“He’ll tell us when he’s ready,” Blake whispered. They arrived at the table. “Did you save room for us, or are these for someone else?” He gestured to the two empty seats.
Elizabeth, her cheeks flush as a summer rose, looked like she had a wonderful secret. She was all smiles, as was Henry.
“Absolutely—for you,” Henry stated, a grin chiseled to his face. “Slide in and get comfortable.”
When they were seated, Karen came and took their order. As they waited, Belle couldn’t keep her curiosity to herself any longer. Since Blake had proposed, there’d been a lingering question in her mind. One that was a bit troubling. She stole a fleeting glance at Blake, hoping the topic wouldn’t upset him.
“Henry, I have a thought that keeps pestering me. How will the estate be handled when Blake and I get married? Do our shares go together as a couple, giving us a sixty percent stake? As much as I love Blake, I’d not want to do that to my sisters. I like that we’re equal.”
With a hearty nod, Henry wiped his mouth with his napkin. “I’ve been wondering when someone might get around to asking. Nope, everything stays the same. John didn’t want to give any one of his children power over the rest. That’s why he made the girls one entity at fifty percent and Blake the other. Everything stays the same. He was pretty certain one of his girls would fall in love with Blake, he just didn’t know which one it would be.”
Belle gasped, and Blake laughed and shook his head.
“You’ve known all along?” she asked. “You’ve been watching and hoping?”
Henry nodded. “And waiting! John talked about the possibility all the time, especially in the end. He was sure it would happen.” He glanced over at Elizabeth with the most mystifying expression in his eyes. “I’m sure the two of you made him awfully happy the night of the party.”
How wonderful. Our union will grant our father’s last wish.
Now everything felt completely right. The sting of tears pricked Belle’s eyes before she felt the warmth on her cheeks. “Really, Henry! What a blessing. I’m so happy . . .”
“You could cry?” Blake finished for her. He gently rubbed away her tears. “No more crying for you, sweetheart. You’ll only shed happy tears from this day forward. You’ve earned them, and I’m dedicating my life to making sure that happens.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It’s been several years since I’ve begun a “new” series. I won’t mince words. Creating a fresh world filled with engaging characters, an interesting setting, villainous scoundrels, and an overall premise that tightly grips the interest of a reader is challenging. Not something for the faint of heart. Knowing this was my assignment, I tossed around ideas for a time, threw out a few I’d thought were jewels with a huff of disappointment, and ended up with a whole lot of nothing. Then, in a phone conversation with one of my sisters, she suggested I take on a story line with which I have firsthand experience. A handful of sisters! Thus, the Colorado Hearts series was born!
I’d like to thank all the fabulous people around me who helped me complete this first book.
Maria Gomez and Megan Mulder, my editors, and the fabulous support team at Montlake Romance. I feel so privileged to be one of your authors. Working for you over the years has been a joy. To Caitlin Alexander, my developmental editor, for never holding back. You always have the perfect prescription for any and all maladies my manuscript may suffer. Working with you is a delight. To Michael, my wonderful husband of thirty-five years, thank you for your love, support, ideas, help, and good times. I can’t imagine this journey without you. My family: Matthew, Adam, Misti, Rachel, Evelyn . . . and new baby-to-be. You fuel my creativeness with your love. You hold me up with your support. You make me happy with your visits. I’m the most blessed wife, mother, and nammy in the world. To my four sisters—Shelly (reading this from heaven), Sherry, Jenny, Mary—and sis-in-law, Lauren, thank you for your part in my life. Being a sister is one of the most magnificent blessings a woman can have. Mary, singling you out for your plot idea—THANK YOU! It was a good one, and oh so fun to write. Thank you to my good friend Kendra Elliot and her husband, Dan Boucher, for the many enjoyable dinners. It’s enlightening and fun to talk writing face-to-face. Thank you to my author friends for your friendship, advice, and support—you’re as close as a phone call away. And, of course, thank you to my readers. I love and appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you for your continued interest in my books! And to our God! Thank You for all Your blessings. You’ve given me the most awesome life. I have to pinch myself to know I’m not dreaming.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo © 2007 The Family Gallery
Caroline Fyffe was born in Waco, Texas, the first of many towns she would call home during her father’s career with the US Air Force. A horse aficionado from an early age, she earned a bachelor of arts in communications from California State University-Chico before launching what would become a twenty-year career as an equine photographer. She began writing fiction to pass the time during long days in the show arena, channeling her love of horses and the Old West into a series of Western historicals. Her debut novel, Where the Wind Blows, won the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart Award as well as the Wisconsin RWA’s Write Touch Readers’ Award. She and her husband have two grown sons and live in the Pacific Northwest. For more information about her novels visit www.carolinefyffe.com.
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