Read A Texas Sky Page 14


  in her navy suit, trying to ignore some of the creases, and

  from years of solid habit, made her bed. After packing her

  bag, Darvi went out to do battle. This was all before finding

  the large room almost empty. The woman they referred to

  as Cassy stood at the stove. As soon as she spotted Darvi,

  she took a plate from the oven.

  231

  "I have some breakfast for you," she spoke as she

  moved to put it on the table.

  It was on the tip of Darvi's tongue to refuse, but then she

  saw it was dished up and ready.

  "Thank you," Darvi only replied and sat down,

  thanking the woman again when she was served a

  steaming mug of coffee. Trying to calm her now-racing

  124

  126 lori wick

  heart, Darvi bowed her head and thanked God for the

  food. She might never see this woman again, but she

  wanted her impression to be a favorable one.

  "Darvi, is it?" Cassy asked when her guesf s head came

  up.

  "Yes, and you're Cassy?"

  That woman nodded.

  "I met your children. I hope I didn't disturb them."

  232

  "Not at all. There is a spare room, but it's right across

  from Seth's. He felt you would feel safer in with the children.

  You can move if you like."

  "I appreciate the offer, but I won't be needing either

  room another night."

  Cassy only nodded, knowing it would not help Seth's

  cause for her to comment

  "May I ask you where Mr. McDermott is, or, urn, Seth?

  I don't know his last name."

  "Redding. Seth Redding. Eliot had to run into town, and

  Seth is around somewhere. I know he wants to talk with

  you."

  The eggs and steak on Darvi's plate were delicious, and

  so was the thick slice of bread, but it was somewhat lost on

  her. She spent the entire meal searching the door and windows

  for any sign of Mr. Redding. He didn't appear until

  after she was finished. As soon as Darvi saw him come in,

  she went for her bag. Back in the large room, the handle in

  her grasp, she spoke. '

  "You may explain to me when you return me to town."

  233

  "I'm not returning you to town, but we can go for a

  walk and I'll tell you what happened."

  Darvi could have stomped her foot with frustration, but

  as with everything else in this situation, she was helpless.

  She set her bag back against one wall and followed Seth

  outside. He walked them toward the distant woods, his

  stride shortened to match Darvi's. Not that she was very

  close to him. She walked a few steps behind and some ten

  ATexasSty 127

  feet away. Seth glanced over at her stormy face and knew

  he would just have to begin.

  "Eliot--he's my half brother--and I work for Jared Silk;

  he's a banker. He's not all that honest, but he pays us well,

  and we're good at what we do." He glanced to see if she

  was listening, but she looked away when their eyes met.

  "Jared's sick of Annabelle Hewetf s column. If the truth be

  told, she's often right about him, but he wants her stopped.

  He came up with the plan to talk to her, and our job was to

  convince her to have dinner with him,

  234

  "The men we sent grabbed you because you look like

  her, and also because she's always headed somewhere. Her

  job takes her all over town, so it wasn't surprising they

  found you at the train station. We thought we had

  Annabelle until Eliot saw her heading into the news office

  early yesterday morning. By that time, it was too late."

  "What was too late?"

  "I had already decided that I liked you."

  Darvi stopped and gawked at the man. She could

  hardly believe her ears.

  "It's not forever, Darvi, at least your being forced to stay

  here isn't forever, but I'm just so sure that if you stay for a

  while, you'll come to care for us."

  Darvi was stunned. This tall, confident, good-looking

  man was staring at her with his heart in his eyes. Darvi's

  head was spinning. She shifted her gaze to the wide open

  land and the trees beyond. Even from here she could hear

  the low sound of the cattle and understood how they made

  their living.

  "Mr. Redding."

  235

  "Please call me Seth."

  Darvi put her hand up. "All right. Seth. Let me get this

  straight. You work for a man who wanted a woman

  abducted and threatened, but the wrong woman was

  taken. Now that you've met me, and even realizing I'm not

  Annabelle Hewett, you want me to share your life?"

  128 lori wick

  "I was hoping you weren't Hewett, since working for

  Jared would have made that relationship impossible. Much

  as I hated for you to be afraid, I was very pleased to learn

  you weren't her."

  Darvi thought about the way she'd been treated in the

  last 48 hours. Not once had the men given the impression

  that she was going to be physically harmed. They had been

  downright gentlemen, but it didn't make what they had

  done less wrong.

  "I get the impression that you're a very nice man, Seth.

  Your family/' Darvi almost stumbled over the word,

  knowing Eliot was living with his girlfriend and her children,

  236

  "seems very nice too. So how is it that you believe

  you can spot a woman, desire her, and take her?"

  "I know if s outrageous, but I'm sure if I let you leave,

  I'll never see you again."

