A Texas Sky (Yellow Rose Trilogy) (26 page)

but when the ranch owner gave her a small smile and

moved to go outside, she knew that, for the time being, that

was the end of it.

Gfatiktew

"THE LORD GIVETH AND THE LORD TAKETH AWAY. Blessed

be the name of the Lord."

The preacher's final words fell hard on Darvi's ears,

causing her to wonder what they actually meant, or rather,

what the preacher had meant. She'd heard those same

words many times, but as with Eliof s overused cliche"

about Q being in a better place, she wondered if the man

speaking actually believed that God was to be praised,

even in the midst of death and loss.

"Are you all right?" Seth asked her quietly as the few

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mourners broke up and started to move away.

"What does my face look like that everyone keeps

asking me that?"

Seth hesitated before saying. "In truth, I'm not sure. If I

knew you better I might have an answer, but you almost

look as though you disapprove, and since I can't think why

you wouldn't approve of giving a man a proper burial, I

assume I've read you wrong."

Darvi was shocked. Am I really so transparent? She didn't

want everyone to know that she didn't approve of the

things being said. Her frustration had nothing to do with

burying this man but with all the ridiculous concepts about

God. Gassy had seen it in her face and so had Seth.

"You're right, you have read me wrong," she tried to say

gently. "I'm not looking with disapproval because this man

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was buried. I'm very sorry for your loss, but there are some

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things I find confusing."

Seth was on the verge of asking what they were but

stopped himself. He was certain this woman was for him,

but he was also certain if they talked right now, they'd disagree.

His brother had hinted at Darvi having some strong

religious beliefs. That was fine with Seth--she could

believe anything she wanted--but he didn't want her

knowing that he might not agree. Once they were married

they could talk on all the issues, but not now, not when he

was still trying to get close and gain her trust.

"We have a visitor," Darvi heard Eliot comment from

behind her, but she didn't look up. She walked straight into

the house and hoped that Seth wouldn't follow her. To

keep from having to face him when she realized he had

indeed trailed her in, Darvi picked up a cloth and began to

wash the crumbs from the table. She would have dropped

it in an instant if she could have seen the pleasure on the

man's face behind her, so certain was he that her actions

meant she was beginning to see this as home.

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"I'll handle it for you," Eliot offered as they watched a

rider come up the road. His offer was born of compassion,

as the running of the ranch was all Cassy's.

"If s all right," Gassy declined, squeezing his hand a

little.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Maybe you could just check on Lindy for me. She

didn't eat much breakfast."

"Will do."

Gassy moved away from the porch and waited for the

rider to near. He swung from the saddle, dropped the reins,

and covered the distance between them on foot, removing

his hat as he approached.

178 lori wick

"Good morning, ma'am," he said even as he took in her

mourning garb. "I think I've come at a bad time."

"If s all right Did you need directions?"

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"No, ma'am. I'm looking for Cassy Robinson because

I'm hoping to find work. The name's Rawlings, Dakota

Rawlings, and someone in town said Mrs. Robinson might

need an extra hand."

"I'm Mrs. Robinson, but I don't need more hands right

now."

Dakota nodded respectfully but did not have to feign

his disappointment.

"We'll be eating in about an hour," Cassy offered hospitably,

"if you care to join us."

"I appreciate that, ma'am. Thank you."

Cassy began to turn away but stopped abruptly and

faced Dakota again.

"Can you cook?"

"Yes, I can. I do better as a ranch hand, but I can cook."

"All I need right now is a cook"

Again Dakota gave that humble, polite nod. "If you're

willing to try me, I'll do my best."

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Cassy was won over in a heartbeat

"Where're you from, cowboy?"

"Originally, St. Louis, but lately I tend to roam around."

Cassy smiled at him. "Come on in. I just need to check

on something, and then I'll show you the bunkhouse and

introduce you to the men."

Dakota did as he was told, glancing back to see that Eli

was watching him and ready to follow right up to the

house.

"Stay put," he ordered the horse as he would a dog.

Then he walked into the ranch house, heart pounding and

praying at the same time.

"Thank you," he said when Cassy held the door for him.

"I'll be right with you, Mr. Rawlings."

"Please call me Dakota."

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Darvi, still bent over the kitchen table, became very

slow in her movements. She heard the door behind her,

Dakota's voice, Cassy's voice, Cassy's footsteps, and then

quiet But even knowing that no one else was in the room,

she knew better than to turn around. Working at keeping

all expression from her face, she returned the washcloth to

the counter and found the solace of her room.

