Description
In the quiet town of Sweetgum Ridge, Georgia, a tall Texan in a Stetson arrives at the sweet tea stand seeking directions to the old ranch lands. Hours later, Travis Long is found dead behind the local tavern, a vintage Texas Ranger badge in his pocket and a hand-drawn map tucked in his hatband.
Jennifer soon learns the visitor was no ordinary drifter. A hidden compartment in his abandoned truck reveals bolt cutters, a list of names tied to a failed 1890s agricultural experiment, and clues pointing to a long-buried secret. As she and Gregory explore the ranch ruins, they uncover a stone cellar, an iron door, and a cache of Civil War-era gold that explains why Travis came to town—and why someone poisoned him to keep it hidden.
With Sheriff Michael Brooks warning her away and a second Texan named Shane escalating the danger, Jennifer races to connect the missing pocket watch, a cattle brand burned into her stand, and the probate judge’s suspicious meetings. The truth leads to a deadly confrontation at the ruins, where the brass key from the watch finally opens the vault.
When the gold is secured and the killer unmasked, Sweetgum Ridge must reckon with its rediscovered history. Jennifer returns to the stand to craft a new signature blend, but a familiar English-accented visitor brings fresh warning: the hunt for the third locket has only begun.
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