A Texas Sky (Yellow Rose Trilogy) (21 page)

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telling her what an encouragement she is."

Dakota was silent for a moment, the clop of the horses'

hooves the only sound.

"Do you ever think about our situation, Cash?" the

younger man asked thoughtfully. "I mean, the way God

reached down for you and Gram, and now Slater and me?

Sometimes if s almost more than I can take in."

Cash couldn't speak. He too was amazed at what God

had done, but as always, his heart went to his parents.

I know You want their salvation more than I do, Father. Please

help Dak and me to be the examples we need to be. Help my folks

to find You before it's too late.

"I was just praying for the folks," Dakota said.

"So was I."

From there, the men rode home in silence.

Aurora

Darvi was tired of sitting in her room with no place to

read but her bed. She had only her Bible with her, but she

wasn't going to sit in this bedroom anymore. She didn't

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think Cassy was back--somehow she thought that woman

might be leaning toward her side--but she was still going

to go out to one of the chairs by the fireplace to read. To her

relief, she found the room empty. Taking a comfortable

chair, she welcomed the opportunity to look around.

It was an interesting layout. Only two rooms led off of

the main room, and from what Cassy had said, they were

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both hallways to bedrooms. The big room held everything

else: kitchen area, dining area, and living room furniture

set up around the fireplace. There were windows on two

sides. The kitchen table was long and wide with a variety

of mismatched chairs. The two davenports and three

rocking chairs were well worn but clean looking.

Darvi settled back with her Bible and turned a little to

catch the light from the window. She had covered only two

chapters when Eliot, Seth, Nate, and Lindy came in. Lindy

came right to her, her eyes intent on Darvi's Bible. Darvi

smiled and watched her touch the book and then pat her

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little chest.

"Do you have a Bible?"

She shook her head no and patted the Bible and her

chest again.

"Do you want me to read to you?" Darvi wasn't long in

catching on.

Her little head bobbed again, this time in excitement.

"I would be happy to read to you, Lindy, but you need

to ask Mr. McDermott first."

The men couldn't help but overhear the conversation.

After the events of that morning, Seth was keeping his distance,

but Eliot came right over.

"Do you mind if I read the Bible to Lindy?"

The man looked completely untroubled^ "Not at all."

Even his voice was unconcerned. "If s just stories."

Eliot was on his way back across the room when Darvi

asked Lindy a question.

"Do you have another book I might read to you,

Lindy?"

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The little girl frowned in confusion.

"I want to read to you, Lindy," Darvi clarified, "but I

don't think these are just stories."

Eliot came back.

"Darvi, Cassy won't mind if you read the Bible4 to

Lindy."

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Aware that every eye in the room was on her, she still

said, "But if I have to tell her this is just another storybook,

I mind very much."

"Run and get a book from your room, Lindy."

When the little girl scampered away, Eliot met Darvi's

eyes.

"So you think the Bible is from God?"

"Yes, I do," Darvi answered, glad that he understood

what she was saying.

"I can't speak for Cassy on that, so if you don't mind

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reading something else..." Eliot let the sentence hang, as

Darvi was already nodding.

"Not at all."

That was all the more time Lindy needed to come back

with a thick book of nursery rhymes, stories, and poems.

Darvi saw nothing wrong with the book, but it was something

of a letdown for her. She sincerely hoped to read to

Lindy from the Bible one day but invited the little girl into

her lap and read from the story Lindy opened to. It was a

familiar one from Darvi's childhood, and she had to fight

the homesickness that welled up inside of her.

She wasn't usually prone to missing home so much, but

she had been primed and ready to go back, even if there was

a battle, and now having been cheated out of that, her heart

yearned for home more than it ever had before. For a time

she read without thought, her mind on how she and her parents

had parted. She knew things would never be completely

settled unless they came to Christ, but she also thought it was

right to have as little tension as possible between them.

Not aware of the little girl's drooping lids, Darvi read

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through the entire story before she noticed that Lindy's

head had fallen to the side. She set the book down, but

because they were both comfortable, Darvi kept rocking

and holding her. It was a bit warm to be cuddling, but the

amazement of how kind and sweet these children were to

her, a virtual stranger, wrung Darvi's heart. While they

were sitting quietly, Seth joined them.

