When All My Dreams Come True, page 18
“Let’s go see what the rustlers have been up to this time.” Jace’s voice sounded flat, tense.
He nudged his horse forward and she followed, staring at his broad back. Mere minutes ago, he laughed as he chased her. She didn’t know what came over her to challenge him like that. What she did know was the immense pleasure she felt when he sought her out to apologize and declare his love. She could still sense the warmth of his touch on her face...and his attempt to kiss her. Part of her wanted it like nothing else. The other part recalled the nauseating touch of another man. His lips... How long would that part hold reign over her emotions? She also had to question the wisdom of returning the feelings of a man who could be turned against her so easily. How could she trust someone who didn’t trust her in return?
She nudged her horse up next to his as they neared the area where the buzzards flew. Reining Mack to a stop, she stepped from the saddle, almost sagging to her knees at the sight of Jace’s favorite breeding mare lying before them. She forced her feet to carry her to the animal. Jace still sat on his horse. Their gazes met for a moment before he finally dismounted.
“Oh, Belle.” She knelt to caress the horse but drew her hand back when the head rose then flopped back to the ground.
Jace dropped to his knees and ran a hand over Belle’s protruding stomach. “We’ll have to help her or lose her foal. Maybe her too.” He ran for his rope. “Which end you want to work?”
“I’ll take the head.”
She laid across Belle’s neck as Jace reached in for the foal. He shook his head. “It’s tangled in the cord.”
After a few moments of maneuvering, Jace pulled out first one leg then the other. He tied the small rope around the hocks and gently started to pull. The small, cream-colored foal emerged in one smooth motion. Jace shoved a finger in each nostril to make it sneeze. Two snorts later, the foal struggled to lift its head.
Jace did a quick examination. “A colt. Belle almost always gives me a strong, healthy colt.”
Bobbie stood to allow Belle to rise. The mare remained on the ground though she nickered from time to time. After several minutes, Belle rose and tended to her newborn. As mother and son got acquainted, Bobbie couldn’t stop the moisture in her eyes.
Jace leaned down. “Are you crying?”
“No.” She looked away and swiped her sleeve across her face. “Just leaking happiness.”
He laughed, put his arm around her shoulders, and pulled her close. “I know the feeling.” He gave her another squeeze, then moved to Belle’s side. “I thought Belle was dead, another casualty of a sick and cruel enemy.”
Bobbie stood on the opposite side of Belle. “And who do you think is your enemy?”
He didn’t answer. Didn’t even look at her.
“You think it’s me.”
Jace’s head came up. “Of course not.”
“Then who?”
“Hank Willett, and I plan to get a confession out of him. I don’t know how yet, but I will.”
“Are you sure of this? I mean, do you know for a fact it’s Hank or is this an assumption?” He stared at her as if he didn’t understand. “I know what it feels like to be accused of something I didn’t do. I remember all the emotions raging through me, and I had no control over them.” She sent Jace an imploring look. “I’d rather be trampled in a stampede than go through that again.”
Jace took her in his arms. “I’m sorry, Bobbie.”
She allowed the embrace, then took a step back so she could look into his eyes. “All I ask is that you find proof before you confront Mr. Willett. It may save both of you some grief.”
“You’re right.” He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear, letting his fingers trace her jawline before sliding his hand down her arm to grasp her hand. “Thank you for the reminder.”
Her skin tingled where he touched her. She squeezed his hand before stepping past him toward Belle.
“I’ll help you get Belle and Beau home.”
“Beau?”
She smiled. “Sure. It fits. He’s a handsome little guy, don’t you think? He’ll have all the girls’ attention before long.”
He moved up close behind her. She could feel his breath on her ear. “I’m not sure about that, but you’ve certainly got mine.”
Chills raced over her skin again. Did he know what he was doing to her? She moved to the other side of Mack and looked at Jace over the saddle.
“Would you—” She stopped and cleared her throat. “Would you prefer I send one of the men back here to help you?”
He looked from the mare to her. “No. I’m riding back with you.”
