A Texas Sky (Yellow Rose Trilogy) (22 page)

checking back in Aurora was all the permission he needed.

'Til start right after breakfast"

"All right. I'll make sure Katy has provisions for you.

Do you have any money?"

"Yes, I went by the bank yesterday."

Dakota had been enjoying his time with Cash very

much, and he loved working the ranch, but the incident

with Darvi and the train had left him doubting himself. He

thought it had been God's way of testing him to see if he

was truly trusting, and it might have been, but it was with

a light heart that he headed back the way he had come. He

asked God for wisdom and strength but also found himself

talking to the woman herself.

If you need me, Darvi, I'm on my way.

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^S^ar

Aurora

"What is it?" Darvi asked Seth without taking the box

he hejd out to her. They were alone by the trees to the west

where Seth had found Darvi walking.

"Just take it," he urged.

"Not until you tell me what it is."

"If s a gift for you,"

Darvi's hands went behind her back.

"You've got to stop bringing me gifts, Seth. This is not

going to work."

"Just take it"

Darvi eyed him and the box.

"I'll take the box and look in it, but that doesn't mean

I'm accepting this gift."

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His eyes were warm with amusement, and Darvi

almost wished that he would grow angry.

He wasn't constantly around, but since Sunday, if he

was anywhere in the vicinity, he was courting her. He had

brought her flowers, both from town and along the roadside.

A book of poems arrived one day, and a comb for her

hair the next. Gifts would come to the ranch even when he

hadn't gone to town but Eliot had. This told Darvi that Seth

was planning ahead.

Darvi had started to mark the days in her Bible as they

passed. She had been on Cass/s outlying ranch for eight

days, and each day she had to work at trusting God to

bring this nightmare to an end.

"Take it, Darvi," he urged one last time, and Darvi did

so.

She opened the box and peeked inside. What she saw

made her eyes huge before she nearly threw the gift at him

and tried to run. She didn't get far. His arms came around

her, and for the first time he attempted to hold her dose.

Darvi tried to get away, but there was no possibility of

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overpowering him. When Darvi saw escape wasn't going

to work, she planted her palms against his chest and held

herself away from him as much as she could. When she

looked up, he spoke.

"The ring isn't for now," he panted slightly, "but if s to

show you that I'm serious about us."

Darvi started to shake her head.

"Don't say no. Give us a chance.'I know we could have

a wonderful life together, and the ring is to prove that to

you. You say the word, and well be married. That's how

strongly I feel about you."

Darvi could only stare at him. What in the world was

she to do?

When she froze, Seth's head started to descend.

"Don't!" Darvi commanded with some force, and he

stopped with several inches still separating them,

Seth studied her features very slowly, his eyes warming

noticeably.

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"That upside-down mouth of yours is going to drive me

crazy."

Darvi's chin came up. "Let me go."

Seth did so, although very slowly, his eyes never leaving

her face.

"I'll never marry you," Darvi said quietly, "and if thaf s

what you're waiting for, then you can release me now."

Their eyes met for long seconds, and for the first time

Darvi saw a flicker of something other than patience. To

her surprise, it didn't frighten her.

"Keep your hands to yourself, Mr. Redding," she added

in low fury, "or I won't be responsible for my actions."

Still meeting his eyes to tell him she meant business, she

took several more seconds before turning and walking

back to the house. She wasn't a dozen feet along when she

heard him behind her, but he did not attempt to catch up

to her or to engage her in conversation, all of which was

fine with Darvi. She had nothing else to say to the man.

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"She doesn't want him," Gassy whispered in frustration.

"Why can't he see that?"

Eliot didn't answer. Cassy had just taken her hair down,

and he was rather preoccupied with the way it looked. He

leaned over the bed to kiss the side of her neck, but she

turned and glared at him.

Seeing it, Eliot shook his head in longsuffering.

"Let me get this straight. You're mad at Seth, so you're

going to take it out on me."

Cassy frowned. That was exactly what she'd been about

to do. Now feeling upset with herself, she turned back

away from him. Eliot didn't want to talk about Seth and

Darvi right now, but he made himself join her on the edge

of the bed and even took her hand when they sat side by

side.

"What is it you want me to do?"

"Thaf s just it--I don't know. I know they're both

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unhappy, and I feel so helpless. It would be great if she

could stay. She's so sweet with the kids and willingly helps

out, but mis isn't where she belongs, and as much as I want

Seth's happiness, I can't agree with what he's doing to

Darvi."

