Kinkade, Texas, 111 always think of it that way. My father
worked the ranch until just six years ago, when he and my
436
mother moved back here. I'm 26 years old, and for most of
those years my parents lived in Kinkade. My grandmother
is still in Texas. She loved it so much she didn't want to
move back, even though her only son did.
"On top of that, St. Louis is a sprawling city. If you had
looked at my face when we pulled into your neighborhood
and then up to your house, you would have seen that I was
stunned to see how dose you lived to my parents."
"Why didn't you say anything then?" Darvi asked. It
was not an accusation, just an honest appeal for understanding.
"I was all ready to meet your parents, Darvi, but they
weren't there. Brandon was. I could see that you didn't
A Texas Sky 235
want him hugging you, but for all I knew he'd had a life-changing
experience of his own, and the two of you would
be engaged again by the time we next saw each other. I
wasn't even convinced that he might not be with you at the
party today."
For a moment they stared at each other, and then Darvi
looked at her lap. She fiddled with the folds in her skirt
437
before speaking.
"He didn't understand. He offered to take me to church
every day if I wanted, but he just couldn't see how our not
sharing title same beliefs could make that much difference.
It took two days to convince him, and now I think he hates
me." Darvi paused, her voice growing thick. "It also didn't
help to have my parents just as confused. My mother is
barely speaking to me."
"What did they have to say about the abduction?"
Darvi shook her head a little. "In order to protect
Renee's privacy, I didn't go into much detail. I'm not sure
that's fair to them since I don't think they understood the
full gist of what happened, but I didn't know what else to
do." Darvi paused before adding, "Not that I'm sure it
would matter. All my mother seems concerned about right
now is my breakup with Brandon."
Dakota's face clouded with compassion, and Darvi tried
not to cry. Instead, she shifted her attention to Dakota.
"How did your parents take the news of your conversion?"
she asked Dakota.
438
"We haven't discussed it. I wrote them as soon as I was
able to sit up, and Mother mentioned it in her letter back to
me, but when I got home, I didn't bring it up. I was gone
less than 24 hours later and just arrived back yesterday."
"And you've been in Aurora?"
"Part of the time, yes. Jared Silk has been charged for
money laundering, fraud, and embezzlement, but so far
Seth and Eliot are still at the ranch. Something tells me they
are behind Silk's arrest"
"But they're not in jail?"
236 lori wick
Dakota shook his head no, even as he read the worry in
her eyes.
"When does your aunt suggest you come back?"
"Suggest?" Darvi exclaimed. "She says I'm to be there
by the twenty-eighth."
"A week from today."
"Yes."
"There's no point in my going all the way there and
439
back. I'll just stay and go with you."
"You don't have to do that."
They stared at each other.
"I have a lot of things going on inside of me right now,
Darvi/' Dakota confessed. "But it's only fair to warn you
that I'm not a St Louis type of person. I love Texas."
"I love Texas too, but if s only fair to warn you that I've
never been so confused about anyone as I am about you."
Dakota laughed a little.
"If s good to hear that someone else is in the same boat."
Darvi smiled, and again they found themselves regarding
each other.
"Aunt Renee's telegraph was at the house when I
arrived," Darvi said quietly. "I read it and remembered
your telling me you were going to be in Aurora with me. I
didn't see how mat was possible, since you'd just left."
"If I had it to do over again," Dakota said, "I'd have
asked to see you a moment before I left, so you would have
known of my plans to return to Aurora."
"Would you have told me about your parents too?"
440
"That one's a little harder, Darv," he said comically. "I
can never remember when Mother has that fall garden
thing of hers, and for all I knew, she and my father were on
a trip somewhere. They don't exactly check in with me."
Darvi had to laugh, and not just at Dakota's expression.
She was beginning to see that he was from a different
world. He teased her about trouble following her around,
and she knew she was somewhat sheltered, but never once
had he treated her like a child the way her parents and
A Texas Sky 237
Brandon were wont to do. She was just a year younger man
Dakota, but he'd been out of the nest and on his own for
ages. She, on the other hand, was still treated like a little
princess, one who had suddenly discovered her wings and
was not living up to the life her parents had planned for her
in the palace.
"I should get you home," Dakota said. "It's getting
dark."
441
Darvi sighed. "I feel terrible that I'm in no hurry to go
home."
"I feel bad about that too, but I'd feel worse if your reputation
suffered because of my keeping you in the park too
long." Dakota had a sudden thought. "Would you like to
stop by your house and ask your parents if you could
spend the evening with my family?"
