His softly spoken, innocent-sounding question didn’t fool her.
“I admit I’ve had a few doubts. But God will provide.” As ifto remind her of God’s love and care, she glimpsed a little bird on a nest in the trees along the trail.Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?Strength flowed through her.
“If you mean that you expect God to make me change my mind, you are in for disappointment.”
“God works in mysterious ways.” The words were airy as a feather, hopefully not revealing anything but assurance.
“God might send along a lonely miner or widowed rancher and answer your prayer for a home that way.” He grinned. “The man might be waiting at the next station.”
She swatted at the air. “I doubt it. Besides, I believe He has already provided the answer.” Did her wide, unblinking gaze inform him she believed God would change Jace’s mind?
If the way he brushed away her words meant anything, he wasn’t seeing it that way.
“I can’t wait to discover what awaits us.” He tipped his head to indicate he meant ahead of them on the trail.
“How far is Chet’s ranch from Golden Valley?” She purposely stopped as if surprised. “I guess I mean your ranch.”
“Chet’s ranch is ten miles from town.” Stubborn, hard words.
Fine. She accepted his protests for now. “What’s it like?”
“It’s—” He stopped. When he continued, his words were like sledgehammers—hard and forceful, meant to break things. Like her determination. “Chet picked a spot by a stream with a wide, green valley that extends into the mountains.”
“He told Father that his house was big enough for a family, and he regretted he’d never had one.”
“Look. There’s the next station.”
Another rough-looking building. “At least it is larger than the last one.”
The wagon slowed as they both took in the place. A man strode out the door, followed by two more men.
Dianne swallowed hard as they stared at her. One was dressedin rough clothing, the second one had woolly chaps, and the third wore buckskin. Their gazes riveted to her.
“A welcoming committee awaits you.”
Jace needn’t sound so amused.
“The one on the left is the agent, if I recall correctly. The next appears to be a cowboy, and the other is perhaps a trapper. Any one of them?—”
“Don’t even think of suggesting I should marry my choice.”
His chuckle rumbled unpleasantly along her nerves.
“I’m not up for auction,” she grumbled, her hands twisted in her lap. She called Eddie to her side and prayed most fervently for Jace to take her further, preferably to the ranch.
“They’ll be mighty glad of your company.” Jace signaled the horses to approach the station.
Did he mean to abandon her there?
Jace hadthe horses walk slowly. Three men! Not a place he’d leave any woman.
“You can’t leave me here. Jace, please.” Dianne’s voice had grown thin—barely missed squeaking.
He only meant to tease her, not to upset her. But before he could explain, she rattled on, as full of determination as the ranch dog trying to steal food from a cowboy.
She squared her shoulders and stared down the trail. “I won’t stay. I’ll walk the rest of the way if I must.”
“Dianne, there’s no need?—”
