Aurora, Texas
JARED SILK’S EYES NARROWED IN ANGER as he read the newspaper column. After all this time he should have been used to it, but he knew if Annabelle Hewett had been in the room just then, he would have been tempted to strike her.
He read it yet again:
What does Aurora’s newest bank have going this time? How about loan rates that are not only too good to be true, they’re impossible to believe! One can’t help but wonder how owner Jared Silk can afford clothing that clearly didn’t come from a catalog. We’ll all be waiting with great anticipation at the town’s fall festival. Will Silk’s face be as red as his new cravat?
A. Hewett
Had Annabelle been in the room right then, she would have seen just how red the banker’s face could get. Jared was so furious he nearly barked at the person who knocked on his office door. Remembering just in time that the bank’s doors were already open, he tempered his response to a terse reply and told the men to enter. Even though he’d sent for them, seeing them did nothing for his mood.
“Have you read this?” he asked one of his personal assistants.
“Yes,” Seth Redding answered calmly, taking a chair as though he had all day.
“I’m sick of it! I want it stopped. Do you hear me?”
“What exactly are we supposed to do?” the other man, Eliot McDermott, asked. “She’s free to write whatever she chooses, and we know from the last little job that busting up the newspaper office won’t stop it.”
“Shut your mouth!” Jared hissed at him as he rose to shut the door, even knowing the hall and stairway were empty.
The men, half-brothers who could have had respectable jobs, watched their boss secure the door and stalk to the window. From the second-story view, he stared down on the street, his frame tense with helpless frustration.
“What she writes is all true, Jared,” Eliot added. “I don’t know why you fight it.”
“I don’t pay you to think,” Jared now said coldly, never taking his eyes from the window. The statement wasn’t true, but the banker was too angry to see reason.
The brothers exchanged a look. At times like these they were tempted to ask themselves why they put up with him, but the answer was never far from their minds: the money.
“I think I’d like to talk with Annabelle Hewett,” Jared said.
Seth came to his feet, and Eliot’s stance became tense.
“Now, Jared,” Seth began, “you can’t go snatching that lady off the streets. She’s too well known.”
Jared finally turned to the men, his face filled with a calm they had learned to dread.
“You’re right; I can’t do it. But you can and you will. I don’t care how you handle it. I don’t even care if you hire someone else, but I want you to offer a personal invitation to Miss Hewett.”
“An invitation to what?”
“Why, to my home for dinner. We’ll have a nice meal and talk awhile. I’m sure I can convince her that she’s quite mistaken.”
The men didn’t bother to hide their displeasure, but Jared was not swayed.
“Just let me know what day I’m to expect her. And boys, keep it neat. I have a reputation to uphold in this town.”
Knowing they had no one to blame but themselves, the brothers filed out. They didn’t linger at the bank but headed right onto the street and over to the saloon to discuss the idea. They had a plan in very little time, but later, Seth returned to the bank only to find that Jared had come up with a plan of his own. Nevertheless, this job was going to cost the banker a little more than usual.
“You don’t have to stay,” Darvi proclaimed to Dakota for the third time.
“So you’ve said.” His reply was as calm as always, and Darvi gave up.
They had made excellent time getting to Aurora, and during their travels Darvi was surprised to find that Dakota’s home was very near. He could be there in a matter of hours. Darvi saw no reason for him to stay the night just to put her on the train. However, he was not about to leave. Darvi was glad for the company but felt she’d been trouble enough.
“So where do you want to spend the night?”
“I’ve got to get my trunk from the train station, and then I’ll check into the Belmont.”
“Why don’t I get the trunk?” Dakota started to suggest, but Darvi was already shaking her head.
“I appreciate the offer, Dakota, but I need my clothing as soon as I check in, and I’ll be able to find the trunk in no time, since I know what it looks like.”
“Sounds fair enough. By the way, what are we doing with Finley?”
“I’m to leave him at Garth’s Livery, or some name like that. My uncle has plans to get him back. I didn’t ask where it was, but I don’t think it will be too hard to find.”
“Have you stayed in Aurora before?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“How do you know about the Belmont?”
“Uncle Marty. He lectured me for a full 24 hours before I left.” Darvi’s voice went monotone before she went on, “What to watch for, where to go, do everything Dakota says, don’t look at strange men, don’t leave your room after dark, get your trunk from the station, leave the horse with Garth, and I can’t remember what else.”
Dakota had a good laugh over this litany but thought it sounded like Brace. He was also changing his mind about Darvi being on her own. He would never leave her to fend for herself, but she was very quick to catch on to things and as plucky as he’d first expected.