Darvi perked up but then thought better of it "Won't
your parents be rather tired?"
"Yes, but we always play cards when we're home on
Saturday nights, even when everyone is weary. You could
be our fourth."
"I would like that," Darvi said. Dakota stood and
offered his arm, his heart swelling over the chance to spend
more time with her. He still didn't know if that meant love,
but he was enjoying every moment of it
And his parents enjoyed it too. Darvi's parents were
willing to let her go, and Dakota's parents were delighted
to see her. They brought her in and made her feel very welcome,
even going so far as to tell her how sorry they were
442
for all she'd been through. Dakota's heart squeezed with
thankfulness for their kindness and hospitality. It was a
fabulous evening, and Dakota had all he could do not to
take Darvi's hand when he eventually walked her home.
To Dakota's surprise, his parents were still up when he
got back. They called him into the living room when they
heard the door.
"I thought you'd be asleep by now, Mother."
"I should be, but the game perked me up a bit"
238 lori wick
Dakota sat down, kicked his shoes off/ and put his feet
on the ottoman.
"She's a sweet girl/' Charles opened. His shoes were off
,
his feet up as well. "A lot of fun."
"Yes/ she is," Dakota agreed, his eyes a little distant
His mother then proceeded to astound him.
"Have you fallen for her because of her beliefs, Dak?"
Dakota had all he could do to answer in a normal voice.
443
'That has played a part. Mother, I'm sure of it, but thafs
not the only reason." He stopped and looked at her. "Have
you heard something?"
"Only that she broke it off with Brandon, not the other
way around, and that the reason had something to do with
religion."
Dakota nodded but didn't know what to say. Was this
the opportunity he had been looking for?
"Your grandmother wrote to us, Dak," Charles put in.
"She made no secret of her excitement over what she calls your salvation. This is the third, no fourth, time we've heard this. First Cash, then my mother, then Slater, and now you.
I don't know what you think you all have that the rest of us
don't."
Dakota was no longer left wondering. There was no getting
around the fact that his parents were ready to talk. But
was he prepared to tell them? With a quick reminder that
he was only responsible for what he knew, he tried to start
444
"No one's ever wanted you to feel left out, Father. I hope
you understand that And I know in the past you've said
you've been to church all your life." Dakota paused. He
was already starting to ramble. He took a breath and began
again. "There's so much I don't know or understand, but
this much is clear to me: I was lost in my sin. It took awhile,
but I finally saw that I do sin/ and that my sin separated me
from God."
Dakota looked into their faces, encouraged that they
were listening so closely.
A Texas Sky 239
"You've seen my scars, and I know Cash wrote you. I
nearly died. When that happened, I knew I wasn't ready to
die. If I had been forced to face God in person at that
moment, I would have had no excuse. Cash and Slate had
both told me that my sin separates me from God, and that
the only way to cover the separation is through His Son,
445
Jesus. I accepted Jesus as my own Savior, and I no longer
fear death or judgment." Dakota's eyes met those of his
father's. "Ifs not about going to church all your life or
being a good person. Ifs more personal than that"
When they said nothing, he went on.
"And to answer your question, Mother^the same thing
happened to Darvi. Brandon wanted no part of it, so she
broke t off. Darvi and I didn't fall for each other because of
that, but knowing that we believe the same lets us explore
this relationship. If she didn't share my belief, I wouldn't
have a choice but to ignore my feelings, no matter how
much it might hurt"
"But you do think you're in love with her?"
-"I
don't honestly know, but I'm willing to find out"
Again, they silently regarded him.
Dakota suddenly hated this. He had never known such
peace as he had now, but not having his parents being in
one accord with him was very painful. They had raised
him to be independent and think for himself, so he knew
446
they would never be harsh with him over this or any decision,
but he wasn't sure they had the slightest inkling of
what had happened to him.
"Well, Dak," his mother finally said, although her tone
was sober. "We're glad to see you home and safe. Any little
difference in our beliefs is nothing in light of your being
safe. Thafs all we care about"
Dakota held his tongue. The "little difference" his mother
spoke of was nothing short of a life-and-death matter, but
Dakota knew there was no sense arguing. Reminding himself
to stay respectful, Dakota kept praying and asking God to work in their hearts and open doors of opportunity.
Q/foietee
"what if he's right?" charles asked Virginia after they
had retired.
Dakota's mother turned from the bottle of lotion she
had been reaching for and stared at her husband.
