by Lori Wick
"Whaf s up?" he asked as he threw the covers back and
swung his legs out to sit on the edge of the bed. Dakota sat
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:
488
"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.
490
"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.
491
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
492
mouth.
263
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.
493
"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
494
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
A Texas Sky 265
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 h
ate subterfuge, and having to
wear that wig scares me more than taking my chances on
the street. I couldn't even tell 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
495
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
496
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."
266 lori wick
"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
497
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?"
498
"Certainly," Renee offered graciously, and a moment
later she was alone with her niece.
ATexasSky 287
"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
499
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
500
glanced down at her and then back up the street "I found
268 lori wick
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
501
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 W
ingate. In
fact, if you wouldn't mind, the lawyer representing some
of the bank customers was tied up yesterday when you
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502
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.
503
"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,
504
"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
