Chapter 12 - Back to Chicago
Chicago remembered Abigail differently than Abigail remembered herself.
The drawing rooms were smaller.
The people seemed less intimidating.
At a reception, women who once ignored her now crowded around.
Men who had mocked her asked about investments.
Abigail found the entire transformation ridiculous.
Her former suitor approached.
"You look wonderful."
"I looked wonderful before."
He flushed.
Caleb nearly choked on his drink.
Aunt Margaret was recovering.
She looked at Abigail across the bedroom.
"I was cruel to you."
Abigail said nothing.
"I thought I was helping."
"You weren't."
"I know."
The apology didn't erase the past.
But Abigail accepted it.
Before leaving Chicago, she visited her mother's grave.
She placed wildflowers beside the stone.
"You were right," she whispered. "I found somewhere useful."
Caleb stood at a respectful distance.
Abigail touched the stone once.
Then went home.
When their train reached Whispering Pines, hundreds waited at the station.
Children waved.
Workers cheered.
Abigail realized Chicago had never truly been home.
Home was here.
But another surprise awaited.
Samuel handed her a census report.
Whispering Pines now had more than one thousand residents.
Territorial officials wanted to incorporate it as a town.
They needed a mayor.
Everyone had nominated Abigail.
She laughed for almost a full minute.
Then she said no.
She had something larger in mind.
A permanent cooperative that would guarantee small ranchers access to markets without ever becoming dependent upon another Josiah Caldwell.
If she succeeded, Whispering Pines wouldn't merely be prosperous.
May you like
It would change how business was done across the frontier.
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