When All My Dreams Come True (4 page)

T
he black disappeared down the creek embankment and reappeared on the other side. Jace sprinted to the nearest horse. When he realized it was Bobbie’s, he hesitated a split second, but then grabbed the reins and leapt onto the saddle. He tugged hard and spun around to give chase.

An instant later, he found himself flat on his back in the dirt. He rolled to his side, stunned and gasping for air as Bobbie ran past, her boots the only thing he could see. After catching his breath, he struggled to his feet while Bobbie mounted her horse and raced after the runaway.

The horse of one of his wranglers stood tied to the corral. Jace ran his hand over the mare’s sweaty flesh. He frowned at its owner but mounted and spurred the animal into a gallop.

Bobbie descended the crest of the hill at the same time he reached the bridge, her rope around the runaway’s neck. The relief of having his horse back diminished some of Jace’s anger. He took the rope from Bobbie without a word and headed back to the corral.

After placing the lead rope into Dew’s hand, he dismounted and flung the reins toward its owner. “I don’t know what happened, and I doubt I want to know. Just don’t let it happen again.”

“Yes, sir,” came the quick reply.

Once the gate swung closed, Jace strode over to Bobbie. “Who
trained your horse? He bucked me off!” He spat the taste of dirt from his mouth.

“I did. He won’t let anyone ride him but me. Mr. Simms gave him to me as a colt for my fifteenth birthday.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “We’ve spent a great deal of time together. We’re very close.”

Jace’s irritation melted away. She looked and sounded like a 15-year-old girl with her arms folded protectively around her middle. Her gaze fell to the ground.

“I see. Well, you can be sure I won’t try to ride him again.” He smiled. “He threw me down harder than that black in there.”

Activity at the corral suddenly sent her speeding past him. Jace turned in time to see Adam, his newest ranch hand and owner of the lathered horse he’d borrowed, raise a fist high into the air, a whip held tight in his grip. The end of the whip came down across the chest of Bobbie’s horse with a
thwack
. The gelding reared and screamed, and his ears lay flat against his head.

Bobbie yanked out her sidearm and trained the barrel on Adam’s face. “You whip my horse again and you’ll draw your last breath. Do you understand?”

Jace walked between the two and grabbed the barrel of Bobbie’s gun. “Let me have the gun, Bobbie.”

She tore her gaze from Adam and looked at Jace. She released her hold, hand trembling, and strode to her horse.

“Give me the whip, Adam,” Jace said.

The young man thumped his hat back with his knuckles. “That horse nipped at me, Jace. I only wanted to touch him, and he tried to take off my fingers.”

Jace held out his hand. “I said give me that whip.”

“You’re not being fair.”

“I told you when I hired you never to whip an animal on my place.”

“But I was defending myself!”

Jace’s temper ignited. Disobedience and disrespect were two things
his father never tolerated. Adam was a kid. How many times had Dad taken on a roughneck kid and trained him to be an honorable man? Jace asked him once why he didn’t fire the troublemakers.
“You may not consider ranchin’ a ministry, son, but it’s a way of life, and our lives are to be a ministry.”

Jace’s anger died at the memory. “I’d like you to stay and work for me, young man, but if you don’t turn over that whip, I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

Adam hesitated and his cheeks flushed red, but he slapped the whip into Jace’s palm. He cast a resentful glance in Bobbie’s direction. “Ain’t no good can come of having a woman on this place. Any fool—” Adam clamped his mouth shut, but his hands curled into fists.

“You won’t get this whip back until you’re no longer in my employ. Understood?”

Adam jammed his hands into his pockets. “Yes, sir.”

“Good.” Jace turned to leave until he remembered the sweaty horse. He swung back around. “Where’ve you been, Adam?”

The boy’s eyes widened. “What do you mean? I ain’t been nowhere.”

“Then why is your horse lathered?”

“It—he—” Adam tugged at his shirt front. “I took a ride into town.”

“I told you to stay here.” Jace studied him with growing distrust. “Why’d you leave?”

Eyes to the ground, Adam shrugged. “I went to see a girl.”

Jace clenched his jaw and waited for the good Lord to get hold of his tongue. “A girl?”

With another shrug, Adam raised his chin in a show of bravado. “Yes, sir.”

Jace drew a long breath. “This girl must be something for you to risk losing your job.”

Adam’s head jerked up. “What? You’re going to fire me?”

“Not this time. But disobey my orders again, and you’ll be looking for work elsewhere. Got it?”

Nostrils flaring, Adam nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Good.” Jace looked around at the other ranch hands. “All right, men, finish your work and call it a day.”

“Yes, sir.” They disbanded, but Adam turned back and speared him with his eyes before continuing on his way.

Just like Coop
, Jace thought. Coop hadn’t been happy when Jace decided to name his friend Dew as foreman after Jace’s father died. Coop thought the position belonged to him since he’d been on the ranch the longest. Maybe the old hand did deserve that position, but Dew had been a faithful friend for years, and Jace trusted him like an older brother. With all the turmoil caused by his dad’s death, Jace needed someone like that in a position of authority. In time, Coop calmed down. Jace figured it would be the same for Adam.

Jace walked to Bobbie’s side. “Is he all right?”

Blood from the wound on her horse’s chest tinged her kerchief. “He’ll mend.”

“Good. Come with me. I’ll show you where to keep your horse. Then we’ll put salve on that gash to keep it from getting infected.”

She gave no indication that she’d heard him.

“Bobbie?”

She lifted her head. Tears filled her red-rimmed eyes.

Jace placed a hand on her shoulder. “Let’s put him up for the night.”

This time Bobbie followed.

Jace indicated the stall she should use for Mack, then handed her the salve. “Come to the house when you’re finished here.”