She sighed. “I’ll be fine.”
He acted as though he didn’t hear her. He strode to his horse and mounted, waiting for her to do the same.
“Jace—”
“Bobbie, Belle’s a great breeding mare, and I think the world of her, but she’s an animal. You’re the woman I love, and I’ll do everything I can to protect you. We’ll come back for Belle when she and Beau have had a chance to rest and gain some strength.”
Her throat clogged with emotion. All arguments faded, and she climbed onto her saddle without another word.
“Dew, where’s Bobbie?” Jace had been searching for close to 15 minutes. The woman could disappear faster than his sister’s hot cakes.
Dew was checking one of his horse’s shoes. He let the leg drop. “One of the mares didn’t show up with the rest. Bobbie said she thought she knew where to find her.”
“Which mare?”
“The one due to foal.”
“I oughta get rid of her. She does this every year. Picks a new spot each time too.” Jace shook his head. “Bobbie say which way she was headed?”
Dew pointed a thumb over his shoulder as he grabbed another of his horse’s legs. “Toward the bluff. She said she shouldn’t be long.”
Jace stood in indecision as he watched Dew clean the mud from around the horseshoe, then made up his mind. “I’m going to check on her. If that mare foaled, Bobbie may need some help. She shouldn’t be alone out there anyway.”
“Right. I had that same thought, but she insisted she’d be fine.”
He could just hear her saying those very words. He threw his leg over the rump of his horse and urged him into a gallop. The message he had to give Bobbie wasn’t urgent. He could tell her they had an invitation to supper at the Cromwells when she returned, yet he couldn’t resist the desire to track her down. He chose the shorter route. Though it had more obstacles to traverse, the view made it worth the effort. He rode past the edge of the pond, ascended along the rocky face of a small cliff, and headed toward a tiny grove of trees. He cut through the dense growth of the grove, which put him only minutes from the bluff.
He reined to a stop. Several yards away, Bobbie and Mack pranced in the grassy meadow at the base of the slope. What are they doing? Bobbie turned Mack in a circle one direction. In the blink of an eye, she turned him to go in the other. He dashed ahead, only to stop and spin in the opposite direction. If Jace didn’t know better, he’d think they were dancing. The next moment, Mack bounced back and forth as if sorting a calf for branding.
Bobbie scrambled from her saddle to the ground. Jace stood in the stirrups for a better look. She jumped up and raced in circles. She’d grab at the ground, run farther, and grab for something again.
Jace nudged his mount down the slope and came up behind her. Her head was down. She appeared to be working on something.
“What are you doing?”
She gasped and spun around. Her chest heaved and her hands clutched at her stomach.
Jace jumped from his horse and hurried toward her. “Are you hurt?”
“Uh, no.” She buttoned the bottom of her shirt. “What brings—” She grabbed at her side.
“Bobbie, tell me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing. Really.” She squirmed and giggled.
“Bobbie—”
She gasped and looked down at her shirt. “Oh, for pity’s sake!”
“All right, Bobbie. Start talking.”
She looked up at him. “It wet on me.”
He suppressed a laugh. “Would you care to explain that?”
Bobbie pursed her lips and undid her bottom button. She reached in and pulled out a small handful of fur and held it out to him. “I thought the kids might like to see a baby rabbit.”
“Is that what you and Mack were after?”
She nodded. Her cheeks flushed pink. “I thought it was cute.”
She was the cute one. “You’re full of surprises. You go after a horse and round up a hare.” He shook his head. “Well, it never hurts to start small.”
She stuffed the bunny back inside her shirt, then headed for Mack and pointed toward the southwest. “The mare should be right up there.”
“Wh–you’re still going after the mare?”
“Why not?” Bobbie swung up onto the saddle and patted the bunny hiding in her shirt. “He’s safe.”
She flicked the reins and shot off. He hurried to mount up and galloped after her. Life would be different with her around—if she chose to stick around.
Bobbie stopped and pointed. “She’s foaled. I’ll go up around and rope her. You can run in and grab the baby.”
