way. She was exhausted these days--she suspected she
was pregnant--and in her mother's pride, she wanted
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Dakota and especially Darvi to see the twins at their best
"All right, girls," Calder spoke after they had sat down.
"Whose turn is it to pray tonight?"
"Viwy's," Pilar was swift to say. "I was before."
Calder smiled at her wording and turned to Vivian.
"All right, Viv. Here we go. Dear Lord..."
"Dear Lor."
"Thank You for the food."
"For food."
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"And all Mama's work."
"Mama."
"For friends."
This was met with silence.
"For friends," Calder repeated, his voice prompting.
Still it was quiet.
Calder finally had no choice but to open his eyes and
look at his daughter. He found her staring around the table.
"Vivian, can you thank God for friends?"
93
"No."
"Why not?"
"Where's Beth?"
Understanding dawned. "Not your friends. Mama's and my friends. We have friends too."
The adults at the table had kept their eyes closed, but
each had something over his or her mouth. Dakota's hand
covered his upper lip, Darvi used her napkin, and Merry's
apron helped her stem the laughter that lingered just under
the surface.
"I'll go ahead and finish; you can close your eyes
again," Calder stated.
Waiting until Vivian obeyed, the host went ahead with
the prayer he had in mind, just barely holding his own
laughter. No adults exchanged glances after Calder's
amen, which was for the best. It would have been some
time before anyone would have been able to eat
3"3r 5*
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"I didn't have a chance to tell you until now, but I'm so
excited, Calder. She's been searching for so long. I knew
Darvi's search had to end in Christ, but she didn't I'm
overwhelmed with God's grace and goodness."
"It's wonderful news," Calder said softly to his wife
once they had retired for the evening. "Do you know how
long she plans to stay?"
"No, but however long it is, it won't be long enough."
ATexasSky 53
There was something quiet in his wife tonight, and for
a moment Calder studied on what it might be. She was
pleased about Darvi certainly, but not like he thought she
would be.
"How was your day?" Merry asked, pulling her
thoughts back to her husband.
Calder started to answer but stopped.
Merry looked at him. "Did something happen, Calder?"
"No," he went on smoothly, not wanting her to know he
was distracted by her manner. He went ahead and told her
95
about his office visits and one of the curtains nearly
catching fire at the general store. They weren't many minutes
outside of town, but enough that she would miss the
daily happenings of town life.
"So it didn't actually light?"
"No, but the smoke was a nuisance, and it drew a
crowd. Is there something you're not telling me?"
His detour in the subject was so abrupt Merry laughed.
"Where did that come from?"
"I was hoping to surprise a confession out of you."
"A confession over what?" Merry asked with just
enough uncertainty that Calder's suspicions were confirmed.
"Out with it, Merry. I know something is on your
mind."
"As a matter of fact, there is, but I don't want to tell you
now because you're going to think I'm upset"
"Are you upset?"
"No."
"But something is wrong?"
"No, it is not"
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Calder's brow lowered in thought.
"For a doctor, Calder, you can be a little slow."
It didn't take long from there.
"Are you certain?"
"Not absolutely, but fairly so."
"Why didn't you want to tell me?"
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"Because I knew you'd ask for my symptoms, and I
would tell you I'm tired, and you would say I'm the mother
of twins, like you always do."
Calder laughed. "I'm sorry I'm so predictable, but you
must admit that being tired would mean that nearly every
woman in town was in a family way."
Merry smiled. "You're right, of course, but I think I can
tell the difference."
Calder stood up from the foot of the bed and joined her
on the side. He slipped his arms around her and held her
dose.
97
"I love it when you're expecting."
"Why is that?"
"Lots of reasons that I won't try to explain, but I do
know I'm going to love this pregnancy more than the first"
"Why?"
"Because I've met the girls. I know how special this
baby's going to be."
"So you believe me?"
Calder kissed her.
"Certainly. You know the signs in your own body better
than I do."
"Thank you, Calder."
He didn't like being thanked for what he considered to
be the job of a normal loving husband; that is, trusting his
wife and caring for her.
"Did you really think I wouldn't believe you?"
Merry looked up at him. "I don't know. I just feel a little
uncertain. I look into the girls' faces and I can't imagine
loving another baby as I do them."
"Don't forget what your mother has been heard to say:
98
Love multiplies; it doesn't divide."
Merry sighed a little, feeling more tired than ever. "I
might have to experience that to believe it."
