Thinking of the house shifted Dakota's thoughts back to
Darvi. Though he didn't know it, he was experiencing
some of the same emotions she had struggled with, especially
that of not wanting to get too dose to these people.
What '$ the balance here, Lord? I want to be a witness far You,
but I've had to come here under pretense to get Darvi. What is
my main role?
The answer was not obvious to Dakota. The men
thanked him and left him to the cleanup. Dakota was glad
to be on his own.
grgr'S-
"Is
there anything else you need from town, Mrs.
Robinson?"
"No, Dakota. I didn't mink you'd need to be going this
soon, but I'm low on flour too," Cassy said, standing next
350
to the wagon. "No, Undy, you can't go." The mother
directed this to her daughter, who was tapping her and
looking up with pleading eyes. Cassy looked back to
Dakota. "Why don't you grab a little candy or something?"
190 lori wick
He smiled. "I'll do it."
Dakota put the team into motion, finding he wasn't
enjoying this at all. From what he could figure out, Darvi's
predicament all revolved around the wants of one man. He
didn't know his name yet, but clearly the man wanted
Darvi.
At moments like this Dakota had to remind himself that
the other people at the ranch might have been able to help
her escape. He needed to think this way to keep things in
their proper perspective. Most things could not be blamed
on just one person. The man, a brother to Eliot McDermott
if their looks could be trusted, must have instigated the
abduction, but Cassy Robinson was a capable woman. If
she had wanted to help Darvi, she would have.
351
Dakota pushed these thoughts aside. He was determined
to speak with the sheriff but knew that at least one
of the men and the boy had gone into town earlier. It could
get a bit tricky. He was thinking about how to handle it
when he realized he was on the edge of town and had
better look for Dawson's. Then something wonderful happened.
About a block from his destination he spotted Joe
Laverty, who had spotted him as well. They had managed
just enough eye contact to give Dakota hope, and sure
enough, when he was almost through with his list, the law
man appeared at his side.
"Is there somewhere we can talk?" Dakota said without
introduction.
The sheriff was right glad to see this Ranger after so
many days. Without a word he moved toward the back
room. Dakota waited a moment and followed.
"I thought you might have moved on by now."
"No, but thafs my plan for the end of the week."
"And you need me," the sheriff said with some satisfaction.
"In a way I do. Can you answer some questions for
352
me?"
I
A Texas Sky 191
"Maybe," he said thoughtfully, not wanting the
younger man to sense his need to be needed.
"Is there a woman in town who works for the newspaper
named Ann Bell?"
"Her name's Annabelle. Annabelle Hewett. She writes
for the paper every week"
"What contact does she have with the men from the
Robinson ranch--Eliot McDermott and the other man?"
"The other man is Seth Redding, and they're half-brothers.
They work for Jared Silk, a banker whose dealings
are called into question by Annabelle on a regular
basis."
"But the brothers themselves," Dakota went back to
them. "You've never brought them in for anything?
"No, they always have airtight alibis."
353
"What kind of things do you suspect of them?"
The sheriff's smile was bitter.
"Thaf s the problem. They don't often get their hands
dirty, and neither does Silk. The brothers have connections
who give them what they want and still let them come out
smelling like a rose. I've never heard of them having
someone murdered, but I'm not too sure they're above
much else."
Dakota nodded, but the sheriff wasn't about to provide
information without gaining some in return.
"Now if s your turn. What does this have to do with the
woman you're after?"
Dakota knew it was time. "Her name is Darvi Wingate,
and she's a near mirror image of Annabelle Hewett."
The sheriff let out a low whistle. "Abduction is not the
brothers' style, but it sounds as though they tried it and
grabbed the wrong woman."
"And decided to keep her," Dakota finished. "Do you
think this banker is behind that?"
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out"
354
"I would appreciate your sitting on that until I get Miss
Wingate out of there."
192 lori wick
"I can do that."
A creak in the floor caused the men to cut the conversation
short. Dakota left the room first, and the sheriff hung
around just long enough to let him get on his way.
Neither man noticed the way Nate Robinson kept
behind the shelves, his eyes peeking just above the large
sacks of meal as he watched the men's mouths move and
listened to their words. He eventually left the storeroom as
well, but by the time he got out front, both men were gone.
%r%r%r
Darvi opened her window very slowly, listening for
creaks and groans. Not hearing any this night or the previous
nights, she pushed it all the way up and settled back into bed.