Cassy turned her head to look at him. "If someone took

Lindy and wouldn't let her go, I'd be out of my mind with

worry. Seth has got to see that he's doing the same thing to

Darvi's family."

Eliot didn't like this comparison at all. Lindy was like

his own child, and this analogy hit a little too close to home

for him.

"I'll talk to him again."

Cassy did not look grateful.

"I'd better warn you, Eliot McDermott," she threatened.

"If I get a chance to help Darvi get out of here, I'm going to

doit"

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Eliot put gentle arms around her, but the voice at her ear

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was very firm.

"You will do no such thing."

"Do not tell me what to do!"

She suddenly wanted nothing to do with him, but Eliot

did not let her pull away. In fact, he slipped an arm under

her knees and deposited her on his lap. Cassy's eyes were

filled with betrayal as she looked at him, and Eliot almost

wished she would struggle some. He smoothed the hair

from her face, his hands gentle and his heart filled with

love.

"I'm sorry that Darvi is caught in the middle of this and

that you're hurting over it too, but I'm not going to betray

my brother, and if you think about it, you don't want to

either."

Cassy's eyes filled with tears.

"It's a lousy excuse, but Darvi is not in any danger here.

Seth's intentions toward her are honorable. I do think he's

going to see pretty soon that she's not going to change her

mind, but taking her from him is not the answer. He's got

to come to it on his own."

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Cassy still wanted to be angry, but Eliot was right

"Cassandra..." Eliot's voice came softly to her ear.

Cassy looked at him.

"What day are you going to become my wife?"

Feeling almost shy, she fiddled with the apron she still

had on and refused to look at him. \

"I don't know." *

"You have the dress, which means we're halfway there.

I'm not going to let you get away from me now."

Cassy looked up with a smile. She loved him so much.

"You name the day," she was able to say, knowing it was

time.

"October 30."

"Oh!" Cassy had not been prepared for such a definite

answer. "When is that?"

"Ttoo weeks from this Saturday."

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A measure of panic clawed at her throat, but she wasn't

| able to talk about it as Eliot was lifting her and setting her

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on her feet. He then bent, kissed her brow, and started

toward the door.

"Where are you going?"

"To the spare room."

It took a moment for Cassy to catch on, and when she

did, her eyes softened with emotion.

"I love you," she said.

Eliot smiled. "And I love you, Cassy girl. I wouldn't be

heading out this door for any other reason."

Cassy let him leave, but her heart was ready to burst.

She couldn't possibly explain what had just happened to

Darvi but wanted once again to thank her. Had it not been

for Darvi, Cassy might not have seen the misguided direction

of her entire life. She was convinced that she would

have gone on for years living in sin with Eliot and not

thinking about the right thing to do.

She got ready for bed very slowly, missing Eliof s presence

already but knowing it was for the best

Seth is the same kind of man, Cassy thought as she settled

under the covers. Life and Eliot's jobs are not always the best,

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but they're good men who know how to love. Completely forgetting

Darvi's beliefs, her heart was quiet for a moment

before wishing: If only Darvi had met him some other way.

-5"3k'gr

"My name is Dakota Rawlings," Dakota said to

Aurora's sheriff. "I'm a Texas Ranger."

The other man stuck his hand out to shake Dakota's.

"Joe Laverty. What can I do for you?"

"Actually, I just wanted to let you know I'm going to be

in town for a few days, maybe longer. I've lost track of

someone, and I think this person might be in your town."

"Who is it?"

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"I'm not at liberty to say right now, but I wanted you to

know that I plan to stay out of the way and do my job as

quietly as possible."

The sheriff, who had respect for most Rangers, thought

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Dakota seemed genuine. He was a curious man and dicln't

like not knowing exactly what was going on, but since the

Ranger had stated his willingness to stay out of the way, he

knew he'd have to let it go.

"Well, if we can be of any help from this office, be sure

to let me know."

"Thank you, sir."

"Where will you be staying?"

"I'll probably camp outside of town. I noticed you have

a bathhouse and a number of eating establishments."

Dakota smiled a little. "It looks as though I'll be able to stay

dean and fed."

When Dakota turned on the charm, it could be very

effective, and it worked now. Sheriff Laverty smiled reluctantly

and only waved when Dakota moved to the door

and went on his way.

He'd arrived the day before, not late in the day by any