: tender and

warm, full of eagerness to please, with just enough male

interest to remind Darvi that he was a man. She stood up. _

"Darvi, please don't go."

She paused, making herself meet his eyes.

"I'm not running from you. I just need to get out for a

little while--for your sake, I might add, not mine."

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"You're sure?"

She only nodded and started away.

"Darvi?"

She turned one last time.

"You look beautiful in that yellow dress."

Darvi didn't try to hold back her sigh, but she still said,

"Thank you, Seth."

^-3r-3-

Even

though Darvi was trusting the Lord to get her out

of the mess she was in, she still set her mind to planning.

She spent her first afternoon with the children, who

showed her every inch of the barn. Darvi saw the chickens,

the milk cow, several horses, a goat, and even two pigs. She

also took note of the doors, where the saddles and tack

were stored, and the access to the haymow. Her mind was

working out how she could use all of this when she heard

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v

Cassy say she was taking the wagon to town first tiling in

the morning.

The children were already in bed, and the big room was

full of ranch hands. As Darvi was eating, a plan was

forming, one that she saw no harm in trying. She had told

Seth she didn't want to stay there, and she meant it

"Excuse me--" a male voice finally got through to her.

Darvi looked up to see one of the hands addressing her.

"Do you still write for the paper?"

Darvi shook her head. "You've confused me with

someone else. I've never written for the paper."

The man, who was very well mannered--they all

were--went back to his plate. Darvi did the same, but she

could feel both Seth and Eliot's eyes on her. Choosing to

ignore them and wishing the children hadn't gone to bed

so early, Darvi finished her meal feeling very alone. It was

a relief to see Cassy starting the dishes. Darvi left the table

to offer her help.

"Why don't I wash?" she suggested, knowing the dryer

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had to know where to put things away.

"All right. Did you have enough to eat?"

"Yes, thank you, it was delicious." Darvi glanced at the

half-dozen ranch hands still eating. "Did they come in for

breakfast and lunch and I miss them?"

Cassy laughed. "No. My cook has been with me for

years, but he's getting on. He wanted to retire, so I made a

deal with him. If he would do the breakfast and the noon

meals in the bunkhouse or on the range, I'd do supper for

everyone, including him. He didn'teven hesitate. He knew

supper was the hardest meal of the day."

Darvi nodded, knowing what she meant. The platters

that held the meat and side dishes were huge, not to mention

the dozens of plates, bowls, and cups, along with all

the flatware. Trying not to think of how her hands were

going to feel when she was done, Darvi started in. She was

impressed when she heard the men thanking Cassy on

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their way out, and even more so when both Seth and Eliot

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offered to help.

"I think for tonight we have it under control," she said

kindly, "but don't forget us in the future."

The brothers also thanked her and went on their way.

Unknown to Darvi, Cassy did this on purpose. She wanted

to talk to the newest houseguest alone.

"Are you all right?" she started by asking.

"Yes," Darvi answered, but she didn't elaborate.

Cassy tried not to rush her feelings, but she couldn't

help it. Only a few minutes had passed before she said, "I

hope you know how much Seth wants this to work."

"I probably don't fully understand it, but then no one

seems to understand my position either."

"What makes you say that?"

Darvi turned to look at her.

"Was this originally your ranch or Eliof s?"

"It was mine."

"So you brought Eliot here and held him until he fell in