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"Do you want me to take her?" he offered.

"She's fine, thank you." Both adults whispered.

Seth worked to keep the emotions from his face, but

seeing Darvi with a child was doing wild things to his

heart.

"Tell me, Seth, why aren't the children in school in

town?"

"Nate was/' Seth explained, "but when it was Und/s

turn to go, the teacher didn't believe that she couldn't talk.

He believed she wouldn't talk. He hit her until she bruised

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and even bled. When Cassy learned of it, she nearly went

after him with the shotgun but realized that it was violence

that had gotten Lindy hurt. Instead, she never took either

child back, determined to teach them on her own for all

their school years if she had to."

Darvi could have cried. It was so sad and painful to

think of someone hitting this mute little girl.

"Has she ever talked?" Darvi asked the question that

suddenly came to mind.

"Yes, but when she wasn't yet three, she watched a bull

gore her father to death. She hasn't uttered a word since."

Darvi couldn't take any more. She didn't want to care

for these people. She didn't want to get attached to this

place. She wasn't supposed to be here, not really.

Making herself speak normally, she dosed the conversation.

\

"Thank you for telling me." With that Darvi laid her

head back and closed her eyes. She didn't hear whether

Seth left; she didn't care if he did, but she had to be finished

hearing about this family.

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I'm so totally off balance right now, Lord, I don't know what

I'm doing. What is my place here? How do I deal with my captors?

Lindy and Nate are innocent of what Seth has done and

what their mother and Eliot are a part of. Help me to never take

my frustration out on them, but I do ask You to take me from this

place. I don't want to be here.

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Darvi thought she might cry and made herself stop

thinking such thoughts. She was very warm and uncomfortable

and felt sweat starting to break out where Lindy

lay against her. It was with nothing but relief that she heard

a wagon approach. Lindy heard it too.

Perking up as if to say, "If s Mama!" she was off Darvi's

lap in a flash.

Darvi stayed where she was, fanning herself slightly

with her hand. Even Seth had gone to meet the wagon, and

somewhere in the commotion she heard Cassy through an

open window saying something about the next day being

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Sunday.

Where had the days gone?

Praying for renewed strength to make it through, Darvi

put her Bible back on her bed. Not seeing any other help

for it, she went out to join the family.

"Oh, Darvi." Cassy spoke her name the moment she

came from her room Sunday morning. "Do you have a

moment?"

"Yes," Darvi said, noting absently that no one else was

around.

"The men have gone into town and taken Nate along,"

Cassy volunteered, answering the unspoken question.

Determining not to start planning an escape and

working hard not to think about how much she wanted to

be in church, Darvi accompanied Cassy to her bedroom.

Lindy was already there, sitting on the bed with a book.

Cassy walked to the wardrobe, pulled a dress out, and

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hung it outside the door. This done, she stepped back.

"What do you think?"

"It's beautiful," Darvi said sincerely of the lavender

gown with the long sleeves and high neck. It wasn't overly

done with frills, but the bodice, neck, and cuffs were all

trimmed in dark purple lace and strips of satin. The effect

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was very attractive, and it wasn't hard to imagine Cassy,

with her blonde hair and blue eyes, looking very lovely

"It's my wedding dress."

Darvi turned to look at her.

"You're getting married?"

"Yes, and if s all because of you."

Darvi didn't know what to say. She had questions but

was afraid of the answers. What had she said or done to

compel Cassy to get married? And what did Eliot think?

Watching her search for words, Cassy thought she

might be more comfortable if Lindy left the room. Using

gentle words, Cassy asked her daughter to take the book

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into the other room for a few minutes.

"I've shocked you," Cassy said when they were alone.

"You have, yes. I can't imagine what you mean." Cassy became rather fascinated with her fingers and nails.

"I put it to EKot this way: I was raised better than to be

living with a man who wasn't my husband. Your convictions

about God reminded me of that fact."

"And Eliof s not angry with me?"

"No. He's been asking me to marry him for five years,

and I wouldn't. It's stupid on my part. I already buried one

husband and somehow thought it wouldn't hurt as much

to lose Eliot if we weren't married, so I didn't want to take

any vows. If s ridiculous, I know. I can see that now."

