EPILOGUE

T HE C ROSS B AR PASTURES WERE LUSH WITH GREEN GRASS, THE horses' coats gleaming as they raced across the fields. Black Angus cattle grazed contentedly, enjoying the sunshine now that winter was gone.

As Cain had arranged, he and Jennie had gotten engaged in Sedona—after a romantic proposal that ended with Cain slipping the perfect diamond ring on her finger.

Nell had been thrilled at the news, saying she believed her grandson had finally found the right woman, perhaps a soulmate he had recognized on some level back in high school when Jenny had stood up to a group of school bullies. Nell was happy, enjoying time with Cleo, Emma, and the rest of her friends.

A week after the fire, Anna Hobbs was charged with the murder of her husband, Arthur Somerset. Bank deposits from Anna to Troy proved she had paid him to set the fire in which he had died, which resulted in an additional charge of second-degree murder.

Payments from Troy's checking account had incriminated Troy's friend, Junior Belmont, who worked in special effects for the Hollywood studios.

Junior admitted he'd placed recordings in various Copper Star hotel rooms, as well as set up hologram images in the hallway. He denied hiding anything in room 10 or using any sort of recording that sounded like old piano music and laughter in the saloon downstairs.

Jenny wasn't surprised. There were things that went bump in the night. Things, she had learned, that could never be explained.

Bart Harwell and Clyde Foley were serving time in prison for kidnapping, attempted murder, and numerous miscellaneous charges. Ryder Vance was still fighting drug charges, but prison time loomed.

The Grandview was running smoothly while reconstruction progressed on the Copper Star. Jenny and Cain were doing their best to make the old hotel and saloon look the way it had for more than a hundred years, even using the same bricks on the exterior for authenticity.

During the fire, firefighters had dropped heavy fireproof cloths over portions of the saloon and hotel lobby. Though the second story collapsed onto the first, beneath the cloth, the old bar and ornate back bar, as well as the original lobby desk, which held the journals, had been saved.

The saloon had always been an important part of the town. That would continue.

Two months ago, Dylan and Summer had gotten engaged. Until their fall wedding, they were living in Dylan's Prescott apartment, though Summer often returned to Jerome for the days he was on duty. Both of them seemed ridiculously happy.

"You ready to go?" Cain asked, leading Gladiator and Rosebud out of the barn and walking toward her.

Jenny smiled, taking the reins of the beautiful palomino. "More than ready." She swung easily into the saddle on Rosebud's back, accustomed once more to riding, which they both loved.

Cain mounted the big roan and settled himself in the saddle. Looking at him in his scuffed boots and battered cowboy hat made her mouth water. The heat in his dark eyes said his thoughts ran much the same.

"Did you bring that blanket?" he drawled.

Jenny grinned. "Absolutely. Maria packed it in your saddlebag along with our lunch."

Cain flashed a devilish smile. "The sooner we get there—"

"My thoughts exactly." Both of them laughed and nudged their horses forward, passing Denver, Billy, and Sanchez as they rode toward the trail into the hills. In the distance, Sun King grazed peacefully in one of the pastures.

The future looked bright. But the past would always be with them, making its presence known.

Jenny had learned that from the ghosts of Jerome.