Hands shaking as they came to her face, Darvi sank

onto the bed, her heart pounding beneath her dress.

He's here! He's actually here. I didn't know how You were

going to do this. I couldn't imagine how I would ever be rescued.

Darvi was so overcome that she couldn't move. She sat

on the edge of the bed and worked to muffle her sobs. Not

until she saw Cassy come from her own room, saying a

word to Eliot before she shut the door, did she think to

stand up and shut her own bedroom door, thankful that the

other woman hadn't even glanced her way.

The door finally shut, she stood still and tried to assess

her emotions. It came to her that she could not just go to

him. Even though the men who slept in the bunkhouse

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had eaten at the dinner table every night, Darvi had had

literally nothing to do with them. She had exchanged a

few words with Cassy, Seth, or Eliot, but rarely did she

even look at the men. It wasn't anything personal, just her

constant attempt to keep some distance from the situation.

Darvi heard voices and turned toward the window.

Moving the sheer curtain just a bit, she watched as Cassy,

now changed into a cotton workdress, walked Dakota to

the bunkhouse. Darvi watched until they were out of sight

before sitting back and praying, her mind coming to grips

with one main fact

His being here doesn't take care of every thing, Lord. Help hint

to be wise and not get hurt. I know he's here for me. I know You

sent him, but this won't be easy. You've brought us this far, Lord.

Please help us all the way out of here.

180 LORlWlCK

"3r^-

"Gentlemen,"

Cassy spoke quietly after she knocked on

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the bunkhouse door, heard someone's call to enter, and

then stepped inside with the new cook, "this is Dakota

Rawlings. He's going to be cooking for us."

Dakota watched five men either come to their feet or

turn to look at him,

"This is Timmy/' Cassy began. "Next is Scooter, then

Roy, Adam, and Gordie."

"Howdy," Dakota said quietly and watched the men

nod or utter a quiet greeting. No one looked particularly

glad to see him, but neither did he feel threatened.

"Plan to join us for lunch today," Cassy said, turning

back to the ranch's new cook. "Then you can get started

tonight."

"AH right."

"Your bunk is around here," Cassy directed him, taking

him through an open doorway to the kitchen area. It

appeared to be a well-stocked kitchen, and across from the

stove was a bed and a small dresser. Dakota thought the

space must be too hot for sleeping when it was midsummer

and a meal had been cooked, but he didn't plan to

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be there next summer, so that was the least of his worries.

"I have an account at Dawson's General Store. When

you need supplies, make a list and let me check it, but

Dawson's is where you'll head for nearly everything.

Breakfast is at 6:30, lunch at noon, and dinner at sundown

or when the men come in. At times you'll need to cook on

the range. For those times there's a cook wagon in the barn.

Any questions?"

Dozens was Dakota's first thought, but he said only, "I'm

sure I'll have some, but for the moment I'll just settle my

horse in the corral and have a look around. Oh! I guess I'd

better ask how you want me to work the meals. Do I decide

what we have?"

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"In the future, yes, but Q had meals set up for a month

in advance. He kept a list--oh, yes, here it is--*iailed to the

pantry door. If you follow it, you'll probably have all the

supplies you need. However, keep in mind that this list

was for noon dinners. You'll probably run short since youll

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be cooking evening meals too."

Dakota moved with her and saw the schedule.

"Thank you."

"No problem," Cassy said quietly, having been affected

just by seeing the dead man's handwriting. She moved

slowly back to the doorway. "You and the boys all come in

for lunch--maybe 30 minutes."

"Thank you."

Dakota wasn't far behind his new boss when she

exited, walking slowly back to the front of the house to get

Eli. The horse was within five feet of where Dakota had

left him and came to him like a big dog as soon as he

spotted him.

Not until he had Eli settled and was headed back to the

bunkhouse with his saddlebags did Dakota think about

how hard this was going to be. He didn't want to stay here,

and he didn't want to work here. He wanted to walk into

that house, take Darvi, and ride as fast and far as they

could go.

Still praying for patience and wisdom about how to act

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and when, Dakota hung around in the kitchen of the

bunkhouse until it was time for lunch.

'

When she first realized Dakota had come for her, Darvi

had been sorry that she'd never developed any kind of

relationship with the ranch hands, but now that fact was

standing her in good favor. It would have been nothing

short of disastrous if she had even allowed herself to gaze

in Dakota's direction, but since she never looked at the