Chapter 24 Summary

Jasmine recalls the day that Bud is shot by a farmer named Harlan Kroener, and she speculates how things could be different if she had reacted more appropriately. The fateful day is December 23, and Jasmine has been in Iowa a little over a year. Bank loans are hard to come by because the bad economy has caused so many defaults. Bud's relationships with the farmers have been strained, since he holds their futures in his decisions on loans. Harlan Kroener is a long-time acquaintance of Bud's, but he can no longer keep his farm operating without more funds. Bud has denied him a loan.

Jasmine remembers Harold knocking at the front door. She sees the rifle in his hand, but that is not odd for a farmer in Iowa. Harold comments on the festive and cozy atmosphere in Bud and Jasmine's home. He...