When All My Dreams Come True (41 page)

“Beautiful,” he said.

“Mmm-hmm. It is, isn’t it?”

She looked up at him and found him gazing at her.

He cupped her jaw in his hands. His thumbs rubbed her cheeks in tiny circles. His head dipped toward her. “Do you want to eat or talk first?”

“Ah—” It was difficult to breathe, let alone talk. “I’m not very hungry right now.”

Just when she thought Jace would kiss her, he pulled away and motioned to the blanket. “Let’s sit down.”

Bobbie gladly accepted his offer, her legs too weak to go on. “Are you tired?”

Jace shook his head. “I’m fine.” He smiled as he settled next to her. “You make me a little light-headed, and we’re up pretty high.”

She could feel herself blushing and looked away. He took her by the chin and turned her face toward him. He didn’t remove his hand.

“Nothing’s changed. I still love you.”

She nodded.

“What I want to know is how you feel about me.” His intense gaze held hers. “You told me you want to go look at a ranch. That tells me you want to leave the Double K. Yet you’ve been acting different lately.” He smiled. “Less prickly.”

Bobbie took a deep breath. “I...I’ve never felt like this about anyone before.”

His thumb rubbed below her lip. “Felt like what?”

Bobbie thought she might cry for all the emotions flowing through her. “Disappointment when we have to say good-bye. Looking forward to when we can see each other again. My heart pounding when you look into my eyes or touch me.” Her last sentence came out sounding breathless. She took his hand in hers. “I don’t want to leave, Jace. I love you. But I need to know that you trust me. That I won’t have to continually prove myself.”

Jace’s lips brushed across hers making her catch her breath. He pulled back and looked into her eyes. He leaned down again. His lips caught hers in a kiss that staggered her senses. They were both gasping when he pulled back. He cupped her cheek in his hand.

“I do trust you, Bobbie. Enough to offer you my heart for the rest of my life.”

Happy tears formed. “I accept.”

Jace smiled and pulled further away from her. “I’m going to have to watch myself around you, Bobbie. When you look at me like that,
I can’t resist wanting to kiss you.” He took her hand and pressed it to his lips. “I think I’d better settle for this for now.”

Bobbie reached inside the basket and pulled out a sandwich. “Or you can have this.”

He laughed as he took it from her.

They finished off the meal and packed up. Jace slid off the boulder. He held out his hand and helped Bobbie down. Instead of releasing it, he held it all the way to the buggy.

She turned the buggy around and headed home, feeling warm inside. Better than that, she felt loved. Months ago, she had come to the Double K with dreams of one day running her own ranch. Instead, she discovered the unconditional love and friendship of God and the Kincaid family. It was better than any dream.

Jace ran the back of his fingers along her cheek. “What are you thinking about to make you look so serene?”

Bobbie smiled. “The blessings God has given me.”

“I know the feeling. We’ve both been through a lot, but knowing God’s been walking with us is incredible. He’s brought us through it all.”

The peaceful feeling lasted until Bobbie broke their staring match and looked away from him.

“Jace.”

“Hmm?”

“Look.” Bobbie nodded toward home.

Smoke rose into the air in several wispy threads. Jace sat up straight. He snatched the reins from her and slapped them down on the horse’s rump.

Bobbie grabbed the seat and said another prayer.

   THIRTY-TWO   

J
ace fought the panic clawing at him. The smoke grew thicker as they neared the ranch. He prayed that Annie and the children were out of the house. Flames licked the air from the bunkhouse and the chow hall as they pulled into the ranch site. They were beyond help.

He drove the buggy past his house, the only building not burning. He stopped at Annie’s house and ran toward the kitchen door.

“Annie!”

The piercing scream that came from inside stopped his heart.

He grabbed the doorknob and jerked his hand back, then ran to the front door. Flames licked along the entire porch. A sob of fear escaped his throat. He ran around to the back, grabbed a stick, and broke out a window. He peeled off his coat, laid it over the broken glass, and crawled through.

“Annie!” He moved toward the kitchen. Smoke filled every room. He heard the kids crying. “Annie!” He coughed and dropped to his knees. He crawled toward the stairs. His eyes and lungs burned. “Annie!”