The first two nights she'd done this, she'd heard other noises
355
in the house and even someone outside, but not now. Whoever
was checking on her must have figured that she was
just sleeping with her window open, which was partly true.
She had started opening her window the day after
Dakota had arrived, all the while hoping not to draw suspicion.
After Dakota's words that day, she acted the scene
out in her mind. It all worked beautifully until she thought
of opening the window with a loud creak and bringing the
entire house down on her head.
Darvi stiffened suddenly when out the window she
heard a door open and close. Was tonight the night and had
she missed it? Another door, farther away, opened, and
Darvi knew someone was using the outhouse.
She made herself breathe normally and tried to pray. At
moments like this she wondered if she was going to make it
Helplessness and frustration had begun to be the norm in
her world as Seth would not listen to reason. Now all of that
was replaced by tension and fear. She didn't think anyone
was noticing--Seth and Eliot both went off to work as usual,
and Cassy and the kids had nothing but the wedding on
356
ATexasSky 193
their minds--but inside Darvi felt like a tightly stretched
thread.
Doors moved again, and Darvi knew all would be quiet
now. One of the children shifted in bed, and
Darvi was
once again set to wondering how she'd come to be in this
place. It was all so unreal at times, and altogether too real
at others. Sleep finally came, but not before Darvi muffled
unexpected tears. Dakota had come to rescue her; she was
still so amazed over that fact that she could hardly believe
it would happen.
gr-S"5r
When the plan hit his mind, Dakota wanted to laugh. It
was so simple, and yet it took some days to perfect He had
discovered that every man in the bunkhouse went to town
on Saturday night. Dakota would simply join them. He
knew they all drank, visited friends, or played cards and
357
came back with great hopes that their horses could find the
way. It couldn't have been more perfect if he had planned
it with them.
Dakota had meant what he said. There would be no
guns fired nor anyone chasing them, not even Seth Redding.
That the man was besotted with Darvi was more than
obvious, and Dakota had no doubt he would take action to
keep her, but the Ranger wasn't going to give him that
chance.
Letting Darvi know had been tricky. He hadn't been certain
just how he would do it, but burning the biscuits and
needing to have all doors and windows open gave him an
excuse to be outside by the barn and available when Lindy
came to see about the smell. Even Mrs. Robinson had
checked on him. The single word tonight had been easier to
pass than he'd figured, and the brief moment of eye contact
with Darvi told him he'd been understood.
Now as he made his way to town, having told the men
he would bathe last and to go on without him, it felt like
194 * lori wick
358
child's play to cut off the road and double back through the
woods to the place near the ranch where he'd spent that
first night.
Even though it was dark, Dakota still climbed the tree,
field glasses in hand, actually quite pleased with so little
moon. He couldn't see much, but sound carried well, and
it would be easy to count the men as they returned. The
hours would be long, possibly until two or three in the
morning, but in the end Darvi would be safe. Right now
that was all that mattered.
%r
Darvi could feel sweat breaking out all over her body. It
didn't help to be under the covers with her clothing on, but
she was sure it was more than that. The first sounds she
heard outside caused her to gasp in fear, and she knew she
was going to have to keep still or ruin the whole thing. Had
the men come in so noisily on the other Saturday nights?
359
Darvi had never noticed, but right now each sound of
hooves, each low voice or laugh, made her feel as though
she were being struck.
And the children were more restless too, which eventually
told Darvi that a closed window had been keeping the
noise out. She didn't want them to waken, but neither
would she shut that window. Darvi had to force herself not
to think of them. Against her will she had come to care for
them. She had to leave here--there was no other option-- but she didn't think she would ever forget Gassy and the...
"Darvi."
It was said so quietly that she almost missed it, and for
a moment she hesitated before reminding herself that no
one else would be calling her name. Reaching for the
satchel that was packed and ready next to the bed, she sat
up and started to put it through the window. Her heart
nearly came out of her chest when she felt Dakota take it.
A Texas Sky 195
On legs that would not stop shaking, Darvi stood on the
bed and leaned out, wondering how she would stay quiet
360
and climb out at the same time. She need not have worried.
Dakota's strong arms were there and almost before she
could guess his intentions, he lifted her and stood her
against the side of the house.
