by Lori Wick
3--3r
'
"How are you feeling?" Darvi asked Liberty.
"Most of the time, I'm fine. Mornings are still rough."
"Was the trip a bit long for you?"
38
"At times, but I worked to hide it."
Darvi smiled. "Why was that?"
"Slater wasn't really sure that he wanted me to do this,
so I was trying not to worry him."
"Tell me something, Liberty," Darvi suddenly sat forward
and asked. "Were you surprised when you first met
the brothers, how little they look alike?"
Liberty had a good laugh over this.
"It lasts until you get to know them and watch them
interact. They become so similar then that you forget about
their looks."
22
24 lori wick
"I haven't had much time with all three," Darvi noted,
wondering if there would be such a time. She had enjoyed
some great visits with Cash in Texas but had only just met
Slater and Liberty.
39
"Are you all set for the wedding?" Liberty asked.
"I think I am. I've told myself I can't go crazy over every
detail, and that seems to help. I don't know if my mother is
sleeping at all, but most of the time I'm peaceful."
"Are there days you wish you'd just up and married?"
"Every day," Darvi said dryly, as both women heard
their hosts returning. And the timing couldn't have been
better. Charles and Virginia had no more arrived with the
tray full of coffee and cake than Cash, Dakota, and Slater
showed up.
"How was dinner?" Charles asked first.
"Excellent," he was told, his sons thanking him for the
recommendation.
"How are you?" Dakota asked, having sat close to Darvi
and taken her hand.
"Fine. We had a wonderful meal."
The two smiled into each other's eyes for a moment.
Slater had slipped into the seat next to his wife, his eyes
studying her as they often did, first her face and then her
waistline. Following his eyes and train of thought. Liberty
40
smiled, and he caught her. He was giving her a stern look
for laughing at his concern when his mother offered him
coffee.
"Yes, please."
"So did you boys do anything else?" Virginia asked
when she had served everyone and taken her seat.
Slater gave the details of the evening, which did consist
only of eating a leisurely meal and coming home. He ended
by teasing his mother. "We looked over the desserts at the
restaurant, but we knew we'd get a better offer here."
This said, he took a bite of cake, his eyes sparkling over
his mother's laugh.
City Girl 25
"Is that so?" She tried to sound outraged, but she was
still chuckling.
"It worked, Mother," Dakota reminded her, and
everyone laughed at her look of surprise.
"This sounds fun," said a voice from the edge of the
room, and everyone turned to see Gretchen Rawlings in the
41
doorway.
"Come in, Mama," Charles invited, standing to give her
his seat. "Have some cake."
"I couldn't eat another bite," she told him, having just
returned from dinner with friends and taking the chair he
offered.
' "What restaurant did you visit?" This came from Cash,
and in the time that followed, the eight of them fell into
good conversation. The topics ranged from old family stories
to the latest political subject Some resorted to filibuster
tactics to keep the floor, and with plenty of cake and coffee,
it seemed they would go all night
Darvi didn't want it to end, but she knew that her
coming in would disturb her parents and thought that an
early getaway from the Rawlingses might be better. All
were sorry to see her go, but everyone was gracious as she
and Dakota walked to the door and made their way outside.
"Have I mentioned that I'm sick of walking you home?"
Dakota offered, his hand holding Darvi's as they covered
the distance between his parents' house and hers.
42
Darvi tried not to be hurt by his words but found herself
glad that it was dark out
"No," she said quietly, working to keep her voice
normal "I don't think you've said that"
They had arrived on Darvi's front porch, a dark place at
this time of the night. Dakota waited only until they had
stopped moving to bring her gently against his chest and
whisper in her ear, "I want to keep you with me. I'm sick
of leaving you at your door and having to walk away."
Darvi relaxed in his arms, so enjoying his tender hold.
26 lori wick
"It's not long now/" she said as she felt him kiss her
brow.
"Forty-eight hours."
Darvi tipped her head back and tried to see him in the
dark.
"Mrs. Dakota Rawlings. I like the sound of that."
Dakota bent and kissed her, not a long kiss--that had to
wait-^but one filled with the tenderness he felt for her.
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"I'd better let you go in."
"All right. Ill see you tomorrow evening at the family
dinner, and then on Saturday..."
Dakota laughed. "I'll be there."
With one more hug, he stepped off the porch and
walked into the night. Behind him, he heard Darvi's door
open and close. Just a few more days and she could be with
him, but in the meantime, his family was gathered as they
hadn't been for a long time. He was eager to get home and
share in that celebration too.
