The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

With Pa watching over the baby on the pallet, Cussy Mary goes back to the Moffits to ensure they have been buried. Lovett is there, by the gates, and has buried them both. Junia nuzzles Lovett, who won’t take any pay for his work. He asks after the baby, telling Cussy Mary that she is special for taking her. He has cut locks of hair from the Moffits for the baby. He explains that his own mother and twin brothers died when he was young. Cussy Mary tells him about her mother’s death and how Pa ran into the woods afterward, something she’s never told anyone before. They exchange personal histories, and Cussy Mary tells Lovett about Queenie’s letter and how she herself has never had the chance to leave. Lovett apologies for the confrontation between the two of them on the trail. He notes that the graves need markings, saying that he will carve headstones for them. He leaves, but Cussy Mary stays, buzzards circling above.

Cussy Mary goes to Loretta Adams, showing her Honey. Loretta wants to hold Honey and enjoys doing it. Cussy Mary asks if Loretta can look after the baby while she is on her route, and Loretta agrees, saying she can do it even without seeing well. She won’t take money from Cussy Mary but finally agrees to let Doc come by to treat her eyes.

Pa sets out a new courting candle. Cussy Mary protests that she won’t marry again, but he tells her he wants respectability for her and a father for Honey. She tells him that she has Loretta and the WPA, but he explains that the mine is shutting down in a week. She suggests that he could work for the WPA as well, but he won’t, because they require a sworn oath of poverty. He says that a miner’s life is short, implying that he won’t be able to provide for her forever. She says that she doesn’t want another suitor and that she can provide for herself. Anyway, she argues, who would marry her? He says that there is a suitor outside, and Cussy Mary throws the candle into the yard. 

Lovett picks the candle out of the dirt, saying that he needs it for his daughter. He wants to marry Cussy Mary if she’ll have him. She says that she has everything she needs and won’t accept charity. He tells her that there are WPA exceptions for married women now and that he has permission from her father, after Pa denied it to him six times. He loves her and promised her father he would protect and love her. She doesn’t want to leave her father, but Lovett says there is room for Pa at his house. He asks her outright to marry him, and she says yes. 

Lovett leaves, and Cussy Mary tells Honey a story as she does her chores. She thinks about the opportunities Honey will have; she plans to show Honey her route. Lanterns arrive outside with a mule carrying a stretcher. Pa died after being trapped under a collapsed pillar. She tries to tell him about her marriage, but he is already dead. Mr. Moore tells her about what happened at the mine. Early the next morning, Lovett shows up, bringing a coffin for a proper burial. They bury Pa in the family cemetery. 

Lovett and Cussy Mary get married in fall, which Pa thought was a time for rebirth and a marriage that would grow well. Cussy Mary bought new dress fabric, which she shows Loretta. Loretta has new glasses and can see it now. Before her wedding, Cussy Mary talks to Pa at his grave. Lovett then arrives with a wedding present for her, a book of Yeats poems. They stop at the library before the wedding, to Eula and Harriett’s surprise. They have now hired Mr. Taft for Queenie’s old route.

During the wedding, Mr. Moore tells them to stop, saying that he needs to talk to the justice of the peace. The miners are there. Moore tells Cussy Mary that he told her father he would stand in his place for the marriage. Outside, Birdie, R.C., Martha Hannah, Devil John, Timmy Flynn and his mother, and Loretta Adams are there; Lovett invited them. Loretta has sent her nephew with a quilt as a present for them.

The sheriff arrives to arrest Lovett for miscegenation. The Doc tries to argue with him because the law has changed only recently, and a pill can turn Cussy Mary white. The library patrons all attest to this, having seen Cussy Mary with white skin. However, the argument continues, and Lovett punches the sheriff. The deputy hits Lovett back, beating him until he passes out. Cole tries to hit the sheriff. Doc calls for his bag, saying that he will tend to Lovett at the jail. Cussy Mary tells the crowd that has gathered that her father and other Blues have all sacrificed for the white families. Her words strike a chord: “Murmurs rose from the hillfolk, and I saw the truth of my words reflected in solemn faces” (282).

The sheriff rips the marriage license in half, telling Cussy Mary to go home or he will send Honey to an asylum. Devil John reminds the sheriff that he’s up for election in three weeks and will lose his badge.

Cussy Mary writes a letter to Queenie, thanking her for the books she sent. Honey’s fourth birthday is coming up soon, and Honey wants to be a librarian. The town will get a new library building soon, and Cussy Mary received an award for outstanding service and dedication. Eula has taken down the No Coloreds Sign. Jackson is getting better, though he still not fully healed from his confrontation with the sheriff. He is looking for a place for them in Ohio, which also needs library services. He is selling his land on Lovett Mountain. Meanwhile, the sheriff was voted out but still keeps an eye for Jackson’s return.

At home, Honey wants to read The ABC Bunny. Lovett tells her he will read it with her on the porch while Cussy Mary writes. He has to be back in the Tennessee hills by dawn, but in the meantime, they still have secret visits together.