A Texas Sky (Yellow Rose Trilogy) (6 page)

hugged.

"Have you got everything?" Brace asked.

"Yes. I'm sure I do."

"All right Have a good time. Tell Merry I said hello;

Caldertoo."

"I'll do it"

"And when you get home, tell your mother she hasn't

written in weeks,"

Darvi's brow lowered. "You said you just got a letter,"

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"I know, but your mother always expects me to complain

about something, and I don't want to let her down."

Darvi gave him another hug and turned to the horse

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called Finley. With a boost she didn't need, Brace had her

in the saddle in the blink of an eye. Dakota waited to shake

Brace's hand and thank him before gaining his own saddle/

and a moment later he and Darvi were on their way.

Dakota glanced back just before they were out of sight to

find Brace reaching for his handkerchief, causing something

to trigger in his own heart. It was a good reminder

that Darvi was precious cargo.

"Hey, Darvi," Dakota called to her as they turned their

horses toward the west side of town. "How soon would

you like to get there?"

"Soon," she admitted. "I guess I'm not much for

dawdling."

"Well, be sure and let me know if we're going too fast."

Darvi glanced at him. "Why don't I set the pace? Will

that work?"

"Go to it," Dakota said with easy confidence. He knew

Eli was up to anything, and he had strong doubts that

Darvi could wear him out. With this thought in mind,

Dakota simply heeled his mount to keep pace with Darvi

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the moment they hit the edge of town.

3''3 "9r

Calling it pride never occurred to Dakota. It was a perfect

description, but the word never crossed his mind, nor

did it occur to him to tell Darvi they had to slow down.

More than 12 hours after he and Darvi left Austin, they

arrived in Blake, a town not far from Stillwater. Dakota was

in so much pain that he didn't think he could even speak.

All five of his bullet wounds were burning, and he knew

the one on his waist had to be bleeding.

"I think the hotel would be good, don't you?" Darvi

spoke like a woman in charge, and at the moment she was.

A Texas Sky 37

"Fine," Dakota managed, glad that the horses' hooves

drowned out the strain in his voice.

At a later time, Dakota would think back on the way

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God moved to rescue him on this evening, but right now

he just knew relief at how solicitous the hotel proprietress

was, how swift she was to volunteer her son to take their

horses to the livery, and how Darvi told Dakota she was

going to eat in her room and turn in early. He fell into bed

the moment he shut the door and dropped into unconsciousness

for the next ten hours.

5"9r-3-

Not

feeling what anyone would term "brand new,"

Dakota was nevertheless at the breakfast table in a timely

manner and not looking as pale as he felt. Darvi joined him

just ten minutes after he sat down, and Dakota found himself

feeling somewhat thankful that she had not seen him

nearly swallowing his food whole. He was calmly sipping

coffee when she arrived.

"I'll just have a quick bite," she explained and smiled at

the waitress when she glanced their way.

"Don't hurry on my account," Dakota said, meaning it

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with all his heart. He'd used the powder again and tried to

patch the wounds, but the job was middling at best

"I think we're only a half-day's ride now."

Dakota nodded before asking, "How do you know this

friend, by the way?"

"She used to Uve in Austin. We played together every

summer I visited." Darvi paused. "I certainly hope she's

home."

"She's not expecting you?"

"No. We never kept in touch through the mail, and I

didn't even know she'd moved until I arrived in Austin."

They fell silent for a moment, and then Darvi looked at

her companion.

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"Did you hear any screams out your window last

night?"

Dakota could have told her he didn't even remember

lying down but only said no.

"I did/' Darvi said. "It sounded like a woman was

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receiving some unwanted attention. I nearly went out to

check."

This statement stopped Dakota's coffee cup on the way

to his mouth.

"Tell me, Darvi/' Dakota said, putting the cup down, his

voice mildly curious. "What would you have done?"

"If I'd gone out?"

