A Texas Sky (Yellow Rose Trilogy) (39 page)

wig, Darvi finally calmed and told herself. Aunt Renee mil

understand. I don't have a thing to worry about.

'

"Where's your wig?" were the first words out of Renee's

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mouth.

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Darvi's mouth opened a little with hurt and surprise

and for a moment she lost her train of thought. When she

recovered, she was glad to hear that her voice was normal.

"Are you going to ask us in/ Aunt Renee?"

"Oh, yes." The older woman was momentarily flustered

by being caught off guard, and the result was a breach of

manners. "Come in. I'm sorry. You took me by surprise."

Renee invited them into her living room. Moving

silently, Dakota and Darvi entered and, when directed, sat

on the comfortable red sofa. Most of the furniture was red

or pink, but it wasn't gaudy as Darvi might have expected

had she only heard about it. The room was warm with

family photos and bits of lace and ruffles here and there.

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"Why aren't you wearing the wig?" Renee asked as soon

as she had taken a seat across from Darvi. She had known

her own anxieties concerning the pending court case, and

having Darvi show up looking like her wasn't helping.

"Ifs in my bag," Darvi told her quietly.

"You didn't feel you needed it?"

"No. I think Dakota is all the protection I need."

"What about my privacy--did you think of that?"

Darvi hadn't, but didn't say that. Why had she thought

her aunt would understand? TKey had gotten on well at the

ranch in Kinkade, but in truth, they didn't know each other

at all. Working not to lead with her emotions, Darvi spoke.

"There's something I need to tell you, Renee. If, when

I'm done, you want me to wear the wig, then I will, but I

hope you'll hear me out."

"I will, Darvi," Renee said sincerely, seeing that she had

come across rather strongly.

"Thank you," Darvi replied. "I think that even if I wear

the wig, people will be able to see that we're related. I don't

think it can be helped. I know you value your privacy, but

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at what price?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, if you believe in what you're doing here, it

shouldn't matter. It shouldn't make any difference if

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people know that Annabelle Hewett is an assumed name.

Everyone comes from somewhere. Surely people know

you have family."

Renee blinked at her. Never had she looked at it that way.

She then looked slowly at Dakota to gauge his reaction, but

his face was unreadable. Watching her, Darvi thought Renee

looked so surprised that it made her feel guilty.

"I'm sorry, Aunt Renee," She said quietly, sorry that she

had even tried to explain. "I hate subterfuge, and having to

wear that wig scares me more than taking my chances on

the street. I couldn't even tell my parents the whole story

because they would have wanted to know who this

woman was that looked just like me. If you're hurt, I'm

truly sorry, but I did mean what I said: Why must you hide

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who you really are?"

Renee looked upset, her fingers coming to her lips.

"I never thought about your not being able to tell your

family, Darvi Honestly, I didn't Please tell them. If I had a

daughter who had been through what you've experienced,

I would want every detail. Tell them whatever you need to."

Darvi nodded, and in the moment Renee thought she

looked very young and vulnerable. She also looked a bit

pale. She wanted to speak more on the issue, but Dakota

had a question of his own.

"There's something else bothering you, Darvi." Dakota's

deep voice rumbled out, his head turned to study her.

"What is it?"

Darvi closed her eyes for a moment and then looked at

him.

"This whole thing--the trial, having to see Seth and

Eliot again...all of it" Darvi glanced at her aunt "I know

you can't wait to see Jared Silk pay for his crimes, but in

truth, I don't even know the man."

"You should still want to see justice done," Renee stated

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plainly.

"I do, but in the process I'm sure others are going to be

hurt. I don't feel good about that at all."

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"What others?"

"Gassy Robinson for one."

"Cassis no child, Darvi." This time her atinf s words

were blunt "She knows exactly what type of man Eliot

McDennott is."

"Be that as it may/' Darvi went on quietly, "she loves

him and so do the children. You may want justice served so

badly that nothing else bothers you, but I can't make the

same claim."

Renee sat back in her seat. She wanted to tell her niece

to grow up and stop walking around with her heart on her

sleeve, but maybe Darvi had a point. For the first time in a

long time, Renee wondered if she might have become a bit

hard.

"So, what is it you want to do, Darvi?" Dakota surprised

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both women by asking. "For that matter, what is it

you want your aunt to do?"

Seeing that he was right, Darvi sighed very quietly.

"I guess I want her to do just what she's doing. Jared

needs to answer the charges against him, and she's right,

Cassy's made her choices with her eyes wide open."