  "Thaf s right, you won't!"

  Seth put his hands out as though he'd made his point

  Darvi could not believe this. Things simply didn't

  happen like this these days. This was 1882. This was civilization.

  A man simply did not come in, pick out the female

  he wanted, and carry her off into the night!

  "You have to take me back to town," Darvi persisted,

  working to keep her voice even. "You have to return me so

  I can catch my train home. Have you thought about what

  my family might be feeling when I don't show up? You

  can't keep me, no matter how you feel. I am a person with

  rights and feelings, and I want to leave."

  "To my head it sounds very logical, Darvi, but my

  heart's just not convinced."

  Darvi threw up her hands in frustration and turned

  back toward the house, muttering all the way. She hit the

  237

  door so angry she completely forgot that she wanted to

  make a favorable impression on Cassy.

  "Do you know," she nearly shouted when she got

  inside, "that he plans to keep me?"

  ATexasSty 129

  "He said as much," Cassy admitted, turning from the

  stove top and wiping her hands on her checkered apron.

  "And do you condone this, or are you going to help me

  get out of here?"

  "I can't help you leave, if thaf s what you're asking me.

  I wish Seth had done this another way, but I still won't

  interfere."

  "Then you're a part of it."

  Cassy shrugged. "I guess I am."


  Darvi looked as stunned as she felt.

  "He's a big boy, Darvi. I don't try to tell him what to do.

  I'm sure you can appreciate that."

  As a matter of fact, Darvi could. She knew she must not

  238

  take this out on anyone but Seth. In fact, she somehow

  sensed that not even Eliot was involved.

  "We got ten!" Nate shouted as he and Lindy came

  through the front door. "Ten eggs!"

  "Good job. Did anyone get pecked?"

  The children proudly displayed their small hands.

  "Hi, Darvi," Nate said when he spotted her. Lindy

  waved her greeting, but Darvi offered only a limp smile in

  return.

  "Okay, you two," Cassy chimed in. "Get your slates.

  We've got some arithmetic to work on."

  Cassy put the eggs to one side and came to stand near

  Darvi, her voice low.

  "Is this your traveling suit?"

  "Yes."

  "It doesn't look like you're going to be getting on the

  train today. I've got some dresses if you want to change."

  "I have two more dresses with me, but I thank you."

  "Let me know if you need anything," Cassy said as she

  moved to her children.

  239

  A way out was Darvi's only thought, but she kept this to

  herself.

  130 lori wick

  But we allf with open faces beholding as in a glass the glory

  of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory,

  even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Therefore, seeing we have this

  ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not, but have

  renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness,

  nor handling the word of Cod deceitfully, but by manifestation

  of the truth commending ourselves to every man's

  conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hidden it is

  hidden to them that are lost. In whom the god of this world hath

  blinded the minds of them who believe not, lest the light of the

  glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine

  upon them.

  Darvi read the verses from 2 Corinthians 3 and 4 a

  240

  second and third time before sitting back thoughtfully.

  She would not have chosen to be in this place, but she

  knew from other passages that God was in control. It was

  hard to imagine a reason for this, but she understood now

  that if others couldn't see the gospel--the good news of

  Christ--in her, they might remain lost Darvi read the

  verses again.

  But does that mean I just sit here? Or do I do something to

  get back to town? Darvi had no answer and kept on praying. Lord, I need You to show me a way out of this. I will never love Seth Redding because he doesn't love You, but those verses say

  I'm to care about the souls of these people. Part of my heart still

  can't believe this has happened, but I know that You have Your

  eye on me.

  Darvi spent a little more time in prayer and in reading

  her Bible before changing into an everyday dress and going

  back out to the big room. Cassy and the children were still

  working at the table. They looked up when she came in.

  "Are you any good with spelling?" Cassy asked.

  "Pretty good. It all depends."

  Cassy raised the book when Darvi approached.

  241

  "Is there a rule I can tell the kids about adding ed or ing to a word?"

  "What words do you have for examples?"

  A Texas Sky 131

  "Well, "study" for one. Studied puts an i in, and

  studying leaves the y in place."

  "Oh." Darvi was sympathetic. "That is a hard one."

  While the women pored over this, the children's noses

  pressed dose as they listened, Seth came back. He had not

  wanted to rush Darvi, knowing she would need time to see

  that, unconventional though his approach may be, he

  wanted only to take care of her. He thought it might be

  easier if he made himself scarce for a time, but it had then

  occurred to him that she might be giving Cassy a hard time.

  He knew he couldn't allow that. Seeing her working at the

  table with some of the people he loved most in the world

  did his heart a world of good.

