Cassy tried not to rush her feelings, but she couldn't
help it. Only a few minutes had passed before she said, "I
hope you know how much Seth wants this to work."
"I probably don't fully understand it, but then no one
seems to understand my position either."
"What makes you say that?"
Darvi turned to look at her.
"Was this originally your ranch or Eliof s?"
"It was mine."
"So you brought Eliot here and held him until he fell in
love with you?"
Cassy had the good grace to drop her eyes in shame, but
248
it didn't last for long. The longing she was seeing in Seth's
eyes was killing her. The other men had all they could do
not to gawk at Darvi tonight, even though some of them
had steady girls, but their eyes weren't filled with love the
way Seth's were. Cassy knew how little they could
promise. Seth could hand Darvi the world on a platter, and
probably would.
"I guess I wish you'd give him a chance. I know if s just
been a few days, but if you got to know him, you might feel
differently."
"I already know some things I wish I didn't know."
"like what?"
"I have no desire to show disrespect to you or the
people you love, Cassy, but I'm horrified by what Seth and
Eliot do for a living, and I'm sure I don't know the half of
it."
ATexasSty 135
"Talk to Seth. Your affection might mean that much to
him."
249
"Thaf s just it, Cassy, if I bring this up to him, he's going
to think that if he changes,' 111 love him. Thaf s not going to
happen."
Cassy's face clouded with anger. "What are the men like
where you come from, Miss Wingate, that Seth Redding is
not good enough?"
Darvi knew she should have held her tongue, but they
had gone this far and she was going to finish it. She turned
from the wash water and faced the other woman.
"Just a few months back I realized I was a sinner and
needed to have a personal relationship with God. Because
of God's Son, I'm a different person. I didn't have to do
this; it was my free choice. But now that if s done, I'm
working to live my life in a way thaf s pleasing to God, and
one of those ways is not marrying a man who does not
share my faith. The Bible is very specific about that
"If Seth were to know Christ someday, that would be
great, but he can't do that just to win me. He's got to do that
for his own soul's sake. If s a matter between him and God.
If I still sound to you as if I think I'm too good, I'm sorry,
250
but God as my witness, my only desire is to do what I
know to be right."
Cassy was stunned. Of all the things she expected to
hear, this was not it. She had not an argument left in her
head. She was not a religious woman, but she had high
respect for anyone who was. Cassy dried a pot and
watched Darvi's profile. She had to say something so Darvi
would not think her upset. Absolutely nothing came to
mind, but the dishes were almost done and she couldn't let
it end like this.
"Thank you for telling me, Darvi."
Darvi turned in relief. She had remembered too late that
this woman hadn't even bothered to marry the man she
loved. Darvi had been wishing the tongue right out of her
136 lori wick
mouth. Cass/s words were an olive branch she was not
going to turn down.
"I think we're about set here, Cassy. Is there anything
else I can do?"
251
"No, thank you, Darvi. I think you've earned the right
to put your feet up for the evening."
The women didn't exchange any more words, but both
left the wash area with the small comfort that the strange
relationship they found themselves in was still intact
"ARE you all right?" eliot asked cassy when he retired
that night
"Urn hm" was her only answer as she rocked in the
chair. She was ready for bed but not there yet. For dozens
of reasons Eliot knew her answer was not the end of it, but
he was tired and just wanted to sleep, so he found himself
somewhat cross with her.
"If you don't want to talk about it, Cass, thaf s fine, but
don't say you're all right when you're not!"
Cassy didn't answer. She stayed in the chair even after
Eliot climbed into bed, her heart pained and uncertain. She
hadn't felt this way in a long time, not since after her husband
had died and left her with a baby and a toddler and
a ranch to run on her own. Those were black days, and she
252
didn't want to go back there again, but some of the old feelings
were returning.
"Cassy," Eliot said softly now, not able to sleep with her
upset "What is it?"
"She has strong religious beliefs."
"Darvi?"
"Yes. It's more than just being taken against her will; it
goes against her belief in God. That really bothers me."
"Has she told Seth?"
"She won't do that," Cassy stated and went on to
explain Darvi's reasons.
137
138 lori wick
For a time the couple was silent
"If s gotten me to thinking about the days after Chad
died, about God and the way I was raised." Cassy turned
to look at him for the first time. "I was raised to know better
253
than to live with a man I wasn't married to."
Eliot was out of the bed in a flash, over to her chair and
turning it so he could see her face in the light. With his
hands tenderly holding her face, he whispered the words
in his heart.
