A Texas Sky (Yellow Rose Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF Page B

spoke seriously.
    "You're doing better, and that's all I care about, Darvi
    girl. And if things get rough again when you go home after
    your visit to Merry's, you just come right back here."
    With a whispered word of thanks, Darvi did bend and
    kiss him. No other words were shared as Darvi left the
    room, mounted the stairs, and readied for bed. lired as
    Darvi was, she lay awake until her uncle came up those
    same stairs, the sound of his steps a comfort to her. Praying
    for him as she felt herself relax, she drifted off to sleep some
    time after she heard his boots drop to the floor.
    3"3''5i*
    60
    Dakota was glad that Darvi wanted to leave early and
    take it slow. He was still rather tender in spots and had
    even bled some in the night, and although he no longer
    wanted to sit around Austin, it was nice to know he was
    going to have an easy day.
    All this he had decided before he saw Darvi. She and
    Brace were in the front yard when he arrived, and Dakota
    thought he'd never seen anyone so loaded for bear. Gone
    was the frilly dress and elegant hairstyle. In the morning
    light he could see that she was dressed for the trail. Darvi
    wore a brown dress he could only term "serviceable" and
    had her hair and neck covered by an all-consuming hat and
    handkerchief. It was such a contrast to the day before that
    Dakota had all he could do not to stare.
    "Here's some money," Brace said the moment Dakota
    dismounted.
    "I'm doing all right," Dakota replied, not taking the bills
    that were being held out to him.
    Brace stuffed them in Dakota's vest pocket
    61
    "Be that as it may," he said rather softly, "you never
    know whaf s going to happen with Darvi, and I didn't
    mean for you to do this without some compensation."
    Dakota opened his mouth to start to protest, but Brace
    cut him off. "I mean it!"
    Dakota watched him turn back to his niece. The two
    hugged.
    "Have you got everything?" Brace asked.
    "Yes. I'm sure I do."
    "All right Have a good time. Tell Merry I said hello;
    Caldertoo."
    "I'll do it"
    "And when you get home, tell your mother she hasn't
    written in weeks,"
    Darvi's brow lowered. "You said you just got a letter,"
    36 lori wick
    "I know, but your mother always expects me to complain
    about something, and I don't want to let her down."
    Darvi gave him another hug and turned to the horse
    62
    called Finley. With a boost she didn't need, Brace had her
    in the saddle in the blink of an eye. Dakota waited to shake
    Brace's hand and thank him before gaining his own saddle/
    and a moment later he and Darvi were on their way.
    Dakota glanced back just before they were out of sight to
    find Brace reaching for his handkerchief, causing something
    to trigger in his own heart. It was a good reminder
    that Darvi was precious cargo.
    "Hey, Darvi," Dakota called to her as they turned their
    horses toward the west side of town. "How soon would
    you like to get there?"
    "Soon," she admitted. "I guess I'm not much for
    dawdling."
    "Well, be sure and let me know if we're going too fast."
    Darvi glanced at him. "Why don't I set the pace? Will
    that work?"
    "Go to it," Dakota said with easy confidence. He knew
    Eli was up to anything, and he had strong doubts that
    Darvi could wear him out. With this thought in mind,
    Dakota simply heeled his mount to keep pace with Darvi
    63
    the moment they hit the edge of town.
    3''3 "9r
    Calling it pride never occurred to Dakota. It was a perfect
    description, but the word never crossed his mind, nor
    did it occur to him to tell Darvi they had to slow down.
    More than 12 hours after he and Darvi left Austin, they
    arrived in Blake, a town not far from Stillwater. Dakota was
    in so much pain that he didn't think he could even speak.
    All five of his bullet wounds were burning, and he knew
    the one on his waist had to be bleeding.
    "I think the hotel would be good, don't you?" Darvi
    spoke like a woman in charge, and at the moment she was.
    A Texas Sky 37
    "Fine," Dakota managed, glad that the horses'