"Yes, and if the unwanted attentions had been turned

on you?"

"With or without my gun?" she asked in all sincerity.

Dakota couldn't stop the smile that turned up one

corner of his mouth, but he still managed, "With your

gun."

"I'd have shot him in the foot."

Again Dakota wanted to smile but refrained.

"And without your gun?"

"I'd have tried to reason with him, and if that hadn't

worked, I'd have screamed myself hoarse and tried to

fight"

"If s good to have a plan," Dakota said softly, all the

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time trying to process whether this woman was safe on her

own or not

You never know what's going to happen with Darvi.

Brace's words from the morning before came floating

back to him. Dakota would have enjoyed some time to

think on them, but Darvi was pushing her plate away.

Within 15 minutes, they were back on the trail.

r$"'$tillwater

was a surprise. A dean, friendly-looking

town that sat in the foothills, it was a good deal cooler than

A Texas Sky 39

Austin. Since Darvi had not known of her friend's move,

Dakota assumed she also did not know where this friend

lived, but he kept his mouth shut and let her lead the way.

She took them straight to the general store.

"I'll just be a minute," she said before dismounting and

going inside.

Watching her confident stride, Dakota realized that

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Darvi must have wanted to make this journey on her own.

He knew Brace well enough to know that man would not

have even discussed it, but Darvi was clearly no stranger

to being in charge. Nor did she appear timid in new surroundings.

In the middle of these thoughts, Darvi reappeared. She

climbed back into the saddle and turned to him, her eyes

alight with excitement.

"We're almost there."

Dakota smiled at her glowing face and said, "Lead on."

The directions Darvi received took them toward the

edge of town. She hadn't been in as much of a hurry today,

but now she stepped up the pace. Dakota had been on the

edge of discomfort all during the day's ride but thought his

body might now be nearing the end of its tolerance. His

side was starting to burn, and he could only be thankful

they were almost there.

"Thaf s the house," Darvi suddenly said, their horses

taking a road along the creek.

Dakota feared that she would heel her horse into a run

and knew he couldn't take that. Besides, he wanted to give

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her some privacy.

"Darvi," he said just in time.

She turned to him in some impatience.

"I think I'll sit here by the creek while you go on up to

the house."

For the first time Darvi took in his face. It was warm out,

but she hadn't really noticed. She didn't think such a thing

would bother him, but he looked a little strained.

"Are you certain, Dakota? You're welcome to join me."

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"I would think a private reunion preferable, and

beyond that, I want to stay here."

She couldn't argue much with that, so with one more

glance at the man who was already turning his horse off

the road, Darvi went on her way.

Heart pounding, breath coming in small gasps, Darvi

rode swiftly toward the house. It was a lovely setting, not

far from the creek and not very close to other homes.

"White paint, white shutters, and a large covered

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porch," Darvi whispered to herself, "just like the man

said."

Darvi tied her horse's reins to a corner of the porch

railing and went toward the steps. Things seemed so

quiet--she was almost afraid to hope. Taking a breath to

quell her excitement--a move that didn't work--Darvi

knocked on the door. A man answered.

"Hello," he said kindly.

"Hello. I'm looking for Merry Scott Does she live here?"

"Yes, she does. Come right in."

Darvi stepped inside when he held the door and

squinted to adjust her eyes. The moment she could see, she

realized her friend was standing not ten feet from her.

"Hello, Darvi," Merry welcomed with a huge smile.

"Merry," Darvi breathed, only now believing she had

made it and moving forward to hug her friend.

The two women, one a soft strawberry blonde and the

other a brilliant carrot top, hugged for a long time. Calder

Scott, Merry's husband, stood off to one side, a wide grin

on his face. The women were still hugging when Darvi

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heard someone call "Mama." She stepped away from her

friend, her eyes huge.

"Merry?" she questioned softly.

Meredith Scott smiled the smile that first drew Darvi to

her.

