When All My Dreams Come True (38 page)

Jace spotted the thin trail of smoke as soon as the sun fought off the last bit of gloom. He had searched for Bobbie until it was too dark to see. After spending the night staring at the moon and stars, praying hard, he climbed back onto the saddle as soon as he could see the promise of daylight.

He headed for the smoke. It may or may not lead him to Bobbie, but he had to check it out. Maybe he’d find someone who had seen her. He moved around and through many trees and bushes that slowed him down. Jace jerked the reins back when the smoke led him to a small shack. He couldn’t recall it being on his property.

A bullet zipped past him, too far off the mark to be a real threat. He heard it tear through the leaves before it ended with a smack. Laughter followed the sound of the gunshot. He’d heard that same laugh before, and he was tired of being used as a target.

“Come on out, Jace.”

Where have I heard that voice before?

“Don’t do it!” Bobbie’s faint voice reached his ears. “Don’t come in here, Jace. He wants to kill you.”

“Shut up!” Jace heard the man shout at her, followed by the muffled sound of footsteps.

“It’s G—”

Then, sudden silence.

Jace ran toward the shack. He heard the rifle being cocked. He dove for the porch and landed against the shack with a thud. The wood next to him ripped open with the sound of another gunshot. He rolled away.

“I don’t know what your plan is, Jace, but if you want to see this little lady alive, I suggest you give up and come out where I can see you.”

Jace stalled long enough to catch his breath. “Is that you, Grant?”

Laughter echoed across the small glade. “Come on out, Jace. You can’t win.”

Jace heard a pistol being cocked again.

“I’m aiming right at her head, Jace. Show yourself or she’s dead.”

Jace slowly stood and moved toward the window.

“Good choice. Now, open the door.”

Jace obeyed. His heart sank to find Bobbie tied to a post. A rag hung out of her mouth. Dirt and grime covered her face and clothes. Grant stood with feet planted wide apart, both his rifle and a pistol trained on him. Jace ignored him and moved toward Bobbie.

“Hold it, Jace.”

“I just want to take the gag from her mouth.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I kinda like the quiet.”

Jace sent him a look.

“Go ahead, but not until you put your gun on the table.”

Jace did as told and knelt next to Bobbie. He pulled a small knife from his boot with one hand and laid it behind the pole as he pulled the gag from her mouth with his other hand.

“Are you all right?”

She nodded as tears pooled in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Jace.”

“Shh. It’s all right. I’m going to get us out of this.” He glanced down at the knife, then back to her eyes.

“Get up, Jace,” Grant said.

Jace stood and faced his former hired hand. “What’s this all about, Wilcox? Bobbie’s not a part of this. You got me. Let her go.”

“He’s the other bank robber, Jace. He’s the one at the celebration.” Bobbie’s voice sounded tired.

Jace’s gaze never wavered from Grant. “You and Coop got together while you worked for me?”

Grant grinned. “It was easy. He still held a bit of a grudge because you didn’t make him foreman. I used that against you. And him.” He pointed toward a chair with the pistol. “Have a seat.”

Jace eyed his gun lying on the table.

“Toss your pistol out the door first. Slow and easy, Jace. Don’t make me shoot you...yet. Move!”

Jace pitched his pistol out the door and sat on the chair nearest Bobbie. “Now what?”

Grant propped his rifle against the wall. He kept the pistol aimed at Jace’s chest and pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket.

“Sign this.” He slapped the paper down on the table.

Jace scanned the words. “I can’t do that, Grant.”

“You always gotta do things the hard way, don’t ya, Jace.”

“It beats doing things the easy way—like stealing.”

Grant pulled his fist back. Jace braced for the blow. It didn’t come. Instead, a smirk pulled at the corner of Grant’s mouth as the man stepped back and leaned on the door frame.

Grant tapped the barrel of his gun against his chest. “I can’t steal something that’s already mine. I tried to be nice and just run you off my ranch by taking the cattle, but you wouldn’t go.”

Jace jumped from his chair, and Grant cocked the pistol and motioned for him to sit. “Let’s see. How many head were rustled?” Grant tapped his chin. “Hmm. More than you have left, isn’t it?
Coop was a big help. He kept me informed as to where you were and what you were doing. He even helped me rob the banks. It’s amazing what the man would do for me when I promised I’d make him foreman.” He shook his head. “He actually believed I’d let someone as weak-minded as him have that job.”

