A Painted House

Sunday, the Chandlers head to church where they learn that Jerry Sisco died. The preacher, Brother Akers, delivers a sermon about the sinfulness of murder. The Chandlers return home after the service and see the Spruills bathing in the river; Luke realizes that Hank probably doesn’t yet know that he’s a murderer.

Later in the day, Stick Powers arrives to question the Spruills. Leon Spruill initially denies that any of them were involved in a fight, but Hank clarifies that he “stopped a fight” (95). Leon tells Pappy that if Hank is made to leave the property, all the Spruills will leave. Pappy, fearing the loss of half his workforce, gets Hank to divulge that in the fight he was up against three Siscos; he points out to Stick that no jury will convict a man who faced three opponents in a fight. Stick asks Hank if any witnesses can confirm this, and Hank says that Luke can. Luke, torn between telling the truth and endangering his family’s livelihood, lies to Stick and says that it was not only three against one but that the Siscos were the ones with the two-by-four. Stick says he’ll keep investigating.