Moving as though touching the pages might damage
them, Dakota opened a book that boasted the gold-tone
title Holy Bible on the cover. He didn't read at first but just
paged through, recognizing books that he'd discussed with
Desmond and realizing he knew just where he wanted to
read. He searched for a full five minutes for the book of
Galatians before turning to the index in the front After
finally finding it, he settled in to study. So much was
57
unclear to him, but he kept at it until the fifth chapter,
where things fell a little more into place.
It was good to recognize things that both the pastor and
Dr. Scott had referred to. Dakota read the chapter twice and
sat mulling over several problematic issues. Of all the
things that suddenly became dear to him, one was the
thought he'd had while sitting in church the day before:
The Bible didn't talk about things for no reason.
"If Paul talks about this, it must have been a problem." Dakota heard his own voice and stopped. "How did they know the writing was from Paul?"
With that Dakota was off again. He spent the next several
hours reading and rereading, trying to get a grasp of
the text and suddenly realizing it must have been a letter.
33
34 lori wick
A Texas Sky 35
58
Shaking his head at times in complete confusion, Dakota
came away with one certainty: There was a way that God
wanted men to act, and it was laid out in this book. It didn't
all make sense, but Dakota vowed in his heart to learn that
way and do his best to follow it
S^S1*^"
"Do you want any more coffee?" Darvi asked Brace that
night
"No, thank you."
"All right. I'll go ahead and wash the pot"
Taking her uncle's coffee mug, Darvi made swift work
of the kitchen detail. When she came back into the living
room, she took a comfortable chair and put her feet up.
"I enjoyed coming, Uncle Marty. Thank you."
He waved at her as if she'd imagined his care of her.
"Youll have a good time with Merry/' he said, ignoring
her thanks. "But you've got an early morning coining up,
59
so you'd best head up to bed."
"All right"
Darvi stood and went to his chair. She was going to lean
down to kiss his cheek but suddenly stopped.
"I'm leaving after such a short time, Uncle Marty. I feel
a little bad about that"
There was no ducking the issue this time. Her uncle
looked her in the eye and spoke seriously.
"You're doing better, and that's all I care about, Darvi
girl. And if things get rough again when you go home after
your visit to Merry's, you just come right back here."
With a whispered word of thanks, Darvi did bend and
kiss him. No other words were shared as Darvi left the
room, mounted the stairs, and readied for bed. lired as
Darvi was, she lay awake until her uncle came up those
same stairs, the sound of his steps a comfort to her. Praying
for him as she felt herself relax, she drifted off to sleep some
time after she heard his boots drop to the floor.
3"3''5i*
60
Dakota was glad that Darvi wanted to leave early and
take it slow. He was still rather tender in spots and had
even bled some in the night, and although he no longer
wanted to sit around Austin, it was nice to know he was
going to have an easy day.
All this he had decided before he saw Darvi. She and
Brace were in the front yard when he arrived, and Dakota
thought he'd never seen anyone so loaded for bear. Gone
was the frilly dress and elegant hairstyle. In the morning
light he could see that she was dressed for the trail. Darvi
wore a brown dress he could only term "serviceable" and
had her hair and neck covered by an all-consuming hat and
handkerchief. It was such a contrast to the day before that
Dakota had all he could do not to stare.
"Here's some money," Brace said the moment Dakota
dismounted.
"I'm doing all right," Dakota replied, not taking the bills
that were being held out to him.
Brace stuffed them in Dakota's vest pocket
61
"Be that as it may," he said rather softly, "you never
know whaf s going to happen with Darvi, and I didn't
mean for you to do this without some compensation."
Dakota opened his mouth to start to protest, but Brace
cut him off. "I mean it!"
Dakota watched him turn back to his niece. The two
hugged.
"Have you got everything?" Brace asked.
"Yes. I'm sure I do."
"All right Have a good time. Tell Merry I said hello;
Caldertoo."
"I'll do it"
"And when you get home, tell your mother she hasn't
written in weeks,"
Darvi's brow lowered. "You said you just got a letter,"
36 lori wick
"I know, but your mother always expects me to complain
about something, and I don't want to let her down."
Darvi gave him another hug and turned to the horse
62
called Finley. With a boost she didn't need, Brace had her
in the saddle in the blink of an eye. Dakota waited to shake
Brace's hand and thank him before gaining his own saddle/
and a moment later he and Darvi were on their way.
Dakota glanced back just before they were out of sight to
find Brace reaching for his handkerchief, causing something
to trigger in his own heart. It was a good reminder
that Darvi was precious cargo.
