Opportunity

Opportunity is a dominant theme of the book. Many people came to Texas for the opportunities that it offered. In the early days, Texas was the place where people could start new lives. The early settlers could receive free land if they were Catholic and married. The work was hard and the risks were great, but most liked the lives they carved out for themselves. Very few chose to return to the places they came from. Texas grew by attracting settlers and it attracted many kinds. Some were average people looking for a better life like the Quimpers. Others were fleeing from trouble, like Finlay McNab. Some like the Cobbs, came for economic reasons. They all made their existence in Texas.

One and two hundred years later, people are still coming to Texas for the opportunities. The Morrisons are unemployed and looking for work in Detroit. They come...