Read A Texas Sky Page 31


  own. But You must have been leading in those situations too.

  And help my parents as they read my letter. Help them to see

  their need for You. Give Darvi just the words for her mother. Help

  her mother to read with an open heart and accept Darvi back.

  "What are you thinking about?"

  "I was praying/'

  "Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt"

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  "If s all right Somehow I think God understands."

  Darvi kept washing, but she looked very content.

  Dakota didn't think there was another place on earth he'd

  rather be than in Texas with Darvi. '

  gK"Sr^

  For the third day in a row the courtroom was packed.

  From their front-row seats, Renee, Darvi, and Dakota

  noticed that things became very quiet when the judge

  entered, and in just a matter of minutes, the charges were

  read and the courtroom heard that Jared Silk was going to

  jail for a very long time.

  On the adjournment, Darvi and Dakota stood, Darvi

  wishing that her abductors were going with Mr. Silk. She

  was still thinking this when a police officer approached

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  with Seth Redding, his hands cuffed behind his back. Seth

  stopped and looked down at her/ his eyes as warm and

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  caring as always.

  "Hello, Darvi."

  "Hello, Seth."

  He studied her a moment, and Darvi thought he would

  move on, but he spoke again.

  "Eliot and I turned state's evidence against Jared. Our

  time inside will be very short."

  He paused now, as though giving her time to think

  about it

  "Please tell me I can contact you when I get out, Darvi.

  I swear, I'll never hold you captive again."

  "I can't do that," Darvi whispered, her heart in terrible

  pain over this whole ordeal. She shook her head and tried

  to find words. She ended up saying, "For so many reasons,

  Seth, it just won't work."

  The temptation was very strong to say cruel things and

  make her feel as badly as he was feeling, but Seth couldn't

  doit.

  "You're quite a lady, Darvi Wingate/' he now said, a

  small smile in his eyes. "Don't ever forget that"

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  The officer led him away then, Eliot and another officer

  some ten feet behind. Seeing Eliot brought Darvi's eyes to

  where she'd last seen Cassy. That woman's devastated face

  was staring after the departing brothers. Lindy's face was

  buried in her mother's skirts, and Nate's little visage was

  nothing short of tragic. Darvi glanced up at Dakota, who

  nodded as he guided her in Cassy's direction.

  "I'm sorry I had to deceive you, Cassy," Dakota said to

  the ranch owner the moment she looked at them.

  "Don't be, Dakota." Her voice was resigned. "You only

  did what you had to do."

  An uncomfortable silence fell over them as Darvi cast

  about desperately for something to say. She then noticed

  Cassy's dress. It was her wedding dress.

  "Did you get married?"

  ATexasSty 281

  Cassy actually managed a smile. "Yes, we did."

  "Was it nice?"

  The other woman nodded, her eyes softening in remembrance,

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  before becoming direct as she looked into Darvi's face.

  "I've been doing a lot of thinking, Darvi. I need to hear

  more. I've been trying to read my Bible, but I'm not understanding.

  I need to hear more about the way you believe.

  Will you write to me?"

  "I'd be happy to meet with you, Cassy," Darvi volunteered.

  "I'll tell you anything you want to know."

  But the blonde was already shaking her head. "No. I

  need to be able to read it and think it over."

  Cassy's gaze dropped, her face looking tired and

  ashamed. She moved as though she would turn away and

  leave, but Nate was pulling on her arm.

  "Oh, yes," she stopped to say, looking back to Darvi. "I

  almost forgot Nate wants you to know that at the end he

  knew everything. He saw and heard Dakota talking with

  the sheriff, and he even heard you leaving out the window

  the night you left."

  Darvi looked down at him.

  "And you didn't say anything, Nate?"

  "Not for a while," the boy told her. "Not until after you

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  left, and then only to Mama."

  "Why, Nate? Why didn't you wake the house?"

  He shrugged a little. "You weren't happy. I know Seth

  wanted to keep you, but you were sad. And I didn't think

  you should have to cry in your bed anymore."