The train station was a bustling place, and it took some doing to track down the bags and trunks that were being held. Darvi had to give her name and a description of her small trunk, and then the man was gone for what seemed to be ages trying to find it. Because her name was not on the outside, he made her open the top and show her name under the lid. The fact that she had the key should have spoken volumes.
Finally satisfied, the man released the trunk to her care. Dakota hefted it onto Eli’s back. It wasn’t the ideal mode of transportation, but if they asked the station to deliver it, there was no telling when the heavy piece would arrive. There was a lad of 12 or 13 who stayed close to the hotel lobby and was willing to carry it to Darvi’s room when she checked in. Dakota followed in their wake, his own room key in hand.
“Thank you,” Darvi told the young man, slipping a coin to him.
“Thank you,” he returned politely and went on his way.
“Are you on this floor?” Darvi asked Dakota.
Dakota looked at his key. “I think so, but I must be a few doors down.”
“I know it’s getting on in the day, Dakota, but can you give me time to clean up before we eat?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing. There’s no way I’m going to enjoy my dinner until I’ve ordered a bath.”
Darvi smiled at his understanding.
“I’ll come back here in about an hour. How does that work?”
“Wonderful. I’ll see you then.”
Saddlebags in hand, Dakota went to find his room, not knowing that an hour was optimistic. Nevertheless, the two travelers finally sat down in the hotel dining room, both ready for a hot meal and the comfort of eating indoors.
“Dakota,” Darvi asked over coffee, their order having just been taken, “how did you become a Ranger?”
Dakota smiled. “I caught the bug when I was about 13. We’d had some trouble with cattle rustling, and the Rangers came in to help. I’d never seen such tough, capable men. I was in awe of every one of them. From that time forward I dreamed of having my own sturdy mount, side arm, rope, and Bowie knife. I had access to all those things on the ranch, but they weren’t mine. At the time I had no concept of the responsibility, but even when I understood the position, I still longed to work hard and uphold the law in Texas.”
Dakota stopped for a moment before admitting, “It was all I ever wanted until my brother Slater came to Christ. Cash and my grandmother already believed, but I never thought Slater would. The change in him was uncanny, and then he left the Rangers to settle in one town. I was ready to string him up, but he stood up to me and told me his decision was made. The change in his life got me to thinking that I might have missed something.
“I don’t know if I thought of it when you were telling your story, Darvi, but Slater did what you need to do. Although everyone in the Rangers was telling him he didn’t need to quit, he knew he couldn’t stay on the trail. He stood up to me and to Brace, and I know God has blessed him for it.”
It was on Darvi’s mind to ask Dakota if he would stay with the Rangers now, but for some reason she held back. His salvation was as new as hers. Maybe he hadn’t thought that far. Then again, she knew nothing of Slater. Maybe their situations were nothing alike.
“So are you ready to go home and face your family?”
“I think I am. I’m trying not to think of conversations in my head. I’ve done that in the past, and it never works. The person never says what I think he’s going to, and so everything I’ve rehearsed is a waste of time.”
Dakota was impressed. It was so easy to do just that. He’d done it many times himself.
“Well, you can go knowing that I will pray for you.”
“Thank you. And I’ll be praying for you. I never thought about anyone being able to have an influence on Uncle Marty. Maybe your life will touch his.”
“I hope so. I care for him a lot.”
Darvi found herself wanting to cry and hoped their food would come soon. Quite hungry, she suddenly realized a wave of homesickness was washing over her. The combination of hunger, her uncle, and a need to go home rained down on her with such intensity that she almost gasped.
Dakota stayed very quiet. They had talked for hours the day before, and Darvi had apologized for her tears on two occasions. Both times Dakota told her it was all right. He hoped that if he remained quiet now, she would not feel the need. It helped to have his stomach growl, and for Darvi to hear it.
“I think they’ve forgotten us,” she said, trying not to sniff.
“I think you might be right. I’m going to have to make myself chew. Right now I think I could swallow things whole.”
Neither one felt compelled to talk after that. Their food arrived about ten minutes later, and that was all they needed. By the time they finished, the days on the road were catching up. With little more than a plan to meet for breakfast, they bid each other goodnight.
Darvi stood on the train station platform in a navy blue suit, her satchel open as she secured her ticket inside. Closing the top, she looked up at Dakota who stood in front of her.
“All set?” he asked.
“I think so.”
“You look very nice in that suit, by the way.”
Darvi looked up at him innocently and asked, “You don’t think I should blacken a few front teeth?”
Dakota put his arms up in surrender.