Darvi was stunned. Cassy had not wanted to be married,

but Eliot had. Where Darvi came from, catching a

handsome husband was all young women could talk

about; the men, on the other hand, until they were smitten,

seemed to dread the very thought.

"Congratulations, Cassy," Darvi said suddenly, realizing

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she was being watched carefully. "When is the day?"

Cassy smiled. "We haven't gotten that far. I just happened

to spot this dress yesterday, so I went ahead and

bought it. Eliot likes it a lot, but we haven't really made

A Texas Sky 147

further plans. But the kids are thrilled," she added swiftly,

"and Seth hugged me and said it was about time."

This was not St. Louis. And never was Darvi more

reminded of that. Women who took up residence with men

without bothering to marry them were a shame and a disgrace

in the community. Darvi didn't think she was too

sheltered, but she couldn't honestly think of one woman

who would admit to being intimate with a man outside of

the bonds of matrimony. Texas wasn't as settled as Missouri

certainly, but right and wrong were still right and wrong.

"Well, I'm happy for both of you, Cassy. I really am."

Cassy forced herself to say only a quiet thank you. She

knew for a fact that Eliot was going to try to talk some sense

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into Seth, but knowing how stubborn the oldest brother

could be, Cassy did not want to get Darvi's hopes up.

To distract herself, she offered breakfast and hot coffee

to the other woman, not to mention she always cooked a

slab of beef on Sunday afternoons, and time was awasting.

""^p

"Do I look all right to you?" Seth suddenly asked Eliot

Eliot frowned at him. "You look like you always do.

Why, are you feeling sick?"

"No."

Seth's answer was short and he broke eye contact with

Eliot, but Eliot was not done. He'd been hoping all

morning for a lead-in of some type.

"Why did you ask?"

"I don't know. I was just wondering if maybe she finds

me repulsive or something."

"They don't think like we do, Seth. When are you going

to see that?"

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The other man didn't answer. Eliot tried again.

"You can't expect to hold her body and have her heart

follow."

Seth's eyes closed. The words about holding Darvi were

a little too much for him right now. He had been tempted

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so many times just to grab her and kiss her until she knew

she was loved, but her eyes held him at bay. She was not a

woman to be trifled with, and he didn't want to do anything

now that might mess up his chances later, not to mention

the fact that he could still feel where she kicked him in

the shin.

"I just need to give her some more time," Seth repeated

in honest belief. "I can already see that Cass and the kids

care for her. Her heart is tender and sweet. She'll come to

love us. She'll come to love me. She won't be able to help

herself."

Eliot knew the door was closed. He didn't agree, and he

knew Gassy hated it this way, but this was not his call.

273

Five minutes later the men left the dining room of the

hotel. Jared had scheduled a meeting.

o-'3'3arvi

had told herself not to plan. She had scolded and

carried on in her heart, but that hadn't stopped her feet

from taking her toward the barn. She had helped Gassy

with some things in the house for a time, even going to get

eggs from the barn and vegetables from the garden with

the children, but now her mind was on escape^ and she was

not going to be stopped. If only she could get out right after

everyone went to bed for the night. She knew she couldn't

hide in the bunkhouse--that could be disastrous--and if

she hid in the barn, that would be the first place they would

look. Then she thought of the outhouse. Would anyone

ever think to look behind it? Darvi surreptitiously moved

around the outside of the barn now to have a look, rounded

a corner, and ran smack into Eliot

Not bothering to hide her frustration, she crossed her

arms over her chest and looked very stern.

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"I thought you were in town."

"I was, but I dispensed with my business and I'm bade"

ATexasSky 149

She watched Eliot smile at her and knew he'd figured

her out

"Will you please talk to him?" she entreated quietly.

"Will you please tell your brother he can't do this?"

"It won't do any good, Darvi. He loves you."

"He can't love me." Frustration rose in her voice. "He

doesn't even know me."

Eliot shrugged. "Sometimes it works like that. I set eyes

on Cass five years ago, and I've never gotten over it."

It was one of the most romantic things Darvi had ever

heard, but it wasn't right---not here, not now.

