Read A Texas Sky Page 3


  "I didn't say you'd never met him, but if s been a long

  time, and I would especially want you to be excited when

  I've asked him to take you to Stillwater."

  Darvi stared at his mischievous eyes. "Do you mean it?"

  she asked, afraid to hope.

  "Indeed, I do. Now come on. He's in the living room."

  Darvi was suddenly all aflutter. Hair she didn't care

  about before was checked with careful attention, and she

  wiped perfectly dean hands two more times. Brace

  watched and waited patiently for her to join him.

  "Now?" he teased again.

  "Yes."

  Brace let her precede him but was talking as they

  approached.

  "Here she is, Dak. You can ask her yourself what day

  she wants to leave."

  Darvi, whose heart had been pounding with excitement,

  felt the pit of her stomach plummet as they entered the

  small living room and the cowboy from the street the day

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  before rose to meet her. Darvi's face flamed with mortification

  even as he came toward her, a kind smile on his face.

  A Texas Sky 25

  "It's nice to see you again, Darvi. You've done some

  growing up."

  "Yes," she barely managed and then realized she did

  not want to explain this strange reaction to her uncle.

  "You've changed a bit too," she said honestly, trying to

  act naturally. "I wouldn't have known you."

  Dakota smiled then, a full-blown work, but Darvi was

  still a little too tense to join him.

  "So, what day do you want to go?" he asked after

  reading the hesitancy in her eyes.

  "What day is good for you?"

  Dakota's hands came out. "My schedule is very open."

  "May I think about it then, and let you know?"

  "Thafsfine."

  "Lef s eat then," Brace declared, feeling he'd success-fully'pulled

  off his surprise, not to mention the fact that he

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  was famished.

  Dakota was hungry as well. He remembered his manners,

  but Geneva's cooking seemed much longer ago than

  a week. Darvi, he noticed, was not very hungry. Dakota

  wished he could ask her if he was causing the discomfort/

  but it looked as though they were going to have several

  days of travel where he might do that

  Partway through the meal, Brace began to tell Dakota

  about some cases and episodes from the last several

  months. Some Dakota knew of; others were new to him.

  'I've got a photograph I need to show you. I think if s

  up in my room. Ill run up and get it, and you can tell me if

  you've seen this man before."

  When Brace left, the dining room suddenly became very

  quiet. Dakota was almost through eating, and Darvi had

  given up pretending to eat. Dakota studied her from his

  seat, thinking that she had been something of a hoyden

  when he'd met her originally and that she had certainly

  grown into a refined young woman. She was poised and

  graceful; the only things out of place were the short curls

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  26 lori wick

  that refused to be caught back in the elegant chignon she

  wore.

  And that mouth! Dakota had never seen the like. Her

  upper lip protruded past a small shapely lower lip, giving

  her one of the most unusual looks he'd ever seen. In the

  strictest sense, she wasn't a beauty, but the soft curb

  around her face and those large brown eyes above her

  small, turned-up nose were all very eye-catching. And

  because she was looking everywhere but at her guest,

  Dakota went ahead and watched her. The moment she

  brought her eyes to his, however, he spoke.

  "So tell me, Darvi, does your uncle know you were

  asking perfect strangers to escort you around the state?"

  "I could tell you were a Ranger," she defended herself.

  "Not all Rangers are trustworthy, and you Joiow it."

  Darvi was silent at this, her eyes moving back to her

  plate.

  "So I take it Brace knows?"

  44

  Darvi was suddenly interested in the things on the

  table, straightening them just so and smoothing the

  already-perfect doth.

  "I didn't exactly mention it to him," she admitted. She

  glanced over to find those dark eyes leveled on her and

  asked herself if he'd always had such a powerful presence.

  "Are you going to tell him?"

  "if s not my place, but I think you know how dangerous

  that could have been."

  Darvi was only just able to nod before Brace came back

  to the table and the conversation turned to the man in the

  photo.

  Darvi began clearing the table for dessert, thinking

  Dakota was right: It had been dangerous. But there was

  more to it, something neither man would understand. She had to see Merry.

  ^stst

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  Desmond had not had an extra Bible to give him.

  45

  Dakota had read from Geneva's when he had studied with

  Desmond, but when he left Wellsville there was no Bible in

  his gear. He'd had time the day before to look for one, but

  having woken with pain and some fever, it had completely

  slipped his mind.

  Now Dakota sat in church wishing he had a Bible he

  could refer to. It wasn't that he doubted what the man was

  saying, but he thought if he could read it for himself, he

  would remember it better. Off and on each day he went

  over the things Desmond had told him, still somewhat

  amazed over how much made sense to him.

