When All My Dreams Come True (43 page)

“What I have to tell you isn’t good news.” He took another breath. This was harder than he had thought. “I’m selling the ranch. I’m going to have to let you all go.”

Dew rose to his feet. “No, Jace.” He looked at the others, then back at Jace. “We had a feeling you might decide to do this. We all talked, and we decided we’d work for you for free till you get back on your feet.”

Jace’s eyes burned. He rubbed a hand over his face and shook his head.

“I appreciate your offer, but it won’t help. I don’t have the funds to rebuild. Not even with the money Sheriff Thomas found in the shack. Only a small portion of it came my way.” He rubbed the back of his neck, but the ache of disappointment remained. “I’ve figured it every way there is. All I have is the land, a few head of cattle, my stallion, and a small bank account. I could sell the horses and cattle and rebuild all the structures, but that would leave nothing for the following year.”

He looked at his desk and fiddled with some papers. “At least if I sell the land, I’ll have a little money to get by.” He scanned their faces. “You’ve all been great. Hard workers with a big heart. I wish I had a dozen more like you.”

Not a word was spoken. He hated the silence. He stood and moved behind his desk. Several sheets of paper lay inside one of the
drawers. He pulled them out and cleared his throat. “There’s some money waiting for each of you at the bank. I talked to Pete. He’ll have it ready for you. I’ve also written up letters for you. Maybe it’ll help you land a job on a good ranch.”

“This
is
a good ranch,” Sonny said.

Jace looked at him and noted the red-rimmed eyes. “It
was
a good ranch. It can be again in the hands of a good rancher.”

“
You’re
a good rancher.”

All eyes swung to rest on Bobbie. The men nodded in agreement. Jace could see in her eyes her love for him, and he ached to hold her. He looked away, thankful he was behind the desk. He handed each of them a letter.

“I’ll be praying all of you find a job soon. It’s my hope you hire on at a successful ranch with a good and honest boss.”

Dew stepped up to take his paper. “Where will you go, Jace?”

He shrugged. “I’ll be looking for a place just like you, I guess. I don’t think I could stay here and work for the new owner.”

“I can understand that. You had anyone come asking for the place?”

“I haven’t announced it yet. I wanted to talk to all of you first.”

“I appreciate that, Jace.” He held out his hand. Jace took it in a firm grasp. “You take care of yourself, you hear? You ever need another foreman, look me up.”

“You’d be the first I’d ask, Dew. Keep in touch. Pete and Annie plan to stay in Rockdale. You’ll be able to reach me through them.”

They shook again before Dew left. The other men filed past Jace and said their good-byes. Bobbie still sat in her chair. Her stare bore straight through him. He sighed. He hated to hurt her but saw no other way.

She gestured toward his stomach. “How’s your wound?”

He looked down and patted it. “It’s fine. I’d actually forgotten all about it. Doc says it looks good.”

“
You
look good.”

He met her gaze and tried to smile. “Thank you.” Except for the sadness in her eyes, she looked wonderful—too wonderful for him to say the words. She stood and walked toward him.

“What about us, Jace? You said you loved me. Now you’re letting me go like the other wranglers, like there was nothing between us.” She choked on the words.

“I’m sorry, Bobbie. I didn’t want it to be this way.”

“Do you still love me?” Tears glistened in her eyes.

“Yes!” The word ripped from his throat. His eyes burned. “I’ll always love you.”

“Then why, Jace? I don’t understand.”

“I can’t ask you to go through this hardship with me. I want better for you than that.”

“I’ve been through the hardship with you. We survived. Our love survived.”

“But I still had something to offer you then. Now I have nothing.”

“You have me.”

He looked down and shook his head again. “I can’t. Don’t you see?”

Bobbie choked on a sob. “I see your pride keeping us apart.”

“I’m sorry, Bobbie.” He wanted to reach out to her. He gripped the edge of the desk. “I hope you’ll go back to Roy. At least then I’ll know someone’s taking care of you. Do you think you might do that?”

She sniffled. “I don’t know right now. I haven’t given it any thought.”

Jace leaned toward her. “Will you let me know?”

Bobbie started crying in earnest. She nodded and turned to leave.

“Bobbie?”

She stopped.

“I—” The clock on the mantel ticked by the seconds. “Be careful.”

She stepped through the door and closed it behind her. He slammed his fist onto the desk and fell onto his chair.

Help me, Lord. I don’t know how much more I can take
.

Beans had waited for Bobbie. She didn’t think she’d ever been so glad to see him. She stepped from the porch into his waiting arms. She vented all her pain and frustration into his shoulder. Beans didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to. His comforting presence and his arms were what she needed.

When her cries turned to hiccups, he handed her his kerchief. She took it and tried to smile. “Thank you.”

He put his arm around her shoulders and led her toward Mack. “Don’t give up yet, Bobbie. It’s all still new. Give him time. He’ll come around.”