“Oh, well thanks. Just make sure you don’t let her get loose. I sure don’t need an angry mama after me.”
“She’s pretty tame, Jace. She’d probably only hurt you a little. A lot less than that stallion you tried to break.” She grinned at him and urged Mack farther up the bluff.
He followed her progress up and around the mare. The horse watched her, too, as she stood her ground over her foal. Bobbie swung her lariat a few times and let it go with a quick flick of her wrist. The noose landed right on target. She jerked the rope and looped her end around the saddle horn. Mack moved back. The mare fought against the lariat, bucking and swinging her head in a wild rhythm.
Jace spurred his horse toward the foal. He jumped down, scooped it into his arms, and mounted up again.
The barn door stood open when they arrived home. He carried the foal into a stall and stood back. Bobbie released the mare. The horse trotted inside, sniffed the air, and ran to her baby.
Once Jace closed the stall door, Bobbie turned and headed toward the house. He followed close behind. He wanted to see this. Ben faced Bobbie as she squatted down and maneuvered the rabbit toward the opening of her shirt. Jace moved so he could watch both of their faces.
When she pulled the bunny out, Ben gasped and his eyes grew big. “How did you do that?”
“I caught him out on the prairie.”
“You did?” Ben’s voice squealed.
“Touch him. He’s so soft, you can hardly feel the fur.”
Ben reached out and ran his finger along the head, imitating Bobbie’s movements. A grin stretched across his face. “He is soft.”
Annie entered the room with Sara. Ben beckoned them over.
“Feel it, Mama.”
Annie sat on the sofa and ran a finger over the fur.
“Isn’t it soft?” Ben said.
Annie smiled and kissed him on the nose. “Yes, very.”
The bunny squirmed, and Sara took a step back. Ben took her hand. “Touch it, Sara.” Sara took another step away and gave a vigorous shake of her head. Ben moved to his mother. “Can I keep it, Mama?”
Annie sent Bobbie an incredulous look. It was all Jace could do not to burst into laughter.
“Ah, Ben?” Bobbie tucked the bunny against her as she touched Ben’s shoulder. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to keep it.”
Ben reached to pet the rabbit. “Why not?”
“Well, because he wouldn’t be happy here.”
“Why not? I’d care for him real good.”
Bobbie pulled Ben closer. “But he wouldn’t be home, Ben.”
Ben frowned. Bobbie sat on a chair and pulled him onto her lap. The bunny squirmed, and she struggled to get it under control. When it was quiet again, she turned back to Ben.
“He squirms because he doesn’t like being here.” She dipped her head to look into Ben’s face. “If I were to take you into town and leave you with a very nice family, like the Cromwells for instance, would it be all right with you if they kept you and raised you?”
Ben’s eyes widened. He shook his head. “I wanna be home.”
“That’s just like this bunny. He might think you’re real nice, but he wants to be home. Do you understand?”
Ben nodded and touched the bunny’s ears.
Bobbie hugged him and kissed his cheek. “You’re such a good boy, Ben.” She shot an apologetic look at Annie. “I need to go back and turn him loose. Maybe your mom will let you ride with me to let him go?”
Ben whipped around to look at his mom. “Can I, Mama? Can I ride with Bobbie?”
Annie reached around Ben and pinched Bobbie’s arm. Then she started to say something, but stopped herself and sighed. “I guess that would be all right, Ben. Maybe you can talk your Uncle Jace into riding out there with you.”
Ben jumped from Bobbie’s lap and ran to Jace, who scooped him up in his arms. “Will you, Uncle Jace? Will you ride with us?”
Jace tapped his own cheek with his forefinger. Ben grinned, threw his arms around Jace’s neck, and gave him a loud, smacking kiss.
“You just talked me into it,” Jace said.
Ben cheered and kicked his feet to be let down.
Jace walked over to Bobbie as she stood. “That was very smooth. I wondered how you were going to wiggle your way out of that one.”
“It never occurred to me he’d want to keep it. I just wanted him to see it.” Bobbie turned to Ben. “You ready to go?” He bobbed his head. “Would you like to carry him inside your shirt, or should I put him back in mine?”
