When All My Dreams Come True (44 page)

O
nce finished with the few chores Jace had to do each day, all that was left was to feed the stallion. Jace propped one foot on the bottom rung of the corral and rested his arms on the top rung as the black moved the few steps to greet him. His quiet nicker produced a smile from Jace, the first in many days. He reached out and caressed the stallion’s head, amazed at the horse it had become under Bobbie’s firm but tender care.

Bobbie’s face came to mind, something that had happened quite often since she left. He knew letting her go would always rate near the top of difficult things he endured. He snorted.
I didn’t let her go. I pushed her away
.

Someone rode across the ranch toward Jace. He cringed when he recognized Hank Willett.
Why am I not surprised he’s the first to respond?

Posting the notice of his need to sell the ranch took more than a week. He wanted to delay the inevitable as long as he could.

“Hello, Jace,” Hank said as he dismounted. The man’s grin was a little too wide for Jace’s liking.

“Hank.” Jace shook the hand extended. “What brings you by this afternoon?”

“Well, I believe you know what I want. I think I’ve made it clear
over the past year. Don’t play d—” He cleared his throat. “I want to buy your ranch.”

Jace bit back his smile. Being nice must really hurt this man.

“What’s your price?”

Jace quoted an amount. Hank cursed and spat on the ground.

“You aren’t getting that price from any man.” Hank pointed at the ruins. “You’ve got no barn. You’ve got no bunkhouse.”

“Why would you need a bunkhouse, Hank? You already have one at your place.”

“You’re asking too much.”

Jace shrugged again. “That’s my right.”

Hank cursed at him. “I know you’re only doing this to keep me from getting the ranch.”

Hank continued haranguing him, but the words didn’t register. His gaze moved beyond his angry neighbor.

Hank thumped him on the chest. “Listen to me, you young pup! I—”

Jace shoved past him and moved past the corrals. Cattle were running down the slope toward his ranch. His mouth dropped wide when Dew opened the gate. David chased several horses into the corral. Sonny, Adam, and two others herded the cattle out toward the prairie.

There must be close to 300 head
.

Wagon wheels rumbled over his bridge. He turned back. Bobbie sat on her horse near a corral. She gave him a timid smile as she dismounted, melting his heart. He moved toward her, stopping mere inches from her. He thought he’d never see her again.

The wagons pulled up next to them. Cade sat on one with Beans driving the other. They were laden with new lumber. All the men rode up behind Bobbie. The two became the center of attention. Jace looked at Bobbie for an explanation.

“There’s more lumber on the way,” she said.

Jace had to swallow to make his voice work. “Why?”

Bobbie’s gaze dropped from his. He willed her to look at him.

“After I left here the other day, I did a lot of praying and thinking.”

He saw her throat working to swallow. Why did she appear nervous? What was she about to say?

“Jace, what do you think about a partnership—between you and me? I’ve got the money. You’ve got the land. We could make it work.” She looked around. “You don’t want to lose this place. I know you don’t.” Her gaze went back to his. “I don’t either. I’ve dreamed of owning a ranch, and I think this arrangement could be the answer to both of our prayers.”

Jace thought his legs would buckle. He wished he could sit down. His brain struggled to comprehend all that she’d said.

“Jace?” Dew dismounted and stood next to him. “I think she’d make an excellent partner. She approached me the other day with her ideas. They were sound. I agreed with everything she presented.” He motioned to all the other men around them. “As you can see, they all agreed. They rode to Pueblo with us.”

Dew placed his hand on Jace’s shoulder. “We found some of your cattle in Pueblo, Jace. About eighty head. They bore an altered brand, but they were definitely yours. Bobbie went to work proving it and won. She’s quite a businesswoman, Jace. I wish you could have seen her in action. It was a sight to behold.” He chuckled. “I would have hated to be the man trying to say no to her.”

Jace looked at Bobbie. Pink tinged her cheeks.

Dew pointed toward the prairie. “There’s almost three hundred head of cattle. She also bought more horses, including two good breeding mares. She’s got the best eye for horses I’ve ever seen.”

She’s got the best eyes I’ve ever seen
. Jace couldn’t look away from them.

“We also have two young men looking for jobs. They’re willing to learn all there is to know about wrangling.” Dew bumped him. “Jace?”

Jace looked at Dew and saw the mirth on his face.

Dew gestured. “Two new men.”

Jace saw the boys from the cattle drive. Excitement stirred within him. The vision for the new beginning Bobbie presented came to life before his eyes. He saw the ranch flourishing with new cattle and horses. He pictured new buildings gleaming in the sun. He saw Bobbie standing next to him as they enjoyed God’s blessings.

“Jace?” Bobbie’s soft voice brought him back to earth.

He reached for her hand, but someone grabbed his arm from behind. Jace spun around.

“I’m buying this ranch!” Hank’s eyes burned with fury. “We were making a deal.”

Jace removed Hank’s hand from his arm. “Sorry, Hank. You didn’t meet my requirements.” He turned and put his arm around Bobbie. “I’ve been made a better offer.”

“Why, you—”

Hank’s fist drew back. Dew grabbed him by the elbow and turned him around.

“I think you’ve been given your answer, Willett. Time for you to move on.”

Hank yanked his arm free. He sent Jace one last glare before he turned and walked to his horse. He left without another word.

Dew faced Jace. “Did that mean what I think it did?”

Jace smiled as he turned to Bobbie. “Under one condition. If it’s not met, the deal is off.”

Bobbie’s eyes looked hopeful. “What is it? What’s the condition?”

Jace took her hands in his. “We have to be life partners. I love you, Bobbie. I can’t work beside you any longer unless you’re my wife.”

They stared at each other in silence. Bobbie’s tear-filled eyes did all the talking for her. Still, he wanted to hear the words.

“So whadaya say, Bobbie?” Dew said.

Bobbie laughed and wiped her eyes. “I say you men better get to
work on that bunkhouse if you want a roof over your heads before the first snowfall.”

The men whooped and tossed their hats into the air. Jace pulled Bobbie into his arms and swung her around. She hugged his neck. He set her back on her feet but kept her in his arms, never wanting to let her go again. He leaned close, his lips near hers.

“So do we have a deal?” he whispered.

She leaned back and held out her hand. He took it and placed it around his neck.

“I had something different in mind to seal the deal.” He leaned down and kissed her.

Jace pulled back, and a smile spread over Bobbie’s face.

“I like the way you do business,” she said with a saucy wink.

Jace laughed and gave her another quick kiss.

They turned and watched the men unload the wagons. The sun setting behind them caressed the top of the mountains. The pink blended into orange and then yellow. The scene was breathtaking.

Jace smiled. Dawn lingered only hours away. He knew it would be brighter than ever with Bobbie by his side.

About the Author

Janelle Mowery
is the author of several novels, including
Where the Truth Lies
. When not writing, reading, and researching, she is active in her church. Born and raised in Minnesota, Janelle now resides in Texas with her husband and two sons, where she and her family have the opportunity to raise orphaned raccoons, look at beautiful deer, and make friends with curious armadillos.

Enjoy this excerpt from
When Love Gets in the Way
Book Two in Janelle Mowery’s Colorado Runaway series
Coming Fall 2011 to a bookstore near you

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