Taking her cue from him, she stood very still beside
him. She thought that all might be quiet, but her breathing
was so labored she couldn't be sure. However, Dakota
must have been. He suddenly took her by the hand and-^
began to walk with her across the field. They were more
than halfway to the woods when Darvi realized her other
hand was empty.
"My bag," she said on a soft gasp.
"I have it"
And on they went, right into the trees, Dakota leading
the way, ducking and moving branches from her path.
Then suddenly, when they had climbed several dozen feet,
he stopped. Darvi couldn't stop shaking and jumped nervously
when he whistled. Again she had to stifle a gasp
when something moved and started toward them. The
next thing she knew, Dakota's horse had drawn abreast of
361
them, and Dakota was lifting her. Climbing into the saddle
behind her, he maneuvered Eli through the woods.
Darvi had no sense of time. She tried to listen for the
sounds of pursuit but could hear only the horse and the
sound of her own breathing and pounding heart. She said
nothing. A thousand thoughts rushed through her mind at
once, but not one would stop and make itself heard. For a
time she thought she might sleep, but the pounding inside
was giving her a headache, so she sat very still, Dakota's
chest at her back, and tried not to give in to the temptation
to cry hysterically or leap off the horse and run.
She knew some relief when they came from the woods
and began moving down the road. She wished she knew
where they were and hoped Dakota did, but as with the
other questions, she kept this one to herself.
196 lori wick
At last the sky began to lighten. Darvi was not glad to see
it. The darkness made her feel safe; it made them untraceble.
She had not been afraid of the people she'd been forced
362
to live with for these weeks, but having them pursue her and
take her back was nothing short of terrifying.
All these tempestuous thoughts took their toll. Darvi
was near to bursting by the time Dakota pulled off the road
and into a wooded area. He climbed down and brought
Darvi down after him. It was light enough for him to see
that she was deathly pale, her eyes huge. He had wanted
to give her time, knowing her stay had to have been traumatic,
but he needed to check on her before they went
another step,
"Are you all right?"
"I think so," she said softly, eyes looking up at him in
amazement "You came for me." Her voice held wonder. "I
can't believe you came for me."
A nearby falling branch caused her to start and move
to ward him.
"Is that him?" she asked in panic.
"No." Dakota's voice was soft and reassuring as he
watched her keenly. "No one is following us, and even if
someone was, I wouldn't let him have you/'
363
Darvi couldn't hold back. She wa
nted to be so brave,
but she couldn't do it much longer.
"Please don't let him, Dakota," she said on a soft sob.
"I'll do anything you ask, but please don't let Seth or
anyone take me back."
Dakota's heart couldn't stand it He moved and
wrapped his arms around her, not at all surprised when the
dam burst forth. Dakota didn't remember ever hearing
anyone cry like Darvi did. She choked several times, but
not even that stopped her. Not until she seemed too weary
to make a sound did the tears stop, and by then she was
like a limp rag. Dakota felt her legs buckle and bent to lift
her in his arms. Darvi worked to catch her breath, looking
up at him through swollen eyes.
ATexasSky 197
"Do you want something to drink?" he asked, not letting
his mind dwell on all she'd been through; it wasn't
time for that yet
364
"Not right now."
Dakota took her back to the horse. It occurred to him
after they'd started back down the road that she might have
wanted a few minutes of privacy, but he didn't check with
her. She would tell him if there was a need. And no doubt
they would stop at some point, but home was just a few
hours away. Darvi didn't know where they were heading,
but Dakota found it comforting beyond words. No matter"
what had happened, no matter how awful things had been,
he would take her home to the ranch and take care of her.
He couldn't think of a safer place in all of Texas.
3-^r^inkade
"Cash, I think you'd better come," Katy called out,
interrupting the rancher's newspaper reading at the
kitchen table. They had not been home from church that
long, and Katy was still preparing Sunday dinner. She had
been in the kitchen with him but suddenly left Cash now
followed her through the house and into the front yard.
365
Dakota rode toward them, a woman in the saddle in
front of him. He came to a stop before Katy, and Cash could
see that the woman was asleep. Both Dakota and Darvi
looked very spent
"Darvi," Dakota said softly, but she remained limp in
his arms.
Cash stepped forward, and Dakota handed her down to
him. The moment his feet were on the ground, however, he
took her back. Katy led the way through the house and to
an upstairs bedroom. Dakota had just stepped across the
threshold of the guestroom when Darvi woke up. She
198 lori wick
started violently and reached for the front of his shirt