Talon and Jonah had begun working on arrangements for their mother to come back to Colorado. Now that Wendy was no longer a threat, they could have their mother close by.
And who else had turned up? Trevor Mills and Johnny Johnson, the high-priced PIs who had disappeared in the middle of the Steel’s investigation. It had been Wendy, not my father, who had kept them away with doctored documents accusing them of crimes. They’d gone underground and used their own know-how to prove that the items had been forged.
My father had told me something right before he died, something I shared with Ryan a few days later when we’d all recovered a bit from what had occurred.
Gina’s dead. I’m sorry.
I hadn’t been surprised. But at least she was at peace now. He’d also pushed a piece of paper into my palm. I’d pocketed it and forgotten about it until after both men had been cremated. It had been through a wash cycle, but thankfully I could still read it.
The paper had a name on it. Diamond Thornbush. My mother. And an address.
Ryan and I were headed there now.
My nerves were jumping.
We drove into a trailer park on the outskirts of Grand Junction. Would she be there? Was this one last hoax by my father?
I had no way of knowing, but I had to check it out.
We drove up in Ryan’s pickup. The yard was well kept, and a plastic lawn chair sat outside. The stoop built of rickety wood creaked as I walked up to the door. I knocked once. Then again.
The door opened, and a woman stood there in capri pants and a worn T-shirt.
A woman I recognized, though her hair was silvery white now and a few lines marred her pretty face.
“Mom,” was all I said.
Her blue eyes—the same color as my own—widened. “I think I’m seeing a ghost.”
“It’s me. It’s Ruby.”
“It can’t be. He told me you were…”
“I’m here.”
“Your father forced me to leave. He said he could give you a better life. He said… I didn’t believe him, but he threatened both of our lives, and he meant it. I figured the best thing for me to do was disappear and make you a ward of the state. I thought they’d protect you. God, I’ve always regretted that day! How could I give up my baby?” She grabbed me into a hug.
I inhaled. She still smelled the same. Like honeydew melon.
“I’m sorry I didn’t look for you. I was told you were dead.”
“Sweetie, it’s okay. Did they protect you? Did you have a good life?”
I couldn’t bear to lie to her. At least not yet. “I’ve had a good life. And it’s about to get better.” I motioned to Ryan. “This is my fiancé, Ryan Steel.”
“Ms. Thornbush,” he said. “It’s good to meet you.”
“Honey, call me Diamond. Or Didi. Or Mom. Whatever you want.”
“Mom sounds good.” Ryan smiled that killer smile of his.
His words rang true. He’d call her Mom. One of his mothers was dead, and the other lived in a cloud of fantasy and wasn’t really his at all. So he had an opening for a mother. I’d be happy to share mine.
“Well, come on in! It’s not much, but it’s mine.”
“Mom,” I said. “You don’t have to stay here. We’re going to take care of you now.”
“You bet,” Ryan agreed.
Finally, all the pieces of my life were coming together.
Epilogue
Ryan
My brothers stood beside me in the backyard of the main ranch house. I wore a black suit, no tie, and Talon and Joe both wore blue-gray. The weather had cooperated beautifully for November. The orange and gold colors of fall surrounded us, and the temperature was a balmy sixty-two. Ground had been broken for Ruby’s and my house, and it would be ready by spring.
Today was Thanksgiving Day, and Ruby and I hadn’t been able to think of a better day to exchange our vows and begin our life as husband and wife.
We had so much to be thankful for.
Next to Talon, having put on a little weight and wearing suits matching his and Joe’s, were Dale and Donny Robertson, soon to be Dale and Donny Steel. Talon and Jade had begun the process of adopting the two brothers. Having a father who truly understood what they’d been through would be healing for all three of them. Melanie had started working with them, and she’d arranged for them to see a preeminent child psychologist in Denver twice a month. And they’d have another sibling soon. Jade had announced their good news at our rehearsal dinner the previous evening.
In chairs, waiting for the bridal party, were Ruby’s mother, Diamond Thornbush, who looked radiant in a soft-pink dress; Brooke Bailey, finally without a boot on her leg, wearing soft beige; and Bryce Simpson, Joe’s best friend, holding his toddler, Henry. A few other close friends completed the scene.
The string quartet began playing, and Marjorie strode forward first, wearing light blue. Jade followed in a slightly darker hue, and then Melanie in darker yet, her baby bump apparent, as Ruby’s matron of honor.
The quartet slowed, and those in chairs stood for the bride’s entrance.
I was expecting a vision in white, but Ruby never failed to surprise me. She entered in a dark-blue silk dress, completing the graduation of color. Her skirt billowed in the soft breeze blowing through the leaves on the trees and scattering several to the ground in a colorful collage. Her nearly ebony hair had been curled and piled loosely on her head. On her arm sparkled the sapphire bracelet, and on her left ring finger, the engagement ring.
The red and gold leaves on our maple trees rustled. The crisp and cinnamony scent of autumn permeated the air.
And my love strode toward me, smiling.
* * *
The End of the Steel Brothers Saga
* * *
Enjoy Steel Brothers: Unraveled?
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Message from Helen Hardt
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Unraveled. If you want to find out about my current backlist and future releases, please like my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HelenHardt and join my mailing list: http://helenhardt.com/signup/. I often do giveaways. If you’re a fan and would like to join my street team to help spread the word about my books, you can do so here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hardtandsoul/. I regularly do awesome giveaways for my street team members.
If you enjoyed the story, please take the time to leave a review on a site like Amazon or Goodreads. I welcome all feedback.
I wish you all the best!
Helen
Also By Helen Hardt
Misadventures:
Misadventures of a Good Wife (with Meredith Wild) Misadventures with a Rock Star (June 5, 2018)
* * *
The Temptation Saga:
Tempting Dusty
Teasing Annie
Taking Catie
Taming Angelina
Treasuring Amber
Trusting Sydney
Tantalizing Maria
* * *
The Sex and the Season Series:
Lily and the Duke
Rose in Bloom
Lady Alexandra’s Lover
Sophie’s Voice
The Perils of Patricia (Coming Soon)
* * *
Daughters of the Prairie:
The Outlaw’s Angel
Lessons of the Heart
Song of the Raven
* * *
The Steel Brothers Saga:
Craving
Obsession
Possession
Melt
Burn
Surrender
Shattered
Twisted
Unraveled
* * *
The Cougar Chronicles:
The Cowboy and the Cougar
Calendar Boy
* * *
Collections:
Destination Desire
Her Two Lovers
* * *
Non-Fiction:
got style?
Discussion Questions
The theme of a story is its central idea or ideas. How would you characterize the theme of Unraveled?
Discuss the following characters in depth. How have they grown throughout this nine-book series? Talon, Jonah, Ryan, Jade, Melanie, Ruby, Marjorie
What do you think of Brad Steel’s decision to fake Daphne’s death? How did this decision shape the events in the Steel Brothers Saga?
What about his decision to fake his own death? What might have been, had he stayed with his children?
What kind of life do you think Ryan and Ruby will have? Will Ruby ever return to detective work?