%r
"Cash," his mother said to him much later that night
The family had laughed and talked until some were
drooping in their seats. When people started to head off to
bed, Cash grabbed the serving tray for his mother and
walked it into the kitchen. He hadn't planned to linger, but
she caught him before he could leave.
"Yes?"
44
'It's time you got married," she said without warning.
If Cash hadn't contained himself, he would have
laughed.
"Why is that?" he managed, a small smile coming to his
mouth.
"Well," she tried, her brow furrowed a little as if she
expected him to already know. "I was just watching your
City Girl 27
brothers with Libby and Darvi tonight, and I thought, 1
want that for Cash too/"
"I appreciate that, Mother, but sometimes if s easier said
than done."
Virginia looked thoughtful. "I suppose it is." Her eyes
shifted around the room, gazing lovingly at the contents
before looking back to her son. "Between this house and
the ranch house, I prefer the ranch house. Did you know
that, Cash?"
"No."
"Virginia smiled. "You father built that ranch house for
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us. This house was already built. I love the kitchen at the
ranch house and all the rooms. I love the way if s laid out
We've had some great times in this house, and I wouldn't
want to mo
ve back to Texas, but I do miss that house." She
looked Cash in the eye. "But even with all of that, I have no
problem with another woman living there. I want you to
marry someone who will enjoy the ranch with you. I want
your children to grow up there, as you boys did."
Cash so appreciated his mother's words, but he couldn't
exactly promise to give her what she wished. He wondered
what she would say if he told her what her other sons had
said to him that very evening. He ended up smiling at her
and saying nothing at all.
"Well, dear," she said quietly, in what Cash knew to be
her mother's voice, "when the time comes, remember that
your mother will be delighted."
"Thank you, Mother," he said sincerely, knowing no end
of relief that she didn't expect to hear a plan to make this
happen. And her eyes, just before she hugged him, told
him how deeply he was loved. He took himself off to bed,
46
his heart wondering if God was trying to tell him something
or if Dakota's wedding had just put everyone into a
matrimonial mood.
%r $ 28 lori wick
"You look a little pale," Cash said to Dakota just an hour
before the big event
"Do I?" Dakota asked, looking vague and not quite
focusing on his brother's face.
"Sit down, Dak." Slater took his arm and led him to a
chair.
"All right," Dakota agreed, but he sat for only a matter
of seconds.
"Is it hot in here to you?"
Thinking that letting him pace might be the best thing,
Slater and Cash stood back while Dakota moved to open
the window.
At the same time, all three men heard laughter from the
next room.
47
"It sounds like the ladies are having a party," Slater said
casually, but Dakota did not Appear to have heard.
"How are you?" Virginia asked as she sailed through the
door, Charles at her heels.
"We're fine," Slater replied, his eyes sparkling. "Aren't
we, Dak?"
But Dakota wasn't listening. He had finally sat down
and was staring blankly out the window.
His father found this highly amusing and started to
laugh. His whole family was nearly hysterical before the
groom noticed.
"What did I miss?"
No one could answer him. It had been a busy time for
everyone, which left a certain level of fatigue on each
person's part, making the incident seem funnier than it
might have been. Nevertheless Dakota began to smile. His
father's face was getting red, and he laughed a little in
return.
"I think they're ready for you," one of the wedding coordinators
said to Charles and Virginia as she stuck her head
48
in the door.
"Thank you. Well be right there," Virginia responded
agreeably, moving swiftly to hug Dakota and say something
City Girl 29
quietly in his ear. Charles didn't hug him, but he smiled as
he moved out the door, an older version of the groom himself.
Dakota had been watching him and smiled in return.
The room was still quiet after the older Rawlingses went
on their way, but the tension was gone. Cash, Dakota, and
Slater sat quietly and talked--something they never
seemed to tire of doing--until it was their turn to join the
wedding party.
3r Sr
Dakota's quiet and distracted state before the ceremony
had not been the result of second thoughts. Not for a
moment did he doubt whether or not he and Darvi should
be married. But his heart had been prayerful, asking God
49
to bless this union and help him to be the husband he
needed to be. For this reason and many more, he was now
able to stand in great joy and excitement and watch Darvi
come up the aisle toward him.
Darvi's dress was a stylish creation of satin and lace, the
very latest in fashion with a bustle that was just coming
back into style. But the groom, had he been willing to admit
it, didn't take much notice. His eyes intent on hers, he
offered his arm when she neared, barely aware of the way
Mr. Wingate let her go and took a seat with his wife.
