"You deserve it, honey," Blackjack said. "I know you can handle the job, because you've been doing it the past two years. I plan to stay busy running the rest of the businesses I've invested in. I'll be at my desk if you need any advice. But I have confidence you can run the ranch on your own."

Summer turned to look at Billy. She seemed a little dazed and disbelieving. She turned back to her father and said, "Daddy, I don't know what to say. I don't know how to thank you."

"Give me a hug," he said. "And we'll call it even."

Summer laughed and threw herself into her father's open arms. In a matter of moments she pulled free and turned back to Billy. "Bitter Creek is ours to run, Billy."

Billy grinned, glad that what he felt inside was simply joy for her. "Yours to run. But I'll be glad to help."

She put her palms on his chest and looked up into his eyes and said, "Do you mind, Billy? Is it all right?"

Was it all right for her to realize her dream? Was she so afraid he'd ask her to give it up? Billy knew suddenly what he wanted from life. What he'd always wanted.

"I just want to make a home at the C-Bar with you and Will and whatever kids we have. And I want to spend my life loving you."

Summer lifted up on tiptoe and kissed him on the mouth. "I'm glad, Billy," she said, tears br.i.m.m.i.n.g in her eyes. "So very glad."

Blackjack slid his arm around Ren's waist and said, "Are we going to have a wedding here today or not?"

Sam spoke up and said, "I've got a license I picked up when... Earlier," he finished hastily. "All I need is someone to say the words for me and Emma."

They all gathered around Sam and Emma as the preacher started again with, "Dearly beloved-"

"You can skip all that," Blackjack said. "Get on to the important parts."

Billy crossed to Summer and stood behind her. As Sam repeated his vows, Billy repeated softly to her, "I promise to love you and honor you, cherish you and respect you. I want to have children with you. And I want to grow old with you, knowing that we're two parts of one eternal, infinite, and undying whole."

Summer reached for Billy's hand, and as Emma said her vows, she whispered, "I promise to love you and honor you, cherish you and respect you. I want to have children with you. And I want to grow very, very old with you, knowing that we're two parts of one eternal, infinite, and undying whole."

"I now p.r.o.nounce you husband and wife," the preacher said. "You may kiss the bride."

Billy turned Summer into his arms and felt her hands slide around his nape and into his hair. "I love you," he said.

"I love you, too, Billy."

Billy kissed his wife. And felt someone tugging on his trousers.

"Kiss me, too, Daddy, Mer," Will said.

Billy leaned down and scooped him up. "You got it, son."

Will smiled happily as Summer and Billy each pressed a smacking kiss to his cheeks.

Letter to Readers.

Dear Readers, I hope you had a good time with the Blackthornes, Creeds, and Coburns in The Loner. Luke Creed will be back in my next book in the Bitter Creek series, The Price, but I'll be moving the series to the law offices of DeWitt & Blackthorne in Houston. Hope you'll come along for the ride!

If you missed Trace and Callie's story, The Cowboy, or Owen and Bay's story, The Texan, you should be able to order them on the Internet or find them in your local bookstore.

If you'd like to read more about the Blackthorne family, look for my Captive Hearts series set in Regency England, including Captive, After the Kiss, The Bodyguard, and The Bridegroom. For those of you intrigued by the Creeds and the Coburns, check out the Sisters of the Lone Star trilogy, Frontier Woman, Comanche Woman, and Texas Woman.

I love hearing your comments and suggestions. You can e-mail me through my Web site at www.joanjohnston.com. I answer e-mail as I receive it.

Happy trails, Joan Johnston.

Dell Books by Joan Johnston.

Bitter Creek Series.

THE COWBOY.

THE TEXAN.

THE LONER.

Captive Hearts Series.

CAPTIVE.

AFTER THE KISS.

THE BODYGUARD.

THE BRIDEGROOM.

Sisters of the Lone Star Series.

FRONTIER WOMAN.

COMANCHE WOMAN.

TEXAS WOMAN.

Connected Books

THE BAREFOOT BRIDE.

OUTLAW'S BRIDE.

THE INHERITANCE MAVERICK HEART.

And don't miss...

SWEEt.w.a.tER SEDUCTION.

KID CALHOUN.