“I’m not going to live that one down, am I?”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Darvi said playfully. “If you happen to see a certain uncle of mine and perhaps mention to him that I was a perfect angel on this trip, I might see my way clear to forget what you said.”
Dakota laughed again.
“I’ll do it.”
Darvi smiled up at him. “Thanks for everything, Dakota. I can’t tell you how good it was to see Merry and then hear of your revival as well.”
“I like that,” Dakota decided. “My revival. That just about sums it up.”
Darvi didn’t want to get teary again, so she said nothing. Not one who liked waiting for the train whistle to blow, she said goodbye right then. Dakota gave her a great hug, one that Darvi gladly returned, and then stood and watched her get on board. He searched the windows and waved when he spotted her, but as soon as she looked down at her lap, he turned away. It was going to be wonderful to get home, but he hated to see Darvi go. He walked back toward the hotel and livery, his heart a mix of emotions.
Halfway to the hotel, Dakota stopped in midstride. He didn’t know why he hadn’t thought of it sooner, but he could keep in contact with Darvi. The whistle had already blown, but he knew if he hurried he could get her address.
He arrived back in plenty of time, but she was not at the window. Thinking she might have moved, he quickly searched along the cars, surprised not to see her. When the train began to pull away, he comforted himself with the fact that he could get her address from Brace. Dakota turned again toward the hotel but froze before he’d walked five steps.
Moving along between two men was a woman: strawberry blonde and wearing a navy suit. Dakota wondered if he was seeing things even as his feet began to propel him in that direction. He wasn’t overly concerned. After all, why would anyone take Darvi from the train?
His own teasing about trouble following her now came to mind. With no definite plan, he picked up the pace just as they entered a crowded area of downtown Aurora.
Darvi could not believe this was happening. Where the men had come from she couldn’t say; she had looked up and there they were, one of them already taking the satchel from her side. Any protest she had died in her throat upon seeing the knife. The man hadn’t pulled it from its sheath, but he’d made sure she saw it before their eyes met. For this reason, Darvi instantly obeyed his order to accompany them from the train.
She now walked between them, much faster than she would have on her own, the town passing rather swiftly. She nearly lost her footing at one point. Starting to gasp, she felt something hard press against her side. That these men meant business was more than clear.
Darvi was working to keep her head when they suddenly turned down an alley. They were at the side and then the back of a building almost before she could think. Almost. Deciding that she wasn’t going to comply any longer, Darvi began to pull on the hand holding her upper arm, just as she opened her mouth to scream. She didn’t see the fist that came down on the top of her head, so when blackness crowded in she had no idea why.
Dakota had spotted them again and even knew what alley they turned down, but to his amazement, there was no one in sight. He couldn’t even find three distinctive sets of footprints in the gravel. Sure that he’d misjudged, he tried the next alley down but could see that it was too far.
“I know this is where they went,” he said under his breath as he continued to study the buildings. “I just don’t know for sure that it was Darvi.”
Dakota had a look around that brought him to a door in the back, but it was locked. Not a man given to flights of fancy, he wondered what to do next. Finding out if Darvi had actually left on that train was nearly impossible, but that would have settled his mind. He tried to assess whether or not he had actually seen anything amiss. The woman did not look upset or forced, but she certainly had Darvi’s coloring.
Dakota was at a loss. He’d planned to send word to Brace that he’d gotten Darvi off safely, but right now he could not even do that. For the time being he found a bench in front of the general store and sat down to think.
“You knocked her out?” Eliot asked in outrage.
“She started to struggle,” the taller of the two abductors said, defending himself, but a look from Eliot quieted him.
“When do we get paid?” the other tried, but he shut up when Seth’s eyes grew as black as his brother’s.
Neither man dared to comment when Eliot opened the door, his message clear. As soon as they were gone, Eliot and Seth stared down at Darvi and then at each other.
“How hard do you think he hit her?” Seth asked.
Eliot lifted one of Darvi’s eyelids and shook his head. “She’s out cold.”
“Here, let me move her to the davenport. She’s going to topple out of that chair.”
Seth lifted her easily, amazed at how light she felt, his heart pumping with very real fear that they had hurt the influential Annabelle Hewett. But something else happened inside of him when he laid Darvi back against a pillow, her face so pale that he was startled. Trying not to hear his own heart pounding, Seth placed his fingers alongside her neck. He picked up a steady beat and hoped it was only a matter of time until she woke.
“She’s prettier than her picture,” Seth commented as he stood to full height, looking down at their guest. Eliot came over to look, his gaze somewhat dispassionate.
“Things must be better for her. Even knocked out, she looks better than the last time I saw her.”