"I'm the one who's been asking you to marry me for five
years, Cassandra. I can't promise I won't die, but I'm the
one who's always wanted marriage. You'll get no argument
out of me."
"Oh, Eliot. I don't know what I've been waiting for, but
I think it must be time."
He leaned down and kissed her very softly.
"I also need to tell you, though," he knew he had to add,
"this has nothing to do with God. I'm not sure there is a
God. I think the only heaven we'll ever know is right
here--good or bad--this is it. The only thing I know for
sure is that I love you."
Cassy nodded. Her own beliefs were not that far distant
from his. Her grandfather had been a preacher, but her own
father had wanted nothing to do with God. He was moral
254
to a fault over issues like drinking, wife beating, adultery,
and fornication, but God was never mentioned. In truth,
Cassy didn't know exactly what she believed. She only
knew right now that she was tired. She finally climbed into
bed, comforted by Eliof s presence beside her but wondering
what it would be like to have the peace that Darvi
Wingate seemed to own.
w"5^"'5'*
Darvi knew she would not be able to hold her breath, so
she didn't even try, but by r
eciting her family's names very
slowly, she was able to keep her breathing shallow. As she
A Texas Sky * 139
hoped, Cassy checked on the sleeping children before she
left, not realizing Darvi was under the covers in her clothes
and ready to make a run for the barn the moment the woman
exited the room. She had done this and was now under the
255
blanket behind the seat, barely able to hold her wits about her
as she felt the team pull the wagon from the bam.
I'm going to make it! I'm really going to make it! Darvi had
all she could do not to shout with delight She'd been
forced to leave her bag behind, but she would remedy that
when she got to town and made a little call to the sheriff's
office. She didn't have malicious thoughts toward these
people, but what had happened to her could not be
allowed without repercussions.
If she remembered correctly, she had spotted the law
office when she and Dakota were trying to find the livery.
She thought it might...
Darvi's thoughts were cut short, and her whole body
jumped when the report of a rifle shattered the silence. She
heard Cassy mutter, "What in the world?" and then felt the
wagon slow and halt as a fast horse galloped up and
stopped as well. Darvi's heart sank.
"I think you have a passenger."
It was Seth's voice.
"You're kidding" came from Cassy just before the
256
blanket was tugged on and Seth came into Darvi's view.
"I'm going to town with Cassy." Darvi stated the
obvious.
"No, you're not," Seth replied firmly, his hand already
out to help her. Darvi ignored it. She climbed awkwardly
from the wagon, none too pleased about being caught
"Seth," Cassy began the moment Darvi stepped down,
"I don't know if this is a good idea. She doesn't want to
stay."
"There hasn't been enough time, Cass. You can't expect--"
Seth stopped because Darvi was headed for the horse. It had
no saddle, but she didn't care. He caught her around the
waist and hauled her back to the wagon with him.
140 lori wick
"I'll see you when you get back," he told Gassy/ but she
was far from pleased. She watched Darvi struggle in his
arms but knew there was nothing she could do.
Clicking to the team, she set the wagon in motion just as
Darvi landed a strong backward kick against Seth's shin.
257
He grunted in very real pain but didn't let go until he had
the horse's reins securely in his hand. That little move got
him glared at, but he couldn't find it in his heart to be
angry. He had brought this on.
"Do you want a ride?" he volunteered, even as the creak
and rumble of the wagon faded in their ears.
Darvi didn't answer. She was too disappointed with her
foiled plan. She thought that getting as far as she had
meant she would actually make it
I'm giving up, Lord. I thought it was a great idea, but we're
just too isolated out here. At times I think I'm. going to lose my
mind. I'm trying to trust, but right now I just want to scream
and run from here as fast as I can.
Darvi was so intent on her praying that she stumbled
into a hole. Seth's hand was right there to catch her. She
hadn't realized he was so close.
"How's your leg?" she asked, eyes ahead as she walked
swiftly back.
"It hurts."
Darvi had all she could do not to smile, but she knew
258
that would have been wrong. Was it wrong to kick the man
who was holding her? That one she couldn't answer.
Returning to the house and going straight to her room,
Darvi tried not to start planning again.
5"3r5inkade,
Texas
"This church family is wonderful," Dakota said sincerely
as he and Cash rode home together from an all-church
Saturday afternoon picnic.
