Summary

Chapter Seven begins as Cussy finishes up her day and puts Junia away for the night. Pa comes home coughing, and she does not tell him about the preacher’s attack. She knows if Vester is on their land they are protected by law to defend themselves, but Blue people like them are not necessarily protected off their land. She thinks of Blues that have been hanged. Cussy makes Pa dinner. He is going to a union meeting and Cussy is worried since she knows the Company beats or shoots people who go to union meetings. Pa says they have to do something, the Company is mistreating them - and reminds her of his brother Daniel who died in the mine after being tricked by the Company. Pa says, as he coughs, “They’re stealing the very breath of the Kentucky man, the...