"Come on, Darvi. Come meet my husband and daughters."

A Texas Sky 41

Darvi was still mouthing the word "daughters" when

Calder stepped forward.

"This is Calder," Merry began.

"Hello, Darvi," the tall man said as he held out his hand.

"I've heard so much about you."

"If s so nice to meet you," Darvi replied sincerely. "I

nearly panicked when I learned you'd moved away, but I

found a way here."

"And these," Merry continued, "are our twins, Vivian

and Filar."

Darvi looked to where Merry pointed, through the

doorway to the kitchen table, where two adorable, dark-haired

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moppets stared back.

"Oh, my" was all she could manage.

"Come, girls," Merry bade them. "Come and meet Miss

Wingate."

"Please let them call me Darvi," that woman whispered

as the girls scrambled from the chairs and ran to their

mother.

"Here we go," Merry said in her quiet way. "Show your

faces," she ordered the two who suddenly became shy and

absorbed with their mother's skirt

"Obey, girls," their father put in from the side, and the

twins turned immediately.

"This is Vivian, and this is Filar. Girls, this is my friend,

Darvi. You may call her Aunt DarvL"

"Hello, Vivian. Hello, Filar. If s so nice to meet you."

The girls giggled over this, and Darvi turned back to her

friend.

"How old are they?"

"They were three last month."

Darvi shook her head. "So much time has passed."

73

"About four years," Merry confirmed. "They were born

the first year we were married."

Darvi could hardly believe she was here. This friend

was so special to her. Darvi didn't know if she'd ever told

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her that, but she would this time. This time she knew she

could.

"Did you come alone, Darvi?" Calder suddenly asked.

"No," she turned to him, "but my escort seemed to

think I would want a private reunion."

"Who is it, Darvi?" Merry asked.

"A friend of my uncle's. He wanted to wait by the

creek"

Husband and wife exchanged a look before Calder

turned away and said, "I'll just head out and invite him in

to lunch."

Merry waited only until her husband was gone before

sending the girls back to the table and ushering Darvi into

the kitchen.

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"Have a seat there, Darvi, and 111 get you a bowl of

soup."

"Should I have gone out with Calder?"

"I don't think so," Merry said easily. "He'll just go out

and introduce himself, I'm sure."

Merry said all of this while laying two extra place settings,

making sure the bread was in reach, and then serving

her friend a bowl of soup. It took a moment for her to see

that Darvi was staring at her, a look of near desperation on

her face.

"What is it, Darvi?" Merry asked gently, taking a chair

close to her.

"I did it!" Darvi could wait no longer. "I asked Jesus

Christ to save me from my sins. I wanted to pick the perfect

time to tell you, but I just have to tell you now. I'm a

believer, Merry, just like you."

Having prayed for this for years, Merry was surprised

at her own reaction: one of tears. She tried to speak, but the

words stuck in her throat. Silent tears trickled down her

face, and when her little daughters saw them, their own

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tears began. This made the women laugh.

''Tell me everything!" Merry commanded when she

finally had air again.

A Texas Sky * 43

The words and sounds coming from the kitchen in the

next minutes included an amazing blend of laughter and

breathless sobs, none of which could be heard by Calder,

who had finally spotted Dakota and was moving toward

him. Calder was nearly to the rock the Ranger was sitting

on before he realized that man had his shirt off and was

trying to stop his side from bleeding.

"Hello," Calder called as Dakota glanced at him.

"Hello."

Finally at the boulder, Calder stopped and looked down

on him. "It looks as though Darvi was something of a

tyrant."

One corner of Dakota's mouth quirked. "She rode

harder than I figured."

"Do you want me to have a loo^?"

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Dakota took his eyes from the wound. "You a doctor?"

"Yes."

Dakota shrugged a little, "I saw a doctor in Austin. He

gave me some powder."

"It wasn't Marcus Scott by any chance, was it?"

"As a matter of fact, it was."

