Content Warning: This section of the study guide discusses a suicide attempt as well as assisted suicide. This section also includes discussion of themes and depictions of racism, enslavement, misogyny, and anti-gay bias, as well as references to racist and outdated language, attempted sexual coercion, domestic violence, and sexual assault.

A few weeks after Delwood “Del” Reese started working on Moe Sutton’s farm, he turns 28. The other workers, including Ned Baker and Ollie Tuttle, give him a hard time because he is still unmarried and lacks body hair. He does not mind their teasing, however, because he has been having affairs with their wives. As Del starts working with the men, he eats dinner at their houses. He befriends their wives and children, charming Sarah Baker and Bertice Tuttle into affairs with him. He welcomes their advances. Del even starts an affair with Moe Sutton’s wife, Myra.

However, Moe catches Del and Myra together in the barn. Del and Myra deny their affair, but Moe notices Myra is not wearing any bloomers. Despite her excuse that she is hot, Moe angrily sends Myra to the house and tells Del that he will begin moving the grains. Del worries because he knows it is dangerous, but he does not want to lose his job, so he agrees to do it.