Tags:
Fiction,
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Romance,
Western,
Love Stories,
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Christian fiction,
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INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE,
Texas Rangers
suddenly looked intense and said, "You've never
talked much about your mother. How is she different from
Marty Bracewell?"
Darvi looked pained. 'It would take less time to tell you
how they're the same." She shook her head a little. "My
mother must have known Uncle Marty let me run wild
during those visits. I learned to ride and shoot. I came back
with a tan, scratched up my arms and legs, and probably
had a little dirt behind my ears, but she never said a word.
59
60 lori wick
She just plopped me into the tub, proclaiming that travel
made one 'so dusty/ and put me back into my routine."
"And from then on you were expected to be a little lady
once again," Merry guessed.
108
Darvi smiled wryly. "That about sums it up. I would sit
in my proper little dress and shoes and long to be back
climbing trees with you. Merry!" Darvi exclaimed with a
sudden thought. "Will there be trees in heaven?"
"I'm not sure. I have a memory of reading something in
Scripture about that, but I couldn't tell you where."
Darvi's eyes sparkled with delight "I love all these
things I've yet to learn."
Merry's eyes widened with surprise. "Most people feel
just the opposite, Darv. They want to know it all right now
and are frustrated that they don't."
Darvi gave a little sigh. "I was so smug, Merry--so settled
in my own world and sure I knew who I was and
where I was going. No matter how much I don't know
right now, I do know one thing: I'll keep searching and
being in wonder, but I won't ever forget that God's Son
died for me, and someday 111 live forever with Him."
"I have all I can do not to hug you and burst into tears
all over again."
Darvi smiled. "I don't mind. I'd probably join you, but
109
I have a better idea. Let me take you to lunch."
"Lunch? Is it that late?"
"No, but we forgot to eat breakfast, and I'm hungry"
Merry, feeling she were walking on a cloud, tucked her
arm into Darvi's and said, "I'll lead the way."
3-- 'Sr-S'-
"Did
I mention how I met your uncle?" Dakota asked
between bites of the fried egg, bacon, baked bread, and hot
coffee that Calder had prepared. 1
"No, I don't think you did."
ATexasSky 61
"I first met him when I went to his office about the
wound in my side, but then I visited this church and he
was there with his family. They invited me to lunch."
As Dakota was hoping, Calder took immediate interest
"What did you think of the church?"
110
"I liked it. I didn't have a Bible at the time, so it was
somewhat hard to follow along, but I've thought a lot
about what both the pastor and your uncle said."
"So you discussed the sermon with Marc?"
Dakota answered by way of explaining what the
sermon had been about and why it had been confusing. To
his relief, Calder seemed to understand completely.
"I've had some of those same questions. Were you settled
with Marc's answers, or do you still have questions?"
"I have questions, but not about the sermon," Dakota
said, realizing as he did so that he was not very comfortable
admitting this.
"About what?"
Dakota answered with his eyes on his plate. "Prayer."
Calder could see that he would need to go easy. He
simply said, "If I can help, I'd be glad to."
"Thank you."
The men went on eating, Calder almost absentmindedly
assisting the girls before asking Dakota a general question.
The men talked easily about their jobs, neither showing
111
outward appearances of stress.
When do I let things ride, and when do I push a little? It was
a question Calder wrestled with all through the conversation.
The meal ended, and Dakota even helped him clean
the kitchen, but the subject of Dakota's questions on prayer
did not come up again.
^-SrS-
How
do I really know You hear me when I pray? Dakota
asked the Lord not long after the meal. I know what Slater
62 lori wick
and Desmond have said, and at first I felt that You heard me, but
right now I'm not so sure.
Dakota stood at the window in his room, barely keeping
himself
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