  "Let me read verse 13 to you," the pastor was saying,

  referring to the fifth chapter of Galatians. "Tor, brethren,

  you have been called into liberty; only use not liberty for

  an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another/

  "It sounds to me," the man went on, "as though the

  Galatian church had become sloppy and willful. Remember

  how earlier in the chapter Paul had given them the

  good news that salvation was by grace alone, through

  Christ alone? Well, it almost looks as if they were taking

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  this freedom, 'liberty7 as the verse calls it, and treating it

  like an old shoe. It seems as though they no longer treated

  this freedom with the respect and hard work it deserves.

  "Do you see how he commands them to love each

  other? I think selfishness has reared its ugly head. Paul is

  calling these believers to love each other because they were

  doing anything but Verse 15 uses words like Trite/

  'devour,' and 'consume.' Not exactly what we picture in a

  church family where love leads the way."

  Dakota had leaned forward in his seat He knew from

  his brothers that coming to Christ did not make everything

  perfect, but seeing that one of the churches from the

  Bible--one that had to be very new--had experienced

  these types of problems took a little getting used to.

  "So what does Paul tell them to do instead?" the pastor

  asked. "Look to verse 14. Love your neighbor as yourself.

  28 lori wick

  Have you ever known someone who hated himsel
f? We

  don't usually meet people like that I can tell you that I

  47

  don't do things to hurt my own body. If I so much as stub

  my toe, I sit down and rub it until it feels better.

  "So, I have to ask myself, lake/ do you love your neighbors

  like you do yourself? Do you care for them in the

  careful way you look after yourself? Or are you devouring

  and biting?'"

  This was heavy stuff for a man whose salvation was so

  new and who had no one with whom he could discuss

  what he was hearing. Dakota had seen many ugly things in

  his life, but he wasn't sure he could picture people in

  Desmond's or his brother's church acting this way. He

  didn't think the Bible would cover such a thing for no

  reason, but he was going to have to do some thinking

  before he made up his mind.

  Getting yourself a Bible would certainly help, Rowlings.

  "Lef s stand for our final two hymns."

  Dakota had not seen that coming. Where had the time

  gone? The Ranger hadn't known any of the songs at the

  beginning of the service or the ones they closed with, but

  he did his best He didn't even take notice of his surroundings

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  until people began to move from their seats. He was

  still taking in the simple wooden pews and small pulpit

  when from the periphery he caught someone approaching.

  Dakota turned to see the doctor from the day before.

  "How are the wounds?" that man held his hand out and

  asked.

  "Better, I mink," Dakota answered with a return shake.

  "I used the powder last night and again this morning."

  The older man nodded. "Thaf s just what every doctor

  wants to hear--that people are taking their medicine."

  Dakota smiled a little but didn't say anything else.

  "Do you have someplace to eat lunch today?"

  "As in the form of an invitation? No."

  "Well, consider yourself invited. I'm Marcus Scott, by

  the way."

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  "Dakota Rawlings, and thank you."

  "Let me give you directions to the house."

  Dakota listened to the simple explanation, but before

  49

  the doctor could finish, he was joined by Mrs. Scott and

  their two grown sons. Dakota ended up meeting them and

  simply following the Scotts' wagon home.

  "Are you just passing through Austin, Mr. Rawlings?"

  Mrs. Scott asked after her husband prayed and the dishes

  were passed.

  "In a way, ma'am, I am. I just came into town to tell my

  boss I'm ready to go back to work."

  "And where will you go from here?"

  "Just on a short jaunt into the hills, not actually working

  at all."

  "I was going to ask," the doctor cut in, "does your boss

  know you're not back to strength?"

  "No, but he didn't want me going back to work

  anyway."

  "Where do you live?" one of the sons now asked, and

  the meal progressed in companionable conversation,

  doctor and Ranger taking measure of each other. Finally,

  near the end of the meal, Dakota found the courage to ask

  some questions.

  50

  "Have you gone to the church very long?"

  "Years and years. Have you ever visited before?"

  "No, I haven't," Dakota answered and then plunged in

  with what was on his mind. "Do you happen to know

  whether the pastor is open to questions? I have a few."

  "Indeed, he is," Marcus answered as he stirred the

  coffee his wife had just brought to him. She returned to the

  kitchen to finish cutting pieces of cake. "Is there anything I

  can help you with?"

  Dakota frowned down at his plate for a moment before

  admitting, "Were those verses this morning saying that the

  church was having problems?"

  30 lori wick

  The doctor nodded. "Earlier in the chapter, Paul warns

  the people about the seriousness of adding anything to the

  gospel. Do you know what I mean by 'gospel'?"

  "Salvation?"

  "Yes. Their big issue was circumcision."

  Dakota's brows rose on this, but he stayed quiet.