She shook her head. “I don’t know, Beans.”

He grunted. She smiled.

“I’m going to miss your grunts, Beans.”

He grunted again and she laughed.

“That’s better. Nothing brighter than your smile.”

Beans rode with her all the way to Pastor Robbins’s house. They said their good-byes with a long embrace. He touched her cheek.

“You take care o’ yourself, little lady.”

She nodded, too emotional to speak.

Bobbie sat through the evening meal, toying with her food while she listened to Pastor and Garnett chat. She didn’t join in unless they asked her a question. Afterward they prepared for their evening Bible study and asked her to join them. Her Bible had burned in the fire and she hadn’t attempted to purchase another one. Maybe some Scripture was just what she needed to perk her up.

The pastor led the group in prayer, and then he asked them for examples of what happens when God’s people lack faith. After several in the group spoke, he described the wonders God performed for the Israelites in order to free them from slavery in Egypt—the
plagues on the Egyptians, parting a sea, providing water and food in the wilderness. The Israelites witnessed an abundance of God’s power and provision. Yet when they were to take possession of the land He had prepared for them, they refused to enter because they feared the people living there.

“Because of their lack of faith,” the pastor said, “most of them didn’t get to see the land God promised them. They lived in the desert for forty years. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” Pastor Robbins closed his Bible. “We should try to look back and remember all the wonderful things God has done. The Bible records so many examples of His faithfulness, as do our lives. I think we should each sit down some time this next week and make a list of all the wonderful things He’s done for us. Once we see them, how can we not be thankful and trust Him in return?”

Bobbie marveled at the study of faith. Did the pastor realize her need and prepare the message just for her? She went to her room, readied for bed, and climbed under the covers. With all her tossing from side to side, it didn’t take long for the covers to come loose.

Bobbie sighed and sat up. She lit the lantern and fixed her bed before moving to the chair by the window. The stars were out in force. She pulled her feet up under her, wrapped her arms around her legs, and rested her chin on her knees.

The stars confirmed God’s power. The sun, moon, and every living creature spoke of His strength and sovereignty. Annie’s new baby boy that Bobbie held in her arms earlier that day was another example of God’s miracles, as was the change He had produced in her own life. She didn’t have to look far to find proof of His love and faithfulness.

The pastor’s words echoed in her mind.
How can we not trust Him?

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart,” she said against her knees, “and...and...”
What was that part about our paths?
She jumped from the chair and moved to the dresser. She opened the drawers one by
one. Nothing. Her gaze moved to the small table beside the bed. She pulled the top drawer open and smiled. She had a feeling Garnett would have a Bible in every room of the house.

Bobbie sat on the side of the bed and turned the flame of the lamp higher. She flipped to Proverbs for the verse that eluded her. Her finger trailed down the page. “There!”
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not on thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths
.

“Direct my paths. That’s exactly what I need,” she said.

Show me the way I should go, Lord. I feel so lost right now. Help me know what I’m supposed to do
.

Her thoughts moved to Jace. She prayed the Lord would help him too. He seemed just as lost as she felt.

The pastor and Garnett were already in the kitchen chatting when she joined them the next morning. She felt better, rested. Seeing the newspaper lying on the table, she poured herself a cup of coffee and began reading. Maybe she should take Jace’s advice and go back to Roy. For some reason, that idea didn’t appeal to her. She checked the ads. Maybe some rancher was looking for help. She had a feeling the other wranglers were doing the same thing this morning.

“Maybe we could have a bake sale or something to help raise money,” Garnett said. “There’s got to be some way we can help.”

Bobbie continued to scan the paper as she listened to the couple talking. They had her attention, but she didn’t interrupt.

“I know if we could raise the funds, most of the men in town would help him rebuild.” The pastor tapped the table. “It’s been a while since I’ve swung a hammer, but I’d sure be out there helping.”

“And I’d be there with the bandages for your thumbs,” Garnett said.

The pastor chuckled, but then grew serious. “I don’t know. It may take something big to make it work, something like a partner. Jace
would probably hate the idea at first, but someone might be able to talk him into it. It sure beats losing the ranch entirely. At least I would think so.”

Bobbie sipped at her coffee. Her gaze was on the newspaper, but she was no longer reading. Her mind raced with plans. She stood and headed for the door.

“Bobbie?”

She turned and saw the questioning look on Garnett’s face.

“Are you all right?”

Bobbie smiled. “All right and getting better by the minute.” She slipped into her coat. “Um, I’m going to run an errand. If all goes well, I may be out of town for a while. I’ll let you know one way or the other.”

She moved back to the table to wrap her arms around Garnett’s neck and kiss her cheek. She moved to the pastor. He stood and accepted her hug.

“I appreciate you two more than you know.”

She dashed for the door, praying Dew hadn’t left town yet.

   THIRTY-FOUR