  Tears flooding her eyes, Darvi took him in her arms. The

  little boy held on for dear life. When he let go, Darvi looked

  down and smoothed his hair. Lindy came next, hugging

  Darvi with all the sweetness she'd always shown her.

  When at last they stood apart, Darvi knew that Cassy

  would have to make the move. Darvi's heart was ready to

  burst when Cassy stepped forward to hug her. She and the

  children then left without another word.

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  "I think maybe we should head to your aunt's," Dakota

  said quietly, and Darvi only nodded.

  Halfway there, she had a thought and said, "Too often I

  can't see why God does things or lets them happen, but

  right now I'm willing to admit that I had to go through all

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  of this to open a door between Cassy and me."

  "I think you might be right"

  "I'm going to use those verses you gave me for Cassy

  instead of my mother. Do you think thafs all right?"

  "I think thafs perfect"

  It was good to cover the rest of the way in silence. Upon

  arriving, both were surprised to find that Renee had

  reached home first

  "Aunt Renee," Darvi said the moment she saw her,

  "thank you for everything. If s been wonderful seeing you

  and getting to know you, but I'm going to leave for Austin

  tomorrow. I hope you won't think me rude, but I want to

  go see Uncle Marty."

  Renee hugged her niece.

  "Thafs fine, dear. I was hoping you could meet my

  James, but maybe another time."

  "You could always invite me to the wedding."

  Renee smiled.

  "I'll do that, Darvi Wingate, just see if I don't"

  The three spent the remainder of the day in relaxed pursuits.

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  Renee took Darvi and Dakota out to dinner and spent

  the evening regaling mem with stories of her reporting

  escapades. Dakota had plenty of his own tales, and they

  laughed until way too late.

  Nevertheless, Darvi stood by her word. Dakota still

  acting as protector and guide, they left the next morning

  for Austin.

  Austin

  One Month Later

  Dear Darvi,

  THE CHILDREN LOVED THE LETTERS YOU WROTE jttst for them.

  You would not believe their excitement. They are working on letters

  back to you, but I wanted to reply first.

  1 can't thank you enough foryourwords to me. We miss Eliot

  terribly, Seth too, but your letter gave me some hope and peace

  for my
own heart. I must admit that for a time I felt I'd sinned

  too badly to ever be forgiven by God, but the verses you gave me

  would indicate otherwise.

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  I think we are going to take your advice and start going into

  town for church on Sunday mornings. When I was shopping last

  week, I met a woman at Dawson's who was very kind. I don't

  recall ever seeing her before but found out that she's a pastor's

  wife. I know the church she goes to, and I thought if she was typical

  of the congregation, we might be welcome. I'm scared of such

  a move, but I'm more afraid of doing nothing.

  Well, I've run out of words. Thank you again for the list of

  verses. The Bible does make it very clear; I just need to figure out

  what my heart should do. Take care, Darvi, and I'm sorry for all

  the pain we caused you. I wouldn 't mind hearing from you again.

  Sincerely,

  Cassandra McDermott

  Darvi lay her head back, her heart so blessed that she

  could barely think. She'd received four letters and hadn't

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  284 * lori wick

  530

  known where to start. A little afraid of what her mother's

  letter might say, and certain that Merry's letter would be

  good news, she had put them aside in favor of Cassy's.

  The one from Dakota's mother intrigued her; nevertheless,

  she saved it until last, glad that after she read her mother's

  letter, she could tell her uncle it was good news as well.

  ^"3*

  Dakota was doing some letter-reading of his own. Having

  finally gone back to work on a job that put him under new

  command with a group of Rangers toward the south, he was

  just getting into Austin for his first leave. Upon his arrival he

  did two things: got a bath and checked to see if the post office

  had mail for him. A letter from his mother, which Cash had

  forwarded, awaited him. It was short She thanked him, told

  him she would think about all he said, and went on to talk

  about some plans she and his father were making for the

  winter, possibly even a trip to Texas.