"Why me?" was all she could think to say.

Again Eliot smiled. "Maybe if he had seen you on the

street and not met you like he did, you would feel differently.

He's not going to let you go, Darvi, so you might try

to figure out if there's something about him you can love."

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"Eliot, it doesn't work that way. Surely you can see

that?"

"I can, yes/ but then no one is trying to take Cass and the

kids away from me. I know I wouldn't be so reasonable

then."

Darvi could see that no amount of words would sway

him. They stared at each other for a few moments before

Eliot, still dressed up for town, moved and held out an arm

for her to lead the way. Darvi wanted to argue that she

didn't want to go back inside just yet, but mentally her

mind was growing strong. She'd let them think she was

going along with everything they asked, but if she ever got

a chance to leave, she'd be gone before anyone could take

another breath.

Kinkade

"I THINK I'LL HEAD OUT TOMORROW AND visit Gram,"

Dakota said after dinner on Monday night.

"Okay/' Cash agreed quietly, setting his paper aside.

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Dakota was not looking at htm, which gave the older

brother a chance to study him. Something was wrong. He

didn't know what Indeed, he couldn't imagine what was

troubling him, but Dakota was clearly tense. Cash had

never been anything but direct in the past and saw no

reason to change now.

"Out with it, Dak," he ordered.

That man looked up and frowned.^^

"Out with what?"

"Thaf s just it; I don't know. But something is wrong. I

can tell."

Dakota looked at him. It didn't take long to admit, at

least to himself, that something was on his mind.

"You're going to think I'm crazy."

"I already do."

Having Cash tease him was all he needed. In the next

few minutes he offered a rundown on his time with Darvi

and ended it by explaining what happened after he put her

on the train.

"So you never saw this woman's face?"

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ATexosSky 151

"No, and if I think about it long enough I go around in

circles. It hasn't been that many days, but I just wish there

was some way to get word about whether she arrived

safely." Dakota stopped and stared at his brother. "Will I

trust more when I've been at this longer, Cash? I want to

leave it in God's hands, but if anything should happen to

Darvi, it would be all my fault"

"How do you figure?"

"I was responsible to get her home."

"No, you weren't You just told me you had to ge^her

on the train in Aurora. If you hadn't had it in your heart to

keep in touch with her and gone back for an address, you

wouldn't know a thing. None of what you've described is

your worry. I can see why you're concerned, but you did

your job."

Dakota honestly couldn't argue with him there.

"Did you see anyone else in town who you could have

mistaken her for?"

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Dakota shook his head. "Not in the brief time I looked

around, but it's a good-sized city. If s hard to know just

how far to track."

Cash could see his point, and it was unsettling.

"Have you sent word to Brace?" *

"You mean asking if he's heard from Darvi?"

"Right"

"No, I didn't want him to think anything was wrong

when I had no proof. I guess I could ask without voicing

any of my doubts."

"Why don't you do that? If s a normal enough question."

Dakota thanked Cash for the advice and decided to stop

at the telegraph office on his way to his grandmother's the

next day. He asked for a section of the newspaper and both

men settled in to read.

5" L'^-

150

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Dakota felt better having talked to Cash and went to

bed with a light heart. He didn't figure on what would

happen in the morning. Cash was in his room before he

even finished dressing.

"I'm not a man given to foolish notions," he said

without greeting his brother. "You would agree with that,

wouldn't you, Dak?"

"Absolutely."

"So what I'm about to say to you might seem strange."

"Okay."

"Go back to Aurora and check again for Darvi."

Dakota stopped all movement.

"Do you mean it, Cash? You really think I should go?"

"Yes, I do. I can tell you want to, and I ache at the

thought that Darvi might be in trouble. I don't want you to

head off on a wild goose chase, but the truth of the matter

is she could have been taken from the train. If you don't

find her, we'll have to wait until you get word from Brace

280

as to whether or not she arrived. If she does need you,

you'll be there all the sooner."

Dakota was thoughtful. His brother was certainly not

given to impulsive or rash behavior. It had been on

Dakota's heart off and on that Darvi might need him, but

he had felt so helpless. Having Cash be so practical about