"Freewill Savages" Summary

Up at dawn to start breakfast, Ruby sees a man in dark clothes standing by the corncrib, and approaches with the shotgun. Stobrod has been caught in the trap all night. Ruby releases him, looks him over, declares he looks older than 45, figures he won his new suit at cards, and disbelieves he is a war hero owed a furlough. She makes him stay on the porch as she cooks and under the pear tree rather than joining them inside. Stobrod tells of living among heavily armed outliers in a deep cave, hunting, eating, drinking, and making music. Ruby threatens to shoot him if he steals corn again, and Stobrod saunters off toward Cold Mountain.

On a warm, dry day, the tobacco is drying well and will soon be ready to trade. Ada sits on the edge of the...