Part One: Still as Night - Chapter Two Summary

May had been gardening when she died. She called it gardening even though most other people in Fayette County simply said they were going out to work in their gardens. Although the term "gardening" usually conjures up an image of a woman in a flowered hat pruning roses, May never actually owned a flowered hat, and never had roses - her garden was full of pole beans, cabbage, and practicality. The fact that May died in her precious garden is the only thing about the situation that makes sense to Summer.

One day while Summer is helping Ob in the garden, Ob straightened up like a dog that's just heard a small animal scurrying by, ears pricked. He shouts, "Hotdamn!" and has a look on his face as if...