A Texas Sky

by Lori Wick

  down as well

  "I haven't had a chance to tell you what happened with

  the folks."

  "Why, what happened?"

  In great detail Dakota explained the way Charles had

  shown interest in the things Dakota shared, his visit to

  Dakota's room that night, and the way they had attended

  church together. Dakota recounted almost word for word the

  letter he had written to his mother while Cash sat in stunned

  silence.

  "They went to church with you?" the older Rawlings clarified

  in wonder:

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  "Yes. Mother was not happy about it, but you can tell she's

  thinking. Father, for all his interest, is not asking too many

  questions. I'm not sure if Mother's lack of enthusiasm has

  tempered his response, or if the whole thing was a flash in the

  pan."

  Again, there was silence in the darkness. Cash had been

  praying for his parents for years, but the door had never

  opened as it had for Dakota. Of course, the change in Dakota

  was more drastic, so it wasn't hard to see that this might have

  had an effect Still, the whole thing took some getting used to.

  "Tell me something, Cash," Dakota went on.

  "Okay."

  "Is the folks' marriage blessed by God?"

  "Certainly."

  "How do you know mat?"

  "Matthew 5 says God allows the sun to rise on the evil and

  on the good. He sends rain on the just and the unjust What

  made you think of that?"

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  489

  "Seeing Father and Mother.. .they love each other more

  than they ever have, but they haven't had the Lord to lead

  them. I can't imagine making a marriage work without

  God."

  "But God does bless those who want nothing to do with

  Him, Dak; thaf s the kind of God He is."

  Dakota nodded.

  "I take it you've been thinking about marriage lately."

  Dakota looked at him.

  "I don't know what I'm thinking exactly, but I do know

  I've never met anyone before tarvi who actually made me

  think about giving up the Rangers."

  "And you're certain you have to give up that job if you

  marry?"

  Dakota's nod was decisive. "If s no life for a family man.

  I'd never be home."

  "What would you do?"

  Dakota smiled.

  "I rather like this ranch."

  Cash could only laugh.

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  "I won't tell you I could use you or you'd be welcome,

  little brother. I expect you to already know."

  The two looked at each other.

  "I'm going to bed," Dakota announced as he stood.

  "All right. I'll see you in the morning."

  Cash waited until the door dosed and slipped back into

  bed. He didn't let his mind drift too far, but it wouldn't

  hurt his feelings to have Dakota around more often.

  Thinking that Darvi would be a nice addition to the picture

  too, he fell back to sleep.

  /tie,

  tfialtjf^

  dakota and dakvi had talked for the first part of the

  journey to Aurora, but now both were silent with their

  thoughts. Darvi was fine when she was distracted by conversation,

  but alone with her thoughts, she felt something

  akin to panic creeping up on her.

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  Part of her mind simply could not accept the fact that she

  was headed back to Aurora. And not just to the town, but to

  the very train station where those two men had taken her.

  A glance at Dakota's profile told Darvi he was as confident

  as any man could be in his ability to protect her, but

  going back to Aurora was causing her no end of anxiety.

  And the wig in her bag didn't help!

  She shook her head at her aunf s scheme. What could

  the woman be thinking? Darvi hated pretense. She honestly

  didn't know how her aunt stood such a life. A spark

  of anger flashed inside her, and it was all directed toward

  her aunt. Darvi knew it was wrong and worked for the

  remainder of the journey to calm down.

  I'll just explain when I get there that 1 didn't want to wear the

  wig, Darvi finally calmed and told herself. Aunt Renee mil

  understand. I don't have a thing to worry about.

  '

  "Where's your wig?" were the first words out of Renee's

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  mouth.

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  264 lori wick

  Darvi's mouth opened a little with hurt and surprise

  and for a moment she lost her train of thought. When she

  recovered, she was glad to hear that her voice was normal.

  "Are you going to ask us in/ Aunt Renee?"

  "Oh, yes." The older woman was momentarily flustered

  by being caught off guard, and the result was a breach of

  manners. "Come in. I'm sorry. You took me by surprise."

  Renee invited them into her living room. Moving

  silently, Dakota and Darvi entered and, when directed, sat

  on the comfortable red sofa. Most of the furniture was red

  or pink, but it wasn't gaudy as Darvi might have expected

  had she only heard about it. The room was warm with

  family photos and bits of lace and ruffles here and there.

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  "Why aren't you wearing the wig?" Renee asked as soon

  as she had taken a seat across from Darvi. She had known

  her own anxieties concerning the pending court case, and

  having Darvi show up looking like her wasn't helping.

  "Ifs in my bag," Darvi told her quietly.

  "You didn't feel you needed it?"

  "No. I think Dakota is all the protection I need."

  "What about my privacy--did you think of that?"

