A Texas Sky (Yellow Rose Trilogy) (41 page)

they learned I was not, Mr. Redding decided to keep me. I

was held at the apartment for two days and then taken

against my will to Cassy Robinson's ranch. I had no idea

where I was and no way to leave there."

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"But you did get away?"

"Yes, a friend found me and got himself hired onto the

ranch as a cook. We left one night after dark."

The eyes that the judge turned on the defense lawyer

and Jared were colder than ever.

"Thank you, Miss Wingate. If there's nothing else, you

may step down."

Darvi did so on shaking legs. She made her way back to

her seat to the sound of the courtroom buzzing around her.

Mr. Robbins was on his ,feet again, protesting the judge's

interference and unorthodox behavior at the top of his voice.

From their seats with the rest of the audience, the accused

brothers and their lawyer had their heads close together, the

lawyer doing all the talking. All three seemed to be completely

unaware of the courtroom's state of pandemonium.

The judge finally pounded his gavel to gain order and

make an announcement

'This court will adjourn until nine o'clock tomorrow

morning, whereupon I will hear final testimony and make

my decision. I will be available today until five o'clock for

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questions or further information."

With that he stood and exited the room. People talked

even louder, babies cried, and in the midst of it, Dakota had

Darvi's arm in a steel grip. Getting her outside as swiftly as

he could manage, he moved her along through town, cutting

off on a side street in hopes that it would be a shortcut

to Renee's house.

In better time than he'd figured, the house came into view.

Both still moving silently, Dakota took Darvi up the front

steps, through the front door, and into the house, not even

waiting a full heartbeat before he pulled her into his arms.

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"You were wonderful up there/' Dakota said softly, his

arms still holding Darvi close.

Darvi let her head rest against the solid wall of his chest,

thinking about how much she needed this man.

"I almost broke down," she said at last. "Could you

tell?"

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"No."

"It was when I caught sight of Nate and Lindy. I was so

angry at Cassy for putting them in this position that I

almost cried."

"You hid it very well, and you said everything that

needed to be said. The judge was furious with Robbins."

Dakota's chest vibrated a little with silent laughter. "You

could see he believed every word you said, and Jared Silk

looked as if he were going to explode."

Darvi put a few inches between them so she could look

up into his face.

"I'm so glad you were there."

"I told you I would be," he said, thinking he wouldn't

have missed it for the world. Seth Redding was still a free

man, and for a moment, Dakota's thoughts clouded with

all Darvi had been through and how much he wanted to

protect her. He looked into her face and studied her eyes

with tenderness before bending and kissing her very

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gently. Still holding her gaze with his own, he kissed her

again.

"I was right," he whispered.

"About what?" Darvi breathed.

Steps outside drew them apart, and just after that,

Renee came inside.

"How are you?" Renee asked Darvi as she came to hug

her.

"I'm all right."

"You did so well. I was so proud of you."

"What do you think that judge will say tomorrow?"

"I think he'll end up throwing the key away where

they're concerned. At least I hope he will." Renee hung her

hat on the mirrored hat stand hear the door. "I've even

heard that some of Aurora's crooked police will eventually

be dragged into this." Smoothing her still-perfect coiffure,

she finished, "Come to the kitchen. I'll make us some

lunch."

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Renee sailed ahead, clearly pleased with the way the

morning had gone. Dakota brought up the rear, and as he

held the door for Darvi, he bent and whispered close to her

ear.

"Your mourn is very kissable."

By the time Darvi arrived next to the kitchen table, her

face was the color of ripe watermelon. Renee turned to say

something, took in that pink glow, and changed her mind.

She went back to her lunch preparations with a huge smile

on her face.

5"3r^r

"Are you going to try to see her?" Eliot asked Seth as he

studied that man's back.

Seth stood at one of the windows in the apartment

living room, his eyes on the street.

"I want to," he said at last.

"But you won't," Eliot guessed.

278 lori wick

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Seth turned. "No,1 won't I know this is our last day of

freedom, but I can't take the chance that that Ranger will

shoot first and ask questions later."

"He didn't do that when he was at the ranch."

"No, but jail time or not, I can't take that chance."

Seth turned back to the window. Eliot watched him in

frustration. He hated this. It was never supposed to be this

way. Jared was not supposed to mess up and get caught,

bringing them down at the same time. And Darvi. She was

supposed to love his brother and make him smile again.

