When All My Dreams Come True (35 page)

Annie turned and smiled. “Good morning, Jace. Bobbie wanted me to tell you that she and Sonny went after that cat again. Sonny thought he saw some tracks along the creek.”

Jealousy fought with alarm at the thought of Bobbie and Sonny together. “How long ago did they leave?”

Annie glanced at the clock. “About half an hour ago, I guess.”

He turned to leave.

“You’re not staying for breakfast? Kim’s leaving for town this morning, and we won’t get to see her again until Sunday. She might be leaving shortly after that.”

“I guess I’ve got a few minutes.”

He pulled out a chair and told himself to be patient. It didn’t work. Being polite and attentive took every bit of his effort. When Kim finally said her good-byes, he blew a sigh of relief.

Dew pointed the way Sonny and Bobbie had headed. Jace took off at a gallop after them. They had an hour head start, and he guessed it would take him at least half an hour to find them.

The crack of a rifle echoed back to him from the east ridge. He reined to a stop and listened for another shot. It never came. Heart pounding, Jace urged his horse back into a gallop, praying for Bobbie’s safety. He found her and Sonny squatting down where a mountain ravine ran into the creek.

Sonny turned and waved him over. “Jace, you’ve got to see this. Bobbie hit that mountain lion right in the heart.”

Relief rolled through him with such force, he felt weak. After a quick glance at him, Bobbie turned back and continued examining the cat, exhibiting no more warmth than she had last night. The woman drove him to distraction.

Jace squatted next to her. “That’s a big cat.” She didn’t say a word. “Nice shot.”

“Yeah, I’m good for some things,” Bobbie said.

Jace studied the woman he loved before he stood. “Good work, you two. I guess we won’t have to worry about this critter killing any more cattle. Now we only have a bigger one to catch.”

Sonny grinned and shook his head.

“Why don’t you head back, Sonny. I’m taking Bobbie with me for a while. We won’t be long.”

Sonny looped his thumbs in his belt. “Need help with anything, Jace?”

“No thanks. I think I can handle this job.”

Sonny hunched his shoulders and shoved his fists deep into the pockets of his denims.

Jace winked. “Thanks for all your help.”

“You bet.”

Bobbie headed for her horse as soon as Sonny left. She shoved her rifle in its sheath and tied it down. “What’s the job?”

Jace followed close behind. “It has nothing to do with ranching.” His hand closed around hers. “What’s wrong, Bobbie? You’ve been acting cool and withdrawn since our meeting with Morgan. What happened?”

Bobbie spun away from him, but he took her by the arms and turned her back.

“Talk to me, Bobbie.”

“There’s nothing to talk about, Jace.”

“Everything about you is important to me.”

Bobbie’s lips thinned into a straight line, and her chin jutted forward. Jace held her in silence, waiting for her to speak her mind.

“How long is Kim staying?”

Confusion jumbled his thoughts. “I don’t know. It depends.”

Bobbie snorted a laugh. “On what?”

Jace wanted to shake her for changing the subject. “On what kind of response she gets from Cade. Why does this matter?”

“Cade?”

Jace’s grip loosened. “Yes, Cade. If she gets the reaction she’s hoping for, she might stay a little longer, maybe indefinitely.”

Bobbie looked away, tucked her hands in her pockets, and kicked at the soil with her boot.

“I told you about the two of them in school,” Jace said. “Did you think she was here for me?”

Bobbie’s gaze dropped to her feet as she shrugged. He put his fingers under her chin and lifted until their eyes met.

“Would it have bothered you if she was?” he asked in a whisper. She didn’t answer. “Is that what all this has been about?”

She stepped back, and he had to release her.

“I saw the way you held her in the livery. What else was I supposed to think?”

“You could have asked me about it instead of jumping to conclusions. Granted, I made the same mistake about you not all that long ago when I thought you were a bank robber.” He took her by the arms again. “But I thought we’d both learned from that.”

Bobbie shrugged. Jace smiled down at her. He ran a finger along her jaw line. “Were you jealous?” She tried to look away but he cupped her face in his hands. “Tell me, Bobbie,” he whispered. “Were you jealous?”

“I...ah...” Her tongue darted out to wet her lips. “Maybe.”

Jace traced her lips with his thumb. When they parted, he leaned down. “Bobbie,” he whispered.

