Charles and Judith return to Philadelphia after enrolling White Buffalo, and Charles decides to stay for a few days and make sure the farms and the future food store are being started to his satisfaction. Charles receives an alarming telegram from Ghost. Harry Ross, the man arrested and sent to San Quintin, has escaped after murdering a food delivery man, changing into his clothing, and riding the wagon out of prison. It is believed he is returning to San Francisco to destroy the Hotel and kill Charles’ family. Charles returns to Arizona and plans to begin construction of a grocery store and a hotel at the Benson Water Stop. Trouble erupts in Denver when Swimming Otter seriously injures two men who were attempting to steal the Morgan horses. Charles ventures to Georgia to meet a man who owns a large orchard to buy some fruit trees and encounters two armed thieves on a remote dirt road. Charles pursues the thieves into Florida and meets an old friend who helps him out.