  Not waiting to be invited, Seth joined them. Undy went

  right for his lap, and when Cassy had the kids go back to

  242

  their spelling words, she stayed right where she was. It was

  not lost on Seth, however, that Darvi never spoke to him or

  even looked at him. This surprised him--she didn't seem

  to be that type of person--but considering all the circumstances,

  he thought she might not have seen herself as

  having any other recourse.

  He was relieved when Cassy had something else for the

  kids to do and called them away. Seth spoke quietly before

  Darvi could get away.

  "Darvi, please don't tell me you're going to spend every

  day not looking at me or talking to me."

  Darvi finally looked him in the eye, her own gaze

  regretful. "I have no desire to be mean or rude to you, and

  I appreciate your not hurting me or threatening me, but

  you need to know that if I could leave here, I would. You

  need to understand that I'm hoping you'll come to your

  senses and return me to town. I'm praying for that very

  thing."

  Seth looked thoughtful, even as he reminded himself he

  was going to have to be patient.

  243

  132 lori wick

  "At least I know where I stand/' he finally said. "And

  since you're so sure of your feelings, you can't object to my

  trying to change them."

  He wasn't listening. Darvi shook her head to clear the

  confusing mix of emotions.

  "I'm not the woman for you, Seth, and the sooner you

  face that, the easier all this will be."

  "Now, there you're wrong. You are the woman for me.

  I know you are, and given time, you'll know it too."

  Darvi looked into his eyes. He was completely serious.

  She had been close to only one other man in love, and that

  had been Brandon. Seth's eyes looked the same: tender and

  warm, full of eagerness to please, with just enough male

  interest to remind Darvi that he was a man. She stood up. _

  "Darvi, please don't go."

  She paused, making herself meet his eyes.

  "I'm not running from you. I just need to get out for a

  little while--for your sake, I might add, not mine."

  244

  "You're sure?"

  She only nodded and started away.

  "Darvi?"

  She turned one last time.

  "You look beautiful in that yellow dress."

  Darvi didn't try to hold back her sigh, but she still said,

  "Thank you, Seth."

  ^-3r-3-

  Even

  though Darvi was trusting the Lord to get her out

  of the mess she was in, she still set her mind to planning.

  She spent her first afternoon with the children, who

  showed her every inch of the barn. Darvi saw the chickens,

  the milk cow, several horses, a goat, and even two pigs. She

  also took note of the doors, where the saddles and tack

  were stored, and the access to th
e haymow. Her mind was

  working out how she could use all of this when she heard

  A Texas Sky 133

  245

  v

  Cassy say she was taking the wagon to town first tiling in

  the morning.

  The children were already in bed, and the big room was

  full of ranch hands. As Darvi was eating, a plan was

  forming, one that she saw no harm in trying. She had told

  Seth she didn't want to stay there, and she meant it

  "Excuse me--" a male voice finally got through to her.

  Darvi looked up to see one of the hands addressing her.

  "Do you still write for the paper?"

  Darvi shook her head. "You've confused me with

  someone else. I've never written for the paper."

  The man, who was very well mannered--they all

  were--went back to his plate. Darvi did the same, but she

  could feel both Seth and Eliot's eyes on her. Choosing to

  ignore them and wishing the children hadn't gone to bed

  so early, Darvi finished her meal feeling very alone. It was

  a relief to see Cassy starting the dishes. Darvi left the table

  to offer her help.

  "Why don't I wash?" she suggested, knowing the dryer

  246

  had to know where to put things away.

  "All right. Did you have enough to eat?"

  "Yes, thank you, it was delicious." Darvi glanced at the

  half-dozen ranch hands still eating. "Did they come in for

  breakfast and lunch and I miss them?"

  Cassy laughed. "No. My cook has been with me for

  years, but he's getting on. He wanted to retire, so I made a

  deal with him. If he would do the breakfast and the noon

  meals in the bunkhouse or on the range, I'd do supper for

  everyone, including him. He didn'teven hesitate. He knew

  supper was the hardest meal of the day."

  Darvi nodded, knowing what she meant. The platters

  that held the meat and side dishes were huge, not to mention

  the dozens of plates, bowls, and cups, along with all

  the flatware. Trying not to think of how her hands were

  going to feel when she was done, Darvi started in. She was

  impressed when she heard the men thanking Cassy on

  134 lori wick

  their way out, and even more so when both Seth and Eliot

  247

  offered to help.

  "I think for tonight we have it under control," she said

  kindly, "but don't forget us in the future."

  The brothers also thanked her and went on their way.

  Unknown to Darvi, Cassy did this on purpose. She wanted

  to talk to the newest houseguest alone.

  "Are you all right?" she started by asking.

  "Yes," Darvi answered, but she didn't elaborate.