Part 2: Chapters 26-29 Summary

July Johnson is the youngest of the ten boys in his family, and at the age of twenty-four is the Sheriff of Fort Smith. His deputy, a man named Roscoe Brown, is twice the Sheriff's age, but lays claim to less than half of his ambition. Peach is the wife of July's brother Ben who was accidentally shot by Jake Spoon. She wants to know when July is leaving to find her husband's killer. July recently married Elmira who was previously married in Missouri to Dee Boot, and has a son named Joe. Her husband supposedly died of smallpox and she meets July in St. Jo, Missouri when he came to testify. Dee has actually gone north. When July gets home, he tells Elmira it's time he goes after Jake Spoon. She tells him to take Joe with him...