When All My Dreams Come True (22 page)

“That’s what I thought.” Morgan leaned forward and rested his arms on his desk. “Gentlemen, unless you can verify that Bobbie has been with you or any of your other hands every day and night since she came to this town, she will remain under suspicion, not so much by me, mind you, but by the Colorado Territory. I’m sorry.”

Jace stared at Morgan for a moment. “What about the discrepancies? You can’t discount the difference in the height or the hair… or the hat for that matter. I’ve never seen her with anything but her brown hat.”

Morgan shrugged. “Her cohorts could bring a different hat with them, and she could somehow tuck some of her hair up under that hat. As for the difference in height, they could just be guessing wrong.”

“For pity’s sake, Morgan,” Jace said. “You sound like you’re beginning to think she’s guilty.”

“Not at all. I’m just showing you what most of the other lawmen might think.”

Jace eyed the sheriff for a few moments before he turned to leave.

“Jace, I’m serious about keeping Bobbie at the ranch,” Morgan said. “It’s for her own good. If another robbery takes place and she can be accounted for, that would go a long way in helping to prove her innocence.”

“I know. She’s there now.”

Morgan nodded.

“If I’m with her or send her out with one of the hands, would that be all right?”

Morgan shrugged. “I don’t see a problem with that. As long as her whereabouts can be accounted for.”

Jace headed home. At least he had some good news for Bobbie.

   SEVENTEEN   

B
obbie sighed as she stepped out of the barn. Seeing her horse had done nothing to boost her spirits. Mack hung his head and pawed at the ground. He wanted out. So did she.

A week had passed since the confrontation with Sheriff Morgan Thomas. She hadn’t left the ranch site since, except to take Annie into town, or to go to church and Bible study. She didn’t want to go, but Pete, Annie, and Jace convinced her it would be in her best interest to continue doing things and going places like she normally would. Not even wearing the new dresses Annie made managed to boost her sagging spirits. She’d been so preoccupied she couldn’t recall a single word spoken during those outings.

If she couldn’t leave the ranch, how could she go about proving her innocence? But then, she didn’t have any idea how to do that anyway. How did a person produce evidence for something they didn’t do?

She spent her days pacing the ranch like a trapped animal. She had taken her freedom for granted. Freedom to come and go as she pleased. Freedom from worry and fear. Now, the restraints sucked the life out of her.

She spotted Annie hanging out the clothes and headed in her direction. Just for something to do, she had started taking cooking lessons from Annie and also helping with her chores. Carrying water and
firewood, collecting eggs, and helping with laundry were some of her tasks, but she’d much rather be out wrestling an ornery calf.

Annie’s singing reached Bobbie’s ears long before she arrived at the line. The sound amazed her. How could Annie be so happy doing something so mundane? She picked up the basket and held it so Annie wouldn’t have to bend over and received a brilliant smile for her effort.

“You sound happy this morning.”

“It’s a beautiful day.” Annie resumed humming.

Bobbie looked around, noticing the clear sky for the first time. She stared at Annie. The smile never left her face. “You seem to enjoy your chores.”

“I’m taking care of my family. What’s not to enjoy?”

Her quick hands pinned up a shirt before pulling another out of the basket.

“It doesn’t seem very exciting.”

“Not like roping and branding a steer, you mean?”

Bobbie shrugged, and Annie laughed.

“Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord.”

Annie used every opportunity to bring up the Lord and His Word, especially during this past week. Sometimes it worked to draw her into a conversation about the Scriptures. Other times, she ignored the statements as though she hadn’t heard a word. Much depended on her mood at the moment. Annie’s singing must have buoyed her spirits, because right now, she felt better.

“So you’re telling me you find joy in everything you do?”

“Not always. There are some things I dislike more than others, just as I’m sure there are some aspects of your job you don’t enjoy, even though you love ranching.”

Bobbie nodded her agreement.

“But it all has to do with perspective and attitude.”

“Meaning…?”

“Meaning, I could grumble and grouse about the tasks I don’t
enjoy, but what kind of impression would that cast? I doubt the Lord would be pleased. I know He’s watching and is aware of my attitude. I need to look at it as doing service for Him.”

