Lee stretched his long legs out in front of him. "I've decided to build a bank."
David swallowed his brandy in one gulp, then coughed and nearly choked on it.
"We heard about that incident at the Ajax Saloon, Bank, and Assayer's office," Reese told him. "We heard how you marched
into the saloon and punched Hugh Morton right in the eye and told him that since your wife was supporting the whole damned town of Utopia, and since she had enough money deposited in his bank to own the damn thing, Morton had better get down on his hands and knees and welcome her into the Ajax. In fact, he'd better get down on his hands and knees and beg her apologies. Because if Mary Alexander Kincaid was welcomed everywhere else in town, she'd sure as hell better be welcomed in a miserable excuse for a business like the Ajax."
David laughed. "We thought the incident was settled after he apologized."
"Well," Lee began, "it was as far as Mary is concerned. But you know, the more I think about it, the more I hate having to go to a miserable son of a bitch like Hugh Morton every time I need to deposit or withdraw money. I think I'd be much happier in my own bank. Besides, I'm going to need a bank now that Mary's decided to turn the teaching of the school over to Sylvia for a while."
David sat forward in his chair. "Mary's giving up teaching?"
"Yep." Lee grinned with satisfaction.
"What's she going to do?" Reese asked. "Stay home and run the house?"
"Are you kidding?" Lee teased. "Mary's got the running of Ettinger House and Utopia School down to a fine art. She needs a bigger challenge."
"What now?" David couldn't believe how his sister had blossomed since her marriage to Lee.
"She's decided to run the mine."
"What?" Reese and David asked in unison.
"I think it's a wonderful idea. The mine doesn't belong to me. It belongs to Maddy. And one day, Maddy will be in charge. Mary thinks the miners and the businessmen around Utopia ought to have the opportunity to become accustomed to the idea of a woman running things. She's going to learn the business so she can teach Madeline. Mary's convinced it's what Tabby had in mind all along."
"And what do you think?" Reese asked.
"I think she's right. I think Tabby had a reason for every one of her demands and I think they had everything to do with what she hoped the town could be."
"She did, young man," Judah said suddenly. "And that's why she sent for you. Tabitha wanted Madeline to know her father and be part of a family, but most of all, Tabitha needed you—and a woman like Mary—to rescue the people and the town she loved. Tabitha trusted your judgment. She knew that with the right incentive, you would pick the perfect woman for the job."
Outside on the front porch, Mary sat with Tessa and Faith watching as their children—Joy, Hope, Coalie, Maddy, and Lily Catherine—played a game of tag in the front yard. Lily had come a long way in two weeks. She was running and playing and talking and laughing right along with the others.
The town of Utopia was shaping up nicely, too. The mine would reopen soon and the miners would go back to work.
The children had a school, and the women who wanted jobs had them.
Mary sat in her rocker and beamed with pride. She and Lee had each other, and Maddy and Judah, Louisa, and Syl and a whole town full of good friends. She patted her stomach; they also had an addition to the family on the way. Another Kincaid to carry on the family traditions she and Lee were establishing.
David and Tessa had Coalie and Lily and a thriving law practice in Peaceable. Reese and Faith had Joy and Hope and the responsibilities of running the Trail T.
Life was good. Life was very good. And Mary knew she owed everything to Tabitha Gray—to her foresight and wisdom—to her selfish determination to make things right, but especially to the love Tabitha had felt for Lee Kincaid and the love she had left to them all.
* * *