“YOU WERE WONDERFUL UP THERE,” Dakota said softly, his arms still holding Darvi close.
Darvi let her head rest against the solid wall of his chest, thinking about how much she needed this man.
“I almost broke down,” she said at last. “Could you tell?”
“No.”
“It was when I caught sight of Nate and Lindy. I was so angry at Cassy for putting them in this position that I almost cried.”
“You hid it very well, and you said everything that needed to be said. The judge was furious with Robbins.” Dakota’s chest vibrated a little with silent laughter. “You could see he believed every word you said, and Jared Silk looked as if he were going to explode.”
Darvi put a few inches between them so she could look up into his face.
“I’m so glad you were there.”
“I told you I would be,” he said, thinking he wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Seth Redding was still a free man, and for a moment, Dakota’s thoughts clouded with all Darvi had been through and how much he wanted to protect her. He looked into her face and studied her eyes with tenderness before bending and kissing her very gently. Still holding her gaze with his own, he kissed her again.
“I was right,” he whispered.
“About what?” Darvi breathed.
Steps outside drew them apart, and just after that, Renee came inside.
“How are you?” Renee asked Darvi as she came to hug her.
“I’m all right.”
“You did so well. I was so proud of you.”
“What do you think that judge will say tomorrow?”
“I think he’ll end up throwing the key away where they’re concerned. At least I hope he will.” Renee hung her hat on the mirrored hat stand hear the door. “I’ve even heard that some of Aurora’s crooked police will eventually be dragged into this.” Smoothing her still-perfect coiffure, she finished, “Come to the kitchen. I’ll make us some lunch.”
Renee sailed ahead, clearly pleased with the way the morning had gone. Dakota brought up the rear, and as he held the door for Darvi, he bent and whispered close to her ear.
“Your mouth is very kissable.”
By the time Darvi arrived next to the kitchen table, her face was the color of ripe watermelon. Renee turned to say something, took in that pink glow, and changed her mind. She went back to her lunch preparations with a huge smile on her face.
“Are you going to try to see her?” Eliot asked Seth as he studied that man’s back.
Seth stood at one of the windows in the apartment living room, his eyes on the street.
“I want to,” he said at last.
“But you won’t,” Eliot guessed.
Seth turned. “No, I won’t. I know this is our last day of freedom, but I can’t take the chance that that Ranger will shoot first and ask questions later.”
“He didn’t do that when he was at the ranch.”
“No, but jail time or not, I can’t take that chance.”
Seth turned back to the window. Eliot watched him in frustration. He hated this. It was never supposed to be this way. Jared was not supposed to mess up and get caught, bringing them down at the same time. And Darvi. She was supposed to love his brother and make him smile again.
A moment later Eliot told Seth goodbye and went on his way. They had just met with the judge. He had told them both to stay in town that night, but Eliot couldn’t. If this was his last night of freedom, he wanted to be with the woman he loved.
“I’ve made a decision,” Darvi told Dakota that night. Renee had some business to attend to at the news office, so Darvi and Dakota were doing the dishes.
“About the trial?”
“No. Believe it or not, I’ve been thinking about my mother, and your mother is the reason.”
“How’s that?”
Darvi paused with her hands in the soapy water.
“You have such a wonderful relationship with your mother—she could even ask you about what you believe. I’ve so put off my mother by not marrying Brandon that she can barely stand the sight of me. I’m all ready to give her verses and share my faith with her, but she’s barely speaking to me.”
Dakota listened to the wonder in her voice and kept silent.
“I’ve been putting the cart in front of the horse. My next letter isn’t going to say anything about Christ. I’m just going to try to get her to speak with me. What do you think?”
“I think you’re right. Your mother is only going to see God as the problem unless you repair the relationship.”
“I think so too. Our relationship has always been based on our pleasing each other. The moment one of us didn’t do what the other wanted, we were in a fight. That’s got to be fixed before anything else happens!”
With that Darvi went back to washing. Dakota watched her, not able to stop smiling.
You’re like that to Your children, Lord—always giving us new insight and expanding our worlds with more knowledge, not just about You, but about how to live this life. I still marvel at how I survived without You, how I made a single decision on my own. But You must have been leading in those situations too.
And help my parents as they read my letter. Help them to see their need for You. Give Darvi just the words for her mother. Help her mother to read with an open heart and accept Darvi back.
“What are you thinking about?”
“I was praying.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to interrupt.”
“It’s all right. Somehow I think God understands.”
Darvi kept washing, but she looked very content. Dakota didn’t think there was another place on earth he’d rather be than in Texas with Darvi.
For the third day in a row the courtroom was packed. From their front-row seats, Renee, Darvi, and Dakota noticed that things became very quiet when the judge entered, and in just a matter of minutes, the charges were read and the courtroom heard that Jared Silk was going to jail for a very long time.
