Summary

In 1932, while looking for tools in the barn loft, Jim hears his three sons milking a cow down below. Jack tells an old folktale about pigs eating concrete and being buried where they died. The boys are interrupted by Maeve, who shows them a poisonous weed and jokes that she could kill them if she wanted to. When Maeve leaves, the boys discuss the strange changes in her personality, and hypothesize that it has to do with her unreciprocated affections toward a boy. Jim is surprised to hear this. Jack insults Marie, but Henry expresses hope that she might recover. The conversation ends and Jack helps Sam carry the pail of milk because of his back injury, allowing Jim to safely come down from the loft.

A few years later, in 1936, Lane Shaw becomes pregnant by John...