Chapter 4 Summary

Sheriff James R. Timberlake of Clay County keeps a log of all visitors arriving in the area but mistakes Jesse for a circuit riding preacher when he arrives at Martha Bolton's on a December day. Dick hides in the closet, fearful that Jesse knows about his role in Wood's death. Jesse spends the evening talking to Bob and Charley and Bob is put out over Jesse's comparison of him to a guerilla fighter named George Shepherd. Jesse then says that he'd come to ask "one of the Fords" to accompany him and that because of Bob's petulance, he asks Charley. Jesse and Charley ride out in the bitter cold and spend a night at the Samuels' home. Jesse questions Charley about Wood but Charley denies knowing where Wood is. Jesse's mom, Zerelda, then goes to bed. After only a couple of hours' sleep...