- •Chapter 1
- •Chapter 2
- •Chapter 3
- •In spite of himself, Jed laughed along. “He almost blew a gasket. Thank God for your degree in business from that fancy college of yours.”
- •Chapter 4
- •In the kitchen, Mrs. Redmond paced back and forth, biting her lip. Maria sat drinking her coffee.
- •Chapter 5
- •In moments, he was stroking the long neck of the gorgeous horse and kissing her nose.
- •Chapter 6
- •It wasn’t possible for Tess Rawlins to blush deeper; she avoided the raised eyebrow from Claire. “I didn’t? Well, it’s been a long while.”
- •Chapter 7
- •It was then Claire noticed blood on the collar of Tess’s denim shirt. “What happened?”
- •Chapter 8
- •Chapter 9
- •In a moment, Tess pulled back once again, barely breathing as Claire looked up into the crystal blue eyes filled with want.
- •In a very natural move, Claire put her arm around Tess’s waist as they walked back to the house. “And what is that?”
- •Chapter 10
- •Chapter 11
- •Chapter 12
- •Chapter 13
- •Chapter 14
- •Chapter 15
- •Chapter 16
- •It was nearly five o’clock when Chuck and the men rode back, tired and dusty. Claire stood at the sink and noticed Tess was not with them. She knew Tess was out before dawn.
- •Chapter 17
- •In an instant, Claire’s body temperature rose perceptively. She knew she was blushing and tried to hide it in the daisy she held.
- •In the next instant, she was in Tess’s arms, crying into her shoulder as Tess stroked her hair. “How did you know?”
- •It was Tess who now pulled back. “Jack loves you very much and he’s very intelligent.”
- •Chapter 18
- •Chapter 19
- •It was time for the Fourth of July Rodeo in Silverhill. The Rawlinses packed up the station wagon and hauled the trailer, which housed Jack’s black stallion.
- •Chapter 20
- •Chapter 21
- •Chapter 22
- •Chapter 23
- •Chapter 24
- •Chapter 25
- •In all my dreams, I never thought I could find such peace.
- •Chapter 26
- •In the end, Pat Hayward sang like a canary.
- •Chapter 27
- •Epilogue
- •It was then Claire noticed the book Jack was holding. “What is that?” Claire asked, wiping her eyes.
It was then Claire noticed the book Jack was holding. “What is that?” Claire asked, wiping her eyes.
Jack held the book reverently in his hand and stood in front of Jed. “This is for you, Jed.”
Jed looked confused as he took the book. He put on his glasses and read the cover. He was speechless as he looked from the book to Jack. “Sea of Grass,” he whispered. “By Jack Redmond?”
Claire was stunned. “Jack, how in the world did you find the time to write a book?”
“Much less get it published,” Tess added, completely in awe as she looked on with the rest of them.
“I’ve been working on it for three years. With Manny and Rebecca’s help, we took the memoirs from your Uncle Jeremiah. It wasn’t too hard. He did all the work. The college agreed to publish it and keep it in the library. It’ll never be forgotten.”
Claire’s heart ached when she heard Jack’s voice tremble.
“I cannot believe you did this, son,” Jed said; he took off his glasses and cleaned them on his shirt. “Damned glasses.”
Everyone turned around when Chuck sniffed loudly and blew his nose in his handkerchief.
“Read the dedication, Jack.” Rebecca slipped her arm through his.
Claire saw the look of pure devotion in Rebecca’s eyes as she looked at Jack. This is good, she thought, and looked at Tess who must have seen the look, as well. She smiled and wrapped her arm around Claire’s shoulders.
Jack opened the book, but when he read, he looked at Jed. “To Jed Rawlins, who I’ve loved as the father I never knew and who graciously loved me as the son he had lost. I will remember how he taught me to fight for family and what you believe in, how he told me of generations before him who out of a simple act of faith and love started a cattle ranch and fed a starving nation through two world wars and who took five thousand acres of lonesome Montana prairie and nurtured it into a sea of grass.”