The tiny jail was nowhere near large enough to hold all of Abigail's mercenaries, not to mention the crew of the Midas Touch, so the church was turned into a temporary prison while the townspeople met in Lottie's and decided what to do with them all.

"Ride to Olympia and fetch the federal marshal and some troops to take 'em there for trial!" Ben said.

"Hang the whole damned bunch of them!" one of Clancey's men yelled out, and when a number of rousing cheers greeted this remark, Jason held up his hand.

"None of that!" he said. "Do that, and you sink to their level. There'll be no vigilante justice in Seattle. Ben's right. We'll let the law handle this."

"I've got a suggestion," Jonah said. "Let them all go."

Protests were loud and furious, and it took Jason a few minutes to settle the room down.

"Let my sister have her say. She's more than earned the right to speak."

"It would be useless to even consider prosecuting my grandmother," she said. "She's represented by the best law firm in San Francisco. They'd have the trial moved from Olympia to there before you could blink. And she's got nearly every judge and politician in San Francisco in her pocket."

"So they destroy Clancey's ship and nearly blow up my mill, and then all get off scot free?" Aaron demanded. "You can't be serious, Jonah!"

"I've never been more serious in my life," she replied, and Jason nodded in approval, a proud gleam in his eye, as she produced her ace in the hole.

"I wonder what she's got up her sleeve this time," Joshua whispered to Jeremy.

"Looks like it's whatever she's got in that satchel," he replied, as Jonah hoisted a large black bag up onto the bar.

"This, ladies and gentleman, is the solution to the problem. Aaron, if you would be so kind as to have one of your clerks draft a few documents for us, I think we can settle this very quickly and to everyone's satisfaction."

The usually elegant Abigail Spencer, doyenne of San Francisco society, had spent a sleepless night in her room above Lottie's saloon, and it showed. She was mad as a spitting cat and had her claws bared as she was led down the stairs by Joshua and Jeremy the next morning.

"I'll never forget the humiliation you forced me to endure!" she vowed. "I'll have my revenge on all of you."

"Is that so?" Joshua asked laconically. "I think you were treated pretty decently considering you tried to blow up the entire town."

Jason, Jonah, and nearly the rest of Seattle's residents were gathered in the saloon. "Good morning, Grandmother," Jonah greeted her cheerfully. "You don't look as if you slept well."

"I didn't sleep at all!" she snapped. "Impertinent child! Where are Josiah Clark and the others?"

"Your band of merry men is under lock and key," Jason said. "But don't worry. You'll all be leaving together shortly."

"And where, may I ask, are we going?"

"Why, back home to San Francisco, of course."

Abigail smiled smugly. "I'm glad you've realized placing us under arrest would be a waste of time."

"You're absolutely right," Jonah said. "We've got a much more effective means of dealing with you." She moved aside to reveal the black satchel on the table, and smiled as her grandmother's eyes widened with shock. "I'm so glad you're such a mistrusting soul. It didn't take long to break open the safe in your cabin on the Midas Touch. You really would've been better off leaving these in a safe deposit box in your own bank. But then, you think everyone is as devious as yourself and you trust no one." She reached in and grabbed a sheaf of papers. "And how fortunate for us that you're so organized. Detailed accountings of every pay-off made to every crooked politician in San Francisco. The reputation of your precious bank would be ruined if these ever came to light."

Abigail's shoulders sagged in defeat, and she seemed to age ten years. "What is it you want?" she asked wearily.

"I want you to sign these documents. Afterwards, you and your men will be free to go."

She grabbed the papers from Jonah's hands and scanned them quickly. "These demands are outrageous. I won't—"

"In light of what you've tried to do, it's more than fair," Jason said. "And consider the alternative if you don't. Financial ruination, perhaps even jail—"

Abigail stared venomously at her grandchildren. "You think you're all so clever, don't you? Jonathon Bolt's spawn, placed on this earth for the sole purpose of tormenting me."

