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

Dakota had been on the
    edge of discomfort all during the day's ride but thought his
    body might now be nearing the end of its tolerance. His
    side was starting to burn, and he could only be thankful
    they were almost there.
    "Thaf s the house," Darvi suddenly said, their horses
    taking a road along the creek.
    Dakota feared that she would heel her horse into a run
    and knew he couldn't take that. Besides, he wanted to give
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    her some privacy.
    "Darvi," he said just in time.
    She turned to him in some impatience.
    "I think I'll sit here by the creek while you go on up to
    the house."
    For the first time Darvi took in his face. It was warm out,
    but she hadn't really noticed. She didn't think such a thing
    would bother him, but he looked a little strained.
    "Are you certain, Dakota? You're welcome to join me."
    40 lori wick
    "I would think a private reunion preferable, and
    beyond that, I want to stay here."
    She couldn't argue much with that, so with one more
    glance at the man who was already turning his horse off
    the road, Darvi went on her way.
    Heart pounding, breath coming in small gasps, Darvi
    rode swiftly toward the house. It was a lovely setting, not
    far from the creek and not very close to other homes.
    "White paint, white shutters, and a large covered

70
    porch," Darvi whispered to herself, "just like the man
    said."
    Darvi tied her horse's reins to a corner of the porch
    railing and went toward the steps. Things seemed so
    quiet--she was almost afraid to hope. Taking a breath to
    quell her excitement--a move that didn't work--Darvi
    knocked on the door. A man answered.
    "Hello," he said kindly.
    "Hello. I'm looking for Merry Scott Does she live here?"
    "Yes, she does. Come right in."
    Darvi stepped inside when he held the door and
    squinted to adjust her eyes. The moment she could see, she
    realized her friend was standing not ten feet from her.
    "Hello, Darvi," Merry welcomed with a huge smile.
    "Merry," Darvi breathed, only now believing she had
    made it and moving forward to hug her friend.
    The two women, one a soft strawberry blonde and the
    other a brilliant carrot top, hugged for a long time. Calder
    Scott, Merry's husband, stood off to one side, a wide grin
    on his face. The women were still hugging when Darvi
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    heard someone call "Mama." She stepped away from her
    friend, her eyes huge.
    "Merry?" she questioned softly.
    Meredith Scott smiled the smile that first drew Darvi to
    her.
    "Come on, Darvi. Come meet my husband and daughters."
    A Texas Sky 41
    Darvi was still mouthing the word "daughters" when
    Calder stepped forward.
    "This is Calder," Merry began.
    "Hello, Darvi," the tall man said as he held out his hand.
    "I've heard so much about you."
    "If s so nice to meet you," Darvi replied sincerely. "I
    nearly panicked when I learned you'd moved away, but I
    found a way here."
    "And these," Merry continued, "are our twins, Vivian
    and Filar."
    Darvi looked to where Merry pointed, through the
    doorway to the kitchen table, where two adorable, dark-haired
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    moppets stared back.
    "Oh, my" was all she could manage.
    "Come, girls," Merry bade them. "Come and meet Miss
    Wingate."
    "Please let them call me Darvi," that woman whispered
    as the girls scrambled from the chairs and ran to their
    mother.
    "Here we go," Merry said in her quiet way. "Show your
    faces," she ordered the two who suddenly became shy and
    absorbed with their mother's skirt
    "Obey, girls," their father put in from the side, and the
    twins turned immediately.
    "This is Vivian, and this is Filar. Girls, this is my friend,
    Darvi. You may call her Aunt DarvL"
    "Hello, Vivian. Hello, Filar. If s so nice to meet you."
    The girls giggled over this, and Darvi turned back to her
    friend.
    "How old are they?"
    "They were three last month."
    Darvi shook her head. "So much time has passed."
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    "About four years," Merry confirmed. "They were born
    the first year we were married."
    Darvi could hardly believe she was here. This friend
    was