Chapter 5 Summary

In tranquil Manchester County, drunks, particularly Barnum Kinsey, are Sheriff John Skillington's major problem. In 1844, white people in the county hear about slave "restlessness" elsewhere. Among the most concerned is Winifred Skillington's fifty-four-year-old cousin, Clara Martin, whose hears from a distant relative about a woman killed by her long-time cook. Clara has one slave, fifty-five-year-old, longhaired, and arthritic Ralph. Suddenly, Clara forbids Ralph to cook for her. Barnum Kinsey reports Clara is merely skittish. She invites John and Winifred to spend time with her. The sheriff's father agrees to watch the lone prisoner, Jean Broussard, who maintains his innocence in killing his partner.

The Skiffingtons dine with Robert and Alfreda Colfax and reach Clara's by mid-afternoon. John's impression of Ralph is that he is a little slow, but fine. Clara picks at her supper, while the Skiffingtons eat heartily, to show there is...