"Melodramatic as usual," Jonah said with a sigh, and took back the papers, spreading them out on the bar. Then she picked up a fountain pen. "In this instance, the pen really is mightier than the sword. What about it, Grandmother? We're all breathlessly awaiting your decision."

Grabbing the pen, Abigail plunged it into an inkwell and slashed her signature across the neatly arranged documents, which were in turn signed by witnesses and notarized by one of Aaron's clerks.

Jonah let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God it's finally over."

Her grandmother's parting words sent a chill down her spine. "You're wrong. It will never be over as long as I live—and possibly beyond even that."

Once Abigail and her entourage were finally gone, Jonah began to relax. "Now for a more pleasant duty."

Clancey had to be forced to leave his darkened room upstairs at Lottie's. Why bother to leave his bed? His world had been shattered. There was nothing for him anymore. He couldn't afford insurance on the Shamus O'Flynn; he could barely afford the insurance on the cargo he carried. But Jason, being the great persuader he was, ultimately cajoled Clancey into coming downstairs.

"What—what's all this then?" he stammered as he beheld all the people crammed into the saloon.

"We're holding an Irish wake for the Shamus O'Flynn," Jason said, and handed him a beer. "To the fairest ship ever to sail the seven seas, three cheers!"

"Hip hip hooray!" everyone chanted three times.

"For guiding us safely from our old home to our new home!" said Candy, holding up her glass of sarsparilla.

"For bringing the best customer I ever had to Seattle and into my saloon!" Lottie exclaimed, adding in a voice for his ears only, "and the best friend."

"Ah, darlin'!" Clancey said, and blew his nose loudly.

"For bringing me back where I belong," Jonah said. "I'll never be able to repay you, Clancey. You lost the Shamus O'Flynn because of me, and I know I'll never be able to make it up to you. But I hope this helps." She unrolled a piece of paper and handed it to him. "For my knight in shining armor. Arise, Sir Roland, and accept this boon for services rendered."

Frowning in confusion, Clancey got up from the chair and quickly read the document. "This—this is title to the Midas Touch."

Jason slapped him on the back. "All legal and above board, Clancey. And, the sum of two hundred dollars restitution to each one of your crew for the property lost in the explosion."

"I—I don't believe it!" he sputtered. "How—when—"

"Let's just say my grandmother realized the error of her ways with a little healthy persuasion," Jonah said. "What do you think, Clancey?"

"I think," he said, a slow smile spreading over his stubbled face, "that she'll do. With one exception, however. A new name."

"That goes without saying," Jason said. "Suggestions, anyone?"

"Actually, I like the name Midas Touch," Aaron said.

"You would," Jason muttered.

"What's that supposed to mean, Bolt? I—"

"Gentlemen, please!" Jonah interceded. "Don't ruin Clancey's party with one of your petty squabbles."

"All right, Jonah. For you," Aaron said, and Jason gritted his teeth. He never understood his sister treating Aaron like a favorite uncle, but he had to accept it. And when he thought of how he had been ready to sacrifice his mill rather than reveal her whereabouts, he softened a bit. "My apologies, Aaron."

"How about the Carlotta?" Jeremy suggested with a sly grin, earning shouts of approval.

"Ah, it has a nice ring to it, for sure," Clancey said, gazing fondly at Lottie. "But sailors are a superstitious lot, as ye well know, and I've made it my policy never to sail on a ship that bore a woman's name. Nothin' personal, darlin'."

"Of course not," Lottie returned sweetly, then muttered under her breath, "silly old fool."

"The Pride of Seattle!" Jason offered.

"The Northwest Queen!" Candy countered.

"The Rhubarb!" Biddie looked at the sea of puzzled faces and explained, "I like rhubarb."

On and on it went until Clancey held up his hand. "Enough, enough, all of ye! I'm gettin' a blasted headache! I've made up me mind. The name of me new ship will be—"

Everyone leaned forward expectantly.

"The Shamus O'Flynn!"

Once the laughter had died down, Jason raised his glass once more. "Long live the Shamus O'Flynn!"

