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

woman in command, "if s rather
    important that I go to Stillwater. I'm terribly sorry to accost
    you on the street in this way, but I thought if you were to
    be traveling in those parts, I could accompany you and
    give my family ease about my travel."
    Dakota was on the verge of telling her exactly who he
    was and that he had already been asked to see her there
    when gunshots were fired down the street.
    "Will you excuse me a moment?" he said to the woman
    without hesitation as he turned and ran that way.
    33
    Gun pulled and ready, Dakota hurried toward the
    sound, which took him between two buildings and onto a
    side street. He heard shouting as he moved and sure
    enough, as soon as he spotted the commotion, which
    appeared to be a woman with a shotgun, he also spotted
    two officers. Even though the woman still had the gun, the
    men seemed to have the situation under control. Glad not
    to be pressed into duty just then, Dakota holstered his
    weapon and walked back toward the bathhouse.
    Long before Dakota reached his destination, he could
    see that the street was empty. He debated getting back to
    Brace right then so that he could get word to his niece, but
    a sjfark of mischief lit inside him. He would certainly have
    to let Brace know that he would be coming for dinner. The
    sooner the better.
    ^
    W
    34
    dakota thought he might be more comfortable at the
    boardinghouse, but if he wasn't going to be working for
    another month, he would have to be a little careful with
    his money for a time. That determined, he rolled out his
    bedding and prepared to sleep under the stars for the fifth
    night in a row. He could have made it to Austin in less
    time, but he'd taken it slow. As he now shifted around for
    a position that would not aggravate his wounds, he knew
    why.
    I may not be as ready for this as I thought, he told the Lord.
    I was pretty upset that Brace didn't want me back right now, but
    I think You must have had a hand in that.
    For a moment Dakota lay very still and wondered at
    tfiis miracle that had happened in his heart. He knew God
    could have closed the book on him so easily; his wounds
    still ached in reminder, but here he was, alive and able to
    do things differently.
    How many people get a second chance? J don't know why You
    think me worth it, but I'm grateful, God--more grateful than I
    can say.
    35
    Hot days on the trail were catching up to him. Dakota fell
    asleep still praying for his parents' salvation and then for
    Desmond and Geneva, asking God to help him remember
    all the things they had shared with him.
    21
    22 lori wick
    ^*3^^I
    have a surprise for you," Brace told Darvi on Saturday
    as they sat down to lunch.
    "What is it?" Darvi asked, trying to show interest when
    all she could do was think about her friend. She could
    write, she realized, but it wouldn't be the same.
    "I can't tell you. It's a surprise."
    Darvi didn't like surprises, and she suspected her uncle
    knew this.
    "Just give me a hint."
    "All right. Let's just say that someone is coming for
    36
    dinner tonight."
    Suddenly things made sense. Milly, the woman who
    kept house for her uncle a few days a week and started his
    meals, had put a large roast in to bake that morning. With
    Darvi in the house, she had been leaving a little earlier in
    the day, giving the young woman leave to change anything
    she wanted on the menu. But today she had told Darvi
    exactly how she wanted the meat finished and what she'd
    wanted to go with it
    "Someone as in a family? Or someone as in one
    person?"
    "I think I've told you enough."
    "A man or a woman?"
    Brace went on eating.
    "What if I have plans for the night?" Darvi now tried.
    "What would you say to that?"
    "I'd say I'm surprised. I thought you were here to visit
    me."
    Her sharp tongue getting her into trouble in the usual
    way, Darvi didn't reply.
    37
    "I think that might be why I'm confused about your
    being in such a hurry to rush off to see Merry. You only just
    got here."
    "I'm sorry, Uncle