six months after the wedding."
22
Now it was Darvi's turn to stare.
"She doesn't live in Austin?"
He slowly shook his head. "Up in the hills. A small town
outside of Blake called Stillwater."
ATexasSky 15
Darvi continued to stare, her mouth slightly agape. This
couldn't be true. She'd been dying to see her friend for
dose to three months and only now was able to make time
to come to Austin. How could this have happened?
"I can't believe it," she muttered softly.
"Ifs been four years since you've visited, Darv. A lot can
change in that time."
Her shoulders drooped a little.
"Yes, they can, and we never tried to stay in touch outside of my visits. There was never a need. We were always able to pick up right where we left off."
"I'm sorry, Darv. I wish you had known."
It took Darvi only a moment to see the sadness in his
eyes. In the next instant her chin tipped up. "I'll just go to
her," she said, standing up as though leaving on the spot
23
Brace was already shaking his head. "I don't have time
to take you, and you--"
"You don't have to," Darvi cut him off. "I can get there;
you know I can."
"Don't even think about it," Brace said in a voice he'd
have used with his men. "I won't even discuss it"
"Uncle Marty, when are you going to realize I'm not 16
anymore?" She threw her arms up and flopped back down
on the wooden seat "For that matter," she muttered,
"when are you going to face the fact that I'm not 20 anymore?"
But Brace was still shaking his head no.
"You know I can make it!" she tried again.
"I'm not willing to let you try."
"Why can't you take me? I'll just make it a quick visit
We can't be talking about more than two days on the trail,
if that"
"I don't have time. I wish I did, Darvi, but my boss is
coming into town, and I can't be gone when he arrives."
"When is he coming?"
"Sometime next week."
24
"And that's all the more specific he could be? Men!"
16 lori wick
Brace leaned back in his chair, a big smile on his face.
"What is that grin about?"
"Oh, nothing much. Only about a niece who said she
was coming back every summer and hasn't been here in
four years." Brace nodded sagely. "Yes, indeed, women are
much better about saying when they'll arrive and then
coming on time."
Darvi stood, working hard to hide her smile.
"I believe I'll be going on my way now, since all you can
do is insult me."
"Are you going to be around at lunch?" Brace asked,
knowing she was riot really angry.
"That all depends."
"On what?"
"On whether I've found someone to take me to Merry's
or not"
The smile she gave him could have melted butter in the
25
snow, but he knew the steel in that little backbone of hers-- just like her mother's. He didn't let himself laugh, however, until she exited and shut the door in her wake.
%r%r
Dakota hit Austin hot, dirty, and sore. There was no
doubt in his mind'that his first stop would be Brace's office,
but from there he was headed for a bath. The dark cowboy
rode easily up the familiar street only an hour past noon,
stopped in front of the office, and didn't so much as wince
when he climbed painfully from the saddle.
Brace's back was to him when he entered the sparse
room, but that didn't change Dakota's routine. He pushed
his hat back on his head, turned the chair around as he
always did, and straddled it This done, he waited for Brace
to turn and acknowledge him.
Brace knew someone had come in behind him, but he'd
lost a file that morning and was determined to find it He
ATexasSty 17
26
wasn't usually so rude to folks who entered and decided
he had best say something.
"I'll be with you in a moment," he called over his
shoulder.
"Don't hurry on my account"
The sound of that voice caused the older man to stop.
He turned slowly from the file cabinet and speared Dakota
with his angry gaze. The seated Ranger looked back with a
calm that was genuine.
"What are you doing here?"
"Coming back to work."
"I told you I didn't want to see you for six months."
"I don't need six months."
"I say you do."
The old Dakota would have stood and gone back to
work without a word of apology. The new Dakota debated
his next move. He wasn't certain of too many things right
now, but lying low for another four months was not something
he needed. He tried a new tack.
"So what you're telling me is that you have so many
27
Rangers that you can let men sit around for months at a
time."
Brace came to the desk and sat across from Dakota, his
eyes thoughtful as they watched him.
"If you still feel good in another month, 111 put you back
on."
"And what am I supposed to do for another month?"
"As a matter of fact, I have a personal favor to ask you.
It won't take a month, but it should put you closer to home
where you can go and lie low until the end of September."
Dakota was not the least bit interested in lying low, but
he figured once he'd done the personal favor, he could talk
Brace around.
"Whaf s the favor?" he asked, knowing it didn't matter;
he would do whatever Brace needed.