The sun was setting, a brilliant red ball in the violet twilight sky, as Jason, Joshua, Jeremy and Jonah walked out of Lottie's and down the street.

The "wake" for the Shamus O'Flynn turned into a welcome home party for Jonah, and spilled out into the street. A huge bonfire was lit, a band quickly organized, and soon there was dancing in the streets. Lottie and the brides provided the food, and soon the festivities were in full swing.

Breathless from doing a hornpipe with Clancey, Jonah begged off the next dance with Big Swede, promising to make it up to him later. She leaned against the hitching post in front of Lottie's, savoring the happy scene before her.

"Penny for your thoughts," Jason said as he came to stand beside her.

"Every day for four years this is what I dreamed of," she said softly. "Coming home. It was the only thing that kept me sane. And now I'm back. I can hardly believe it."

"Seattle's missed you," Jason said.

"I sincerely doubt that. There were one hundred women to take my place," she reminded him.

"One hundred women weren't nearly enough to fill the void you left." He smiled as she laughed at him.

"Exaggeration still comes as easy to you as breathing, doesn't it?"

"Yes, but in this case I wasn't exaggerating."

A gust of wind whipped through the street, drawing sparks from the bonfire and causing Jonah to shiver. "Are you cold? I can borrow a shawl from one of the brides," Jason offered.

"No, it wasn't that. I was just thinking of Grandmother. She doesn't give up easily, you now. Neither does Thaddeus. I don't think we've seen the last of them."

He put his arm around her shoulder protectively. "They'll have to get through me first. And Josh, and Jeremy, and Lottie, and Clancey—"

"Okay, okay!" she laughed. "I get it."

"Have you given any thought to what you're going to do now that you're home?"

"Do? Why, I'm going back to work at the logging camp. Why did you even have to ask?"

He shrugged. "Oh, I don't know. You're a refined young lady now, with all those pretty manners and gentle ways. Surely you don't want to dirty those dainty little hands at a logging camp?"

She was about to give him hell when she caught sight of the devilish glint in his eyes. "Just try and stop me."

"I wouldn't think of it," he said, grinning broadly.

When the band took a break, Joshua and Jeremy brought out their guitars. "We'd like to dedicate this next song to our little sister, Jonah," Joshua said. "Jeremy and I wrote it for her on her tenth birthday, when we lost all our money playing poker and couldn't afford to buy her a present. It only started out as one verse, but we've added to it over the years. If anyone wants to add something themselves, feel free to join in."

"The bluest skies you've ever seen in Seattle," they began, and Jonah fought back a flood of happy tears.

"And the hills the greenest green in Seattle,
Like a beautiful child growing up free and wild,
Full of hopes and full of fears,
Full of laughter, full of tears,
Full of dreams to last the years in Seattle, in Seattle."

"The next verse is for the brides," Joshua said.

"When it's time to leave your home and your loved ones
It's the hardest thing a girl can ever do,
And you pray that you will find,
Someone warm and sweet and kind,
But you're not sure what's waiting there for you."

Biddie blew her nose loudly, the resulting laughter nearly drowning out the refrain.

"The bluest skies you've ever seen in Seattle,
And the hills the greenest green in Seattle,
Like a beautiful child growing up free and wild,
Full of hopes and full of fears,
Full of laughter, full of tears,
Full of dreams to last the years in Seattle, in Seattle."

"I've got a verse," Jonah called out. "For Jeremy and Candy."

Candy smiled and blushed furiously, as Jeremy blew her a kiss, then called out, "Everybody join in!"
The people of Seattle gathered together under the night sky, and sang as one, their voices lifting together into the night with its bright full moon and stars twinkling like diamonds against a black velvet sky.

"The bluest skies you've ever seen in Seattle,
And the hills the greenest green in Seattle,
Like a beautiful child growing up free and wild,
Full of hopes and full of fears,
Full of laughter, full of tears,
Full of dreams to last the years in Seattle, in Seattle."

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