"I didn't say you'd never met him, but if s been a long
time, and I would especially want you to be excited when
I've asked him to take you to Stillwater."
Darvi stared at his mischievous eyes. "Do you mean it?"
she asked, afraid to hope.
"Indeed, I do. Now come on. He's in the living room."
Darvi was suddenly all aflutter. Hair she didn't care
about before was checked with careful attention, and she
wiped perfectly dean hands two more times. Brace
watched and waited patiently for her to join him.
"Now?" he teased again.
"Yes."
Brace let her precede him but was talking as they
approached.
"Here she is, Dak. You can ask her yourself what day
she wants to leave."
Darvi, whose heart had been pounding with excitement,
felt the pit of her stomach plummet as they entered the
small living room and the cowboy from the street the day
41
before rose to meet her. Darvi's face flamed with mortification
even as he came toward her, a kind smile on his face.
A Texas Sky 25
"It's nice to see you again, Darvi. You've done some
growing up."
"Yes," she barely managed and then realized she did
not want to explain this strange reaction to her uncle.
"You've changed a bit too," she said honestly, trying to
act naturally. "I wouldn't have known you."
Dakota smiled then, a full-blown work, but Darvi was
still a little too tense to join him.
"So, what day do you want to go?" he asked after
reading the hesitancy in her eyes.
"What day is good for you?"
Dakota's hands came out. "My schedule is very open."
"May I think about it then, and let you know?"
"Thafsfine."
"Lef s eat then," Brace declared, feeling he'd success-fully'pulled
off his surprise, not to mention the fact that he
42
was famished.
Dakota was hungry as well. He remembered his manners,
but Geneva's cooking seemed much longer ago than
a week. Darvi, he noticed, was not very hungry. Dakota
wished he could ask her if he was causing the discomfort/
but it looked as though they were going to have several
days of travel where he might do that
Partway through the meal, Brace began to tell Dakota
about some cases and episodes from the last several
months. Some Dakota knew of; others were new to him.
'I've got a photograph I need to show you. I think if s
up in my room. Ill run up and get it, and you can tell me if
you've seen this man before."
When Brace left, the dining room suddenly became very
quiet. Dakota was almost through eating, and Darvi had
given up pretending to eat. Dakota studied her from his
seat, thinking that she had been something of a hoyden
when he'd met her originally and that she had certainly
grown into a refined young woman. She was poised and
graceful; the only things out of place were the short curls
43
26 lori wick
that refused to be caught back in the elegant chignon she
wore.
And that mouth! Dakota had never seen the like. Her
upper lip protruded past a small shapely lower lip, giving
her one of the most unusual looks he'd ever seen. In the
strictest sense, she wasn't a beauty, but the soft curb
around her face and those large brown eyes above her
small, turned-up nose were all very eye-catching. And
because she was looking everywhere but at her guest,
Dakota went ahead and watched her. The moment she
brought her eyes to his, however, he spoke.
"So tell me, Darvi, does your uncle know you were
asking perfect strangers to escort you around the state?"
"I could tell you were a Ranger," she defended herself.
"Not all Rangers are trustworthy, and you Joiow it."
Darvi was silent at this, her eyes moving back to her
plate.
"So I take it Brace knows?"
44
Darvi was suddenly interested in the things on the
table, straightening them just so and smoothing the
already-perfect doth.
glanced over to find those dark eyes leveled on her and
asked herself if he'd always had such a powerful presence.
"Are you going to tell him?"
"if s not my place, but I think you know how dangerous
that could have been."
Darvi was only just able to nod before Brace came back
to the table and the conversation turned to the man in the
photo.
Darvi began clearing the table for dessert, thinking
Dakota was right: It had been dangerous. But there was
more to it, something neither man would understand. She had to see Merry.
^stst
A Texas Sky 27
Desmond had not had an extra Bible to give him.
45
Dakota had read from Geneva's when he had studied with
Desmond, but when he left Wellsville there was no Bible in
his gear. He'd had time the day before to look for one, but
having woken with pain and some fever, it had completely
slipped his mind.
Now Dakota sat in church wishing he had a Bible he
could refer to. It wasn't that he doubted what the man was
saying, but he thought if he could read it for himself, he
would remember it better. Off and on each day he went
over the things Desmond had told him, still somewhat
amazed over how much made sense to him.