"He's my uncle."

Dakota took a moment to compute this.

"I thought you were a Ranger."

Calder smiled. "Thafs my brother."

Dakota laughed a little.

"I'll get my bag," Calder said and started away.

Dakota was too weary to argue with him. He didn't

think he needed any more mending, but he certainly felt

worn.

Back at the house, Merry heard the door the moment it

opened and went to meet their other guest. She was surprised

to find her husband alone.

"He's hurt," Calder said by way of explanation.

Merry accepted this without questipn or comment.

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Darvi, on the other hand, followed Calder to the door on

his way back out

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"Dakota's hurt?"

"Yes. I would guess a gunshot wound to his side."

Darvi's mouth opened. "He never said a word."

Calder's smile was full of amusement "Somehow mat

doesn't surprise me."

Tempted as Darvi was to go with him, she thought she

might be in the way. The blonde made herself stay put, but

as soon as she saw him, Darvi would have a few questions

for Dakota Rawlings.

--gr'3-

Dakota

woke slowly, his body telling him he was rested

and comfortable and that everything was all right. He

remembered getting to the front porch and even going

through the kitchen, but almost as soon as he'd laid on the

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bed he had been directed to, everything had begun to fade.

Now his eyes were opening, and for the first time since

he left Desmond and Geneva's, he felt truly rested. Long

-days and nights, hard trails, and little comfort were a way

of life to him, but having bullet wounds put it all in a whole

new light.

"I found it a little surprising..." Dakota heard Darvi say

and realized she was in the kitchen, right outside his door.

For the first time he noticed the door wasn't shut

"I never thought about people in the Bible quarreling or

not loving each other, but Pastor Osman's sermon spoke to

that very thing. I've been reading in Galatians ever since."

"Are you understanding it?" Merry asked.

"Some of it May I ask you some questions?"

"Of course, Darvi. Why don't we get our Bibles and sit

in the living room. The girls will be waking soon, and I can

hear them better if I'm near the stairs."

Dakota heard their chairs move and lay in silence. It

had been like listening to his own conversation with

Marcus Scott. Darvi must have been in church on Sunday.

79

Dakota glanced around to see if his saddlebags were in

A Texas Sky 45

sight but didn't spot them. He had a sudden need to read

his Bible.

With slow but comfortable movements he eased from

the bed. A glance out the window told him where the privy

was situated, and he thought if he moved quietly, he might

be able to get out without disturbing Darvi and her friend.

It occurred to him as he pulled on boots and found the back

door that he hadn't even met the woman.

3"3r-3r

"I think I hear the girls," Merry said about 45 minutes

later.

"Thank you for explaining some of this to me," Darvi

said. "It makes sense to me now. I've sinned so many times

since I believed. I'm not sure why I thought the people in

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the Bible would be different."

Merry smiled at her friend, still feeling rather amazed

that she was even having this conversation. She had

planned to go into town for some extra shopping after the

twins awoke, but suddenly nothing else mattered. Darvi

was here, and not just any Darvi, but a new sister in Christ

"Mama?" A liljle voice floated down the stairway.

"Coming, Viwy."

"How did you know that was Vivian?"

Merry shrugged. "I just know."

Darvi sat still in the living room after her friend walked

up the stairs. She was still thinking about all the things

Merry had explained and how much she had to learn when

she heard a noise in the kitchen. With little forethought she

stood to her feet and went that way.

Dakota, who had been reading at the table, had just put

his Bible in the bedroom and returned to the kitchen when

Darvi stepped into the room.

"I can't believe you did that!" Darvi attacked him

without warning.

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46 lori wick

Dakota stared at her angry face, feeling rather dispassionate

about her ire but thinking she looked rested and at

home in these surroundings. Her yellow dress looked nice

too.

"Did you hear me, Dakota?" she tried again.

"Yes, but I don't know what you're upset about"

Darvi's hands came to her waist "You let me ride us as