A moment later Eliot told Seth goodbye and went on his

way. They had just met with the judge. He had told them

both to stay in town that night, but Eliot couldn't. If this

was his last night of freedom, he wanted to be with the

woman he loved.

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"I've made a decision," Darvi told Dakota that night.

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Renee had some business to attend to at the news office, so

Darvi and Dakota were doing the dishes.

"About the trial?"

"No. Believe it or not, I've been thinking about my

mother, and your mother is the reason."

"How's that?"

Darvi paused with her hands in the soapy water.

"You have such a wonderful relationship with your

mother--she could even ask you about what you believe.

I've so put off my mother by not marrying Brandon that

she can barely stand the sight of me. I'm all ready to give

her verses and share my faith with her, but she's barely

speaking to me."

Dakota listened to the wonder in her voice and kept

silent.

"I've been putting the cart in front of the horse. My next

letter isn't going to say anything about Christ. I'm just

ATexasSky 279

going to try to get her to speak with me. What do you

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think?"

"I think you're right /our mother is only going to see

God as the problem unless you repair the relationship."

"I think so too. Our relationship has always been based

on our pleasing each other. The moment one of us didn't

do what the other wanted, we were in a fight. Thaf s got to

be fixed before anything else happens!"

With that Darvi went back to washing. Dakota watched

her, not able to stop smiling.

You're like that to Your children, Lord--always giving us

new insight and expanding our worlds with more knowledge, not

just about You, but about how to live this life. I still marvel at

how I survived without You, how I made a single decision on my

own. But You must have been leading in those situations too.

And help my parents as they read my letter. Help them to see

their need for You. Give Darvi just the words for her mother. Help

her mother to read with an open heart and accept Darvi back.

"What are you thinking about?"

"I was praying/'

"Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt"

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"If s all right Somehow I think God understands."

Darvi kept washing, but she looked very content.

Dakota didn't think there was another place on earth he'd

rather be than in Texas with Darvi. '

gK"Sr^

For the third day in a row the courtroom was packed.

From their front-row seats, Renee, Darvi, and Dakota

noticed that things became very quiet when the judge

entered, and in just a matter of minutes, the charges were

read and the courtroom heard that Jared Silk was going to

jail for a very long time.

On the adjournment, Darvi and Dakota stood, Darvi

wishing that her abductors were going with Mr. Silk. She

was still thinking this when a police officer approached

280 lori wick

with Seth Redding, his hands cuffed behind his back. Seth

stopped and looked down at her/ his eyes as warm and

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caring as always.

"Hello, Darvi."

"Hello, Seth."

He studied her a moment, and Darvi thought he would

move on, but he spoke again.

"Eliot and I turned state's evidence against Jared. Our

time inside will be very short."

He paused now, as though giving her time to think

about it

"Please tell me I can contact you when I get out, Darvi.

I swear, I'll never hold you captive again."

"I can't do that," Darvi whispered, her heart in terrible

pain over this whole ordeal. She shook her head and tried

to find words. She ended up saying, "For so many reasons,

Seth, it just won't work."

The temptation was very strong to say cruel things and

make her feel as badly as he was feeling, but Seth couldn't

doit.

"You're quite a lady, Darvi Wingate/' he now said, a

small smile in his eyes. "Don't ever forget that"

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The officer led him away then, Eliot and another officer

some ten feet behind. Seeing Eliot brought Darvi's eyes to

where she'd last seen Cassy. That woman's devastated face

was staring after the departing brothers. Lindy's face was

buried in her mother's skirts, and Nate's little visage was

nothing short of tragic. Darvi glanced up at Dakota, who

nodded as he guided her in Cassy's direction.

"I'm sorry I had to deceive you, Cassy," Dakota said to

the ranch owner the moment she looked at them.

"Don't be, Dakota." Her voice was resigned. "You only

did what you had to do."

An uncomfortable silence fell over them as Darvi cast

about desperately for something to say. She then noticed

Cassy's dress. It was her wedding dress.

"Did you get married?"

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Cassy actually managed a smile. "Yes, we did."

"Was it nice?"

The other woman nodded, her eyes softening in remembrance,

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before becoming direct as she looked into Darvi's face.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking, Darvi. I need to hear

more. I've been trying to read my Bible, but I'm not understanding.