- [first lines]
- Paul Garrett: They called it "The Age of Opportunity" and no title for its time was ever more appropriate. The future hurdled toward the town of Centennial on the winds of fortune. And men worked to harness those winds. Winds that swept new money westward. Fresh eastern dollars to swell Charlotte Seccombe's already vast Venneford cattle ranch. To consolidate the holdings of Messmore Garrett and his family. To enrich Hans Brumbaugh whose farm poured product into the newly organized Central Beet Factory. But the winds of fortune created darker opportunities as well. Dreadful opportunities. Near the end of the 19th century a Minnesota businessman named Soren Sorenson disappeared from the face of the earth. And a family named Wendell founded its future power and prestige on 5,500 stolen dollars. And a murder.
- [last lines]
- Charlotte Buckland Seccombe: You wait and see, Jim. You're going to be the best manager the Venneford ever had.