She nodded.

He walked out the barn doors but slowed his steps when her voice carried out into the still evening air.

“I’m sorry, Mack. I ain’t sure what I got us into, but if it doesn’t get better, we’ll leave.”

Jace peeked through the doorway to find Bobbie with her arms around the horse’s neck. As he walked away, the questions in his mind mounted. Had he made the right decision in taking her on? Would a woman working on a ranch with half a dozen men bring trouble? He shrugged. Only time would tell.

One day. Bobbie had worked at the Double K for only one day, and Jace left her to her own devices. Who knew he’d all but shut down his ranch on Sunday? Jace and his sister had invited her to attend church with the family, but she’d rather watch the men whittle and spit tobacco than pretend to be pious along with all the other fakers sitting in the pews. She’d met her share of hypocrites and had her fill of them. They’d be nice to her face, then laugh when she turned away. No, she’d avoid that kind of religion.

Instead, she spent a quiet morning grooming Mack. Most of the men had saddled up and gone off somewhere. She returned to the house and fried a couple eggs for her dinner, about the only meal she could make on a cookstove that didn’t end up too black to identify.

She moved all the dirty dishes to the sink to get them cleaned up before Annie returned. Jace’s sister made her feel right at home from the first night, as did her husband, Pete, by offering her the spare bedroom next to the kitchen. Their two children were adorable, especially little Ben. His long lashes could make a grown woman jealous. And baby Sara was a miniature of her mother, her dark hair just as curly. Without a doubt, Bobbie couldn’t have found a better place to stay than with the Wallace family.

After a quick peek into the living room, she figured banking must be a mighty lucrative business. Pete provided quite well for his family. Fancy curtains danced in the light breeze flowing through the open windows. High-quality furniture filled the room along with several beautiful and expensive decorations. At least they looked costly to her, though her knowledge about such things might almost fill a thimble.

Restless with nothing to do and no one to talk to, she decided Mack could use some exercise. She entered his stall, laid the blanket over his back, and settled the saddle in place.

“Going somewhere?”

The deep voice raised the hair on her scalp. Alarm skittered over her skin. She thought Grant had left with the others.

She didn’t turn but reached for the cinch. “Just for a ride.”

Footsteps shuffled closer. “Want some company?”

Her throat grew tight, and her heart hammered. She hurried to finish with the saddle. “Not really, but thanks for the offer.”

He entered the stall and moved beside her. “Are you sure? I think the two of us could be good friends.” He placed his hand over hers. “Know what I mean?”

His touch sent a hard shudder through her. She yanked her hand from under his. “I know what you mean, and the answer is no.”

He moved still closer until his breath washed down her neck. “Now, that’s not very friendly.”

She turned away. He grabbed her arm and jerked her around to face him. She swung at him with her free arm. He seized it and shoved her backward until he pinned her against the wall.

“Stop it!”

His eyes gleamed so dark, they looked black. “If we’re going to work together, we better learn how to get along.”

He leaned down toward her mouth. She twisted away. He chased her every move. She struggled only to have him grip her tighter. She opened her mouth to scream for help.

Then he was gone.

She leapt to the other side of Mack, then looked around. Jace had Grant by the shirtfront. Tears formed, and she panted from a mixture of exertion and relief. She swallowed hard to keep from sobbing.

Jace flung Grant out of the stall. Grant came at him and threw a punch. Jace ducked and rammed his fist into Grant’s belly before
shoving him to the ground. Grant stood and pulled his gun, but Jace already had his out and cocked.

“Pack your things.”

Grant holstered his pistol. “Why? Because of her?” He jerked his thumb in Bobbie’s direction. “She expected this to happen. Why else would she spend time with a bunch of men?”

“She deserves the same treatment and respect as anyone else on this ranch.”

Grant crossed his arms. “You need me here.”

“I don’t need anyone on this ranch who would treat a lady that way.” Jace waved his gun. “Get your things together. Then find Dew for the last of your pay. I want you off my place within the hour.”

Grant didn’t move for several seconds. “Fine. There’s plenty of other ranchers who could use my help.” He spat in the dirt. “I might even head to Texas. I’ve had my fill of this territory.”

Jace stood as a silent guard while Grant saddled his horse. Once Grant left the barn, Jace finally replaced his pistol and turned to Bobbie.

“You all right?” He moved inside the stall and examined her face before lifting and looking at each of her hands. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

A little embarrassed by his attention, she stepped back and shoved her hands into her coat pockets. “I’m fine.” When he remained and didn’t say a word, she tried to smile her reassurance. “I’m not hurt. But thank you for coming when you did.”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry it happened.”

“I hate that I caused you to lose a wrangler. Has he been here long?”

He shrugged. “About five months. A little longer, I guess.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No need. I don’t abide men who…act like that.” He patted the saddle on Mack. “Going for a ride?”

She grabbed the bridle from the nail. “I thought we both could use some exercise.”

Once she had it on, she led Mack out of the stall. Jace followed on her heels.

“You feel up to some company? You’ll need to know the boundaries of my property. I thought today would be a good day to get started. We’ll be busy again tomorrow.”

Bobbie sent him a sidelong glance, then shot him a smile. “Let’s go.”

“Great. Give me a chance to change clothes. I won’t be long.”

Bobbie had his horse saddled and ready when he returned. She spent a relaxing afternoon alongside Jace while he gave her a tour around a portion of his ranch. He showed her areas she hadn’t yet seen, explaining why he ran the ranch as he did, and telling her how his father came to be the owner.

“My dad was foreman of this ranch years ago for Mr. Hillyer. The man had a daughter, but he hadn’t seen her in years. They had some sort of disagreement and she left. From what I know, she never came back or kept in touch.”

“How sad.”