"Hey, Darvi," Dakota called to her as they turned their
horses toward the west side of town. "How soon would
you like to get there?"
"Soon," she admitted. "I guess I'm not much for
dawdling."
"Well, be sure and let me know if we're going too fast."
Darvi glanced at him. "Why don't I set the pace? Will
that work?"
"Go to it," Dakota said with easy confidence. He knew
Eli was up to anything, and he had strong doubts that
Darvi could wear him out. With this thought in mind,
Dakota simply heeled his mount to keep pace with Darvi
63
the moment they hit the edge of town.
3''3 "9r
Calling it pride never occurred to Dakota. It was a perfect
description, but the word never crossed his mind, nor
did it occur to him to tell Darvi they had to slow down.
More than 12 hours after he and Darvi left Austin, they
arrived in Blake, a town not far from Stillwater. Dakota was
in so much pain that he didn't think he could even speak.
All five of his bullet wounds were burning, and he knew
the one on his waist had to be bleeding.
"I think the hotel would be good, don't you?" Darvi
spoke like a woman in charge, and at the moment she was.
A Texas Sky 37
"Fine," Dakota managed, glad that the horses' hooves
drowned out the strain in his voice.
At a later time, Dakota would think back on the way
/> 64
God moved to rescue him on this evening, but right now
he just knew relief at how solicitous the hotel proprietress
was, how swift she was to volunteer her son to take their
horses to the livery, and how Darvi told Dakota she was
going to eat in her room and turn in early. He fell into bed
the moment he shut the door and dropped into unconsciousness
for the next ten hours.
5"9r-3-
Not
feeling what anyone would term "brand new,"
Dakota was nevertheless at the breakfast table in a timely
manner and not looking as pale as he felt. Darvi joined him
just ten minutes after he sat down, and Dakota found himself
feeling somewhat thankful that she had not seen him
nearly swallowing his food whole. He was calmly sipping
coffee when she arrived.
"I'll just have a quick bite," she explained and smiled at
the waitress when she glanced their way.
"Don't hurry on my account," Dakota said, meaning it
65
with all his heart. He'd used the powder again and tried to
patch the wounds, but the job was middling at best
"I think we're only a half-day's ride now."
Dakota nodded before asking, "How do you know this
friend, by the way?"
"She used to Uve in Austin. We played together every
summer I visited." Darvi paused. "I certainly hope she's
home."
"She's not expecting you?"
"No. We never kept in touch through the mail, and I
didn't even know she'd moved until I arrived in Austin."
They fell silent for a moment, and then Darvi looked at
her companion.
38 lori wick
"Did you hear any screams out your window last
night?"
Dakota could have told her he didn't even remember
lying down but only said no.
"I did/' Darvi said. "It sounded like a woman was
66
receiving some unwanted attention. I nearly went out to
check."
This statement stopped Dakota's coffee cup on the way
to his mouth.
"Tell me, Darvi/' Dakota said, putting the cup down, his
voice mildly curious. "What would you have done?"
"If I'd gone out?"
"Yes, and if the unwanted attentions had been turned
on you?"
"With or without my gun?" she asked in all sincerity.
Dakota couldn't stop the smile that turned up one
corner of his mouth, but he still managed, "With your
gun."
"I'd have shot him in the foot."
Again Dakota wanted to smile but refrained.
"And without your gun?"
"I'd have tried to reason with him, and if that hadn't
worked, I'd have screamed myself hoarse and tried to
fight"
"If s good to have a plan," Dakota said softly, all the
67
time trying to process whether this woman was safe on her
own or not
You never know what's going to happen with Darvi.
Brace's words from the morning before came floating
back to him. Dakota would have enjoyed some time to
think on them, but Darvi was pushing her plate away.
Within 15 minutes, they were back on the trail.
r$"'$tillwater
was a surprise. A dean, friendly-looking
town that sat in the foothills, it was a good deal cooler than
A Texas Sky 39
Austin. Since Darvi had not known of her friend's move,
Dakota assumed she also did not know where this friend
lived, but he kept his mouth shut and let her lead the way.
She took them straight to the general store.
"I'll just be a minute," she said before dismounting and
going inside.
Watching her confident stride, Dakota realized that
68
Darvi must have wanted to make this journey on her own.
He knew Brace well enough to know that man would not
have even discussed it, but Darvi was clearly no stranger
to being in charge. Nor did she appear timid in new surroundings.
In the middle of these thoughts, Darvi reappeared. She
climbed back into the saddle and turned to him, her eyes
alight with excitement.
"We're almost there."