"About what?"
447
"About facing God. Can I honestly say I'm ready?"
"Of course you're ready, Charles. You're a good person.
What more can God want?"
He stared at his wife. Had she not heard what Dakota
had said? Had he misunderstood?
"Charles?" Virginia ventured, her voice so tentative that
the senior Rawlings wondered what his face looked like.
"I'm going to go ask Dakota something. I'll be right
back."
Virginia was stunned. What had he been thinking? Her
brow furrowed with deliberation. She didn't like the children
coming home and upsetting things. If Dakota left
chaos in his wake, it would put such a damper on his visit.
Confrontation was the last thing she wanted.
Down the hallway Charles' thoughts were far different.
His heart almost in dread over some of the things his son
had said, he knocked on Dakota's door, working to
remember what Cash and Slater had shared as well.
Dakota answered before anything came to mind.
"Are you going to church tomorrow?" Charles asked
448
without preamble.
ATy + m
Dakota nodded. "I was going to go early-M morning and get a note to Darvi to see if I couldttft church with her." . ft
"What about your mother's and my church?*' a , *
"In truth, Dad, I don't know anything about it, tut because you don't agree with my beliefs, I'm assuming there won't be anything there for me."
"And what do you hope Darvi's church will have?"
"Some type of message and challenge from God's Ward
Something I can learn from and put into practice in my life."
"And thaf s all part of not being afraid to die?"
"My peace about death does not come from a sermon I
with Christ, However, salvation is only the beginning.
There's a whole life to be lived, and I won't know how to
live it without study in the Word."
The older Rawlings studied his boy's face, their eyes
meeting and holding.
"I'll go with you! Your mother too!"
Dakota blinked. "All right," he said slowly. "But I'm
449
not sure what Darvi will say. I mean, I haven't checked
with her."
"What if," Charles began, his pride rubbing him a bit,
"it turns out she goes to our church, and the preacher
explains it just like you did?"
"Then I'll wonder how you could have been missing it
all these years," Dakota replied before he thought.
Charles wasn't happy with this disrespectful statement,
and his eyes communicated that with ease.
"I'm sorry, sir. I shouldn't have said that"
"No, you shouldn't have, but if s what you believe,
isn't it?"
Dakota dropped his eyes before admitting, "Yes, sir."
Charles didn't like the shame he felt over the way he'd
gained the upper hand. It was true th
at he had taught his
boys to respect him, but he had come knocking on Dakota's
door, not the other way around.
"If s all right," he said quietly. "Sleep well, Dakota."
240
450
242 lori wick
"Tliank you. Goodnight."
Charles made his way back down the hall, unaware of
the way Dakota stood and watched him retreat into the
darkness. He gained his own room, where "Virginia still had
a light on, and floored her with his announcement.
"We're going to church with Darvi and Dakota in the
morning."
"What church?"
"I don't know yet, but we're going."
Her mouth opened a little. "You don't mean that."
"I do mean it."
"Charles, what will our neighbors who go to our church
say?"
"I don't care."
Virginia knew very well how true that statement was.
Charles Rawlings Sr. never did anything because someone
thought he should. She watched him settle into bed, not at
451
all comfortable with his plan. The lantern was still on, so
Charles caught her gaze on him when he turned on his
side. Virginia dropped her eyes and reached for the lamp,
but his hand stopped her.
"Ginny," he said quietly, "he's got me to thinking."
"About what?"
"I'm not a kid anymore."
"You're not old, either."
"Neither was Ben down at the bank, and he dropped
without warning."
"So thaf s what this is all about," she said in a mothering
tone. "You've just realized you're not going to live forever."
"Exactly."
"Virginia had not expected him to agree. She had even
used a tone with him that usually angered him.
"All right, Charles." She gave in more out of confusion
than anything else. "I'll go with you."
Charles had not thought anything else. Virginia went
nearly everywhere with him. But her answer gave him
pause. Would he go if she refused? It took some time before
452
Charles fell asleep, but even then he wasn't suretawVtifci go without her. - '^tf*#
'r~^
t*
"I'm sorry to call at your back door at such an eaity
hour," Dakota said to the woman at the Wingates' kitchen
door. "I didn't want to disturb anyone, but could you
please get this note to Miss Wingate as soon as possible?"
"I will, sir. Is there anything else?"
"No, thank you."
That was how the morning had started. Dakota had
awakened early and gone swiftly to Darvi's, hoping she
would get the note as he directed, and she did. Just an hour