Jo sat on the blanket that her grandson had laid down for her on the beach. Laughing, she hit the beach ball back to the children, who were playing nearby.

“You having a good time, Mom?”

Jo smiled up at her son as he threw himself down next to her on the blanket.

“The best time I’ve had in a long time.”

Crux picked up a towel he had laid down before going swimming, rubbing it over his legs and arms. “You still miss him, don’t you?”

Jo looked at her son, who looked so much like Rider it made her ache every time he smiled at her. “God, yes. Don’t you?”

Her son stared out over the ocean, his own sadness apparent as he twisted the towel to place it over his shoulders. “At first, I thought you were crazy for wanting to come back here, but I’m glad you talked me into it. I feel closer to him. I don’t know why.”

“Because of the vacations we shared here when you were younger, and … it was where we lost him.”

She unconsciously rubbed her thumb against the tattoo on her fourth forefinger. She and Rider had both gotten the tattoos the day Lucky had performed their wedding ceremony. She had felt like a princess that day, and Rider her prince.

Some years had been great; others had been hard. Through it all, their love had continued to grow and blossom, just like the bluebonnets he had nicknamed her after.

She had given Crux her and Rider’s wedding rings last year when she had become ill. He had wanted her to take them back when she had been released from the hospital, but she wanted him to keep them. Like Mag, she knew her time was nearing its end, and she wasn’t afraid. Her Winston Hero would be waiting for her. They had been separated for twenty-two years now.

Jo didn’t remember much about that first year. She had slept it away. Or when she had been awake, she had drifted through waves of despair and anguish. Crux had taken leave from the Navy. It was only when he’d been about to give up his commission that she had dragged herself out of the fog that had been blanketing her and began to live again. By the second year after she had lost him, Jo had moved to the state he had been born in and the one they had lost him in, too.

After his death, Rider had received the medals he had been denied in life, each placed in his casket by the remaining Last Riders, or by their descendants who had promised to fulfill their parents’ requests.

Even at the very end, he had sacrificed his life to try to save two boys who had swum out too far and couldn’t get back.

She remembered she had gone into the house for drinks, and when she had come out, he had disappeared. Frantic, she had finally spotted him helping one of the boys. Jo had managed to run out into the surf to help. Then he had taken off again before she could stop him.

Jo had made sure the boy was safe, then ran to her phone to dial for help. Racing back to the water, her prayers were answered when she saw him nearing the shore with the other boy. Crying, she saw another man running into the water to help, taking the boy from him.

Jo had taken her eyes off Rider for a second at the sound of the EMTs, and when she had turned back, he was gone.

She had run out into the water to search for him, but each time, the water had pushed her back. Sobbing, she had tried again when the stranger who had helped with the boy dragged her out of the water, then returned to search for Rider.

She was in the same spot then as she was now, sitting on the sand with a blanket the EMT had put around her, when they had found Rider.

“Mom?”

“Yes, baby.” Jo blinked back the tears she was determined not to shed.

Crux gave a small laugh. “It’s been a long time since you called me that.”

“You’ll always be my baby, no matter how old you get.” She gave a trembling smile, turning to look at the son she was proud of.

Crux had earned Rider’s respect, assuming the same position he had held in the club.

“It’s getting late. Come on; I’ll help you inside.”

“I don’t need any help. I can do it on my own.”

“Then you can help me.” Crux rose, waiting patiently for her to do the same.

Using her cane, she managed to get to her feet. She didn’t want to show any weakness in front of Crux, or she would find herself leaving in the morning to go to Treepoint. She had to stay here. She was waiting for him.

As much as Rider loved The Last Riders and Treepoint, his heart had never strayed from Texas. Just like his heart had never strayed from her. It had been hers since the day he had promised her forever and ever, and he had stayed until his death had separated them.

“I wish you would come home with us, Mom. Val and Tom and their kids miss you. So do Keira and Ridge.”

Jo lightly took her son’s arm as they walked toward the beach house. “I miss all of you, too, but your sister and her husband don’t need me sitting around the house. She’s too busy taking care of the kids to be worrying about me. You and Keira have your own lives to lead, too. With Ridge going into the service, you can finally have time alone again. I’m content, Crux. I get plenty of company to keep from being lonely. Rachel was supposed to come with you all, but Greer wasn’t feeling well. Hopefully, they’ll be coming soon. I miss Rach.”

“They wanted to be here for your ninety-second birthday, but Greer was having trouble getting over the flu, and the doctor didn’t want him to travel. Rachel looks as young as you do. Probably because you keep each other young when she comes to stay the winters with you.”

“They miss the deep snow, but not enough to live in Treepoint during the winter. Our old bones can’t take it anymore.”

Jo smiled at her grandchildren as they gathered around the table, while their mother scolded them for not wiping the sand off their feet before coming inside to eat.

“Leave them alone, Valentine. I don’t blame them. They were probably worried all the cake would be gone with Tom sneaking inside all day to get a slice.” Jo went to her two grandsons, kissing them on the cheeks. The sixteen- and seventeen-year-old boys gave her mischievous smiles that reminded her of Rider.

Moving to the end of the table, she kissed her twenty-year-old grandson, who was constantly watching the environment around him with a solemn expression. Jo knew he had been gifted with the same abilities as Rider and Crux. Ridge was the one she worried about the most.

It would take a special woman to see beneath the reflections that were such an intrinsic part of him. She’d had the same worry about Crux before Kiera had fallen in love with him. It would take a discerning woman to see through Ridge and accept his strengths without being overwhelmed by them.