Dakota smiled at her glowing face and said, "Lead on."
The directions Darvi received took them toward the
edge of town. She hadn't been in as much of a hurry today,
but now she stepped up the pace. Dakota had been on the
edge of discomfort all during the day's ride but thought his
body might now be nearing the end of its tolerance. His
side was starting to burn, and he could only be thankful
they were almost there.
"Thaf s the house," Darvi suddenly said, their horses
taking a road along the creek.
Dakota feared that she would heel her horse into a run
and knew he couldn't take that. Besides, he wanted to give
69
her some privacy.
"Darvi," he said just in time.
She turned to him in some impatience.
"I think I'll sit here by the creek while you go on up to
the house."
For the first time Darvi took in his face. It was warm out,
but she hadn't really noticed. She didn't think such a thing
would bother him, but he looked a little strained.
"Are you certain, Dakota? You're welcome to join me."
40 lori wick
"I would think a private reunion preferable, and
beyond that, I want to stay here."
She couldn't argue much with that, so with one more
glance at the man who was already turning his horse off
the road, Darvi went on her way.
Heart pounding, breath coming in small gasps, Darvi
rode swiftly toward the house. It was a lovely setting, not
far from the creek and not very close to other homes.
"White paint, white shutters, and a large covered
70
porch," Darvi whispered to herself, "just like the man
said."
Darvi tied her horse's reins to a corner of the porch
railing and went toward the steps. Things seemed so
quiet--she was almost afraid to hope. Taking a breath to
quell her excitement--a move that didn't work--Darvi
knocked on the door. A man answered.
"Hello," he said kindly.
"Hello. I'm looking for Merry Scott Does she live here?"
"Yes, she does. Come right in."
Darvi stepped inside when he held the door and
squinted to adjust her eyes. The moment she could see, she
realized her friend was standing not ten feet from her.
"Hello, Darvi," Merry welcomed with a huge smile.
"Merry," Darvi breathed, only now believing she had
made it and moving forward to hug her friend.
The two women, one a soft strawberry blonde and the
other a brilliant carrot top, hugged for a long time. Calder
Scott, Merry's husband, stood off to one side, a wide grin
on his face. The women were still hugging when Darvi
71
heard someone call "Mama." She stepped away from her
friend, her eyes huge.
"Merry?" she questioned softly.
Meredith Scott smiled the smile that first drew Darvi to
; her.
"Come on, Darvi. Come meet my husband and daughters."
A Texas Sky 41
Darvi was still mouthing the word "daughters" when
Calder stepped forward.
"This is Calder," Merry began.
"Hello, Darvi," the tall man said as he held out his hand.
"I've heard so much about you."
"If s so nice to meet you," Darvi replied sincerely. "I
nearly panicked when I learned you'd moved away, but I
found a way here."
"And these," Merry continued, "are our twins, Vivian
and Filar."
Darvi looked to where Merry pointed, through the
doorway to the kitchen table, where two adorable, dark-haired
72
moppets stared back.
"Oh, my" was all she could manage.
"Come, girls," Merry bade them. "Come and meet Miss
Wingate."
"Please let them call me Darvi," that woman whispered
as the girls scrambled from the chairs and ran to their
mother.
"Here we go," Merry said in her quiet way. "Show your
faces," she ordered the two who suddenly became shy and
absorbed with their mother's skirt
"Obey, girls," their father put in from the side, and the
twins turned immediately.
"This is Vivian, and this is Filar. Girls, this is my friend,
Darvi. You may call her Aunt DarvL"
"Hello, Vivian. Hello, Filar. If s so nice to meet you."
The girls giggled over this, and Darvi turned back to her
friend.
"How old are they?"
"They were three last month."
Darvi shook her head. "So much time has passed."
73
"About four years," Merry confirmed. "They were born
the first year we were married."
Darvi could hardly believe she was here. This friend
was so special to her. Darvi didn't know if she'd ever told
42 lori wick
her that, but she would this time. This time she knew she
could.
"Did you come alone, Darvi?" Calder suddenly asked.
"No," she turned to him, "but my escort seemed to
think I would want a private reunion."
"Who is it, Darvi?" Merry asked.
"A friend of my uncle's. He wanted to wait by the
creek"
Husband and wife exchanged a look before Calder
turned away and said, "I'll just head out and invite him in
to lunch."
Merry waited only until her husband was gone before
sending the girls back to the table and ushering Darvi into
the kitchen.
74
"Have a seat there, Darvi, and 111 get you a bowl of
soup."
"Should I have gone out with Calder?"