Chapter 14 Summary

The quail eggs have hatched now, and the scuppernong grapes are "makin"' but not nearly ripe. Jody shares this news excitedly with his father, and talk turns to the hogs that have gone off and not returned per their usual schedule. Penny fears the Forresters have trapped them, and he tells Jody that they will have to track the hogs as soon as he finishes working the peas. Jody is reluctant to face the Forresters again, but his father asserts that they have nothing to fear as they are within their rights. Jody considers letting the hogs go, and having no meat for the winter, rather than face that clan again.

When Ma hears that her two men are going in search of the hogs and might have to face the Forresters again, she is matter-of-fact about the need to retrieve their...