Wolf Hollow

Toby/Jordan comes to dinner at the McBrides’ house, and they praise him for his heroics. He does not remove his gloves, so as to disguise the distinctive scarred hands everyone would recognize as Toby’s. He tells them that he is Jordan, a carpenter from Maryland. During dinner, the family learn that Betty has tetanus, gangrene, and a torn-up shoulder. Even in from her hospital sickbed, Betty is spreading the rumor that Toby pushed her down the well after she threatened to tattle on him for throwing a rock in Ruth’s eye and setting the trip-wire for little James. Annabelle’s mother, Sarah, recognizes Toby and denounces him for lying about his identity. Toby declares that his real name is Tobias Jordan and that “I did not push Betty down that well” (214).

Annabelle confesses to her parents that she hid Toby in the hayloft. During dessert, Annabelle’s father relates that following Betty’s report, the hunt for Toby has intensified. The McBrides agree to hide Toby in the hayloft. Annabelle’s mother wakes her up the next morning to express her concern that Annabelle is spending so much time with a man who is undoubtably “odd” and who must be “confused” because two of the guns he carries everywhere are ruined beyond use (222). Annabelle retorts that Toby must have “his reasons” for carrying the ruined guns (224).

When Annabelle goes to school, she receives a hero’s applause for her guesswork in locating Betty. She even enjoys school because of Betty’s absence. In the middle of arithmetic, she realizes that the only person who can prove Toby’s innocence is Andy, who knows everything concerning Betty’s motives. She has an idea. 

Annabelle goes to the Turtle Stone to meditate on her idea, and when she returns home, she sees Toby as Jordan, playing with her brothers. Annabelle’s idea is that they should tell Andy that Toby took a picture of Betty throwing the rock and so force a confession from him.

However, Annabelle’s younger brothers “scattered” their plan “like a fistful of birdseed,” when they find Toby’s hat and camera and claim that he has been hiding in their barn (231). Annabelle considers that the boys are “blabbermouths” who cannot be trusted to keep a secret (232). Annabelle and her father shush the boys and tell Toby that he can stay while they trick Andy into revealing the truth. Toby replies, “this is a game I don’t want to play anymore,” and he walks off into the woods, regardless of the police search for him (234).

Aunt Lily insists that the McBrides should contact the police now that Toby’s hat has been discovered. Annabelle’s father agrees, if only because another trail running through their house will throw the police off Toby’s scent. The news from the hospital is that Betty is running a high fever and still very sick.

Annabelle is conscious that Officer Coleman will search the barn. She remembers that the copy of Treasure Island she lent Toby is still out there. In the barn, Annabelle finds that Toby is still there. He says that he is going to stay “just for a minute” (243). Annabelle tells him the police hunt for him will include bloodhounds. Toby says that he came back just to see Annabelle, and that he wishes he had a daughter like her. Annabelle notices that Toby is only shouldering two of his three guns and is unsure of why he has suddenly decided to “lighten his load” (247).

Annabelle discovers a self-portrait taken by Toby, where his reflection appears in water. The next morning, Annabelle’s mother comes to wake her. She tells her that Officer Coleman found Toby’s working gun at his smokehouse, and she is now convinced that Toby is still around. The Officer knows that Toby was at some point in the McBrides’ barn. All the women and children are to stay locked in their houses while the men go out to find Toby.

Annabelle is furious that Toby is in this much trouble because of Betty’s lies. Her mother protests that there is nothing they can do because Betty has framed herself as the victim of the story, and being a young girl, looks like the victim.

To the community’s shock, Betty dies in the hospital. Annabelle fears that now Toby will receive the most severe punishment for a crime he did not commit. She uses her family’s telephone to call the gossipy operator, Annie Gribble, and asks to be put through to Andy. Annabelle pretends that Toby took a photograph of Betty throwing the rock, and Andy reluctantly admits that he witnessed the incident and that Betty was lying about Toby pushing her down the well. Annabelle knows that she can count on Annie Gribble’s gossiping nature to ensure that news of the conversation will spread. 

Annie Gribble proves reliable in delivering the truth about Betty. The community now knows that Toby had nothing to do with Ruth losing her eye, and there is “doubt” as to whether he pushed Betty down the well. However, the next morning, Annabelle’s mother tells her that Toby is dead. The bloodhounds found him by a river by the Ohio border, and when the police saw him with his unloaded gun, they shot him. Annabelle’s mother tells her that perhaps Toby “had had enough of this world” (278). 

Annabelle finds a war medal in Toby’s coat pocket; however, she knows that Toby never felt like a hero for his acts in the war. While Betty’s funeral is a well-attended affair at the church, Toby’s is quieter and less conventional. The McBrides bury him on the hillside above Wolf Hollow. Annabelle returns to his grave as she grows up to tell him about her life, and she does not blame him for trying to escape his own life after what he experienced.