Except with almost twice as many people! I honestly don’t know what I was thinking. For those of you who’ve come on this journey with me, I am so grateful. I thank the Lord each day for you, the reader of this book, this series, and any of my books or series’.
Each of the Glovers and the people who’ve come into their lives have a little piece of my heart with them. I loved watching Cactus come back to his family. I enjoyed (probably too much!) the rift between him and Bear in his book, when he finds out Bear bought Willa a car.
I love the relationship between Sammy and some of her brothers-in-law, particularly Mister and Cactus. She emerged as a maternal figure for me about Book 3, and I wasn’t able to truly give her that spotlight until these last couple of books.
I had a good time coming up with all the names for the people and children in this family, and I love the fun we’ve had in the reader group talking about them. I think my very favorite name is Ward, as he watches over the whole family. Or maybe Cactus, because upon first read, you think, Really? Who would ever call their child that?
But then, it fits so perfectly.
I do really love Georgia, the name of Montana and Bishop’s baby at the very end here, and don’t be surprised if you see that name as a heroine in a future book. I simply love that name, and I haven’t written a Georgia yet.
I have to admit I love Glory Rose too. I gave that name to Ward and Dot’s baby, and the name of Preacher and Charlie’s girl—Betty—isn’t far behind.
Come to think of it, Birch is a pretty spectacular name for a boy too…
I am going to need to write more books for all these fabulous people!
In all seriousness, I hope you’ve found a character you connect with in this family. I also want you to feel the very same way Etta does at the end of all of this. Her journey has been long and hard, but she didn’t give up. She didn’t stop hoping or praying.
I hope that wherever you are in your life, that you won’t give up either. That you’ll turn to loved ones, friends or family, and find the support and comfort you need with whatever you’re struggling with. No matter what it is, I hope you’ll remember that you are not forgotten either.
I love Three Rivers with my whole heart. I’ve written a lot of books and characters here, and I’ve always felt like the town and ranches surrounding it were touched with magic. I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing the Walkers as well as the cowboys at Three Rivers Ranch. Heidi at the bakery for a little cameo there at the end, and the town as it has grown over the past few years.
I’m sure we’ll be back here at some point, and we’ll get to see the Glovers as they continue their lives. I have ideas for Beau from Three Rivers, because that man needs to find someone to love him the way Etta loves August. And of course, when all of these Walker children and Glover children grow up, they’re going to need to find their happily-ever-after as well…
No matter who you love best, this cast of people in Three Rivers has become part of my family, and I hope part of yours. They feel like real people, with real lives, real struggles, and real things to celebrate, and I’m glad you’ve been on this journey with them…and with me.
Until the next amazing ranch, with our next small town, as well as a stellar set of cowboys, cowgirls, and animals where we can all escape!
xoxo
Liz
PPS: Sammy and Bear named their last little girl Sunnie Charlotte. Etta went into labor before she could tell you that.
Sneak Peek! TEX Chapter One:
Tex Young drove past the sign welcoming him to Coral Canyon about the same time he realized another song hadn’t come up on the radio. He glanced over to his son, who reminded him more of a man than a teenager.
Bryce was seventeen now, with only one more year of high school before he’d be unleashed on the world as an adult. His son met his eye and hastily reached for his phone. “Sorry. I was thinking about something.”
Tex thought it was probably someone, but he didn’t say anything. He didn’t quite know how, and