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Terri,” Lindsay said.
     
    “It’s okay. It’s actually good that he’s in contact with them. My understanding is that they are in the process of transferring ownership of the ranch to him. I am going to be the head winemaker out there when he is ready,” Terri said.
     
    Well, he certainly hadn’t shared that tidbit of information with her when he hired her. “Does he want to live there?” Lindsay asked in disbelief.
     
    “No, he wants to follow his mother’s dream and start a winery,” Terri said. “He double-majored in college: crop science and agribusiness management. Jeremy told my mother that the Davenports are angry at him because he didn’t want to take over their business.”
     
    “Do the Davenports know about the land transfer?” Lindsay asked.
     
    “No. Jeremy is not going to tell them until everything is finalized,” Terri said. “You know, you should really be talking to my parents.”
     
    “Could you arrange that?” Lindsay asked.
     
    “No problem. Where can I reach you?” Terri asked.
     
    Lindsay gave her the cell phone number. “How far is it to Fresno from here? Two hours?” she asked.
     
    Terri looked perplexed at the question. “Oh, my parents don’t live in Fresno anymore.” She laughed at the mistake. “They live with my sister and her husband in Palos Verdes. My mom and dad live in their guest house. Dad’s getting better medical treatment in Los Angeles.”
     
    “Is that why Jeremy moved?” Lindsay asked.
     
    “Yes, they are putting all of the legal documents together and Jeremy decided he needed a couple months away from this area. I think he rented a place in Manhattan Beach for the summer,” Terri said.
     
    “The Davenports think he is working down there,” Lindsay commented.
     
    “That was probably the only way he could get himself out of town. Old man Davenport can be quite a bully when he wants to be,” Terri said in disgust.
     
    “You know quite a bit about what he’s up to,” Lindsay commented. “Did you know that he thinks his sister Kelly may still be alive?”
     
    “I think we all secretly want to believe that she is. You’re saying that Jeremy is actively looking for her?” Terri questioned with surprise.
     
    “Yes. He had an age progression done on an old photograph. He was following a woman that he thought might be her,” Lindsay said.
     
    Terri was looking down at the ground. “That’s sad. I hope he doesn’t get hurt.”
     
    “The good news is that I live in Los Angeles. The sooner I can talk to your parents, the better,” Lindsay said brightly. She was trying hard to shift the mood. “So what do you do for a living up here?”
     
    “I work as a winemaker for one of the small vineyards out here,” Terri said with a smile.
     
    “I used to visit here as a child. It sure has changed over the years,” Lindsay said.
     
    “That it has,” Terri said. “I am looking forward to my brother getting the winery up and running.”
     
    “Doesn’t it take several years to get the grapes to the point that you can make wine?” Lindsay asked.
     
    “Yes, we are buying in grapes and marketing it under our own label to get going,” Terri said. “There is some construction that needs to take place on the ranch.”
     
    “I don’t know much about wines,” Lindsay admitted.
     
    “I’ve been doing this for years,” Terri said. “I went to school at Cal Poly a few years after my sister. I planned to work for David and Shelly when I graduated.”
     
    “The best laid plans,” Lindsay said and her voice trailed off.
     
    “It’s okay. I did it any way. I’d like to think my sister is up there looking down at all of us and very proud that we moved on.”
     

Chapter 10
     
    Lindsay went back to the Inn and packed her things. She decided to take Interstate 5 home instead of the 101 Freeway. She wanted to stop at the ranch again. Heading the Range Rover out Highway 46, she drove slowly and took in all the sights. There