Calder didn't comment. He knew she would love this
next baby. He knew her well enough to be at complete
peace on the subject. But just then he had another thought
A Texas Sky 55
that wasn't quite so restful. What if this birth was also
twins? Calder was opening his mouth to ask Merry if she'd
thought of that when he looked at her face. She was nearly
asleep against him. He realized he was not going to fall
asleep as swiftly, but not for anything would he mention
the idea to Merry, at least not tonight
S^Sr^L-
"Where
is him?" Dakota heard one of the little girls ask
before he actually spotted them.
"Where is he?" Calder corrected. "I think he's out back.
99
Why do you ask?"
"I wanna see him."
Calder decided not to comment. He wouldn't mind
seeing Dakota Rawlings either, but he didn't know quite
how to go about it As he and the girls walked from the
back porch into the yard, Calder tried to determine why he
was so drawn to the man. He knew there was something
more to it than simply wanting to share Christ if he had the
opportunity.
Maybe he reminds me ofChet was his last thought before
Vivian spotted him.
"I see him! Hey!"
Dakota had been watching for them to come into view
and now smiled as one of the twins came forward.
"How are you?" Da
kota asked her.
"I'mViwy."
Dakota smiled. He didn't care that she'd gotten the
question wrong. It was too much fun having her talk to
him.
"If you were looking for peace and quiet, Dakota, you're
100
in the wrong place."
Dakota smiled again. The huge tree stump, along with
the shade thrown from a neighboring tree, was as inviting
a place as Dakota had seen in a long time. He had read his
Bible early that morning and was now trying to pray. He
56 * Low wick
wasn't finding it as easy as he thought it would be, and that
made him wonder if he might have missed something.
"Is this where the girls play?" he asked, glad for the distraction.
"Just about every day, and always 'house'*
"Sounds like fun."
"How'd you sleep?" the doctor asked.
"Good."
"And the bleeding?"
Dakota smiled. "There's no getting around you guys, is
there?"
"Not on your life. So tell me, are you still bleeding?"
"Yes, and I suppose you want to check it"
101
"Indeed I do, and if you don't mind an audience, I'll just
look right now."
Dakota gently pulled the shirt from his waistband.
Calder joined him on the stump, and the little girls moved
in to watch as though it were an everyday occurrence.
"Are you sleeping on your other side?" Calder asked as
he probed.
"As much as I can."
Calder looked up at him, his eyes thoughtful. "How
many holes do you have?"
"Five."
Wondering how he could have missed this, Calder
snorted in disgust and mumbled under his breath, "Might
as well be your Uncle Chet sitting right there in front of
you, girls."
"Areyouhurted?"
"No," Dakota answered automatically, and to his surprise,
Vivian turned to her father.
"Ishehurted?"
"Yep," Calder said mildly, a small smile on his mouth.
102
"He just doesn't know it."
Dakota laughed a little and then winced.
"I need my bag," Calder announced and stood. "Stay
put, girls."
A Texas Sky 57
Dakota watched him walk away before looking down at
the twins. They seemed content to stare up at him, and
Dakota wished he could think of something to say. He just
decided to ask them if they were excited to start school
someday, but he wasn't fast enough.
"I have to go," Filar said out of the blue, her little brow
furrowed as she stared up at him.
"Okay," Dakota said slowly, thinking that her father had
said to stay put.
"Me too," "Vivian chimed in, and Dakota watched as
they walked around him and the stump but didn't go to the
house. He stared after them, so he knew the exact moment
they stopped and waved for him to come. Too curious not
103
to, Dakota followed. His mouth stretched into a smile
when he saw the little girls head to the privy. He had no
idea why his presence was needed until they approached
the building, stood still, and looked up at him. The handle
was over their heads.
"Do you need me to get the door?"
Little heads bobbed in unison, and once he had the door
open, they stepped inside. Wondering how he'd come to be
standing there, Dakota shut the door and waited. In time
he heard this:
"Look, Vivvy, a flower."
"Where?"
"Here."
"Where?"
"Here."
"Oh!"
Dakota's shoulders shook with silent laughter, but he
didn't comment
"I'm done" soon came from the privy, and not long
after, the door was pushed open a bit Dakota reached to
104
hold it wide while the girls filed out. They came and stood
side by side and looked up at him. For some reason, Dakota
was speechless. He felt rescued when he saw that both of
Pilar's little boots were unbuttoned.
58 lori wick
"Here, let me get these for you."
Dakota hunkered down to do the job. Although he was
not able to get all the buttons, he managed the top few.
When he looked up, they were both staring at his face.
"Whaf s your name?" Vivian asked.
