Epilogue

J.T. locked up the building that held the art collection currently housed at his parents’ Napa estate. Everything had been arranged to fit his new vision for the museum in Dare Valley. He was ready to show Caroline the rest of the paintings when she arrived tomorrow.

But there was one he couldn’t bear to put in the museum. No, he’d asked for it to grace the new home he had in mind, the one he hoped Caroline Hale would share with him one day.

He walked through the south vineyards back to his parents’ home. After letting himself into his father’s study, he came to a stop in front of his most favorite painting of all.

Since childhood, he’d been captivated by the portrait Emmits Merriam had commissioned of himself. It depicted him after he’d first struck oil. His great-great grandfather had wanted his descendants to know where they were from, what he’d built for them, what he’d entrusted to them.

In the portrait, Grandpa, as everyone had called Emmits, was dressed in dark jeans and a rumpled white work shirt. His cowboy boots were covered with oil from the well he’d been working. On Grandpa’s face was a smile of pure joy as he raised his oil-covered hands to the blue sky and brilliant sun. The Oklahoma prairie stretched behind him.

J.T. had always thought Grandpa was raising his hands in praise, but his brother Trev thought he was giving thanks for the offering the earth had bestowed upon him. They still argued about that point, but honestly, it was all in good fun.

“I’m headed back to Dare Valley, Grandpa,” he told the man he’d always wished to know. “The Merriams belong back in Dare Valley.”

The light changed in the room, the sun emerging from the earlier clouds to radiate light on every available space, including the dimple in his grandpa’s right cheek, the one J.T. had inherited from him.

“And I’m in love with Uncle Arthur’s great-niece, Caroline,” he said, grinning as he thought of her. “You’d love her, Grandpa. She’s everything beautiful in the world.”

Approaching the painting, he carefully lifted it off the wall.

“And you’re coming with me too, Grandpa.”

He thought Emmits would like that.

Uncle Arthur sure as hell would.

*  *  *

Curious about J.T. and Caroline’s book? Read more about THE SKY OF ENDLESS BLUE.

Did you know Chase first appeared in my Dare Valley Meets Paris Billionaire’s mini-series? If you haven’t read it, treat yourself by starting it now with THE BILLIONAIRE’S GAMBLE.

Exciting news! Rhett Butler Blaylock and Abbie Maven’s early love story needed to be told. The prequel is called THE MOONLIGHT SERENADE.

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