“Jace!”

“Where are you?”

“We’re upstairs. I can’t see.” She started coughing until it sounded like she gagged.

“I’m coming up.”

Someone bumped him from behind.

“Jace?”

“Bobbie? Get out of here!”

“No. I can help.”

“Get on your hands and knees. Stay by my side.”

They crawled to the top of the stairs, then felt their way along the floor. “Annie!” The flames roared below and drowned out his voice. He could hear the kids screaming and gagging up ahead. “Annie?”

“Over here.” Her voice was weakening.

“Wait here, Bobbie. I’ll bring you the kids, and you get them out of here.”

“All right.”

He located them within moments. “Give me the kids, Annie.”

“No. We stay together,” Annie said with determination.

Jace wanted to argue but knew he wouldn’t get anywhere. “Let’s go.” He grabbed a child under each arm. “Hang on to my shirt, Annie. Whatever happens, don’t let go.”

All of them were coughing nonstop, but the kids’ wheezing scared Jace the most. He had to hurry. They reached the steps.

“Bobbie?”

“Right here.”

“Take Ben,” he said and felt her pull the boy from his arm. Jace ripped off his kerchief and placed it over Sara’s nose and mouth.

“Let’s get out of here.”

They all scooted down the steps on their bottoms. Halfway down, Bobbie yelled, “Jace! The flames!”

He looked down and saw them creeping toward the stairs.

“Run for it, Bobbie. Go!”

He couldn’t see her but heard her footsteps fading.

“Come on, Annie. We gotta hurry.”

She scooted past him. He grabbed for her and found a hand. She was headed for the kitchen. He pulled her back.

“We can’t go that way. The back window. Go toward the back.”

Jace gagged on the words. He was running out of air. He hated to imagine Sara’s condition.

They found the window. Bobbie stood waiting for them. Jace handed Sara to her.

“Come on, Annie. You’re next.”

The maneuver was difficult because of her pregnancy. Bobbie assisted from outside while Jace helped Annie keep her balance. Annie’s feet touched the ground, and she ran to her children. Jace crawled through and joined them.

The children were coughing to the point of throwing up. Sara cried and gagged again. Jace pulled Ben into his arms. He seemed to be breathing easier. Tears ran down Ben’s face and left trails through the soot. Jace kissed them away and thanked God in his heart they all made it out of the house.

The sound of shrieking pierced the air. Bobbie looked up, her eyes wide with fear. “Mack!”

“No, Bobbie. Stay here.”

Jace’s breath was wasted. She sprinted around the house and disappeared.

Bobbie raced toward the barn. Flames devoured the entire front side. Movement to her left caught her attention. She looked and saw Mack in the corral, rearing in fear. Relief rushed through her.

More shrieks came from the barn. The stallion and wagon team were still inside. She ran to the side and peeked in one of the windows. The flames were mostly to the front of the barn. With all the dry straw inside, it wouldn’t be long before it sped through the entire structure.

She looked around.
Where are all the men?
She heard a loud crash. The roof of the bunkhouse collapsed.
Oh, no, Lord. Please don’t let them be in there
. Another shriek from one of the horses sounded like a child’s scream. The cry sent shivers down her spine. She peeked in
the barn window again. The flames were moving toward the back in a hurry.

Bobbie ran to the back of the barn. Thumping came from the other side of the door. Her heart pounded right along with each bump.

“Help!” The voice sounded raspy.

“I’m here.” She tugged on the latch. It wouldn’t budge. She examined it and found a piece of wood jammed near the hinge. She tried prying it out, but it wouldn’t move. Bobbie wanted to scream with frustration. She took off her boot and hammered on it till it fell free.

She flipped the latch and pulled the door open. Smoke billowed toward her as Beans fell through the doorway. He coughed and gagged, then turned back into the barn. Bobbie pulled her boot on.

“Beans? What are you doing?”

She grabbed at him but missed. Smoke burned her eyes. Beans backed into her, dragging a limp body through the doorway. She grabbed an arm and helped pull him to safety. That’s when she saw the man’s face.

“Grant?”

Beans coughed and spat. “Yeah. He attacked me in there.”

“Is he dead?”