When All My Dreams Come True, page 4
“And we ain’t getting no younger,” Coop said with a wink before spitting a stream of tobacco juice into the dirt.
She stared in silence while Jace notched the calf’s ear. Then a smile crept across her lips. “Sorry.”
The men nodded and went back to work. She returned to the saddle, meandered toward the calves, and returned Annie’s wave. Because of the distance she couldn’t see if Annie was smiling, but she had no doubt it was there. Besides, how could Annie not be happy? She had a thoughtful, loving husband and two cuddly children. It didn’t hurt that she lived amidst such beauty.
Tall trees lined the creek bank that ran along the ranch. In order to enter, a person had to cross a bridge that spanned the creek. Huge oaks also grew along a small ravine that separated Jace’s house from Annie’s. Mountains rising up in the background gave the scene a finished look. This place was even prettier than the Simms ranch.
Mack tugged at the reins. She smiled and heeled him forward. Her horse loved the job of ranching almost as much as she did.
As the day passed, some of the larger calves struggled with the men. If one fought itself free, she’d jump from the saddle to help. She’d been kicked more than once and bore the bruises for proof.
Another calf managed to break loose from Coop’s grasp, and Bobbie lunged from her saddle to drop onto its head. The calf dragged her several feet before knocking her loose and scampering away.
Her battered ego now matched her injured behind. She stood and brushed the dirt from her clothes. Jace and Coop rocked with laughter. She grinned, shook her head at them, and remounted Mack to find that calf before the setting sun made any more work impossible.
She returned before long with the calf in tow, and after dismounting, she headed across the pasture toward the two men. The long day had left her with an ache in every bone and muscle in her body. She caught Jace watching her, his mouth twitching.
She shook her finger at them. “Stop laughing.” She had to hide her own smile. “I’m tired of calves, and I’m tired of saddles. If I have to spend another day in that saddle, I’ll have to start wearing dresses just to hide my bowed legs. And I’m so hungry that if I have to rope one more calf, I just might cook it and eat it.”
“Stop, Bobbie,” Coop said holding his side. “I can’t breathe.”
The smile she’d been hiding claimed her face. She desperately wanted to rub her backside, but instead, she rocked side-to-side in an attempt to get the circulation going again.
The thud of hoofbeats drew their attention to the top of the ridge. Calves herded by the wranglers appeared at the crest and plunged down the slope into the creek. Her groan escaped before she could rein it in.
Coop sent her a teasing grin. “Stoke the fire. Here comes supper.” He headed toward the empty corral. “I’ll get the gate.”
“Thanks, Coop.” Jace turned to her. “Why don’t you take care of Mack and then head to the house? I want to talk to Dew a bit and I’ll be in as well.”
“You won’t get an argument from me.” She was already walking away.
“I didn’t think I would.”
She took plenty of time caring for Mack while telling him he had worked harder than any of the others. His head dipped lower and lower while she ran the brush over his back.
Her one-sided conversation with Mack continued until Jace entered the barn. He leaned against the stall opposite Mack’s, his gaze soft and his hat pushed back on his head. She kept on brushing. It’s his barn after all, she reasoned. Why shouldn’t he stand there if he wanted, his arms crossed and looking for all the world like he felt at ease.
“Do you always talk to your horse?”
She glanced at him before returning her attention to the task at hand. “Yes.”
“You’ve done a good job training him. He really knows his business.”
She shrugged. “He’s a good horse.”
An awkward silence fell between them. Jace cleared his throat. “Annie has supper about ready.”
She set down the brush, fished for a lump of sugar in her coat pocket, and said a quiet good night. After patting Mack’s neck, she followed Jace to the house.
The washroom sat just off the kitchen, and she stepped inside to clean up. The tub in the corner looked inviting. A hot bath would do wonders for her sore muscles and the smudges of dirt and sweat the mirror revealed.
Jace leaned against the door frame waiting for her to finish. “If you’d like, I could help bring in water for a bath tonight.”
