When All My Dreams Come True (7 page)

Watery eyes set within tough leathery skin flashed before her. Her father’s eyes would glaze over as he described the type of place he wanted. By his faraway expression, Bobbie knew he could see it right in front of him—and could picture himself riding across his own property. Tears burned behind her eyes.

“Then…he died.” Saying the words burned her throat.

Annie’s arms encircled her. When Bobbie sniffled, Annie removed her tattered apron. “Here, use this for your nose. It’s only a little dirty. Okay…it used to be white.”

Bobbie reached for the apron and wiped away the moisture, and then placed it in her lap.

Annie crossed her arms. “I still don’t understand why you couldn’t stay on the Simms Ranch. Not that I’m not glad you’re here.”

She shrugged. “There were several reasons, really. But I guess the
main thing was my fear that if I stayed with Roy and Maggie, I’d get too comfortable and talk myself out of following the dream. I figured if I could venture away from the only home I could remember, I’d take that last step and find the place Daddy and I dreamed about.”

“Do you have a location in mind?”

A yawn escaped before she could answer. “No, but wherever it is, I hope it’s a lot like here. You and Jace have a beautiful ranch.”

“Thank you. So, how long before you think you can fulfill that dream?”

She bit her bottom lip. “I’m not sure yet. I still have a lot of things to work out.”

“Like what?”

“Well, I guess the biggest problem is the fact that no man would want to take orders from a woman. I’ll have to find a foreman I can trust who knows all about ranching. I also have to gain a little confidence. I was all for the idea of owning a ranch when I thought Daddy would run it.” Her voice dropped. “I’d hate to try this alone and end up failing.”

Annie stepped behind her to finish brushing her hair. “Now you sound like Jace. Those were almost his very words when the responsibility of running the ranch fell to him. He tried to convince me to sell the place. Claimed he was too young. But I knew the man he was and would yet become.” She tapped her finger on the back of Bobbie’s head. “I can see a lot of those same qualities in you. You’re a hard worker, and I have a feeling that once you start something, you’ll be determined enough to see it through.”

Bobbie reached back and patted her hand. Annie handed out encouragement like a nutritious meal. Another yawn pushed through.

Annie set the brush on the table. “There, your hair is finished and so am I. I’m going to bed. Help yourself to the paper, if you’d like. Good night.”

Bobbie returned the wish, picked up the newspaper, and started reading, a luxury she rarely had time to enjoy.

Jace sat in his office with the newspaper in his hands. Details of a bank robbery filled the headlines, reminding him of some bank notes he’d left with Pete. Jace intended to work on them tonight. He set the paper aside and headed toward the main house, thankful to see a light still burning in the kitchen.

A whistle just started to form on his lips when he crossed the threshold. He stopped short. Bobbie sat at the table with her head resting atop a newspaper. Her long hair fanned across her back and down her side. He cleared his throat, but she didn’t move. He leaned against the door frame. This was the first time he’d ever seen her still.

The day replayed through his mind. The sight of woman and beast working together as a unit amazed him. Bobbie and Mack knew each other well. If he didn’t know better, he’d think they could read each other’s minds. He had exchanged many glances with Coop throughout the day and admitted the admiration and appreciation evident on Coop’s face matched what he felt.

The way she’d dismounted at the end of the day brought a grin to his face now. Stiffness had her walking different than usual, though she tried her best to hide it. Her great sense of humor surprised him. She seemed too quiet and reserved to have such an amusing side.

No grumble or complaint about the hard work crossed her lips until they were finished, and that had been in jest. He made a mental note to mail Roy a letter thanking him for sending such great help. In no time she’d earned the men’s respect, never flinching from any task nor asking for help.

He pushed away from the door and entered the living room to search for Annie. Someone would have to help Bobbie to bed. The room as well as the rest of the house was dark.

“Now what?” His thoughts went back many years to a night his mother fell asleep while sitting in a chair mending clothes. When his dad picked her up to carry her to their room, Jace asked him why he didn’t just let her sleep there.

His dad’s voice echoed through his mind. “Because she won’t be able to sleep soundly and will probably wake up feeling sore. I wouldn’t want that.”

Jace stared at Bobbie several more seconds, then leaned down and, with slow and careful movements, lifted her into his arms. Her head slid down to rest on his shoulder as he stood, and her breath feathered across his neck. He all but ran toward her room. Good intentions aside, the last thing he needed or wanted was the memory of her hair brushing against him or the feel of her slender body cradled in his arms.

The moment he laid her on the mattress, Bobbie curled onto her side. Prepared to beat a hasty retreat, the sight of an extra blanket lying at the foot of the bed made him stop. He unfolded the blanket and threw it across her sleeping form. The sound of her soft sigh drove him from the room. He closed the door and leaned against it for a minute to clear his thoughts.

He shook his head in self-derision at his foolish reaction. He wasn’t about to let a female wrangler get under his skin. After turning down the lamp, he strode out of the house.

Jace was halfway home before he realized the papers he’d gone after still lay on Annie’s kitchen counter. He stopped and turned to go back but couldn’t make his feet move. Better not to risk it. He headed home.

Sleep eluded him. Even pounding his pillow with his fist to make it more comfortable didn’t work. His eyes fluttered open and he forced himself to consider what it was about Bobbie that made him nervous. Maybe it was just that they didn’t know her well enough yet. It wouldn’t be the first time one of his ranch hands turned out other than how they presented themselves.

He soon found himself asking God to show him how to help lead Bobbie to Him, and that He would help make his walk with Christ a shining example to her.

He ended his prayer and flipped onto his other side. One last thought crossed his mind as his body shut down. Tomorrow was Saturday. Somehow he needed to find a way to ask Bobbie to join them for church on Sunday. For some reason, he had a feeling it wouldn’t be easy.

   SIX   

W
hat a foul mood.

Bobbie glanced at Jace one last time before heeling Mack into a gallop to catch up to Dew. Today was the first time Jace sent her on the roundup rather than have her stay at the ranch to help with branding, and she couldn’t be happier. If she had to put up with his grouchiness much longer, she might have to rope and truss him same as the calves.

Maybe he didn’t sleep well last night. She hadn’t had that problem. She was too exhausted to remember going to bed. Though well-rested, every muscle in her body moaned and creaked as she dragged herself out of bed at sunrise. She hoped Jace got some rest tonight. He was way too prickly to bear for long. Poor Coop and David would have to deal with him all day.

They rode close to an hour before Dew reined to a stop. He sent Sonny and Adam one direction around a bluff while he and Bobbie would ride the other side. The way he had it figured, they should have close to 50 head when they met up somewhere in the middle. With the memory of Jace’s stolen cattle still fresh on her mind, she feared they might venture across far fewer than that during their search.

She and Dew managed to find eight cattle, seven with calves, on their first sweep. They turned south into a gully hoping to locate more. With
the face of the bluff to her right and a rock wall to her left, Bobbie had the uneasy sense of being trapped. She urged the cows on faster by increasing Mack’s pace. The sooner they were out of the gully, the better.

A low rumble overhead grew louder. She exchanged a glance with Dew before they both looked up. Dust clouded the sky. Tiny pebbles rained down on their heads, followed by larger rocks.

“Landslide!” Dew whistled and hollered to get the cattle running.

Bobbie did the same. The panicked cows tried to scatter and turn back, slowing their progress. Dread rolled through her faster than the stones falling from above.

Bobbie peeked up. Something large hid the sun. Then another. And another. The bawling of terrified cattle echoed off the walls and filled her ears.