"Let me read verse 13 to you," the pastor was saying,
referring to the fifth chapter of Galatians. "Tor, brethren,
you have been called into liberty; only use not liberty for
an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another/
"It sounds to me," the man went on, "as though the
Galatian church had become sloppy and willful. Remember
how earlier in the chapter Paul had given them the
good news that salvation was by grace alone, through
Christ alone? Well, it almost looks as if they were taking
46
this freedom, 'liberty7 as the verse calls it, and treating it
like an old shoe. It seems as though they no longer treated
this freedom with the respect and hard work it deserves.
"Do you see how he commands them to love each
other? I think selfishness has reared its ugly head. Paul is
calling these believers to love each other because they were
doing anything but Verse 15 uses words like Trite/
'devour,' and 'consume.' Not exactly what we picture in a
church family where love leads the way."
Dakota had leaned forward in his seat He knew from
his brothers that coming to Christ did not make everything
perfect, but seeing that one of the churches from the
Bible--one that had to be very new--had experienced
these types of problems took a little getting used to.
"So what does Paul tell them to do instead?" the pastor
asked. "Look to verse 14. Love your neighbor as yourself.
28 lori wick
Have you ever known someone who hated himsel
f? We
don't usually meet people like that I can tell you that I
47
don't do things to hurt my own body. If I so much as stub
my toe, I sit down and rub it until it feels better.
"So, I have to ask myself, lake/ do you love your neighbors
like you do yourself? Do you care for them in the
careful way you look after yourself? Or are you devouring
and biting?'"
This was heavy stuff for a man whose salvation was so
new and who had no one with whom he could discuss
what he was hearing. Dakota had seen many ugly things in
his life, but he wasn't sure he could picture people in
Desmond's or his brother's church acting this way. He
didn't think the Bible would cover such a thing for no
reason, but he was going to have to do some thinking
before he made up his mind.
Getting yourself a Bible would certainly help, Rowlings.
"Lef s stand for our final two hymns."
Dakota had not seen that coming. Where had the time
gone? The Ranger hadn't known any of the songs at the
beginning of the service or the ones they closed with, but
he did his best He didn't even take notice of his surroundings
48
until people began to move from their seats. He was
still taking in the simple wooden pews and small pulpit
when from the periphery he caught someone approaching.
Dakota turned to see the doctor from the day before.
"How are the wounds?" that man held his hand out and
asked.
"Better, I mink," Dakota answered with a return shake.
"I used the powder last night and again this morning."
The older man nodded. "Thaf s just what every doctor
wants to hear--that people are taking their medicine."
Dakota smiled a little but didn't say anything else.
"Do you have someplace to eat lunch today?"
"As in the form of an invitation? No."
"Well, consider yourself invited. I'm Marcus Scott, by
the way."
A Texas Sky 29
"Dakota Rawlings, and thank you."
"Let me give you directions to the house."
Dakota listened to the simple explanation, but before
49
the doctor could finish, he was joined by Mrs. Scott and
their two grown sons. Dakota ended up meeting them and
simply following the Scotts' wagon home.
"Are you just passing through Austin, Mr. Rawlings?"
Mrs. Scott asked after her husband prayed and the dishes
were passed.
"In a way, ma'am, I am. I just came into town to tell my
boss I'm ready to go back to work."
"And where will you go from here?"
"Just on a short jaunt into the hills, not actually working
at all."
"I was going to ask," the doctor cut in, "does your boss
know you're not back to strength?"
"No, but he didn't want me going back to work
anyway."
"Where do you live?" one of the sons now asked, and
the meal progressed in companionable conversation,
doctor and Ranger taking measure of each other. Finally,
near the end of the meal, Dakota found the courage to ask
some questions.
50
"Have you gone to the church very long?"
"Years and years. Have you ever visited before?"
"No, I haven't," Dakota answered and then plunged in
with what was on his mind. "Do you happen to know
whether the pastor is open to questions? I have a few."
"Indeed, he is," Marcus answered as he stirred the
coffee his wife had just brought to him. She returned to the
kitchen to finish cutting pieces of cake. "Is there anything I
can help you with?"
Dakota frowned down at his plate for a moment before
admitting, "Were those verses this morning saying that the
church was having problems?"
30 lori wick
The doctor nodded. "Earlier in the chapter, Paul warns
the people about the seriousness of adding anything to the
gospel. Do you know what I mean by 'gospel'?"
"Salvation?"
"Yes. Their big issue was circumcision."
Dakota's brows rose on this, but he stayed quiet.
