59 pages 1 hour read

Leif Enger

Peace Like a River

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2001

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Chapters 20-23Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 20 Summary: “The Ledger of Our Decisions”

Based on the information Reuben provides, a colleague of Andreeson’s named Juval forms a group to ride to Waltzer’s cabin and apprehend Davy the next morning. They’d found Andreeson’s car abandoned on the side of the road the night prior. In addition to Juval, the group includes a local rancher named Lonnie Ford, the town’s sheriff, three local deputies, and Reuben. Juval won’t allow Jeremiah to join them, but needs Reuben to show the way to the cabin.

As they ride, it occurs to Reuben he might have been wrong about Waltzer setting a trap and Andreeson being in danger. He begins to panic thinking he betrayed Davy needlessly and decides to lead the search party in the wrong direction. His misdirection takes them up a steep hill, but from the top Juval is able to see the cabin back the way they came, so they turn around. The rancher’s horse falls trying to navigate the downward path and rolls over its rider twice, nearly killing him. Juval makes Reuben admit he misled them on purpose, cuffs him on the side of the head, and denigrates his character. To Reuben, it feels deserved.

Having found the cabin’s location, Juval leaves Reuben to watch over the unconscious Lonnie Ford while he and the deputies go on.

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By Leif Enger

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