Darvi's gaze dropped to her lap. "Nevertheless/ it still

hurts my heart to be involved in all of this."

As Dakota had gotten in the habit of doing, he reached

for her hand and held it tenderly.

"I'm glad to hear that, since this whole thing should

hurt your heart," he assured her softly. 'Justice is a must,

but there are ways to go about it. There's nothing I hate

more than coming across a Ranger who's lost his compassion,

one who's mean and thoughtless. He gives the rest of

us a bad name."

A distinct whinny outside the house suddenly set

Dakota's gaze to the window.

"I'm sorry, ladies," he said with genuine regret "I have to

see to my horse. Would you please excuse me for a moment?"

498

"Certainly," Renee offered graciously, and a moment

later she was alone with her niece.

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"I appreciate all you've said, Darvi, and I plan to mink

on it"

"Thank you."

"I also don't want you to wear the wig. I think your

point is very valid."

Darvi nodded with relief, as they both heard Dakota's voice outside. Darvi glanced that way, and when she looked back, her aunt was smiling.

"I certainly hope you're not going to let that one get

away."

Darvi surprised her when she only smiled. Renee

waited a moment for her to reply, but it didn't happen.

"No comment?" the older woman prompted, and Darvi

laughed.

"Aunt Renee, I think you might be one of the most private

people I know, but you expect me to bare my heart to you."

Renee grinned. "If s the reporter in me. I can't stand not

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knowing something."

Darvi smiled back, and Renee's eyes widened when she

realized her niece wasn't going to answer. The older

woman actually moved to the edge of her seat, reminding

Darvi of a six-year-old.

"So tell me, how do you feel about him?"

Darvi laughed and watched her with amusement

"Darvi Leigh Wingate!" She was very stem now. "This

is your aunt speaking, and I expect an answer."

Darvi hadn't even opened her mouth when they both

heard the front door. Dakota was returning. The younger

of the two women had all she could do not to laugh at her

aunf s aggrieved expression.

'

"So you've never attended this church?" Darvi asked

Dakota the next morning as they walked toward the end of

town.

"No. I've never attended any church in Aurora." He

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glanced down at her and then back up the street "I found

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myself looking for a certain strawberry blonde when I was

last here. I'm afraid I thought of little else."

Darvi studied the firm, dean-shaven line of his jaw from

a shorter vantage point and knew she'd been complimented.

She shifted her gaze away again before speaking.

"My aunt seemed pleased that you asked her to join

us."

'True. But if you'll notice, she's not here."

"No, she's not. She would say that my mother can't deal

with the fact that I need a relationship with God, but I'm

not sure she can either."

"If s easiest to be blind to our own sins."

Darvi silently agreed as the church came into view. The

boardwalk would end in another 30 feet, and the church

was still a block from there. They were nearing the end of

the board slats when a horseman rode up. Dakota turned

swiftly and brought them to a halt, but Darvi, whose hand

501

was tucked in his arm, felt him relax.

"Sheriff," the Ranger greeted the rider.

"How are you, Rawlings?"

"Fine, and yourself?"

"I'm fine, thank you." With that the man tipped his hat

toward Darvi. "You must be Miss Wingate."

"Yes," Dakota spoke up. "Darvi, this is Sheriff Laverty."

"If s a pleasure to meet you," Darvi greeted him.

"Your aunt tells me you're headed to church."

"Were you at the house this morning?" Dakota asked,

his mind working so fast that he did not let Darvi answer.

"No, she came by my office as soon as Seth Redding

showed up at her door looking for Miss Wingate."

Darvi's eyes grew large at this announcement.

"I'm not worried that he's going to try anything

stupid," the law man went on smoothly, "but I'd just as

soon not have you put and about today, Miss Wingate. In

fact, if you wouldn't mind, the lawyer representing some

of the bank customers was tied up yesterday when you

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came into town and would like to speak with you today.

He's at my office."

"How did Seth know I was in town?" Darvi asked.

The sheriff's smile was lopsided. "Seth and Eliot seem

to have eyes everywhere. Your coming in on the train

would be no secret"

"And he was actually bold enough to go to my aunf s

door?"

"Yes. She said he was very polite about it all, but that he

seemed determined to speak with you."

From that point onward, Darvi's Sunday plans fell into

a heap around her. Her expectation of spending some time

in church and possibly fellowshipping for a time with the

congregation was swiftly put aside. Knowing it was best to

do as the sheriff asked, Darvi went with Dakota to a back

room at the sheriff's office to meet with a Mr. Danby. He