All the stuff from the old house was at the new house on our final run about 5 PM as we moved across town, and I just needed a little break. A few minutes with a new book highly recommended by my librarian daughter should give me energy to get back to the boxes. This Tender Land by William Kent Kruger destroys my plan.
Part One, titled “God Is a Tornado,” introduced me to Odie and his sixteen-year-old brother Albert who are the only white children in the Lincoln Indian Training School where treatment in a supposedly Christian atmosphere resembles the atmosphere in Oliver Twist. Odie’s doubts about God seem confirmed when the evil people survive and the only person who has shown them kindness is killed in a tornado, leaving behind her daughter Emmy. Odie commits a major crime, and the brothers with Emmy and their friend Mose, who is of Sioux heritage and mute because his tongue was cut out when before he can remember, make their escape.
By Part Two, titled “One-Eyed Jack,” I have lost all track of time and boxes as I follow the group down the Gilead River trying to avoid discovery with sensational newspaper accounts of their “kidnapping” of Emmy. One -eyed Jack captures the group to work on his farm, beginning with pruning his apple orchard as the book takes a Huckleberry Finn kind of turn. Odie finds his captor sympathetic as he gives the line with the title embedded, “Sure this is hard work, but it’s good work because it’s part of what connects us to the land. This beautiful, tender land.”
Part Three, after their escape from Jack, takes them to a Sister Eve’s faith-healing tent revival with Sister Eve sitting with Odie giving spiritual advice as he doubts whether her healing is real, “When I pray, Odie, I never ask for perfection. I pray for forgiveness, because it’s the one prayer I know will always be answered.”
My planned few minutes has now taken me to bedtime and Part Four, titled “The Odyssey.” The boxes sit exactly where they were at 5 o’clock. Am I bothered? Not at all, they will be there tomorrow when I finish the book. I will give one word of advice. If you start This Tender Land, be sure you don’t have anything urgent on your agenda.