Hundreds of people from St Louis and family from far
and wide had turned out to see these nuptials, but the bride
and groom were hardly aware of them. Darvi heard
someone sniff and thought her mother might be tearful,
but she herself didn't want to cry at all. She worked to keep
her eyes on Pastor Daniel Cooper, a man she had come to
love and deeply respect since her conversion, but her gaze
strayed repeatedly to Dakota, who was just as distracted
by her presence.
They both grew solemn when it was time to repeat their
50
vows, promises they were taking very seriously, and in
30 lori wick
rather short order, they were pronounced husband and
wife. Mr. and Mrs. Dakota Rawlings turned to face the
church and found smiles at every glance. The couple led
the way out of the sanctuary to the large hall where a banquet
had been prepared. Taking their seats at the head
table, they were joined by the family, and the merrymaking
began.
"She looks beautiful/' Liberty said to Slater, her head
bent forward slightly to see down the table.
"Urn hmm," he agreed, looking at his wife's face. "Like
another bride I remember."
Liberty smiled as they leaned to kiss each other.
Down the table, Darvi was saying to Dakota, "It went so
fast. Beforehand it felt like forever, and now here if s all
behind us."
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Dakota smiled at her enthusiasm just as his stomach
growled.
"Didn't you eat breakfast?" she asked him.
"I can't remember."
Darvi looked very pleased with herself. "Well, you have
a wife now. She'll see that you don't go hungry."
And down the table some more, Cash was sitting with
Darvi's youngest bridesmaid, a sweet girl of 11 who
wanted to know all about ranching.
"How do the cattle get to market?"
"We round them up and load them onto the train."
Not wishing to be impolite, she tried not to show her
dismay.
"Doesn't it smell rather bad?"
Cash smiled. "In summer it does."
"What do the people do/ just ride with a hankie over
their noses?"
"Well, the cattle are not with the people, They have special
52
train cars."
Cash watched as she bit her Up and giggled.
"I thought they were right in with the people."
City Girl 31
"That would smell rather bad," he said and made her
laugh again.
-*-
Hours later, after good food and lots of hugs and good
wishes, the bride and groom climbed into a covered carriage
and settled against the plush seat.
"You know," Dakota said for his wife's ears alone, his
arm holding her close, "I couldn't help
but notice that this
dress has a lot of buttons down the back."
Darvi turned to look at him.
"It does, doesn't it? Do you think that will be a
problem?"
"Not for me." He sounded very satisfied. "I'm a very
53
patient man."
Darvi started to laugh, but Dakota caught it with a kiss
before they both settled back to finish the ride to the hotel.
"3r
"I've been reading the Bible/' Charles told Cash at
breakfast the next morning.
"What have you been reading?"
"Genesis," the older man answered and then seemed to
be searching for words. "I'm a businessman, Cash. I try
never to lead with my heart."
Cash waited, sure his father was going somewhere with
this.
"I guess I'm just trying to say that I never saw God as
logical before, but I'm very impressed with how He laid
out the world and commanded Adam to care for it. And
even after Adam and Eve had to leave the garden, God had
plans for them. He never set them adrift, as it were."
"No, He sure didn't. Genesis is a great place to start,
54
Father. That was wise of you to start at the beginning."
32 lori wick
"There are some things that confuse me, though. I mean,
why would Noah, after being so disciplined to do this huge
job God gave him, get drunk?"
Cash smiled a little. "And why do I, knowing I was
bought with a price, Christ's precious blood, commit sins
and want my own way?"
"Why do you?" Charles persisted, truly needing an
answer.
"Because I'm still a sinner. Scripture says the spirit is
willing, but the flesh is weak I've been saved from eternal
death, but as long as I'm on this earth, the battle with my
flesh will continue. I can choose not to sin at any time-- God's Spirit inside of me gives me the strength to do that-- but I don't always choose it. I sometimes want to sin and don't care that I've put myself out of fellowship with God."
"What does that mean, 'put yourself out of fellowship'?"
"My faith in Christ's life, death, and resurrection made
me clean before God, but sin separates us from God, so
when I sin, I lose communion with Him. I'm still His
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child--if s impossible to lose that--but until I confess my
sin and repent of it, there's a barrier between God and me.
He's a huge, forgiving God, so I have no excuse. I just need
to agree with Him about my sin, and all lines of communication
become open again."
Charles nodded, his face intent He was opening his
mouth to speak again but suddenly stopped. Cash saw his