When Simon Mahler is thrown from his horse and killed, his family must deal with their grief and reevaluate their relationships. His mother Nora finds the way back to herself with the help of an old love, Ozzie Kline.
Nora Mahler leads a perfect life. With her two teenage children and husband, she thrives on running the family horse farm on the banks of the Missouri River until Simon is killed in a riding accident. Neal sends the horses away, and when Nora refuses his orders to sell the farm, he moves to Chicago, taking Clea with him. Soon after, Ozzie Kline, a horse wrangler who has longed for Nora since they were teenage lovers, helps Nora and her mother rebuild their farm Alongside Ozzie, Nora finds a happiness she never knew with her husband and wonders if she and Ozzie have another chance with each other, until Neal returns to claim what he considers his.
Excerpt
The tears burned and my head throbbed as the truck carried me away from the horse lost in that great space that had already swallowed Simon and Grace and Clea and Zad and all that I would keep close to me. I had a flash of Simon riding the new filly, how she would have pleased him. But the thought frightened me and I quickly erased it. Then it seemed that life was only loss and it did me no good to love that which would be forbidden or taken away or was beyond my means.
Oz drove the truck bouncing onto the shoulder, slid across the seat and put his arms around me. I leaned against him, glad he was holding me. But all I could think of was "I want" and the maw of the universe I seemed to be falling through was only the mouth of a monstrous baby demanding satisfaction. I wanted my children and my life and this man to love me and that gray horse.
This cozy murder mystery takes place aboard luxury liner, Queen Elizabeth II, as wealthy couple celebrate their silver wedding anniversary with family and friends.
