Chapters 19 through 27 Summary

In Chapter Nineteen, John Dutton, age fifty-seven, is a member of the Georgia Legislature. He's returning to Shady Oaks from an extended trip in February when the buggy being driven by Sam overturns. The horses run away, Sam is killed and John is pinned in the buggy. When the horses arrive at Shady Oaks, there's a search party sent out and the old doctor arrives with the diagnosis that John's leg is broken in two places. Vyry takes John his supper after the doctor leaves and John points out paintings of his ancestors, saying that he has "inherited" the responsibility for "the honor of this house."

In Chapter Twenty, Lincoln is inaugurated and John is told he'll have to be off his feet at least six weeks. John's pain increases rather than decreases and it's soon evident that gangrene has set...