Hang the Moon

Eddie hardly eats anything, and he has stopped playing the piano altogether. Kat plays cards with him or sits in solemn contemplation, and Sallie, who finds hugs and “words of condolence” (89) belittling, tries to keep herself busy. Driving into town, she decides to meet with Mattie and Sheriff Earl to make sure she still has her job as wheelman. Although they allow Sallie to retain her job, her meeting with them reveals cryptic talks of significant changes to come.

With the Duke’s demise, people are scared and uncertain about the future. Sallie spends the day reassuring herself and others that “everything would be fine” (91). Later that day, Kat shares her feelings of guilt and isolation with Sallie. She believes she is blamed for the Duke’s death and fears people want her gone. Seymour is the only one who visits her.

It’s been three weeks since the ill-fated picnic at the lake, and Eddie and Kat spend most of their time secluded in the parlor. Mattie raises her tenants’ rent, and Sallie bears the brunt of their anger when she goes to collect. Abraham Crockett, one of the tenants, voices his discontent with the new terms, and Mattie responds firmly, suggesting those who disagree are “free to move” (94).

Later that day, Little Jimmy Bond arrives at the Emporium in an expensive car and makes an elaborate order of “six tins of chewing tobacco, six boxes of twelve-gauge buckshot, and [a] whole jar of licorice” (95). Sheriff Earl and Mattie find Bond’s newfound wealth suspicious. They summon Sallie to a secret meeting in their well-furnished home, where others, including Cecil, and Earl’s deputies, are already waiting. The focus of the meeting is the “bootleg whiskey” (97) business, which, since the start of Prohibition, has made locals like the Bonds wealthy. Mattie argues that it is time to impose a tax on illegal alcohol production. When Sallie and Cecil question the need for such a tax, Mattie dismisses their concern and explains that the money will be used to help the needy, with her and Sheriff Earl controlling the account, and everyone present in the meeting “getting a cut” (98).

Sheriff Earl assigns deputies George and Casey with Sallie to talk to the bootleggers about the new tax. George and Casey adeptly defend the tax proposal to the whiskey makers, blaming the federal Volstead Act for criminalizing their trade. Although the makers grumble, everyone except the Bond Brothers agrees. The Bonds have an old grudge against the Kincaids, whom they believe stole 88 acres of their grandfather’s land. The Kincaids insist they bought the land legally. When Sallie informs them about the bootlegging tax, the Bonds resist, calling it a “highway robbery without a gun” (102).

Mattie and Sheriff direct Sallie to look for the Bonds’ “big new copper still” (103). As she goes about her daily rounds, she constantly scans the countryside for any signs of a hidden distillery. During her time in Hatfield, Sallie often found herself envying those with regular paycheck jobs, insulated from the unpredictability of the weather. However, now that she has one of those jobs, she discovers that it has its own downsides. One day, while taking a break at the general store near Pogue’s Crossing, Sallie overhears a tinker complaining about the change in water quality at Deep Run. Sallie decides to investigate, and on arriving at Deep Run, she catches a faint whiff of fermented mash. She hides behind a log, and eventually, a truck comes into view. Billy, Rick, and Little Jimmy Bond swiftly unload sacks and boards, crossing the creek without leaving a trace. She reports the incident to Sheriff Earl and Mattie, and the Sheriff and his deputies, joined by Morris Nelson, the owner and editor of the Gazette, raid the still. The biased newspaper article portrays the operation as a victory for law enforcement, casting the Bonds as “cowardly villains.” Sallie reminisces about the simplicity of her life in Hatfield, where washing bloodstained sheets with Aunt Faye “felt cleaner” (105).

Sallie arrives at the Big House, expecting to find Eddie and Kat in the parlor. However, she learns they are out with Seymour. Nell expresses her concern about Kat, who should be in mourning, going out with an unmarried man. Sallie brushes it off but can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong. Later that day, Kat and Seymour reveal they married in secret, and Eddie was their best man. Sallie leaves the room, overwhelmed and in disbelief. Sallie decides to go to Aunt Faye’s, but thinking about Eddie, who needs protection, she returns to the Big House.

The next morning, Eddie plays the piano “for the first time since the Duke died” (109). Meanwhile, Kat defends her actions, claiming Seymour was her lifeline in a big empty house when she was grieving and had no one for support. When Seymour insists they must stick together as a family, Sallie refuses.

At the Emporium, Mattie is disgusted by Seymour and Kat’s marriage. When Sallie remains impartial, Mattie challenges her to fulfill her duty as a Kincaid in this family matter.

Kat comes to Sallie’s room and reveals that she is pregnant and that it has to be the Duke’s child. Sallie advises Kat to tell Seymour, but Kat fears it might change his feelings for her. She is determined to keep it a secret, fearing Mattie’s reaction and potential accusations of deceit. Sallie, concerned for Kat, promises to keep the secret.

A mysterious call informs Sallie that Aunt Faye is in danger at the Hatfield Clinic, and the doctors intend to send her to a psychiatric institution, the “Marion Colony for the Feeble Minded” (115). Sallie rushes to the clinic and finds Faye’s case in the log, prompting her to head straight to Room 3. There, she confronts a young doctor who intends to send Faye away, claiming she suffers from “acute melancholia and uncontrollable nerves” (116). Sallie knows that going home is not an option due to Wayne’s presence. So, she takes Aunt Faye to the Big House instead.

Seymour asks Sallie about Aunt Faye’s stay while Eddie is concerned due to Faye’s status as a “fallen woman” (118). Just then, Kat enters and learns about the situation. She insists that Faye stays, emphasizing the importance of family. Sallie expresses gratitude for her support and asks about the baby’s paternity. Kat reassures her that it does not matter, as they will raise the child together as a family.

During breakfast, the atmosphere is filled with anticipation and happiness as they embrace the news of Kat’s pregnancy. Aunt Faye and Nell eagerly take on nurturing roles. Later that morning, Sallie and Aunt Faye head back to Hatfield to collect their belongings. At Hatfield, Sallie spots the Defiance Coaster along with her unused Remington. This sight triggers a memory of when Sallie first desired a gun. It was after Aunt Faye returned home with a black eye from a customer, and Sallie felt the need to protect her. She worked hard to earn the money for the gun.

Mattie and Sheriff Earl unexpectedly arrive with a court order to take custody of Eddie. Mattie argues that they are doing it for Eddie’s sake, suggesting that Seymour and Kat are taking advantage of him: With Aunt Faye at the Big House, the place is “unfit for the Duke’s son” (125). After taking Eddie away, Mattie comes back to Big House and asks Kat to leave town in exchange for $1000 in cash. Mattie warns Kat that, if she stays, Mattie will spread lies about her. Mattie’s commanding presence reminds Sallie of the Duke, and she realizes that Mattie might have orchestrated this entire situation from the start. Mattie might have even wanted Kat and Seymour to marry, knowing it would create scandal and give her leverage over Eddie. Kat and Seymour, fearing the repercussions, decide to accept Mattie’s offer. They hope that Sallie can explain their actions to Eddie and reassure him of their love.

Shortly thereafter, Mattie returns to the Big House, distraught. When she told Eddie about Seymour and Kat’s departure, he took his own life.