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  Dakota put the letter away with great hope. He didn't

  think he would belabor the point in his letters back to her,

  but she hadn't slammed the door in his face. His heart content,

  he heeled Eli toward Marty Bracewell's house. It had

  seemed like years since he'd ridden on official business, but

  in truth, once he was on the trail, it had felt like forever

  since he'd seen Darvi.

  He used the kitchen door because he knew it would be

  open, and surprisingly enough found his boss sitting at

  the table reading his own mail.

  "Well, Dakota, when did you get in?"

  "Only just."

  Brace smiled. "Your hair get that wet on the trail?"

  Dakota smiled back. "It can get mighty hot out there."

  Brace only laughed.

  "Where is she?" Dakota felt he had waited long enough.

  "In the living room. Her mother has asked her to come

  home for a time, so she's going next week, but right now

  she's reading a letter from your mother."

  ATexasSky 285

  532

  "My mother?"

  "Yes," Brace responded, looking very pleased as he

  answered. "It was a pretty thick envelope. I suspect she's

  telling Darvi every rotten thing you did as a child. That

  would take more man a few pages."

  Dakota had heard enough.

  "Darvi," he called firmly as he moved that way, not

  missing the sound of someone scrambling and papers

  crackling. He went through the dining room, and sure

  enough, the living room was empty.

  "Darvi." His voice was coaxing now, even as his eyes

  searched for some sign of her. He hadn't heard her on the

  stairs, and it took some doing to spot a bit of her skirt

  sticking out from the door that opened into the dining

  room. The door was open against the wall, and he could

  now see that she had scooted behind it.

  He moved it slowly and tried not to laugh at her

  attempt at an innocent face.

  "Dakota! When did you get in?"

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  He came dose and put his hands on the wall on either

  side of her head.

  "Just now."

  "How nice," she said a little too brightly, all the while

  keeping her hands behind her back.

  His eyes dropped down for a moment before coming

  back to hers.

  "A little bird told me you got a letter."

  "A letter?" Darvi appeared to think on this. "Now, let me

  see. Have I received any letters lately?" With mat Darvi

  couldn't hold on. She laughed and brought out several pages.

  "Is this really from my mother?"

  "Yep," she teased him. "Every word. I'm learning an

  awful lot."

  For a moment they just stared at each other. Darvi felt

  her cheeks grow warm and tried to divert his gaze with a

  question.

  "Do you know when you head out again?"

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  534

  "No."

  "How about where you'll be going?"

  "I don't know."

  Darvi playfully shook her head.

  "You don't know much, do you?"

  "I know that I love you."

  For Darvi, time stood still. She had never pushed this

  man to say those words, knowing she'd wanted it to be in

  his time and not her own, but she had been feeling love for

  him for a very long time. .

  "When did you decide this?"

  "When I was near the river. It reminded me of the night

  we stayed on the trail and you met the rattlesnake."

  "And that made you love me?"

  He nodded. "It caused me to remember how many

  times I could have lost you. I don't want to lose you, Darvi.

  Not now--not ever."

  Her heart filling her eyes, Darvi said, "I love you,

  Dakota Rawlings."

  Moving very slowly and gently, Dakota leaned forward

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  and kissed her. Darvi sighed when he pulled away. Dakota

  wanted to kiss her again but told himself that would have

  to wait.

  "Brace tells me you're headed home next week."

  "Yes, I prayed you'd get here before I left."

  "I made it." He then added. "I'm glad your mother

  wants to see you."

  "I am too, but I don't really want to leave Texas."

  "But this time you'll leave knowing that I love you."

  Darvi smiled. "And you won't forget my love, will

  you?"

  "Not a chance."

  This time Dakota didn't kiss her but took her gently into

  his arms. It was the sealing of a promise that both of them

  would keep.

 


 

  Lori Wick, A Texas Sky

 


 

 
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