A Texas Sky (Yellow Rose Trilogy) (2 page)

the aisle.

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He and Cash, Dakota's older brother, had both known

that Slater would be the first to fall. They were only

thankful that he'd found a girl like Liberty. Dakota thought

that if another Liberty could be found, he too might be

tempted to marry. Almost as soon as the thought materialized,

he pushed it away. His was not a job that was suited

to family life. Hours on the trail, uncertain pay, and the

dangers of being a Texas Ranger played hard in his mind.

Desmond had made it work, but a career in the Rangers

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had its drawbacks. The fact that the Curtises had never

been able to have children had been a factor.

Suddenly Dakota wanted to get up. He felt lazy, as

though his not trying hard enough was slowing the healing

process. But wanting to get up and actually doing it were

proving to be two different matters.

Just help me, Lord, Dakota prayed. Just help me to rest and

give it some more time--even a few weeks. Dakota fell asleep

while still wondering what he would do with himself in

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the months to come.

r'5'"3''

August

Dakota could not believe the difference just four weeks

had made. He was feeling very strong. His last little

escapade had set him back, but as he left the church with

Desmond and Geneva for the second week in a row, that

incident was already receding from his thoughts. His

mind was on the sermon for some of the ride back to the

house, but Dakota waited only until they sat down to eat

Sunday dinner to tell his hosts what was really in his

thoughts.

"I need to thank both of you for your care and hospitality,

but I have some good news for you."

Desmond looked up from cutting his meat.

"A statement like that could mean only one of two

things," the older Ranger began. "Either you're pulling out

soon, or one of the women who were falling over themselves

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to catch your eye this morning did in fact catch your

eye, and you're getting married."

Dakota had a good laugh before saying, "The first one

is correct."

"Where are you headed?" Geneva wished to know.

"Back to work," Dakota replied calmly while buttering

a piece of bread with complete ease.

A Texas Sty 13

"I thought you said Brace didn't want you for the full

six months."

"That's right.

"But you're going anyway?"

"Yep."

"And what of Brace?" Desmond asked.

Dakota smiled his slow, warm way. "He'll get over it."

Knowing how much Marty Bracewell liked to have his

own way, Geneva enjoyed a good laugh over this.

The next morning, however, her laughter was not to be

found. Tears welled in her eyes as she hugged their guest.

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Dakota had come to Christ under their roof and grown so

much in the few months they'd had with him. She could

have easily had him stay on.

"Thanks, Gen. Thanks, Des."

"You know the door is always open" were Desmond's

parting words to the young Ranger.

Husband and wife stood together as he rode away,

Geneva with a hankie to her face and Desmond watching

for signs of hurt or discomfort. Not that he actually

expected to see any--Dakota was as tough as they came-- but he was concerned too, and missing him already.

"Will he be all right?" Geneva asked, her eyes still on the

dark figure as he rounded a corner and moved from sight

Desmond slipped an arm around her.

"Don't forget who indwells him now, Gen. He'll be

more all right than he's ever been before."

Austin, Texas

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Marty Bracewell entered his office as he did most mornings,

sat at his desk, and began to open the mail; it was

always a large stack. As a Ranger, Marty had traveled

extensively for many years, but now he kept the home

office fires burning. He kept track of new men, deaths.

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countless details, and payroll for the area. It wasn't that he

never went out on patrol, but most weeks he was needed

at the office.

"What in the world?" Brace was muttering over some

confusing correspondence when the door opened and

someone stepped inside. He looked up to see a familiar

face and smiled in delight

"You must be fieeling better," he said as he stood and

came around the desk.

Darvi Leigh Wingate warmly accepted her uncle's

embrace and smiled into his eyes when he stepped back.

Darvi was a smallish strawberry blonde who appeared

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more frail than she actually was. However, this time she

had been very ill. She had come by train and stagecoach all

the way from St. Louis, and had picked up an illness en

route. For the first few days of her visit she had been laid

up in bed, miserably achy and sick to her stomach.

"I do feel better," she admitted with conviction, taking

a chair when the Ranger returned to his desk. "For a few

days there I was dreadfully sorry I had come, but now I'm

raring to go."

"Where are you headed first?"

"To the bank and then to see Merry. Did you need anything?

I'd be glad to pick it up." Darvi had asked the question,

but Brace didn't answer. He sat staring at his niece for

several seconds, his face uncertain.