  Darvi hadn't, but didn't say that. Why had she thought

  her aunt would understand? TKey had gotten on well at the

  ranch in Kinkade, but in truth, they didn't know each other

  at all. Working not to lead with her emotions, Darvi spoke.

  "There's something I need to tell you, Renee. If, when

  I'm done, you want me to wear the wig, then I will, but I

  hope you'll hear me out."

  "I will, Darvi," Renee said sincerely, seeing that she had

  come across rather strongly.

  "Thank you," Darvi replied. "I think that even if I wear

  the wig, people will be able to see that we're related. I don't

  think it can be helped. I know you value your privacy, but

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  at what price?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "I mean, if you believe in what you're doing here, it

  shouldn't matter. It shouldn't make any difference if

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  people know that Annabelle Hewett is an assumed name.

  Everyone comes from somewhere. Surely people know

  you have family."

  Renee blinked at her. Never had she looked at it that way.

  She then looked slowly at Dakota to gauge his reaction, but

  his face was unreadable. Watching her, Darvi thought Renee

  looked so surprised that it made her feel guilty.

  "I'm sorry, Aunt Renee," She said quietly, sorry that she

  had even tried to explain. "I hate subterfuge, and having to

  wear that wig scares me more than taking my chances on

  the street. I couldn't even te
ll my parents the whole story

  because they would have wanted to know who this

  woman was that looked just like me. If you're hurt, I'm

  truly sorry, but I did mean what I said: Why must you hide

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  who you really are?"

  Renee looked upset, her fingers coming to her lips.

  "I never thought about your not being able to tell your

  family, Darvi Honestly, I didn't Please tell them. If I had a

  daughter who had been through what you've experienced,

  I would want every detail. Tell them whatever you need to."

  Darvi nodded, and in the moment Renee thought she

  looked very young and vulnerable. She also looked a bit

  pale. She wanted to speak more on the issue, but Dakota

  had a question of his own.

  "There's something else bothering you, Darvi." Dakota's

  deep voice rumbled out, his head turned to study her.

  "What is it?"

  Darvi closed her eyes for a moment and then looked at

  him.

  "This whole thing--the trial, having to see Seth and

  Eliot again...all of it" Darvi glanced at her aunt "I know

  you can't wait to see Jared Silk pay for his crimes, but in

  truth, I don't even know the man."

  "You should still want to see justice done," Renee stated

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  plainly.

  "I do, but in the process I'm sure others are going to be

  hurt. I don't feel good about that at all."

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  "What others?"

  "Gassy Robinson for one."

  "Cassis no child, Darvi." This time her atinf s words

  were blunt "She knows exactly what type of man Eliot

  McDennott is."

  "Be that as it may/' Darvi went on quietly, "she loves

  him and so do the children. You may want justice served so

  badly that nothing else bothers you, but I can't make the

  same claim."

  Renee sat back in her seat. She wanted to tell her niece

  to grow up and stop walking around with her heart on her

  sleeve, but maybe Darvi had a point. For the first time in a

  long time, Renee wondered if she might have become a bit

  hard.

  "So, what is it you want to do, Darvi?" Dakota surprised

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  both women by asking. "For that matter, what is it

  you want your aunt to do?"

  Seeing that he was right, Darvi sighed very quietly.

  "I guess I want her to do just what she's doing. Jared

  needs to answer the charges against him, and she's right,

  Cassy's made her choices with her eyes wide open."

  Darvi's gaze dropped to her lap. "Nevertheless/ it still

  hurts my heart to be involved in all of this."

  As Dakota had gotten in the habit of doing, he reached

  for her hand and held it tenderly.

  "I'm glad to hear that, since this whole thing should

  hurt your heart," he assured her softly. 'Justice is a must,

  but there are ways to go about it. There's nothing I hate

  more than coming across a Ranger who's lost his compassion,

  one who's mean and thoughtless. He gives the rest of

  us a bad name."

  A distinct whinny outside the house suddenly set

  Dakota's gaze to the window.

  "I'm sorry, ladies," he said with genuine regret "I have to

  see to my horse. Would you please excuse me for a moment?"

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  "Certainly," Renee offered graciously, and a moment

  later she was alone with her niece.

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  "I appreciate all you've said, Darvi, and I plan to mink

  on it"

  "Thank you."

  "I also don't want you to wear the wig. I think your

  point is very valid."

  Darvi nodded with relief, as they both heard Dakota's voice outside. Darvi glanced that way, and when she looked back, her aunt was smiling.

  "I certainly hope you're not going to let that one get

  away."

  Darvi surprised her when she only smiled. Renee

  waited a moment for her to reply, but it didn't happen.

  "No comment?" the older woman prompted, and Darvi

  laughed.

  "Aunt Renee, I think you might be one of the most private

  people I know, but you expect me to bare my heart to you."