“Why? Why did you do this?”

“I told you. I want you off my ranch.”

“What makes you think this is your ranch?”

The smile disappeared from Grant’s face. “I don’t
think
it. I
know
it. Couldn’t you understand the brands I left on the cows? The ranch will no longer be called the Double K. It’s changin’ hands...to the Double Cross. Pretty clever, don’t you think? Considering what your dad did and all.” He moved toward the table. “Now, sign that deed and we’ll be done.”

“What do you mean, what my dad did?”

“Your dad’s a thief. My grandfather owned this place before your dad swindled him out of it—out of my inheritance. Now, I want it back.”

“Your grandfather?” Jace shook his head. “My dad bought this place from your grandfather. It was all legal.”

Grant snorted. “I don’t believe that for a minute. My mom told me Granddad was old, senile, half out of his mind when he died.”

“My dad took care of him, Grant. He told me Mr. Hillyer and your mom had a fight and she left. She never contacted him again. He loved my dad like a son. That’s why Dad got the land.”

Grant shook his head. “We have no doubt your dad tricked him in some way to get this place.” He rested his hands and the pistol on the table and leaned toward Jace. “But I made sure your dad paid.”

The words hit Jace like a fist to the stomach. “You killed them. It was you!”

Grant smirked. Jace lunged for the man’s throat, and Grant smashed him in the face with the butt of the pistol. Jace fell to the floor. Grant leaned over him, and Jace kicked his legs out from under
him. Grant hit the floor hard, and his pistol skittered through the dirt and stopped next to an overturned cot.

Jace rolled, stood, and lunged at Grant again. The two tumbled against the table, smashing it to pieces. Jace fell on top of Grant. He swung his fists with a vengeance, and Grant grunted as each blow landed. Grant shoved his fist into Jace’s stomach and pushed him off. He bolted for the door, and Jace ran after him. The two rolled in the dirt and took turns landing punches.

Jace had to move away when Grant threw dirt in his eyes. He rubbed at them until he could see again. When he looked up, Grant stood in front of him with a knife in his hand and a grin on his face.

“I’m going to kill you, Jace. This place is rightfully mine. But I knew the only way to get it back was to kill your parents and get you out of the way. Once I kill Bobbie, all the evidence against me will be gone.”

Grant charged toward Jace. He sliced the blade through the air over and over. Jace jumped back with each attempt.

“You won’t get away with this, Wilcox. People are looking for us. They won’t stop until they find us.”

Grant lunged toward him. Jace jumped back, batted Grant’s hand out of the way, and grabbed him around the neck. The two struggled in a death grip until Grant slammed his elbow into Jace’s ribs. Jace lost his grip and gasped for breath. Grant spun around, the knife pointed toward Jace’s chest.

“Time to die, Jace.” An evil grin stretched across his face. “Then I’ll have me a little fun with your woman before I kill her.”

Grant slammed against Jace, and they fell to the ground together. Jace grabbed Grant’s wrist and held the knife away from him while he smashed his fist into Grant’s face. He received several blows to the face and neck as the blade inched closer. Thoughts of Bobbie inside the shack rolled through Jace’s mind.

God help me!

   THIRTY   

B
obbie sawed harder on the rope with the knife Jace placed near the pole. Her sore wrists bled. The knife’s awkward position slowed her progress. She spent more time picking it up or readjusting her grip than cutting.

She bore down on the blade with all the strength she had left. The rope finally snapped and fell away. Bobbie scrambled to the cot, grabbed Grant’s gun, and ran for the door.

Grant sat on top of Jace, pushing the blade toward his chest. Bobbie pulled the hammer back on the pistol and aimed. She lifted the barrel when the two men rolled over and over. They scrambled to their feet, gasping for breath. Grant still had the knife in his hand. She aimed at him again.

“Hold it, Grant.”

Jace looked at her. Grant lunged at Jace. Bobbie pulled the trigger and hit Grant in the right shoulder, knocking him back two steps. He looked down at his shoulder, then up at her. Rage contorted his face. He bellowed and again charged at Jace. His steps faltered and he fell against Jace. The two men toppled to the ground. Red spread across Grant’s shoulder and back. He didn’t move.