"Can you escort my niece to Stillwater?"
18 lori wick
"Darvi?" Dakota guessed, knowing she used to visit
every summer. He'd even met her one year.
28
"Yes. A friend of hers moved, and she wants to see her."
"Certainly. When does she want to leave?"
"Probably next week, but 111 ask her."
Dakota nodded.
"And until then," Brace said unyieldingly, "you can just
enjoy the sights of Austin. If I see you working, I'll shoot
you myself."
Dakota knew he had no choice, but he didn't like it
Fighting the urge to say more, he stood.
I'm headed to get a bath."
"All right. Why don't you come to dinner some night?
You name the day."
Dakota nodded. 'Ill get back to you."
Brace watched him leave, looking for signs of injury. He
wouldn't have admitted it for the world, but it looked to
him as though Dakota was right: He was ready to come
back to work.
%r%r$ff
29
Darvi's attempt to find an escort to Stillwater was
proving fruitless. For a time she had traversed the streets
of Austin, hoping to find an advertisement or anything that
might indicate a guide service, but she knew such possibilities
were remote.
From her place in Austin's reading room, Darvi looked
out the window and told herself this was not going to
work. But I don't know what else
to do, she then answered
herself. I can't exactly walk the streets looking for a man to
hire--Uncle Marty would have a fit. But I'm feeling just about
that desperate.
Just about ready to give up and open a book that had
caught her eye when she came in, she spotted him. Darvi
was willing to bet her grandmother's inheritance that he
was a Ranger. She'd certainly spent enough time around
A Texas Sty 19
her uncle to spot the type. Not even remembering to
replace the book to the shelf, Darvi came to her feet as
gracefully as speed would allow and made a beeline for the
30
door.
Dakota knew he was being followed, but he wasn't
overly concerned. After all, the streets were fairly crowded
and the bathhouse was on a main street. Still, there was no
doubt that he heard footsteps that matched his own. And
unless he missed his guess, it was the light tread of a
woman. He let it go a few seconds longer before stopping
and slowly turning around. Sure enough, about ten yards
behind him, a woman stopped as well.
"Did you need something?" he asked politely, removing
his hat
"No," she answered softly, but everything in her voice
and manner said the opposite.
"Are you all right?"
This time she only nodded and looked away, dearly
embarrassed.
Dakota studied her for a moment, replaced his hat, and
31
turned back on his way. He nearly shook his head when
she continued behind him.
Thinking she was simply going his way, and not
wanting to make her feel awkward, he left it alone. Not
until he was ready to walk up the steps of the bathhouse
did he let himself look again. What he saw stopped him.
The woman--quite pretty he could see from this distance --was even closer and staring right at him.
"Are you certain you're all right?"
"You are a Texas Ranger, aren't you?" the woman suddenly
blurted.
"Yes, ma'am. Is there something I can do?"
Dakota watched her composure slip a little more before
she visibly gathered her courage and went on.
20 lori wick
*
32
"Do your duties happen to take you into the hills Very
often?"
"The hills, ma'am?" Dakota asked, completely at sea.
"Yes. I have a need to go to Stillwater, and I'm looking
'for someone to escort me."
Dakota had all he could do not to react, asking himself
if this could actually be Darvi. Gone was the child he'd met
years ago, and Dakota was left wondering how long it had
been.
"You see," she tried again, this time catching herself and
now standing like a woman in command, "if s rather
important that I go to Stillwater. I'm terribly sorry to accost
you on the street in this way, but I thought if you were to
be traveling in those parts, I could accompany you and
give my family ease about my travel."
Dakota was on the verge of telling her exactly who he
was and that he had already been asked to see her there
when gunshots were fired down the street.
"Will you excuse me a moment?" he said to the woman
without hesitation as he turned and ran that way.
33
Gun pulled and ready, Dakota hurried toward the
sound, which took him between two buildings and onto a
side street. He heard shouting as he moved and sure
enough, as soon as he spotted the commotion, which
appeared to be a woman with a shotgun, he also spotted
two officers. Even though the woman still had the gun, the
men seemed to have the situation under control. Glad not
to be pressed into duty just then, Dakota holstered his
weapon and walked back toward the bathhouse.
Long before Dakota reached his destination, he could
see that the street was empty. He debated getting back to
Brace right then so that he could get word to his niece, but
a sjfark of mischief lit inside him. He would certainly have
to let Brace know that he would be coming for dinner. The
sooner the better.
