The federal judge ultimately let the Klansmen go, saying the federal government had no jurisdiction over their alleged crimes. The Klan never again bothered neither the McMahon family nor the community in which they lived. Though Emmett Casselton was supposed to disband the Klan, Luther’s church ladies reported that the wives of the Klansmen probably did the most to bring it down. 

The emerging river became a swimming hole for all the neighborhood children, and one day, Maybelle came to visit. Reesa pointed to the heart carvings on the tree, and Maybelle shyly acknowledged she recognized them. Years later, Reesa hears that Maybelle had warned Emmett Casselton that if he harmed a hair on anyone else’s head, she would report the discrepancies in his waybills to the IRS.

Warren became the community sage, and he received visits by members of the Black and White community alike.