"Dakota."
"Koda?"
"That's close enough," Dakota said, smiling into their
eyes and thinking once again, Mercy, you two are cute!
The slamming of the back door brought his attention
around. The threesome looked to see the doctor approaching/
bag in hand.
"I guess we could do this inside," Calder commented as
he followed Dakota back to the stump.
105
Dakota didn't answer. The yard was beautiful, full of
wildflowers and tall grasses. It was a child's heaven all
right, and Dakota knew why the girls played out here
everyday.
"Where is Darvi this morning?" Dakota thought to ask,
taking his mind from the foul-smelling bottle Calder had
just uncorked. Just before the painful liquid touched down,
Dakota wondered if it would burn.
"She and Merry went to town. Thursdays are my mornings
off. I keep the girls, and Merry gets out for half the day."
This said, Calder looked into Dakota's face. He knew the
stuff he was using not only smelled bad but had a tendency
to sting. Dakota's face was utterly impassive, but Calder was
not fooled. The big man was in pain and keeping his mouth
shut in order to hide it But Calder was in for a surprise
"That burns," Dakota said quietly. "If I'd known you
were going to treat me like this, I'd have gone to town with
the ladies."
Calder was still chuckling over the comment when the
girls declared they were hungry. All four went inside to
106
find something to eat
^
200
"LOOK AT THIS FABRIC, MERRY. THE GIRLS WOuld look WOnerful
in this dark pink."
Merry looked doubtful. 'It would be great for trim,
Darvi, but the twins need a dark background or they never
look clean."
Darvi nodded but couldn't honestly say she understood.
As a child she was not allowed to get dirty until she
came for her annual summer visit to Austin. Her family
had a yard in St. Louis, but it was all very trimmed and
proper. She could pick flowers, but her fingers were not to
touch the dirt. For a moment Darvi wondered how she had
survived.
"What are you thinking about?" Merry asked, interrupting
her thoughts.
107
"Just now I was asking myself how my mother and
uncle could be so different and still have the same parents."
Merry suddenly looked intense and said, "You've never
talked much about your mother. How is she different from
Marty Bracewell?"
Darvi looked pained. 'It would take less time to tell you
how they're the same." She shook her head a little. "My
mother must have known Uncle Marty let m
e run wild
during those visits. I learned to ride and shoot. I came back
with a tan, scratched up my arms and legs, and probably
had a little dirt behind my ears, but she never said a word.
59
60 lori wick
She just plopped me into the tub, proclaiming that travel
made one 'so dusty/ and put me back into my routine."
"And from then on you were expected to be a little lady
once again," Merry guessed.
108
Darvi smiled wryly. "That about sums it up. I would sit
in my proper little dress and shoes and long to be back
climbing trees with you. Merry!" Darvi exclaimed with a
sudden thought. "Will there be trees in heaven?"
"I'm not sure. I have a memory of reading something in
Scripture about that, but I couldn't tell you where."
Darvi's eyes sparkled with delight "I love all these
things I've yet to learn."
Merry's eyes widened with surprise. "Most people feel
just the opposite, Darv. They want to know it all right now
and are frustrated that they don't."
Darvi gave a little sigh. "I was so smug, Merry--so settled
in my own world and sure I knew who I was and
where I was going. No matter how much I don't know
right now, I do know one thing: I'll keep searching and
being in wonder, but I won't ever forget that God's Son
died for me, and someday 111 live forever with Him."
"I have all I can do not to hug you and burst into tears
all over again."
Darvi smiled. "I don't mind. I'd probably join you, but
109
I have a better idea. Let me take you to lunch."
"Lunch? Is it that late?"
"No, but we forgot to eat breakfast, and I'm hungry"
Merry, feeling she were walking on a cloud, tucked her
arm into Darvi's and said, "I'll lead the way."
3-- 'Sr-S'-
"Did
I mention how I met your uncle?" Dakota asked
between bites of the fried egg, bacon, baked bread, and hot
coffee that Calder had prepared. 1
"No, I don't think you did."
ATexasSky 61
"I first met him when I went to his office about the
wound in my side, but then I visited this church and he
was there with his family. They invited me to lunch."
As Dakota was hoping, Calder took immediate interest
"What did you think of the church?"
110
"I liked it. I didn't have a Bible at the time, so it was
somewhat hard to follow along, but I've thought a lot
about what both the pastor and your uncle said."
"So you discussed the sermon with Marc?"
Dakota answered by way of explaining what the
sermon had been about and why it had been confusing. To