A Texas Sky (Yellow Rose Trilogy) (29 page)

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child's play to cut off the road and double back through the

woods to the place near the ranch where he'd spent that

first night.

Even though it was dark, Dakota still climbed the tree,

field glasses in hand, actually quite pleased with so little

moon. He couldn't see much, but sound carried well, and

it would be easy to count the men as they returned. The

hours would be long, possibly until two or three in the

morning, but in the end Darvi would be safe. Right now

that was all that mattered.

%r

Darvi could feel sweat breaking out all over her body. It

didn't help to be under the covers with her clothing on, but

she was sure it was more than that. The first sounds she

heard outside caused her to gasp in fear, and she knew she

was going to have to keep still or ruin the whole thing. Had

the men come in so noisily on the other Saturday nights?

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Darvi had never noticed, but right now each sound of

hooves, each low voice or laugh, made her feel as though

she were being struck.

And the children were more restless too, which eventually

told Darvi that a closed window had been keeping the

noise out. She didn't want them to waken, but neither

would she shut that window. Darvi had to force herself not

to think of them. Against her will she had come to care for

them. She had to leave here--there was no other option-- but she didn't think she would ever forget Gassy and the...

"Darvi."

It was said so quietly that she almost missed it, and for

a moment she hesitated before reminding herself that no

one else would be calling her name. Reaching for the

satchel that was packed and ready next to the bed, she sat

up and started to put it through the window. Her heart

nearly came out of her chest when she felt Dakota take it.

A Texas Sky 195

On legs that would not stop shaking, Darvi stood on the

bed and leaned out, wondering how she would stay quiet

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and climb out at the same time. She need not have worried.

Dakota's strong arms were there and almost before she

could guess his intentions, he lifted her and stood her

against the side of the house.

Taking her cue from him, she stood very still beside

him. She thought that all might be quiet, but her breathing

was so labored she couldn't be sure. However, Dakota

must have been. He suddenly took her by the hand and-^

began to walk with her across the field. They were more

than halfway to the woods when Darvi realized her other

hand was empty.

"My bag," she said on a soft gasp.

"I have it"

And on they went, right into the trees, Dakota leading

the way, ducking and moving branches from her path.

Then suddenly, when they had climbed several dozen feet,

he stopped. Darvi couldn't stop shaking and jumped nervously

when he whistled. Again she had to stifle a gasp

when something moved and started toward them. The

next thing she knew, Dakota's horse had drawn abreast of

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them, and Dakota was lifting her. Climbing into the saddle

behind her, he maneuvered Eli through the woods.

Darvi had no sense of time. She tried to listen for the

sounds of pursuit but could hear only the horse and the

sound of her own breathing and pounding heart. She said

nothing. A thousand thoughts rushed through her mind at

once, but not one would stop and make itself heard. For a

time she thought she might sleep, but the pounding inside

was giving her a headache, so she sat very still, Dakota's

chest at her back, and tried not to give in to the temptation

to cry hysterically or leap off the horse and run.

She knew some relief when they came from the woods

and began moving down the road. She wished she knew

where they were and hoped Dakota did, but as with the

other questions, she kept this one to herself.

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At last the sky began to lighten. Darvi was not glad to see

it. The darkness made her feel safe; it made them untraceble.

She had not been afraid of the people she'd been forced

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to live with for these weeks, but having them pursue her and

take her back was nothing short of terrifying.

All these tempestuous thoughts took their toll. Darvi

was near to bursting by the time Dakota pulled off the road

and into a wooded area. He climbed down and brought

Darvi down after him. It was light enough for him to see

that she was deathly pale, her eyes huge. He had wanted

to give her time, knowing her stay had to have been traumatic,

but he needed to check on her before they went

another step,

"Are you all right?"

"I think so," she said softly, eyes looking up at him in

amazement "You came for me." Her voice held wonder. "I

can't believe you came for me."

A nearby falling branch caused her to start and move

to ward him.

"Is that him?" she asked in panic.

"No." Dakota's voice was soft and reassuring as he

watched her keenly. "No one is following us, and even if

someone was, I wouldn't let him have you/'

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Darvi couldn't hold back. She wanted to be so brave,

but she couldn't do it much longer.

"Please don't let him, Dakota," she said on a soft sob.

"I'll do anything you ask, but please don't let Seth or

anyone take me back."

