Elizabeth sighed in defeat. “In that case, I will do what I can. Let’s schedule another séance.”

—

While his wife and mother were plotting suffrage strategy that afternoon, Gideon met with Coleman and Waterson at his office to discuss the deal for the Texas land.

“So you see,” Waterson concluded after explaining how his German relatives had ordered him not to sell the land, “I can’t very well go against their wishes.”

“I think you can,” Coleman said. “We signed a legally binding contract, after all.”

“And I’m asking you to release me from our agreement, Mr. Coleman,” Waterson said, managing to sound pathetic without actually begging.

“I know it must be difficult to communicate with your relatives in Germany,” Gideon tried, aware of his role as mediator, “but what do your relatives hope to accomplish by holding on to the land?”

Waterson shrugged. “I suppose they hope to strike oil, just as Mr. Coleman does, but what does it matter? It’s their land, so I must respect their decision.”

“And yet legally it is actually your land,” Coleman pointed out.

“In name only. I don’t think you appreciate the trust they put in me when they turned over ownership. They have every right to expect I will act in their interests.”

“Isn’t it in their interests to sell the land?”

“They don’t think so.”

Coleman sighed in frustration.

“Mr. Coleman,” Gideon said reasonably, “the law is certainly on your side, and you have every right to expect to purchase the land as the two of you agreed, but under the circumstances, I’m sure you can also understand Mr. Waterson’s reluctance to betray the trust that was put in him.”

“I can understand, but I don’t have to like it, do I? I know, I know. You’re going to tell me there’s no guarantee I’ll find oil on that land, but what if I did? I’d be a millionaire. You can’t expect me to give up that possibility without a fight.”

“Would you settle for something less than an actual fight?” Gideon asked.

Coleman frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I’m sure Mr. Waterson doesn’t expect you to give up your option on the land without some compensation.”

Plainly, Coleman liked this idea. “How much compensation are we talking about?”

“Now, you have to understand that my relatives aren’t wealthy,” Waterson hastily explained.

“Which is why I thought they wanted to sell the land in the first place,” Coleman said.

“They’ve, uh, well . . . things are not as dire for them as they had first feared. The situation in Germany is bound to improve with the Armistice, and once the peace treaty is signed, I’m sure things will rapidly get back to normal in Europe.”