When All My Dreams Come True (16 page)

A nearby cow moved with slow steps, its head hanging low. Absorbed with trying to decide if it was hurt or sick, Bobbie almost shrieked at the voice only inches from her ear.

“You look just like that cow, Bobbie.”

She leaned away as she turned toward Jace, her mouth dropping open. “Why, thank you. I’ve always wanted to be likened to a cow.”

His head went back with spirited laughter as he spurred his mount forward.

After the long, hot day, she rode toward the chuck wagon yearning for a bath. None would be forthcoming this far from home with nothing but dirt and hills for miles in every direction. Beans stood at the fire with a plate full of food and pushed it into her hands the moment she slid from the saddle. The first night watch was her responsibility, and she needed to eat fast so she could start her assignment.

She finished her meal and stood, ready to get back to work. Jace stood at the same time. After checking the cinches on her saddle, she climbed astride, ready to find the best place to keep an eye on the herd.

“Bobbie…hold up.” Jace walked toward her and mounted his horse. “I’ll show you where to sit for the night.”

She spurred Mack on.

He caught up. “Is there something wrong, Bobbie? You look awfully tense.”

She couldn’t help but hear the humor in his voice. “As if you don’t know.”

“Let me remind you that you started it.”

“I know, but you’ve got to admit it was pretty funny.” She cut her eyes at him, annoyed by the smug set of his chin.

“After the fact, yes, but when I laid on what felt like a snake, my heart about jumped out of my chest.”

She burst into laughter all over again.

“You laugh, my dear, but let me warn you yet again. I
will
get even.”

Bobbie shook her head, though she felt a small thrill at his endearment.

Jace stopped his horse at the mouth of a small valley. The gorge was surrounded on three sides by large rocks that made up the foothills of the mountains. They had driven the cattle inside for the night. Jace led the way to a large, wide ledge just above the herd. She followed close behind carrying her canteen and rifle.

He motioned along the ridge. “Will this be all right for you tonight?”

“It’s perfect. With the clear night and being above the herd, this will be an easy watch.”

“That’s what I thought. I’m going to head back and try to get some sleep. I’ll relieve you around midnight.”

“All right. See you then.”

When he’d left, she proceeded to get as comfortable as possible on the rocks. After fighting the hard dirt floor for almost an hour, she retraced her steps to get the blanket from her saddle. She grabbed her jacket and slipped into it, knowing the night air would get cold. Bobbie returned to her vantage point, placed the folded blanket on the ground, and settled in for the rest of her watch. With her back against a large boulder and the rifle sitting across her lap, she hummed tunes to stay awake.

Several hours later, guessing it close to midnight, a twig snapped above her head. She tightened the grip on her rifle. The sound of pebbles crunching carried through the still air.

“Jace?” Bobbie held her breath, searching the darkness. “Jace, if that’s you, you’d better let me know so you don’t get yourself shot.” There was no answer.

She got up on her knees. Below, Mack and some of the cattle acted skittish. When pebbles rained down on her head, she cocked her rifle. The noise must have alarmed whoever stood above her. She saw some movement in the moonlight. With a grunt, the person sprang from a hiding place above her head. At the last moment, she swung her gun around, getting two shots off in quick succession before the impact knocked the rifle from her hands.

   THIRTEEN   

J
ace yawned as he tightened the leather strap beneath his horse’s belly. Staying awake until daylight would be a struggle. Worry over Bobbie and the two greenhorns he’d been forced to hire had kept him awake, and here it was, almost midnight. He’d never had a woman on a drive before, and the strange responsibility made him uncomfortable…and protective. He moved to the edge of the stream, knelt, and splashed water on his face. In the distance, a coyote howled its mournful tune.

The sharp crack of two gunshots echoed across the range. Jace stood and ran for his horse. Fully awake, he mounted and took off at a full gallop.

He slowed at the opening of the valley. There was no sign of cattle on the run, no dust choking him or cattle bellowing in panic. He reined in his horse and sat listening. The silence was eerie. He whirled his horse and raced the short distance to the ridge, pulling his rifle from its sheath and jumping from the saddle before the horse came to a stop.

“Bobbie?” He ran up the ledge. No response. “Bobbie?”

“Jace?”

Relief rushed through him. “Where are you?”