“I don’t know.”
“We could throw a little water in her face,” Eliot joked, but Seth frowned. For some reason the idea repelled him. He knew she could be vicious with her words, but knocked out cold, Annabelle Hewett looked rather young and vulnerable.
“I’m going to get something to eat,” Eliot proclaimed, heading toward the kitchen of the apartment that Jared kept in town. Its rear exit to the alley had come in handy many times over.
“I’ll join you,” Seth added, his eyes on Darvi until Eliot called again.
“You’d better bring that bag of hers so we can check it out. You never know what a lady like that might be packing.”
Darvi woke in confusion. Before she even opened her eyes, she tried to think why the top of her head felt bruised. Her memory returned with a jolt, but she continued to keep her eyes closed. She didn’t know where she was, but it might be to her advantage to let whoever had taken her think she was sleeping.
“She’s coming out of it,” she heard a soft male voice say. She finally gave up and opened her eyes. She did not find the men from the train. These men were tall, well dressed, and good looking. Darvi thought they might have rescued her and began to sit up.
“Where am I?” she asked.
“Don’t you know, Miss Hewett?”
Darvi nearly looked behind her. “Were you talking to me?”
Both men smiled, thinking she was very good.
“We’re glad you stopped to see Mr. Silk,” Seth now went on smoothly. “Unfortunately you’ve missed him. He would like to see you, however. In fact he’s asked us to extend a dinner invitation to his home at your earliest convenience.”
“Who is Mr. Silk?”
Eliot looked cynical, but Seth began to ask himself just how hard she’d been hit.
“So when can we set a date?” Eliot pressed on.
“A date for what?” Darvi asked, beginning to wonder if she had really awakened.
“Miss Hewett…” Seth began patiently.
“Who is Miss Hewett?” Darvi demanded.
The men’s faces grew hard, and Darvi came to her feet, albeit awkwardly.
“Where am I?” she tried again.
The men just stared at her.
Darvi walked to one of the room’s windows and looked out. She knew it was still Aurora, but she couldn’t quite picture where. She’d been tired the night before and eager to get on the train that morning. Was it that morning?
“Is it still Wednesday?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have the time?”
“Miss Hewett,” Eliot tried this time.
“Stop calling me that.”
“All right, Annabelle, why do you wish to know the time?”
“That’s enough!” Darvi’s voice cracked with enough force to surprise even herself. She stared at them, eyes furious, her hands coming out to make her point.
“I don’t know what’s going on here, but you will stop calling me that name. My name is Darvi Wingate. I was on the train this morning bound for St. Louis when two men threatened me with a knife and removed me from my seat. I want some answers, and I want them now.”
“I should have known she was going to make this hard,” Eliot said to Seth.
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right. Let’s give her some time to think.”
The men filed from the room then, and Darvi was completely confused. Her attention strayed around the small living area as she searched for answers, so she was startled when one of the men returned.
Seth handed Darvi her satchel.
“I thought you might want this.”
Darvi took the bag.
“The gun is out,” he added, holding her eyes for long moments before exiting once again.
I have to think, Darvi told herself, trying to ignore the headache. With that her eyes caught sight of the door. Bag in hand, she went to it and found it open. Hating to leave her gun and thinking she might be dreaming after all, she began to walk out onto a wooden landing that led to a tall flight of stairs. There was a door at the bottom. She was just closing the apartment door when she heard, “Did you lock that door?”
Darvi didn’t even bother to catch the latch. Knowing she’d been found out, she lifted the front of her skirt and flew down the stairs as fast as she could move. She didn’t make it halfway before an arm caught her around the waist. Darvi froze, waiting for him to let go, but he didn’t. Not seeing any other way, she began to scream and struggle. A sound had barely escaped her when a hand was put over her mouth. The voice at her ear was quiet, almost gentle, but the words were no less serious.
“The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but I can’t have you escaping or screaming.” Saying this, Seth shifted her so she could see his face. The terror in her eyes nearly got to him, but he still said, “Understood?”
Darvi nodded and stayed quiet when he slowly removed his hand.
“Now, back up to the apartment you go. We have to come to some type of agreement before you leave.”
“What agreement?”
“Well, it’s like we said. Mr. Silk wants you to come to dinner, as you missed seeing him today.”
Back in the apartment, Darvi turned to see him put her satchel on the floor while the other man locked the door.
“I don’t know who Mr. Silk is, and I didn’t come here on my own. I don’t know how much plainer I can make it.”
The men said nothing. The one nearest the door pocketed the key, and the one who had caught her on the stairs only looked at her. A moment later they exited the room again.