When she finally tells him her secret—her father raped her when she was a child—he says he doesn't care and affirms his love for her. Eventually, Miss Love and Rucker fall deeply in love. Will’s uncle Camp Williams commits suicide, which begins a dark period in Cold Sassy. Rucker hires Will’s worst enemy, Hosie Roach, to work at the store in Camp’s place; because of his new income, Hosie can marry Will's beloved Lightfoot. A pair of thieves rob and beat Rucker.; he recovers from his injuries, but catches pneumonia. As he lies sick in bed, Will overhears him tell Miss Love that God provides strength and comfort to the faithful in times of trouble. Miss Love tells Will that she's pregnant, although Rucker doesn't know. Rucker dies, but his message of faith in God gives Will strength to cope. Though the town and Will's family don't accept Miss Love, she knows they'll accept her child, so she plans to stay in Cold Sassy. Adaptations The novel was adapted into a TV movie in 1989, starring Richard Widmark, Faye Dunaway, and Neil Patrick Harris. In 2000, the American composer Carlisle Floyd wrote an opera based on the book. External links SparkNotes for Cold Sassy Tree 1984 American novels American historical novels American novels adapted into films Novels adapted into operas American novels adapted into television shows Novels set in Georgia (U.S. state) Fiction set in 1906 Jackson County, Georgia Houghton Mifflin books 1984 debut novels