^
W
34
dakota thought he might be more comfortable at the
boardinghouse, but if he wasn't going to be working for
another month, he would have to be a little careful with
his money for a time. That determined, he rolled out his
bedding and prepared to sleep under the stars for the fifth
night in a row. He could have made it to Austin in less
time, but he'd taken it slow. As he now shifted around for
a position that would not aggravate his wounds, he knew
why.
I may not be as ready for this as I thought, he told the Lord.
I was pretty upset that Brace didn't want me back right now, but
I think You must have had a hand in that.
For a moment Dakota lay very still and wondered at
tfiis miracle that had happened in his heart. He knew God
could have closed the book on him so easily; his wounds
still ached in reminder, but here he was, alive and able to
do things differently.
How many people get a second chance? J don't know why You
think me worth it, but I'm grateful, God--more grateful than I
can say.
35
Hot days on the trail were catching up to him. Dakota fell
asleep still praying for his parents' salvation and then for
Desmond and Geneva, asking God to help him remember
all the things they had shared with him.
21
22 lori wick
^*3^^I
have a surprise for you," Brace told Darvi on Saturday
as they sat down to lunch.
"What is it?" Darvi asked, trying to show interest when
all she could do was think about her friend. She could
write, she realized, but it wouldn't be the same.
"I can't tell you. It's a surprise."
Darvi didn't like surprises, and she suspected her uncle
knew this.
"Just give me a hint."
"All right. Let's just say that someone is coming for
36
dinner tonight."
Suddenly things made sense. Milly, the woman who
kept house for her uncle a few days a week and started his
meals, had put a large roast in to bake that morning. With
Darvi in the house, she had been leaving a little earlier in
the day, giving the young woman leave to change anything
she wanted on the menu. But today she had told Darvi
exactly how she wanted the meat finished and what she'd
wanted to go with it
"Someone as in a family? Or someone as in one
person?"
"I think I've told you enough."
"A man or a woman?"
Brace went on eating.
"What if I have plans for the night?" Darvi now tried.
"What would you say to that?"
"I'd say I'm surprised. I thought you were here to visit
me."
Her sharp tongue getting her into trouble in the usual
way, Darvi didn't reply.
37
"I think that might be why I'm confused a
bout your
being in such a hurry to rush off to see Merry. You only just
got here."
"I'm sorry, Uncle Marty," Darvi whispered in true
repentance, her heart seeing how insensitive she had been.
A Texas Sky 23
"Oh, Darv," he laughed, "I'm just teasing you. You
know I would wish for you to go. I'd take you myself if it
were possible."
Darvi smiled at the warmth in his tone, but her head
was having a little talk with her heart
You're going to have to drop it, Darvi. He's right about this.
You came to see him. Now accept that and enjoy your visit here.
Not one to feel sorry for herself, Darvi forced herself to accept the situation. She would write to Merry in the morning and be done with this plan.
SgrS^
38
"You look like a pincushion," the doctor said mildly as
he examined Dakota's torso. "Oh, yes, I see what you
mean. This one is rather red and nasty."
Dakota took a breath as the man probed around his side
but didn't cry out as he was tempted. He'd woken that
morning feeling warm and uncomfortable and knew it was
more than the weather. He'd tried to ignore it for most of
the day, but the pain had grown worse. With just two hours
before he had to be at Brace's for dinner, he stopped in to
see the doctor.
"I've got some powder I want you to put on this, and
sleep on your other side for a while."
Dakota nodded, not bothering to mention that he'd
been shot in the upper arm on the other side. It wasn't any
wonder that sleeping without a mattress was fitful these
nights.
"If you don't see vast improvement by Monday, get
back in here."
"All right. What do I owe you?"
The doctor named a price so low that Dakota looked at
39
him.
"My nephew's a Ranger," the man said with a sigh.
"You're a breed apart--there's no denying that."
24 lori wick
Dakota smiled a little and thanked the man. Once outside,
he could tell evening was on its way; the temperature
had dropped a little. A cool evening and a home-cooked
meal--Dakota could hardly wait
%r$f
"Are you about ready to come out?" Brace had found
Darvi in the kitchen and asked her for the second time.
"Almost," she said, knowing she wasn't going to have
any other excuses.
"I thought you'd be more excited," he teased.
Darvi looked him in the eye, her hands going to her
waist
"I'm expected to be excited about someone I've never
40
met?"