"Black Bark in Winter" Summary

The guardsmen ride away, without covering the bodies or saying a word. One laughs. The shocked Georgia boy tells Ada how diarrhea saved his life. He vows never again to set foot on Cold Mountain. Ruby offers to feed him like other strays and resists the minor comfort Ada is able to give. She shows no signs of mourning as she says they must decide between burying them there and bringing them home. Remembering bad blood between Stobrod and the blacks, Ruby decides on the former. Ada heats leftovers for the boy, and Ruby maps out for him how to get home for Christmas. It is a bad time to travel with days so short; they will have to spend at least one night in the woods. They load up Ralph and dress in Monroe's...