Dakota's heart couldn't stand it He moved and

wrapped his arms around her, not at all surprised when the

dam burst forth. Dakota didn't remember ever hearing

anyone cry like Darvi did. She choked several times, but

not even that stopped her. Not until she seemed too weary

to make a sound did the tears stop, and by then she was

like a limp rag. Dakota felt her legs buckle and bent to lift

her in his arms. Darvi worked to catch her breath, looking

up at him through swollen eyes.

ATexasSky 197

"Do you want something to drink?" he asked, not letting

his mind dwell on all she'd been through; it wasn't

time for that yet

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"Not right now."

Dakota took her back to the horse. It occurred to him

after they'd started back down the road that she might have

wanted a few minutes of privacy, but he didn't check with

her. She would tell him if there was a need. And no doubt

they would stop at some point, but home was just a few

hours away. Darvi didn't know where they were heading,

but Dakota found it comforting beyond words. No matter"

what had happened, no matter how awful things had been,

he would take her home to the ranch and take care of her.

He couldn't think of a safer place in all of Texas.

3-^r^inkade

"Cash, I think you'd better come," Katy called out,

interrupting the rancher's newspaper reading at the

kitchen table. They had not been home from church that

long, and Katy was still preparing Sunday dinner. She had

been in the kitchen with him but suddenly left Cash now

followed her through the house and into the front yard.

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Dakota rode toward them, a woman in the saddle in

front of him. He came to a stop before Katy, and Cash could

see that the woman was asleep. Both Dakota and Darvi

looked very spent

"Darvi," Dakota said softly, but she remained limp in

his arms.

Cash stepped forward, and Dakota handed her down to

him. The moment his feet were on the ground, however, he

took her back. Katy led the way through the house and to

an upstairs bedroom. Dakota had just stepped across the

threshold of the guestroom when Darvi woke up. She

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started violently and reached for the front of his shirt

There was no disguising her panic.

"Where are we?"

"In my home in Kinkade."

He started to bend down a bit.

"I'm going put you on your feet, and Katy will see to

you. All right?"

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Darvi nodded, working hard to clear the webs from her

mind. She felt Dakota let go of her and put her arms out to

steady herself. His hands were instantly back.

"Are you there?" he asked, a small smile in his voice.

Darvi looked up into his familiar face and felt peace

stealing over her.

"Yes, I'm here. Did my bag make it?"

"Right here," Cash said from the door, his eyes not

missing a thing.

"Darvi/' Dakota began, "this is my brother Cash, and

behind you is Katy."

"Land sakes! I don't know why they can't just introduce

me as the housekeeper. Thaf s what I am, and proud of it,

but you would think they're afraid to say the word. Land

sakes!"

Katy smiled at the woman and got just what she

wanted: a smile in return.

"Now you boys get," she ordered. "Miss Darvi and I

have things to do, and we don't need you. Cash, you check

that meat if I don't get down soon. I will not have that

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dinner ruined."

"I will," he said with an amused smile.

"You do that. Keep an eye on the top."

Dakota caught Darvi's eye one more time before they

exited and was pleased to see her looking a little more normal. However, he didn't get far down the wide hallway. After exiting and shutting the door, he leaned against the

wall. Cash stood with him.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

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"I would," Dakota admitted, "but I don't know anything,

at least not much. It seems a man in Aurora got it

into his head to keep her. I think it started with a case of

mistaken identity and then rolled into a full-blown abduction. She didn't seem to be abused Jy them."

"Them?" Cash frowned, working to follow.

Dakota slowly shook his head. "If s one of the strangest

things I've ever encountered." His voice died off, and he

stood there.

"Come on/' Cash ordered. "Lef s get you cleaned up

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and fed."

Dakota went willingly, but his mind was still in the

room with Darvi. He knew she was in good hands, but he

felt rather helpless right now. If they could talk he might

be able to reassure her about any remaining fears, but if he

knew Katy, she was probably tucking her into bed at this

moment

Thank You, he suddenly remembered to pray. You got us

out of there. Lord. I know this. Thank You that Darvi's aU right.

Help her to heal and be at peace in the days to come.

"By the way," Cash began once they had reached the

downstairs, allowing Dakota to go ahead of him to the

washbasin in the corner of the kitchen, "you got a telegram

from Brace."

"Did you read it?"

"Yes. He was just checking on you."

"Any mention of Darvi?"