"What is it, Uncle Marty?"

"She's married now, Darv. Didn't you know that?"

"Merry? Of course I knew. She was engaged when I last

saw her."

"She's also moved away. She and the doc moved about

six months after the wedding."

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Now it was Darvi's turn to stare.

"She doesn't live in Austin?"

He slowly shook his head. "Up in the hills. A small town

outside of Blake called Stillwater."

ATexasSky 15

Darvi continued to stare, her mouth slightly agape. This

couldn't be true. She'd been dying to see her friend for

dose to three months and only now was able to make time

to come to Austin. How could this have happened?

"I can't believe it," she muttered softly.

"Ifs been four years since you've visited, Darv. A lot can

change in that time."

Her shoulders drooped a little.

"Yes, they can, and we never tried to stay in touch outside of my visits. There was never a need. We were always able to pick up right where we left off."

"I'm sorry, Darv. I wish you had known."

It took Darvi only a moment to see the sadness in his

eyes. In the next instant her chin tipped up. "I'll just go to

her," she said, standing up as though leaving on the spot

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Brace was already shaking his head. "I don't have time

to take you, and you--"

"You don't have to," Darvi cut him off. "I can get there;

you know I can."

"Don't even think about it," Brace said in a voice he'd

have used with his men. "I won't even discuss it"

"Uncle Marty, when are you going to realize I'm not 16

anymore?" She threw her arms up and flopped back down

on the wooden seat "For that matter," she muttered,

"when are you going to face the fact that I'm not 20 anymore?"

But Brace was still shaking his head no.

"You know I can make it!" she tried again.

"I'm not willing to let you try."

"Why can't you take me? I'll just make it a quick visit

We can't be talking about more than two days on the trail,

if that"

"I don't have time. I wish I did, Darvi, but my boss is

coming into town, and I can't be gone when he arrives."

"When is he coming?"

"Sometime next week."

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"And that's all the more specific he could be? Men!"

16 lori wick

Brace leaned back in his chair, a big smile on his face.

"What is that grin about?"

"Oh, nothing much. Only about a niece who said she

was coming back every summer and hasn't been here in

four years." Brace nodded sagely. "Yes, indeed, women are

much better about saying when they'll arrive and then

coming on time."

Darvi stood, working hard to hide her smile.

"I believe I'll be going on my way now, since all you can

do is insult me."

"Are you going to be around at lunch?" Brace asked,

knowing she was riot really angry.

"That all depends."

"On what?"

"On whether I've found someone to take me to Merry's

or not"

The smile she gave him could have melted butter in the

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snow, but he knew the steel in that little backbone of hers-- just like her mother's. He didn't let himself laugh, however, until she exited and shut the door in her wake.

%r%r

Dakota hit Austin hot, dirty, and sore. There was no

doubt in his mind'that his first stop would be Brace's office,

but from there he was headed for a bath. The dark cowboy

rode easily up the familiar street only an hour past noon,

stopped in front of the office, and didn't so much as wince

when he climbed painfully from the saddle.

Brace's back was to him when he entered the sparse

room, but that didn't change Dakota's routine. He pushed

his hat back on his head, turned the chair around as he

always did, and straddled it This done, he waited for Brace

to turn and acknowledge him.

Brace knew someone had come in behind him, but he'd

lost a file that morning and was determined to find it He

ATexasSty 17

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wasn't usually so rude to folks who entered and decided

he had best say something.

"I'll be with you in a moment," he called over his

shoulder.

"Don't hurry on my account"

The sound of that voice caused the older man to stop.

He turned slowly from the file cabinet and speared Dakota

with his angry gaze. The seated Ranger looked back with a

calm that was genuine.

"What are you doing here?"

"Coming back to work."

"I told you I didn't want to see you for six months."

"I don't need six months."

"I say you do."

The old Dakota would have stood and gone back to

work without a word of apology. The new Dakota debated

his next move. He wasn't certain of too many things right

now, but lying low for another four months was not something

he needed. He tried a new tack.

"So what you're telling me is that you have so many

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Rangers that you can let men sit around for months at a

time."

Brace came to the desk and sat across from Dakota, his

eyes thoughtful as they watched him.

"If you still feel good in another month, 111 put you back

on."

"And what am I supposed to do for another month?"

"As a matter of fact, I have a personal favor to ask you.