Summary

Heinous Murder (447-451) — On their way home, Bill asked Lucius if Henry finally told him the truth. Lucius said yes, and asked Bill why he hid Henry’s secret for all of this time. Bill said that on his father’s deathbed, D.D. House revealed that Henry shot Watson first; he heard the distinct sound of his rifle fire first. D.D. House instructed his boys to keep Henry’s murder a secret. Still, townsmen speculated that Henry was the killer, mainly on the basis of his race, and white men hated to think that a black man took out Watson over them. Bill and Lucius parted ways, and Lucius went inside his cabin to read Rob’s letter.

Night Rivers (451-459) — Rob’s letter began on New Year’s morning, 1901, the day Wally and Bet Tucker fled Chatham Bend. That...