“Over here, Jace. Help! I can’t hold on much longer.”

He ran toward the sound of her voice. “Where are you?”

“I’m hanging off the ledge. Hurry! My fingers are slipping!”

In three steps, he stood over her. He heard her panting. Her boots scraped against the rocky wall. He dropped to his belly and ran a hand along the edge. His fingers brushed hers. He scooted forward so half of his shoulders hung over the edge in open air. If he wasn’t careful, he’d send them both careening down on the herd below. With his foot anchored behind a boulder and one hand on a tree root, he reached down and grabbed Bobbie’s wrist. She let loose of the ledge and screamed.

“I got you. It’s all right, Bobbie. I’ve got you.” He grabbed her other hand. Muscles straining, he pulled until Bobbie’s upper body rose over the edge of the cliff. He struggled to his knees, still holding tight to her, and helped her climb up the rest of the way.

She flung herself against him, almost knocking him off balance. He led her away from the edge and helped her sit. They leaned against the bluff, breathing hard. Her quiet sobs reached his ears.

“Are you all right?” She didn’t answer. He reached up and pushed a tangled strand of hair from her face.

She sniffled. “I’m fine.”

“Are you hurt?”

“Not really. Just a bump on the back of my head.”

His fingers barely touched the forming knot when she winced and pulled away. He dropped his hand. “What happened? I heard gunshots.” Galloping horses sounded in the distance. He knew it would be his men. “Bobbie?”

“A man jumped me.”

“What? A man? What man?” He glanced around in the darkness. He reached for the rifle he’d dropped. “How’d you end up hanging over the ledge?”

She sniffed again. “I didn’t know I was that close. When I rolled away from him, I fell over.”

“Jace? Bobbie?”

“Over here, Dew.” He was thankful his foreman thought to bring along a torch. Behind Dew, Sonny scrambled up the ledge, eyes
wide and hat askew. Bobbie struggled to get up, holding her head. Jace slipped a hand under her arm and helped her to her feet.

She searched the ground around her. “Do you see my rifle? It’s around here somewhere. He knocked it from my hands.”

“He?” Dew shoved the fire toward them. “What happened?”

“Some man attacked her.” Concerned by the way she held the back of her head, Jace moved close enough to grasp her shoulder. “Are you sure you’re not hurt?”

“I’m fine. I bumped my head on the rocks when he knocked me down, but it’s not bad.” Dew bent to pick up her rifle and hat. “I’m sure it’s nothing a bit of rest won’t take care of.”

Bobbie pulled away and walked toward her horse. Sonny trailed after her and helped her descend the ledge.

“Dew?” Jace waited for Bobbie to move some distance away. “When you get back to camp, have Beans check her head.”

“Sure thing, Jace.” He paused. “You sure you don’t want me to take your watch?”

“No, but thanks. It’s my watch. I’ll take care of it. Besides, I couldn’t sleep now if I wanted to.”

Jace hunkered down with his back against the rock wall, his rifle across his knees. Not sure what he expected to see, he peered into the dark over the cattle. Thoughts and questions careened through his mind. Who attacked Bobbie and why? Was he after Bobbie alone or whoever happened to be standing watch? Did this have something to do with his rustled cattle? Were they looking to take the herd?

He thought again of Bobbie, and an ache began in his heart. He couldn’t imagine the ranch without her.

He stared up at the star-studded sky. What was he thinking? He was running a business. How could he have let a ranch hand become so special? He shook his head and sighed. She could have died tonight, and she would have spent her eternity separated from God.
And from me
. He almost laughed at his inability to convince himself that Bobbie wasn’t important to him. The ache in his heart
grew. He started praying for her and the feelings inside him that he hadn’t acknowledged until now, but he kept both eyes wide open.

Bobbie took her time waking up. She had to force her eyes open. Her head pounded with pain, and she rubbed at her temple. Her blurred vision started to clear, and the first thing she saw was Jace perched on a log sipping from a blackened coffee cup. The men spoke in whispers, and guilty surprise was written across their faces when she tried to sit up.

She gasped at the pain that cut through her shoulder.

Jace dropped to one knee next to her. “Are you hurt, Bobbie?”

She shook her head. “Just a little sore. The man that threw me down was huge. He hit me pretty hard.”