ATexasSty 141
"I certainly think so. I mean, we're not without our
problems, but God has greatly blessed in this place."
"Is Grandma's church like this?"
"Very much so, just smaller. Her pastor is a younger
man with a young family. We've had some great talks, and
he's very grounded in the Word and eager for his congregation
to grow. Grandma adores him, and he never stops
259
telling her what an encouragement she is."
Dakota was silent for a moment, the clop of the horses'
hooves the only sound.
"Do you ever think about our situation, Cash?" the
younger man asked thoughtfully. "I mean, the way God
reached down for you and Gram, and now Slater and me?
Sometimes if s almost more than I can take in."
Cash couldn't speak. He too was amazed at what God
had done, but as always, his heart went to his parents.
I know You want their salvation more than I do, Father. Please
help Dak and me to be the examples we need to be. Help my folks
to find You before it's too late.
"I was just praying for the folks," Dakota said.
"So was I."
From there, the men rode home in silence.
Aurora
Darvi was tired of sitting in her room with no place to
read but her bed. She had only her Bible with her, but she
wasn't going to sit in this bedroom anymore. She didn't
260
think Cassy was back--somehow she thought that woman
might be leaning toward her side--but she was still going
to go out to one of the chairs by the fireplace to read. To her
chair, she welcomed the opportunity to look around.
It was an interesting layout. Only two rooms led off of
the main room, and from what Cassy had said, they were
142 lori wick
both hallways to bedrooms. The big room held everything
else: kitchen area, dining area, and living room furniture
set up around the fireplace. There were windows on two
sides. The kitchen table was long and wide with a variety
of mismatched chairs. The two davenports and three
rocking chairs were well worn but clean looking.
Darvi settled back with her Bible and turned a little to
catch the light from the window. She had covered only two
chapters when Eliot, Seth, Nate, and Lindy came in. Lindy
came right to her, her eyes intent on Darvi's Bible. Darvi
smiled and watched her touch the book and then pat her
261
little chest.
"Do you have a Bible?"
She shook her head no and patted the Bible and her
chest again.
"Do you want me to read to you?" Darvi wasn't long in
catching on.
Her little head bobbed again, this time in excitement.
"I would be happy to read to you, Lindy, but you need
to ask Mr. McDermott first."
The men couldn't help but overhear the conversation.
After the events of that morning, Seth was keeping his distance,
but Eliot came right over.
"Do you mind if I read the Bible
to Lindy?"
The man looked completely untroubled^ "Not at all."
Even his voice was unconcerned. "If s just stories."
Eliot was on his way back across the room when Darvi
asked Lindy a question.
"Do you have another book I might read to you,
Lindy?"
262
The little girl frowned in confusion.
"I want to read to you, Lindy," Darvi clarified, "but I
don't think these are just stories."
Eliot came back.
"Darvi, Cassy won't mind if you read the Bible4 to
Lindy."
A Texas Sky 143
Aware that every eye in the room was on her, she still
said, "But if I have to tell her this is just another storybook,
I mind very much."
"Run and get a book from your room, Lindy."
When the little girl scampered away, Eliot met Darvi's
eyes.
"So you think the Bible is from God?"
"Yes, I do," Darvi answered, glad that he understood
what she was saying.
"I can't speak for Cassy on that, so if you don't mind
263
reading something else..." Eliot let the sentence hang, as
Darvi was already nodding.
"Not at all."
That was all the more time Lindy needed to come back
with a thick book of nursery rhymes, stories, and poems.
Darvi saw nothing wrong with the book, but it was something
of a letdown for her. She sincerely hoped to read to
Lindy from the Bible one day but invited the little girl into
her lap and read from the story Lindy opened to. It was a
familiar one from Darvi's childhood, and she had to fight
the homesickness that welled up inside of her.
She wasn't usually prone to missing home so much, but
she had been primed and ready to go back, even if there was
a battle, and now having been cheated out of that, her heart
yearned for home more than it ever had before. For a time
she read without thought, her mind on how she and her parents
had parted. She knew things would never be completely
settled unless they came to Christ, but she also thought it was
right to have as little tension as possible between them.
Not aware of the little girl's drooping lids, Darvi read
264
through the entire story before she noticed that Lindy's
head had fallen to the side. She set the book down, but
because they were both comfortable, Darvi kept rocking
and holding her. It was a bit warm to be cuddling, but the
amazement of how kind and sweet these children were to
her, a virtual stranger, wrung Darvi's heart. While they