Annie craned her neck and wrinkled her nose. “Inside the shirt?”
Ben nodded then leaned down and, with his tongue tucked at the corner of his mouth, fumbled with his button. Bobbie bent to help him get the bunny inside. Jace lifted Ben into his arms and carried him out to the horses. After Bobbie climbed astride Mack, Jace handed the boy to her and mounted his own horse.
They headed back toward the bluff. Ben talked the entire ride out about how he would have played with and taken care of the bunny if he could have kept him. Jace exchanged many amused glances with Bobbie. She dropped kiss after kiss on the top of Ben’s head. Jace envied the boy.
She reined to a stop. “This looks like the place.”
Jace jumped down and lifted Ben to the ground. He helped Ben with the button, and Bobbie removed the bunny.
She held it in front of Ben’s face. “Do you want to kiss it goodbye?”
He leaned down and pressed his face into the fur.
She smiled. “All set?”
Ben nodded. She placed the bunny on the ground and loosened her grip. It didn’t move. She bumped it with her thumb, and the bunny scampered off.
“Bye, bunny,” Ben called after it, then bowed his head. “Please, God, keep my bunny safe. Make him strong. Amen.”
“Amen,” Jace echoed, but he’d never closed his eyes. The outline of a man on a horse stood out against the sky. He inched toward the others.
“Bobbie, I think it’s time we get Ben home.”
She stood next to him and followed his gaze. In seconds, she held Ben in her arms.
“You two go on,” Jace said. “I want to check this out.”
He headed toward his horse, and Bobbie grabbed his arm.
“I think we should go home together.”
He ignored the pleading look in her eyes and placed his foot in the stirrup.
“Ride home with us, Jace. It would be better if you came back here with Morgan and some others.” She flashed her eyes toward Ben and motioned with her head.
He looked at Ben. The boy’s gaze dashed between the two of them, and anxiety tinged his freckled face.
Jace touched Ben’s cheek and nodded. “You’re right. You ready to go home, Ben?”
“Yep.”
Jace mounted and looked back toward the bluff. The man was gone.
They wasted no time getting back. Jace called out to Dew and Sonny, and the three hurried back to the bluff. While Sonny followed the man’s trail, Jace scanned the area. He saw no other movement.
Sonny motioned to him. “The trail ends in these rocks, Jace. It’s like he knows this land as good as we do. He knows how to disappear.”
Jace ran several men through his mind as they headed home. Who knew his land as well as he did? Any number of people could qualify. He’d have to be patient a while longer and hope the man made a mistake that led to his downfall.
TWENTY-FOUR
Jace and Bobbie headed into town early for the Bible study with plans to eat supper with Matt and Rebecca Cromwell, Cade Ramsey, and Cade’s mother. Cade had confessed to finagling an invitation for Jace and Bobbie in order to see the two together. Jace threatened his friend with a severe beating if he did or said anything to embarrass Bobbie.
Jace had offered to drive the buggy in an attempt to be close to Bobbie, but she insisted on riding Mack. He glanced at her. She looked good for having only half an hour to get ready. With all that had happened that afternoon, he’d forgotten to tell her about the invitation.
She looked deep in thought. Jace nudged his horse closer to hers, and her gaze now met his instead of looking at the ground.
“Are you all right, Bobbie?”
Bobbie’s brows shot up. “Yes. Why?”
“I just want to make sure you aren’t still suffering in any way from that attack.”
“I’m fine, Jace. The men are behind bars where they belong, and I hope they stay there. What more could I ask?”
Jace smiled when he heard that.
“What’s that smile for?” Bobbie said, returning it with one of her own.
“It’s just good to see you doing so well after something that awful.”
“Well, you know who I have to thank for that.”
“I sure do. God’s love can do amazing things in us.”
“Oh, Jace, I had no idea a person could feel like this.” Bobbie’s face beamed with joy. “I’ve never felt so loved. I know my parents loved me, and it felt good. But this is almost indescribable.”
