Ellie attempts to take her mind off the conflict and uncertainty surrounding her by focusing on her daily chores. It seems to help, but as soon as she completes them, her mind goes back to Cate, her father, and the threats from her mother. She goes into the house to find her mother making venison jerky, and she tells her that she wants to visit her father. Ellie finds out that her mother is keeping Esther on watch when Ellie visits the room now, and she feels “chilled by what she’d said” (158). Ellie’s mother breaks down for a moment and hugs her, telling her then to visit her father. When Ellie goes into her father’s room, she finds Esther and Samuel there. She looks at her father and realizes his eyes are open.

Ellie calmly approaches her father and cries. When Esther sees her father’s eyes open, she calls for their mother, who rushes in and cries out, falling to her knees and then embracing Ellie and her father. Ellie notices that her father has “no light in those open eyes” (161) as his family gathers around him.