Her mouth dropped open. “I’d like that. Thank you.”
Jace inclined his head, his gaze questioning.
Questioning what? The fact that his offer surprised me? Surely he realized she didn’t know many gentlemen. She smiled and walked past him into the kitchen to offer Annie some help, but Annie had the food on the table and everyone sat waiting on them.
“I’m sorry.” Her glance encompassed the sea of faces that met her.
Annie nodded. “You look like you’ve had a long day.”
“Long enough.” Bobbie sat down beside Sara. “I think I’ll see and hear bawling calves in my sleep tonight.”
Ben giggled and imitated a frightened calf while everyone laughed.
“Did I hear Jace offer to help draw bath water?” Annie arranged her napkin in her lap and then looked up.
Bobbie remained silent, letting Jace answer for himself. She didn’t expect any favors. He reconfirmed his offer.
“Would you like me to help you wash your hair?”
“That would be wonderful.”
An hour later, she leaned back and relaxed in the hot water, relishing the feel of her muscles unwinding. Her eyelids drifted closed as the steam rolled off the surface. She blinked, trying to keep from succumbing to the urge to sleep.
She had stayed up late the night before, her mind going over the thoughts and plans her father had shared for a ranch. For many years she had watched Roy Simms and now observed the way Jace ran his place. She took notes on all she had learned, writing down each item she could recall, not stopping until the words blurred before her eyes.
The sound of the door opening startled her into wakefulness. Annie entered with a pail of warm water. “Are you ready?”
Annie washed Bobbie’s hair, then rinsed away the soap with the water in her pail.
“Bobbie, you have the most beautiful head of hair I’ve ever seen.”
She laughed at Annie’s remark. “Thank you.”
After dressing, Bobbie joined Annie at the kitchen table, where she waited with a steaming cup of black coffee. Annie pushed it toward her as Bobbie ran a brush through her tangled locks.
Annie set aside the newspaper she was reading and watched. Minutes later, she groaned. “I can’t stand it.” She took the brush from Bobbie and continued the job. “I can’t wait until Sara’s hair is longer. I’ve dreamed of doing this with her like my mother did with me.”
An ache tore through Bobbie’s heart. No one had brushed her hair since her mother died. The memory was wonderful and excruciating at the same time.
“So, tell me about your trip from Boulder. How long did it take, and where all did you stay?”
Bobbie took a deep breath. “It took about ten days. I didn’t rush to get here. I’ve never been too far from home, so I wanted to take in the sights, do a little exploring.”
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Our parents took us on a trip to see more of the territory. I can’t imagine there’s a prettier place than right around here.”
She nodded. “I have to agree.”
“So what towns did you stay in?”
Too many questions. “I didn’t stay in any towns.”
The brush stopped halfway down the length of her hair. “Why not?”
She sighed. “People who live in town have very little tolerance for women like me.”
“Women like you?” Annie turned Bobbie’s shoulders and peered into her face.
“Unfeminine women in trousers. Men can be rude, and women’s tongues often sting. The country held much more peace.” She traced a crack in the table with her thumbnail. “I only went into a town if I ran low on supplies. I own a couple old dresses just for trips into town, but I didn’t take the time to change into one.”
Annie remained quiet for several moments. “I’m sorry, Bobbie. I hate that that happened to you.” She hesitated a moment longer before moving the brush again.
Bobbie shrugged but stayed silent. The large clock ticking off the seconds clicked louder as each moment passed.
“What possessed you to leave the safety of the Simms Ranch anyway? I can’t think of a single woman brave enough to venture out on her own like you did.”
“I don’t know if it was bravery or stupidity. Actually, I’m chasing a dream.”
When Bobbie didn’t say more, the brushing stopped again. “Now, Bobbie. You can’t just leave me hanging like that. Don’t make me wring this out of you.”