It took courage to love a hero. Maybe more than the man they loved. That was why she had already decided to go back to Rider before he had shown up at her garage, wanting another chance.

“You want my chair, Granny? I’ll go sit on the couch,” he offered.

“No, you stay there. I’m going to bed.” Patting him on his back, she went to Crux, kissing him on the cheek. Then she took a second to catch her breath by resting an arm across Tom’s broad shoulders. “You keep eating that cake, when you get back, the club won’t be calling you Tomcat, they’ll be calling you Garfield.”

“I’m a growing a boy.” Giving his wife a worried glance, he pushed his plate away, rising to stand. “Mind if I get the photo albums out of your room? I want to show the boys pictures of when me and Crux were in high school.”

“You and Crux have shown them those pictures a million times, but if you want to walk me to my room, I won’t mind.” She gave her son-in-law a loving pat as she kissed her daughter and daughter-in-law good night. “We can clean the sand in the morning. They’ll want to go again in the morning before you leave. No need to do it twice.”

“You spoil them too much.” Valentine returned her kiss, giving her a gentle hug, too. “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too, baby girl. I love all of you. Good night. I’ll see you in the morning. Kiera, don’t keep Crux out too late when you go for your midnight swim.” Winking at Kiera, Jo went to her bedroom that was next to the front door with its own bathroom. She sat down on her bed as Tom got the album she always kept on her dresser.

“Can I get you anything?” he asked.

“No, I’m fine. I’m just going to read a bit before I fall asleep.”

“Good night, then.”

“Tom,” she stopped him. “I couldn’t have asked God for a better husband for my daughter. You’ve been a good man to her and a good father. Don’t screw it up.”

“I promised you and Rider when I asked your permission to marry her. I don’t ever plan to break that promise to you and Rider, or the vows I made to Val.”

Jo nodded tiredly. “Night, Tom.”

Her son-in-law gave her a concerned look before going to the door. “The boys have a few more days before they have to be back at school from Christmas break and want to stay a little longer; is that okay with you?”

Jo rolled her eyes heavenward. The man had never been good at lying. “I’ll enjoy having you here longer.” She knew it would be useless to argue.

Left alone, she slowly got up off her bed, making her way to her bathroom, where she got ready for bed. The mirror over her sink showed her snow-white hair. Her blue eyes looked duller. Her lips twisted into a smile at the nightdress she was wearing. Rider had hated flannel.

Her arthritic bones ached as she lowered herself to her bed. Then she lifted the necklace out from under her gown, staring down at Rider’s grinning face. Kissing the picture, she placed it back underneath her gown so it could rest against her heart.

Turning off the light, Jo covered herself, too tired to read tonight. Closing her eyes, she drifted off dreamlessly.

The faint rays coming through her window woke her. She hadn’t been awake to see a sunrise in a long time.

Suddenly wanting to see it from the beach, she jumped out of bed and raced out of her home, running to the beach, feeling as lithe and limber as she did as a young girl.

Sinking to the sand, she curled her hands around her knees, gasping at the beauty before her as the morning sun glistened off the water.

As the sun drew higher, she had to look down to keep her eyes from burning. When she did, she saw a lone figure running along the beach toward her. At first, she thought it was Tom out for his morning run, but the man running toward her was too tall. As he grew closer, she thought it was Crux and was about to tease him for being up so early, until the sun rose higher and the shadows on the beach disappeared. Then she realized it was Rider.

“Rider!” Jumping up, she started running toward him, hurdling herself into his arms when he came close enough. “Rider!” Sobbing, she wrapped her arms around his neck as he swung her around in a circle. “I’ve missed you so much.” Nuzzling his neck, she cried out all the anguish she had experienced since he had been taken from her and all the joy of being reunited with him.

He set her firmly back down on the sand. “Stop crying, Bluebonnet. I’m never going to leave you again.”

“I won’t let you.” She grinned, tears still streaming down her face.

They walked along the beach in the direction she had seen him coming from, holding hands.

“I won’t ever let you get away from me again,” she swore.

“It wasn’t time, Bluebonnet. I have a present for you. A beautiful, glorious present I’ve been waiting to show you.”

“Can I see it now? I don’t have to wait anymore?” she asked excitedly.

“You can see it now. That’s where we’re going.” He indulgently held her back when she would have dropped his hand to run ahead.

“Is it bigger than a ring box?”

“Bigger.” His eyes crinkled in amusement. “So much bigger.”

She quit trying to run ahead, lifting shining blue eyes to his. “Bigger than a bread box?” she insisted, gripping his hand tighter.

“A little bigger.” Rider tenderly caught her lips in a passionate kiss before twirling her around again.

Jo couldn’t resist one final look back along the beach from where they had started their journey.

His smile slipped when he saw what she was doing. “It’s not too late to turn back.”

“No, I’ve been ready to leave since the day I lost you. I have so much to tell you.” Jo’s gaze went to the sand behind them, seeing their footsteps hadn’t disturbed the pristine sand.

“We have plenty of time,” he told her, pulling her even tighter against him as the sun rose higher, exposing the ethereal beauty of the Kingdom that had been waiting for her.

Her lips parted in awe. “Rider, this is definitely bigger than a bread box.”

Rider stopped, cupping her cheek while holding her hand. As he traced her cheek with his knuckles, Jo lifted her other hand, laying it atop his tattoo ring, the exact duplicate of hers.

“It has to be to hold forever and ever.”