51
"Some people were still insisting that the men be circumcised,
though Paul made it very clear that salvation
comes by faith alone through Christ alone. Pastor mentioned
the freedom this gave them, but they started to treat
that freedom carelessly and were falling into sin toward
each other."
"But the church was new! How could there be that
many problems so quickly?"
Marcus smiled. "I don't know too many people who
don't have problems or past experiences that affect the way
they think and act. These people were no different. They
had been used to blood sacrifices and circumcision. Now
Christ had come along and taken all that away. And that
was wonderful for these folks, but old habits--especially
ones that make us feel comfortable--can die hard."
"So what type of sins are we talking about? I mean, how
were they treating each other?"
"The verses that are coming up have a pretty serious
list. Paul calls them the works of the flesh, and they include
adultery, fornication, hatred, and much more. Maybe mis
52
was what they were saved out of, and with the way they
were acting, he feared they would go back to this life. At
the end of that chapter, he goes on to tell them how important
it is to walk in the Spirit and gives another list, this one
full of righteous acts for them to practice."
"But these people had heard the gospel and been
saved?"
"I believe so, yes, and I don't wish to make excuses for
them, but keep in mind that salvation does not take all
those old temptations and actions away. We still tend to
think of ourselves first and want our way much too often."
ATexasSky 31
Dakota couldn't argue with that Until recently, his own
life and wants were his main concern. He cared about his
family and his job, but he could now see how self-centered
he'd been. At the same time, he had to admit that he was
changing. The doctor was willing to talk for hours, and
Dakota's questions were not about his own life, but that of
53
Jesus Christ
S"3^^r
Thinking about how good it had been to talk to Dr.
Scott, Dakota left their home and headed straight to Brace's
small abode. Not until Mrs. Scott had asked if they would
see him next week did Dakota realize he had no idea what
his plans were. It was time to see Darvi. Because he wasn't
staying at the boardinghouse, he realized Darvi had no way to tell him when she wanted to leave for Stillwater. For all he knew, they'd be pulling out of town first thing in the
morning.
Dakota arrived at the house about three o'clock,
knocked softly on the door, and waited. Dressed in an elegant
day dress the color of dark plums, made more elegant
by its unadorned lines, Darvi answered.
"Oh, Dakota!" she said in soft surprise. "I wondered
when I would see you again."
Dakota stepped inside as she held the door and then
understood why she whispered: Brace was sound asleep in
54
the rocking chair.
Hat in hand, Dakota smiled a little before turning back
to Darvi.
"What day did you want to leave?"
"Will Tuesday work for you?"
"Thaf s fine. I'll check the stage schedule and get back--"
"I don't want to go by stage," Darvi cut in.
Dakota blinked.
"I thought we'd be going on horseback. I want to go on
horseback/' she clarified.
32 lori wick
Dakota couldn't help the way his eyes moved over her
elegant dress. "The stage will be much more comfortable."
"And also more unreliable."
Dakota nodded slowly, thinking that it was her choice
but also asking himself what he'd gotten into with this
favor.
"I'll check into renting a mount for you."
"Uncle Marty has two horses now. He said I can take
55
one of his."
So Brace knows about this,
Outwardly Dakota nodded calmly, but his mind was
already doing mental calisthenics as he went over the route
to Blake and then on to Stillwater. The terrain wasn't bad,
but it wasn't always the safest. On his own he wouldn't
have given it a thought. Taking Darvi put it in a whole new
light
"What if we took the stage to Blake and then rented
horses for Stillwater?"
Without so much as a moment's hesitation, Darvi shook
her head no. She didn't look stubborn, just certain. Dakota
decided to let it drop,
"Okay. How early do you want to leave?"
"I was thinking five."
Again Dakota was surprised but only nodded. Maybe it
was for the best. He was coming to see that Darvi Wingate
was one classy, sophisticated woman. More than likely
they would have to take it slowly. Leaving early would
help get them there in a more reasonable time frame.
56
"I'll see you Tuesday," Dakota supplied.
"Thank you, Dakota," she said, her face no longer businesslike
but wreathed in soft, delighted lines.
Dakota couldn't help but respond. He smiled back,
replaced his hat, and turned toward the door. He didn't
know what the next week would bring, but he was fairly
certain it wouldn't be dull.
like a child at christmas, dakota sat down under the
large shade tree, leaned against it for comfort, and opened
the package he had just bought from the general store. It
had taken some searching, but he finally had it.