The humor in Annie’s voice made her laugh. “During the last couple years, my dad and I started talking about buying a ranch of our own. It began as a joke with the two of us stating what we’d do with our own place. We didn’t do much about the idea at first, but then the dream took hold of my dad. The more he talked, the more I wanted the same thing. He was to be the boss with me as his foreman.
“We’d always been careful with our money, but once we had something to save for, we watched every penny. We knew it would take less money to buy a small, established ranch than having to build from nothing, so Daddy started watching the papers for just the right place to come along.”
Watery eyes set within tough leathery skin flashed before her. Her father’s eyes would glaze over as he described the type of place he wanted. By his faraway expression, Bobbie knew he could see it right in front of him—and could picture himself riding across his own property. Tears burned behind her eyes.
“Then…he died.” Saying the words burned her throat.
Annie’s arms encircled her. When Bobbie sniffled, Annie removed her tattered apron. “Here, use this for your nose. It’s only a little dirty. Okay…it used to be white.”
Bobbie reached for the apron and wiped away the moisture, and then placed it in her lap.
Annie crossed her arms. “I still don’t understand why you couldn’t stay on the Simms Ranch. Not that I’m not glad you’re here.”
She shrugged. “There were several reasons, really. But I guess the main thing was my fear that if I stayed with Roy and Maggie, I’d get too comfortable and talk myself out of following the dream. I figured if I could venture away from the only home I could remember, I’d take that last step and find the place Daddy and I dreamed about.”
“Do you have a location in mind?”
A yawn escaped before she could answer. “No, but wherever it is, I hope it’s a lot like here. You and Jace have a beautiful ranch.”
“Thank you. So, how long before you think you can fulfill that dream?”
She bit her bottom lip. “I’m not sure yet. I still have a lot of things to work out.”
“Like what?”
“Well, I guess the biggest problem is the fact that no man would want to take orders from a woman. I’ll have to find a foreman I can trust who knows all about ranching. I also have to gain a little confidence. I was all for the idea of owning a ranch when I thought Daddy would run it.” Her voice dropped. “I’d hate to try this alone and end up failing.”
Annie stepped behind her to finish brushing her hair. “Now you sound like Jace. Those were almost his very words when the responsibility of running the ranch fell to him. He tried to convince me to sell the place. Claimed he was too young. But I knew the man he was and would yet become.” She tapped her finger on the back of Bobbie’s head. “I can see a lot of those same qualities in you. You’re a hard worker, and I have a feeling that once you start something, you’ll be determined enough to see it through.”
Bobbie reached back and patted her hand. Annie handed out encouragement like a nutritious meal. Another yawn pushed through.
Annie set the brush on the table. “There, your hair is finished and so am I. I’m going to bed. Help yourself to the paper, if you’d like. Good night.”
Bobbie returned the wish, picked up the newspaper, and started reading, a luxury she rarely had time to enjoy.
Jace sat in his office with the newspaper in his hands. Details of a bank robbery filled the headlines, reminding him of some bank notes he’d left with Pete. Jace intended to work on them tonight. He set the paper aside and headed toward the main house, thankful to see a light still burning in the kitchen.
A whistle just started to form on his lips when he crossed the threshold. He stopped short. Bobbie sat at the table with her head resting atop a newspaper. Her long hair fanned across her back and down her side. He cleared his throat, but she didn’t move. He leaned against the door frame. This was the first time he’d ever seen her still.
The day replayed through his mind. The sight of woman and beast working together as a unit amazed him. Bobbie and Mack knew each other well. If he didn’t know better, he’d think they could read each other’s minds. He had exchanged many glances with Coop throughout the day and admitted the admiration and appreciation evident on Coop’s face matched what he felt.
The way she’d dismounted at the end of the day brought a grin to his face now. Stiffness had her walking different than usual, though she tried her best to hide it. Her great sense of humor surprised him. She seemed too quiet and reserved to have such an amusing side.