On the adjournment, Darvi and Dakota stood, Darvi wishing that her abductors were going with Mr. Silk. She was still thinking this when a police officer approached with Seth Redding, his hands cuffed behind his back. Seth stopped and looked down at her, his eyes as warm and caring as always.
“Hello, Darvi.”
“Hello, Seth.”
He studied her a moment, and Darvi thought he would move on, but he spoke again.
“Eliot and I turned state’s evidence against Jared. Our time inside will be very short.”
He paused now, as though giving her time to think about it.
“Please tell me I can contact you when I get out, Darvi. I swear, I’ll never hold you captive again.”
“I can’t do that,” Darvi whispered, her heart in terrible pain over this whole ordeal. She shook her head and tried to find words. She ended up saying, “For so many reasons, Seth, it just won’t work.”
The temptation was very strong to say cruel things and make her feel as bad as he was feeling, but Seth couldn’t do it.
“You’re quite a lady, Darvi Wingate,” he now said, a small smile in his eyes. “Don’t ever forget that.”
The officer led him away then, Eliot and another officer some ten feet behind. Seeing Eliot brought Darvi’s eyes to where she’d last seen Cassy. That woman’s devastated face was staring after the departing brothers. Lindy’s face was buried in her mother’s skirts, and Nate’s little visage was nothing short of tragic. Darvi glanced up at Dakota, who nodded as he guided her in Cassy’s direction.
“I’m sorry I had to deceive you, Cassy,” Dakota said to the ranch owner the moment she looked at them.
“Don’t be, Dakota.” Her voice was resigned. “You only did what you had to do.”
An uncomfortable silence fell over them as Darvi cast about desperately for something to say. She then noticed Cassy’s dress. It was her wedding dress.
“Did you get married?”
Cassy actually managed a smile. “Yes, we did.”
“Was it nice?”
The other woman nodded, her eyes softening in remembrance, before becoming direct as she looked into Darvi’s face.
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, Darvi. I need to hear more. I’ve been trying to read my Bible, but I’m not understanding. I need to hear more about the way you believe. Will you write to me?”
“I’d be happy to meet with you, Cassy,” Darvi volunteered. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
But the blonde was already shaking her head. “No. I need to be able to read it and think it over.”
Cassy’s gaze dropped, her face looking tired and ashamed. She moved as though she would turn away and leave, but Nate was pulling on her arm.
“Oh, yes,” she stopped to say, looking back to Darvi. “I almost forgot. Nate wants you to know that at the end he knew everything. He saw and heard Dakota talking with the sheriff, and he even heard you leaving out the window the night you left.”
Darvi looked down at him.
“And you didn’t say anything, Nate?”
“Not for a while,” the boy told her. “Not until after you left, and then only to Mama.”
“Why, Nate? Why didn’t you wake the house?”
He shrugged a little. “You weren’t happy. I know Seth wanted to keep you, but you were sad. And I didn’t think you should have to cry in your bed anymore.”
Tears flooding her eyes, Darvi took him in her arms. The little boy held on for dear life. When he let go, Darvi looked down and smoothed his hair. Lindy came next, hugging Darvi with all the sweetness she’d always shown her.
When at last they stood apart, Darvi knew that Cassy would have to make the move. Darvi’s heart was ready to burst when Cassy stepped forward to hug her. She and the children then left without another word.
“I think maybe we should head to your aunt’s,” Dakota said quietly, and Darvi only nodded.
Halfway there, she had a thought and said, “Too often I can’t see why God does things or lets them happen, but right now I’m willing to admit that I had to go through all of this to open a door between Cassy and me.”
“I think you might be right.”
“I’m going to use those verses you gave me for Cassy instead of my mother. Do you think that’s all right?”
“I think that’s perfect.”
It was good to cover the rest of the way in silence. Upon arriving, both were surprised to find that Renee had reached home first.
“Aunt Renee,” Darvi said the moment she saw her, “thank you for everything. It’s been wonderful seeing you and getting to know you, but I’m going to leave for Austin tomorrow. I hope you won’t think me rude, but I want to go see Uncle Marty.”
Renee hugged her niece.
“That’s fine, dear. I was hoping you could meet my James, but maybe another time.”
“You could always invite me to the wedding.” Renee smiled.
“I’ll do that, Darvi Wingate, just see if I don’t.”
The three spent the remainder of the day in relaxed pursuits. Renee took Darvi and Dakota out to dinner and spent the evening regaling them with stories of her reporting escapades. Dakota had plenty of his own tales, and they laughed until way too late.
Nevertheless, Darvi stood by her word. Dakota still acting as protector and guide, they left the next morning for Austin.