She squinted across the distance. “I don’t see anything.” Would this discovery persuade him to stay?
Chapter Nine
Jace turned away from the cows. They were no longer his concern, but when he got to the ranch, he’d send someone to check on them. Dianne hadn’t known the cows from bulls, nor had she seen the blood. Not that she needed to if she had a competent foreman.
He reviewed the cowhands who’d been working at the ranch. There were two wet-behind-the-ears boys. They knew cows well enough but were too young to manage the ranch. But there were others to choose from. Ernie. Well, he was cantankerous when it came to disagreements and often at odds with the others. Slim was a loner. His favorite job was spending the summer at a line cabin. Of the other two—Jace shook his head. The best of the pair would be Al. He was the ideal foreman, except he liked to spend his wages at the saloon in the mining camp. Chet had warned him against drinking on the place. He honored Chet’s orders simply because Chet spoke with authority and Al recognized Chet would have no trouble letting him go.
No, Jace couldn’t leave Dianne with someone like Al in charge who wouldn’t care whether or not she allowed him to consume alcohol on the premises.
There had to be someone. A notice in the newspapers mightinterest the right man for the job. In the meantime—well, it wasn’t his concern.
“There it is.” He stopped and let her have her first look at the place. The two-story log house sat on the hill overlooking a pretty valley. Wildflowers scattered across the grass like drops of colored paint. On the same slope but slightly downhill and behind the house were the corrals and what was left of the barn.
Ashes filled Jace’s heart at the sight.
“Oh.” One word, but so warm and approving.
Of course, he knew she’d like the place. What was there not to like? Apart from the barn.
“What a pretty spot. Every bit as lovely as Chet described in his letters.” She leaned forward as if she could urge him to a faster pace.
Eddie pressed to their shoulders. “We’s here?”
“Yes, son. We’re home.”
The word ached through Jace. It could no longer be his.
Skip raced toward them, barking a warning, black ball of fury.
“Dog, it’s me.”
Recognizing Jace’s voice, the animal whined and wriggled from head to toe. They drew up in front of the house. Eddie started to scramble down before the wheels stopped turning.
Dianne grabbed her son. “Wait.”
“It’s Skip. I wanna see Skip.”
She held on to her squirming son. “What have I told you about strange animals?”
The boy subsided. “I not run up to him.”
“No, you won’t. You’ll wait until I’m down, and then you’ll hold my hand.”
Jace could have informed her Skip was too well-mannered to lunge at the boy or even growl at him, but it was more interesting to watch her deal with her son. When Eddie understood he had no choice but to wait for the adults, Jace helped Dianne and then lifted Eddie from the wagon. He squatted beside Eddie.
“Skip, come and say hello.”
The dog wriggled toward them and pressed against Jace, begging for attention. Poor animal must be missing Chet something fierce.
Eddie raised a hand, then remembered his mother’s warnings. “I pet him?”
“I think Skip would like that.”
When Eddie patted the dog’s head, the silly thing lay down, begging for a tummy rub. Eddie laughed and obliged the dog.
“He likes me, Mama.”
“It would appear so.” She smiled, obviously pleased her son had this enjoyment.
