The Reckoning

The Bannings’s appeal of the original jury verdict is rejected. Their only chance now is that Judge Rumbold will rule that Pete’s conveyance of the land to Joel and Stella was valid. That would allow them to keep the land even if they lost all other assets. Appeals and rulings go back and forth. Eventually conveyance is ruled fraudulent.

At the hospital, Liza is doing better, but Joel has lost hope that she will ever fully recover. Even if she does, there is very little chance she will have a home to come back to. Jackie Bell’s lawyer has filed a lawsuit demanding foreclosure of the Banning land. The lawyers try to negotiate a settlement but Jackie’s lawyer refuses anything less than the full value of the property.

At the hospital, Liza has improved enough that she’s allowed to go with several other patients to a movie in downtown Jackson. Shortly after the movie begins, she excuses herself for the ladies’ room and walks out of the theater. She purchases a train ticket for Clanton.

Liza makes her way home to the Banning farm. Inside the house, she feels the ghosts of her life there with Pete and their children, with Nineva and Amos.