  Renee grinned. "If s the reporter in me. I can't stand not

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  knowing something."

  Darvi smiled back, and Renee's eyes widened when she

  realized her niece wasn't going to answer. The older

  woman actually moved to the edge of her seat, reminding

  Darvi of a six-year-old.

  "So tell me, how do you feel about him?"

  Darvi laughed and watched her with amusement

  "Darvi Leigh Wingate!" She was very stem now. "This

  is your aunt speaking, and I expect an answer."

  Darvi hadn't even opened her mouth when they both

  heard the front door. Dakota was returning. The younger

  of the two women had all she could do not to laugh at her

  aunf s aggrieved expression.

  '

  "So you've never attended this church?" Darvi asked

  Dakota the next morning as they walked toward the end of

  town.

  "No. I've never attended any church in Aurora." He

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  glanced down at her and then back up the street "I found

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  myself looking for a certain strawberry blonde when I was

  last here. I'm afraid I thought of little else."

  Darvi studied the firm, dean-shaven line of his jaw from

  a shorter vantage point and knew she'd been complimented.

  She shifted her gaze away again before speaking.

  "My aunt seemed pleased that you asked her to join

  us."

  'True. But if you'll notice, she's not here."

  "No, she's not. She would say that my mother can't deal

  with the fact that I need a relationship with God, but I'm

  not sure she can either."

  "If s easiest to be blind to our own sins."

  Darvi silently agreed as the church came into view. The

  boardwalk would end in another 30 feet, and the church

  was still a block from there. They were nearing the end of

  the board slats when a horseman rode up. Dakota turned

  swiftly and brought them to a halt, but Darvi, whose hand

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  was tucked in his arm, felt him relax.

  "Sheriff," the Ranger greeted the rider.

  "How are you, Rawlings?"

  "Fine, and yourself?"

  "I'm fine, thank you." With that the man tipped his hat

  toward Darvi. "You must be Miss Wingate."

  "Yes," Dakota spoke up. "Darvi, this is Sheriff Laverty."

  "If s a pleasure to meet you," Darvi greeted him.

  "Your aunt tells me you're headed to church."

  "Were you at the house this morning?" Dakota asked,

  his mind working so fast that he did not let Darvi answer.

  "No, she came by my office as soon as Seth Redding

  showed up at her door looking for Miss Wingate."

  Darvi's eyes grew large at this announcement.

  "I'm not worried that he's going to try anything

  stupid," the law man went on smoothly, "but I'd just as

  soon not have you put and about today, Miss Wingate. In

  fact, if you wouldn't mind, the lawyer representing some

  of the bank customers was tied up yesterday whe
n you

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  came into town and would like to speak with you today.

  He's at my office."

  "How did Seth know I was in town?" Darvi asked.

  The sheriff's smile was lopsided. "Seth and Eliot seem

  to have eyes everywhere. Your coming in on the train

  would be no secret"

  "And he was actually bold enough to go to my aunf s

  door?"

  "Yes. She said he was very polite about it all, but that he

  seemed determined to speak with you."

  From that point onward, Darvi's Sunday plans fell into

  a heap around her. Her expectation of spending some time

  in church and possibly fellowshipping for a time with the

  congregation was swiftly put aside. Knowing it was best to

  do as the sheriff asked, Darvi went with Dakota to a back

  room at the sheriff's office to meet with a Mr. Danby. He

  was a polite man, but all business. Some of his terms confused

  Darvi, but she asked enough questions to understand

  what her role would be the next day.

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  "All of this will be quite unnecessary," he said more

  than two hours later, his papers already in his case, "if Mr.

  Silk will simply admit to guilt--something we don't

  expect. But one can always hope."

  Darvi could think of nothing to say to this, but something

  niggled at the back of her mind, even as the man

  stood, thanked her, nodded to Dakota, and went on his

  way. Dakota, good at his word, was with Darvi the whole

  time. He had been silent during the proceedings and was

  still quiet, giving Darvi time to think. A few minutes later

  she knew what was bothering her.

  "This is all about Jared Silk, isn't it?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "No charge is being brought against Seth and Eliot for

  abducting me."

  "Not at this time. Your testimony is about their involvement

  with Silk."

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  Darvi looked thoughtful and said with quiet conviction,

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  "I'm going to have my say in that courtroom, Dakota. Even

  if none of the lawyers asks me about it, I'm going to tell

  them what happened to me."

  Dakota smiled. "Go to it."

  That smile was all Darvi needed until she had one more

  thought.

  "Dakota," she asked, "why aren't Seth and Eliot in jail?

  Why is Seth allowed to roam the streets and look for me?"

  "Because the law is imperfect, Darvi. I also suspect that

  his lawyer might have had something to do with it, along

  with the fact that you weren't here to file any charges."