Free A Texas Sky (Yellow Rose Trilogy) by Lori Wick Page B

stayed
    before?"
    "Not if we're headed to Aurora so you can catch the
    train. Blake would be out of the way."
    Her hat shaded her face quite nicely, but she still put her
    hand up to the brim and looked around them.
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    "Where will we spend the night?"
    "There's an oak grove about five hours from here. If s
    off the road, but there's a large stand of trees, and the
    stream there is deep and fast flowing. I think we'll be in
    good shape if we can make that"
    "Then we'll be in Aurora tomorrow night?"
    "Probably not, but if you want to ride hard, we can try."
    Darvi thanked him for the information and heeled her
    horse back into motion; indeed, she even picked up the
    pace some. At the same time, her mind gave her heart a
    short lecture.
    You had to see Merry. You couldn't live another day until you
    saw Merry. Would you have been quite so eager, Darvi, if you had
    known you were going to be sleeping on the ground? Darvi rode
    on without even trying to answer.
    m
    Ok
    "IS THIS THE PLACE?"
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    Busy scouting the area, Dakota didn't answer, but Darvi
    knew it had to be. He had taken them off the main road
    about 30 minutes back, and the trees were just as he had
    described. Darvi could also hear the rippling sound of
    water over rocks.
    "Okay, Darvi/' Dakota spoke as he came back toward
    her on foot, "Come on this way around the trees. We'll set
    up camp for the night and have some dinner."
    Darvi did as she was directed, knowing that hotel room
    or not, it was going to be good to get out of the saddle.
    Once again she was reminded of how her determination to
    see Merry had clouded all else. They had certainly ridden
    harder to Stillwater, but she didn't remember feeling sore.
    Now as she dismounted, she barely stifled a groan.
    "You weren't sore on the way to Scotts," Dakota commented
    from behind her.
    Darvi turned to see him watching her.
    "How did you know I was sore?"
    A slow smile stretched across the Ranger's face.
    "I just watched you get off that horse."
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    Darvi tried to look stern but ended up laughing a little.
    At least she could do that What she couldn't do was rub
    the parts of her anatomy that ached with stiffness and
    fatigue.
    A Texas Sky 73
    "Why don't you walk down by the water? I'll take care
    of your horse."
    Darvi looked as grateful as she felt before thanking
    Dakota and unfastening her satchel from Finley's saddle.
    "I think 111 freshen up a bit."
    "All right Keep your eyes open and stay within earshot"
    Thinking he sounded just like Uncle Marty, she went on
    her way, moving gingerly as sensation returned to her
    limbs. Pain or no pain, it wasn't long before she noticed
    what a lovely setting it was. The day was still plenty warm,
    but just the sound and sight of the water seemed to cool
    her, and finding a large rock right at the edge was like an
    answer to prayer. Darvi sat on it, slipped off her boots and
    stockings, and placed her feet in the water. The action
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    seemed to cool all of her. Had it been dark, she'd have
    gotten all the way in, but for the moment this did the trick.
    Her satchel came next She reached for the bag and
    brought out a large handkerchief, one she'd borrowed from
    her father. After soaking it, she bathed her face and neck.
    In very short order she felt like herself again.
    "Are you all right?" she heard Dakota call.
    "Yes, thank you, I am. Do you need some help?"
    "No, I'm fine, thanks."
    "I have my feet in the water already."
    Darvi heard the laughter in Dakota's voice when he
    called back, "Sounds great I'll probably join you in a
    minute."
    Darvi smiled in contentment, all misgivings about
    camping slowly dying away. She decided as she sat there
    that she wanted a fresh pair of stockings. Her hands were
    back in her bag when she heard the rattle. She stopped
    moving, even though she could feel the outline of her gun
    beneath some of her garments. Her eyes shifting frantically,
    she finally spotted it A small rattlesnake was coiled on the
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    ground about a foot