  51

  "Some people were still insisting that the men be circumcised,

  though Paul made it very clear that salvation

  comes by faith alone through Christ alone. Pastor mentioned

  the freedom this gave them, but they started to treat

  that freedom carelessly and were falling into sin toward

  each other."

  "But the church was new! How could there be that

  many problems so quickly?"

  Marcus smiled. "I don't know too many people who

  don't have problems or past experiences that affect the way

  they think and act. These people were no different. They

  had been used to blood sacrifices and circumcision. Now

  Christ had come along and taken all that away. And that

  was wonderful for these folks, but old habits--especially

  ones that make us feel comfortable--can die hard."

  "So what type of sins are we talking about? I mean, how

  were they treating each other?"

  "The verses that are coming up have a pretty serious

  list. Paul calls them the works of the flesh, and they include

  adultery, fornication, hatred, and much more. Maybe mis

  52

  was what they were saved out of, and with the way they

  were acting, he feared they would go back to this life. At

  the end of that chapter, he goes on to tell them how important

  it is to walk in the Spirit and gives another list, this one

  full of righteous acts for them to practice."

  "But these people had heard the gospel and been

  saved?"

  "I believe so, yes, and I don't wish to make excuses for

  them, but keep in mind that salvation does not take all

  those old temptations and actions away. We still tend to

  think of ourselves first and want our way much too often."

  ATexasSky 31

  Dakota couldn't argue with that Until recently, his own

  life and wants were his main concern. He cared about his

  family and his job, but he could now see how self-centered

  he'd been. At the same time, he had to admit that he was

  changing. The doctor was willing to talk for hours, and

  Dakota's questions were not about his own life, but that of

  53

  Jesus Christ

  S"3^^r

  Thinking about how good it had been to talk to Dr.

  Scott, Dakota left their home and headed straight to Brace's

  small abode. Not until Mrs. Scott had asked if they would

  see him next week did Dakota realize he had no idea what

  his plans were. It was time to see Darvi. Because he wasn't

  staying at the boardinghouse, he realized Darvi had no way to tell him when she wanted to leave for Stillwater. For all he knew, they'd be pulling out of town first thing in the

  morning.

  Dakota arrived at the house about three o'clock,

  knocked softly on the door, and waited. Dressed in an elegant

  day dress the color of dark plums, made more elegant

  by its unadorned lines, Darvi answered.

  "Oh, Dakota!" she said in soft surprise. "I wondered

 
when I would see you again."

  Dakota stepped inside as she held the door and then

  understood why she whispered: Brace was sound asleep in

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  the rocking chair.

  Hat in hand, Dakota smiled a little before turning back

  to Darvi.

  "What day did you want to leave?"

  "Will Tuesday work for you?"

  "Thaf s fine. I'll check the stage schedule and get back--"

  "I don't want to go by stage," Darvi cut in.

  Dakota blinked.

  "I thought we'd be going on horseback. I want to go on

  horseback/' she clarified.

  32 lori wick

  Dakota couldn't help the way his eyes moved over her

  elegant dress. "The stage will be much more comfortable."

  "And also more unreliable."

  Dakota nodded slowly, thinking that it was her choice

  but also asking himself what he'd gotten into with this

  favor.

  "I'll check into renting a mount for you."

  "Uncle Marty has two horses now. He said I can take

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  one of his."

  So Brace knows about this,

  Outwardly Dakota nodded calmly, but his mind was

  already doing mental calisthenics as he went over the route

  to Blake and then on to Stillwater. The terrain wasn't bad,

  but it wasn't always the safest. On his own he wouldn't

  have given it a thought. Taking Darvi put it in a whole new

  light

  "What if we took the stage to Blake and then rented

  horses for Stillwater?"

  Without so much as a moment's hesitation, Darvi shook

  her head no. She didn't look stubborn, just certain. Dakota

  decided to let it drop,

  "Okay. How early do you want to leave?"

  "I was thinking five."

  Again Dakota was surprised but only nodded. Maybe it

  was for the best. He was coming to see that Darvi Wingate

  was one classy, sophisticated woman. More than likely

  they would have to take it slowly. Leaving early would

  help get them there in a more reasonable time frame.

  56

  "I'll see you Tuesday," Dakota supplied.

  "Thank you, Dakota," she said, her face no longer businesslike

  but wreathed in soft, delighted lines.

  Dakota couldn't help but respond. He smiled back,

  replaced his hat, and turned toward the door. He didn't

  know what the next week would bring, but he was fairly

  certain it wouldn't be dull.

  like a child at christmas, dakota sat down under the

  large shade tree, leaned against it for comfort, and opened

  the package he had just bought from the general store. It

  had taken some searching, but he finally had it.