Peace Like a River: Something Warm Summary & Analysis

Reuben and his family make it through Mandan without being sighted by a single police officer. He asks the reader to "make of it what you will." That night, Swede tells Reuben that Dad is just like Moses parting the Red Sea. Reuben believes this comparison is somewhat impertinent. He tries to suggest several lesser prophets, including Jonah, and Swede refers to Jonah as a griper. This further irritates Reuben until Swede explains that Jonah spent his time pouting. Reuben is dumbfounded, and hopes the other prophets hadn't had "childish flaws" like that. But he tells Swede that Jonah at least wrote a book that's in the Bible, unlike Dad.

Reuben wonders why Andreeson went to such lengths to find them. Swede says she expected it, and cagily says that Andreeson is still in Linton. She finally admits that she put maple syrup in Andreeson's gas tank, looking proud and scared.

The Lands still need gas. Ten miles out of Mandan, Dad pulls over, uses the spare ten gallons, and lies down with a headache. Swede reminds Dad that it's Saturday, and that gas stations will be closed the following day. Dad asks Swede to pray for more gas, tucks her and Reuben into bed, and goes to his room.

Later, Swede asks Reuben why they even have to buy more gas after miraculously evading state troopers earlier that day. They discuss the possibility that Dad prayed for it to happen, potentially with his eyes closed. Reuben suggests that if you're praying for something big enough, God keeps you from crashing. Reuben compares it to getting 13 doughnuts at the baker's instead of 12, which Swede deems disrespectful. After a few minutes of silence, Swede says that she thought that Dad could just pray the tank full, since it's not very different from what happened earlier in the day.

Reuben says he doesn't know if Dad prays for "them" (miracles) or if they just happen. He reminds Swede of the miracle of his birth, and goes on to detail several other of Dad's miracles. Reuben and Swede have never spoken of this before, and Swede gets up to inspect her healed saddle. Reuben says that the fact that Swede never noticed that the split disappeared is the part that people have a hard time believing.

The thermometer reads 19 degrees the next morning. The trailer ran out of propane in the night, so Reuben, Dad, and Swede eat dry cereal for breakfast since the milk is frozen. As Reuben kneels on the stove to put the coffee pot away, he knocks over a stack of cups and they shatter on the stove. Dad begins to sing "Battle Hymn of the Republic" as he cleans up the shards from the cups.

The Lands drive all morning in the freezing Plymouth. They pass through several towns and take note of all the closed gas stations. Swede mentions that Teddy Roosevelt ranched not far from where they are currently in North Dakota. In the early afternoon, the Plymouth starts misfiring and bucking as it struggles to burn gas. They see a sign for the town of Grassy Butte and decide to stop there, but before they reach the town, they see a farmhouse with gas pumps outside. A sign reads "Dale's Oil Company," and Dad suggests they stop.

Dad knocks on the farmhouse door. On the second knock, a woman opens the door holding a baby goat sucking at a bottle. She informs them that it's Sunday and Dale left several months ago. Dad offers his sympathies and the woman's reply includes multi-syllabic words that thrill Swede. Dad asks to buy gas. The woman abruptly shuts the door but returns a few minutes later dressed for the outdoors. She fills their tank and tells Dad her name is Roxanna. Dad suggests she changes the name of the pump to "Roxanna's Oil," and then asks if she has propane.

Reuben, Swede, and Dad wait inside while Roxanna fills the propane tank. A nanny goat and her blind kid live in the bathroom. The billygoat is a shady character, and Roxanna and Swede exchange all manner of names to describe him. Dad asks Roxanna if Grassy Butte has a motel. He, Reuben, and Swede are almost back at the car when Roxanna opens her door again and offers them rooms at her house.