Bobbie thought about her own behavior during the past week and hoped her bad attitude wasn’t too obvious. She cocked her head to one side. “You really love God.”

Annie’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, most certainly!”

“Why?”

Annie smiled at her. “Because He loved me first.”

Bobbie studied the look of infinite joy on Annie’s face and knew a moment of envy. “How do you know He loved you first?”

Annie turned to her with a look of astonishment. “It says so in the Bible. Oh, Bobbie, have I been so lax in my teachings that you don’t even know God loves you?”

She didn’t say a word.

“It says in First John, ‘We love Him because He first loved us.’ John 3:16 tells us, ‘For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ God loves each of us, Bobbie. Sending His Son to die for us proves that.”

“And you believe what the Bible says is true?”

Annie took the empty basket from her and headed toward the house. “With all my being. Second Timothy tells us that all Scripture is inspired by God. But that’s a decision you have to make for yourself. You have to decide whether or not you believe the Bible is God’s unerring Word. That will determine how you respond to what you read.”

Bobbie matched Annie’s steps. “I’ve been reading the Bible, but it doesn’t make much sense.”

“That’s understandable.” Annie held open the door and stepped back to allow Bobbie to enter. She pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and motioned for her to sit. Annie took the chair next to her. “What I mean is, the Bible is written to Christians. Once we accept
God’s gift of salvation, His Spirit lives within us and helps us understand. That doesn’t mean you can’t understand, but believers have the Holy Spirit’s help, and even then, I don’t understand everything.”

Bobbie leaned back in her chair with a thump. “So unless I believe, my time spent in the Bible is like wading through water over my head when I can’t swim.”

“Any time spent in God’s Word is worthwhile.” Annie leaned toward her and took her hand. “You can have the help you desire. Just reach out to God in faith. Ask and you will receive. Then that hole you’re feeling will be filled to overflowing.”

Bobbie stared at her. “How did you know…about the hole in my heart?”

Annie smiled and patted her hand. “It’s what every unbeliever feels until they accept Christ as their Savior.”

“You said God loves everyone. But God has His favorites?”

“What do you mean?”

“God takes better care of His family members than He does of nonbelievers.”

“God never promised there’d be no more pain or suffering when we become His children. Look at Jace and me. We’ve been Christians for years, yet we’re going through the pain and sorrow of losing our parents. Along with that, Jace has to deal with the loss of cattle. What God does promise is to be with us through the tough times. We don’t have to go through the sorrow alone. He gives us the strength and grace to get through it.”

Bobbie heard Annie’s words but stopped listening at the mention of her parents.

“Can I ask how they died, Annie, or would it hurt too much?” She had never heard the story but knew from Jace and by some of the men’s comments that it had been tragic.

“It still hurts, but time is helping me heal. I think what would help the most is if they found the killer.”

Annie stood and poured them each a cup of coffee. When she returned, her blue eyes were rimmed with red.

“I’m sorry, Annie. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“It’s all right. I want to tell you about it.” Annie spooned a bit of sugar into her cup and took a sip of coffee. “They were traveling by stagecoach to see a friend who was getting married. The road they traveled had a mountain on one side and a deep gully on the other.

“The sheriff told us a man was waiting for them around a bend. He wore something to cover his face. He started shooting, hitting the driver first. The driver tried to stop the horses but ended up falling off the seat into the gully. That’s where they found him. He died shortly thereafter. But he did manage to tell the sheriff what had happened. The horses pulling the stagecoach ended up going over the edge, down into the gully. It rolled over several times before it stopped, killing everyone in it.”

Annie paused for another drink. “We don’t understand why the man did this. Nothing was stolen. All the money and jewelry were still on their—bodies.” Annie choked on the word. Bobbie reached to squeeze her hand and received a grateful smile.

“I think Jace took it the hardest. He hates to talk about it. He and Dad were very close.” Annie’s eyes misted over.

Bobbie leaned over and embraced her. “I’m sorry, Annie.”