No grumble or complaint about the hard work crossed her lips until they were finished, and that had been in jest. He made a mental note to mail Roy a letter thanking him for sending such great help. In no time she’d earned the men’s respect, never flinching from any task nor asking for help.
He pushed away from the door and entered the living room to search for Annie. Someone would have to help Bobbie to bed. The room as well as the rest of the house was dark.
“Now what?” His thoughts went back many years to a night his mother fell asleep while sitting in a chair mending clothes. When his dad picked her up to carry her to their room, Jace asked him why he didn’t just let her sleep there.
His dad’s voice echoed through his mind. “Because she won’t be able to sleep soundly and will probably wake up feeling sore. I wouldn’t want that.”
Jace stared at Bobbie several more seconds, then leaned down and, with slow and careful movements, lifted her into his arms. Her head slid down to rest on his shoulder as he stood, and her breath feathered across his neck. He all but ran toward her room. Good intentions aside, the last thing he needed or wanted was the memory of her hair brushing against him or the feel of her slender body cradled in his arms.
The moment he laid her on the mattress, Bobbie curled onto her side. Prepared to beat a hasty retreat, the sight of an extra blanket lying at the foot of the bed made him stop. He unfolded the blanket and threw it across her sleeping form. The sound of her soft sigh drove him from the room. He closed the door and leaned against it for a minute to clear his thoughts.
He shook his head in self-derision at his foolish reaction. He wasn’t about to let a female wrangler get under his skin. After turning down the lamp, he strode out of the house.
Jace was halfway home before he realized the papers he’d gone after still lay on Annie’s kitchen counter. He stopped and turned to go back but couldn’t make his feet move. Better not to risk it. He headed home.
Sleep eluded him. Even pounding his pillow with his fist to make it more comfortable didn’t work. His eyes fluttered open and he forced himself to consider what it was about Bobbie that made him nervous. Maybe it was just that they didn’t know her well enough yet. It wouldn’t be the first time one of his ranch hands turned out other than how they presented themselves.
He soon found himself asking God to show him how to help lead Bobbie to Him, and that He would help make his walk with Christ a shining example to her.
He ended his prayer and flipped onto his other side. One last thought crossed his mind as his body shut down. Tomorrow was Saturday. Somehow he needed to find a way to ask Bobbie to join them for church on Sunday. For some reason, he had a feeling it wouldn’t be easy.
SIX
What a foul mood.
Bobbie glanced at Jace one last time before heeling Mack into a gallop to catch up to Dew. Today was the first time Jace sent her on the roundup rather than have her stay at the ranch to help with branding, and she couldn’t be happier. If she had to put up with his grouchiness much longer, she might have to rope and truss him same as the calves.
Maybe he didn’t sleep well last night. She hadn’t had that problem. She was too exhausted to remember going to bed. Though well-rested, every muscle in her body moaned and creaked as she dragged herself out of bed at sunrise. She hoped Jace got some rest tonight. He was way too prickly to bear for long. Poor Coop and David would have to deal with him all day.
They rode close to an hour before Dew reined to a stop. He sent Sonny and Adam one direction around a bluff while he and Bobbie would ride the other side. The way he had it figured, they should have close to 50 head when they met up somewhere in the middle. With the memory of Jace’s stolen cattle still fresh on her mind, she feared they might venture across far fewer than that during their search.
She and Dew managed to find eight cattle, seven with calves, on their first sweep. They turned south into a gully hoping to locate more. With the face of the bluff to her right and a rock wall to her left, Bobbie had the uneasy sense of being trapped. She urged the cows on faster by increasing Mack’s pace. The sooner they were out of the gully, the better.
A low rumble overhead grew louder. She exchanged a glance with Dew before they both looked up. Dust clouded the sky. Tiny pebbles rained down on their heads, followed by larger rocks.
“Landslide!” Dew whistled and hollered to get the cattle running.
Bobbie did the same. The panicked cows tried to scatter and turn back, slowing their progress. Dread rolled through her faster than the stones falling from above.
