Peace Like a River: The Red Farm Summary & Analysis

Reuben tells the reader that Dad and Roxanna got married in March. They returned to Roofing at the end of February, after Reuben spent a brief stint in the hospital for his failing lungs. Dr. Nickles told Dad to "take this boy home" and they left the next day. Reuben says that though he was glad to have Roxanna along, it took him a long time to appreciate what the move must have meant for her. He says that she was "all but their mother" by this point.

A few days after the wedding, Dad tasks Reuben with cleaning out the Airstream (which Dad had sold to Dr. Nokes months ago) while Swede helps pack for their impending move to a farm owned by Pastor Reach. It's a beautiful place to "rest and wait." Swede returns to school, but Reuben stays home. He thinks of Dr. Nickles' voice telling Dad to take him home, and spends his days looking out the window, waiting for Davy. A number of investigators stop by over the next few months, but Andreeson is never heard from.

Reuben tells one investigator that Mr. Waltzer surely put Andreeson's body in a lignite vein, but the investigator seems uninterested. Swede snappily tells Reuben that that's not satisfying for the investigators, and Reuben explains Swede's clipped response by saying that she hasn't yet forgiven him for his betrayal.

Reuben says he wasn't waiting for a miracle anymore. He figures that Roxanna was God's parting gift to the Land family. Reuben spends his days sleeping and listening to Dad play the guitar. One day, a boy from school brings Reuben the Spartacus model Reuben had wanted for Christmas. The classmate tells Reuben that his brothers put a skunk in Mr. Holgren's basement and the results were spectacular.

Bethany Orchard and her family visit in May. Reuben realizes that Bethany isn't truly interested in him, as she soon leaves him to be with the adults. Swede comes to Reuben that night, takes his hand, and sits with him.

In June, a Ford pulls up the driveway bearing Davy and Sara. The reunion is joyful. Though they don't mention Mr. Waltzer by name, they share that he'd decided it was time for Sara to be a “wife.” Davy was unwilling to let that happen, so one morning when Mr. Waltzer was out they drove away in Mr. Waltzer's car. Davy asks if Sara can stay with Dad and Roxanna. Swede asks Davy if he'll stay too, but Davy tells her he can't. Reuben thinks that Davy actually looks his age as he says this.

Throughout the evening, Davy regales his family with the story of his escape from jail and his following exploits eluding the law. He doesn't mention Mr. Waltzer, and Reuben believes this is Davy being considerate of Sara, who owes Mr. Waltzer for the last six years of her life.

Nobody mentions Andreeson, but Reuben thinks about him. After 11 pm, Reuben goes upstairs with Dad to make Sara's bed. Roxanna and Sara go to bed while Davy, Swede, Dad, and Reuben stay up talking. They talk about everything except Davy's current predicament. At one point Davy looks ready to leave, and Swede goes and fetches her binder of Sunny Sundown poetry. She reads the entire poem out loud, and Davy listens attentively. He deems Valdez a perfect villain and likely uncatchable. At dawn, Roxanna makes her uncle's cinnamon rolls and the family walks outside to see Davy off.

Jape Waltzer sits with a rifle beside the farm's granary. The Lands don't see him, though he isn't trying to hide. They hear a gunshot and Dad falls across the car. Roxanna tries to restrain Reuben on the porch, but he breaks free and runs towards Dad. Mr. Waltzer then shoots Reuben. Reuben tells the reader that he supposes that Mr. Waltzer "led" him. He feels the "old country" gather itself.