Rifle shots echoed across the plain for the second time that day. Jace lifted his head and looked into Bobbie’s eyes before turning toward the sound. In seconds, they were both in their saddles, crossing the creek and racing across the wide, open flat.

   TWENTY-SEVEN   

J
ace and Bobbie rushed toward the source of the gunfire. Cattle scattered every direction. Jace reined in his horse to avoid hitting a calf. Several more bawled as they scrambled around in search of their mothers. Further west, back toward the river, more shots rang out.

Jace heeled his horse back into a gallop. Bobbie followed at a slower pace, looking as though she wanted to stop and help the youngsters. He slowed to let her catch up.

When Jace saw Bobbie jump from her saddle to check a limping calf, he stopped and turned. The calf managed to avoid her and ran to its angry mother. Jace prepared to run interference if the cow decided to do more than shield her baby. Bobbie looked up at him, her eyes stricken.

Another blast sounded in the distance. Jace spun his horse around.

“Let’s go, Bobbie.” He took off at a gallop.

Bobbie caught up to him. Tears stained her cheeks. She met his gaze, and he saw the determination in her eyes. She wanted these men as bad as he did.

He raced toward another mound in the distance. A horse with no rider galloped away. Dread filled Jace as they drew nearer and saw Sonny on the ground, the grass around him crimson. Jace reined to a stop, jumped to the ground, and knelt beside him.

“Sonny?” Jace looked Sonny over. Blood ran the length of his leg from thigh to ankle. “You’ve been shot?”

Sonny nodded. “The bullet went right through my leg.” He looked up at Jace. “I heard a shot and followed the sound. A man on horseback came hightailing it over that ridge straight toward Lookout Peak. I went after him, but he kept shootin’ to get the cattle stampedin’ as he went by. I never saw anythin’ like it. He didn’t start shootin’ at me till I got close.”

“Do you know where he went?”

Sonny jerked a thumb toward the northwest. “Headed into the mountain.”

Jace climbed into his saddle, and Bobbie moved to do the same.

“Stay here, Bobbie.”

“But Jace—”

He looked her in the eyes. “Stay here.”

He spun his horse around and raced toward the mountain. Hoof-prints dotted a dry ravine bed. Jace followed them, determined to bring the man’s game to an end.

He came to a steep incline. The hoofprints he’d been following no longer showed, but the last he saw, they were still headed in this direction. He nudged his horse on, and they continued up the mountain.

A bullet whizzed past his ear and ricocheted off the rock behind him. He reined his horse behind a boulder. No other shots followed. Resigned he’d never catch the guy on his own, Jace turned back. Besides, Sonny needed a doctor. Wasting time in the mountain wouldn’t help at all.

Bobbie tied her kerchief around Sonny’s leg just above the wound and pressed her hand against the opening to stanch the flow. Hearing more gunfire, she kept up a steady prayer for Jace’s protection.

She didn’t know how long they waited, but she was thankful to hear galloping horses headed their way. Bobbie glanced toward the
ranch. Dew and David approached, Sonny’s horse in tow. She looked toward the mountain and spotted Jace returning. They arrived about the same time.

Jace jumped down and examined Sonny’s wound. “How’re you doing, Sonny?”

“I’m all right. Got a right nice nurse, here.” He grinned and winked at her.

Jace met Bobbie’s gaze and mouthed, “Thanks.”

“You heard the gunfire?” Jace asked Dew.

His foreman nodded. “Sounded distant, but we came at a run.”

Jace looked around. “Where’s Adam?”

“Didn’t see him. Haven’t seen him all morning.”

Jace stared at Dew before he looked back at the mountain, then back at Dew.

“Aw, now, Jace,” Dew said.

“Where was Adam the last time this happened?”

“I don’t know. But Jace, it couldn’t be him.”

“Why not?”

Dew waved his hand. “He’s just a kid. Besides, he was on the drive with us. He’d have no part in something like this.”

“We thought the same thing about Coop.” Jace laid a hand on Dew’s shoulder. “Look, I’ve got to get Sonny to the doctor. I’d like you to start rounding up the rest of the cattle. Drive them up close to the ranch site. I’ve got to save what precious few I have left.” He glanced toward the mountain. “That man’s getting mighty brave to try stealing them in broad daylight.”

“It’s near time for fall roundup anyway,” Dew said.

Jace helped Sonny onto his horse before climbing onto his saddle. “Let’s go, Bobbie.”