The trial is a nightmare. The Lands are shunned by a good portion of the town, either because they blame Davy for what happened, or just feel awkward and don't know what to do or say to his family. The town doctor and their court appointed lawyer are the only ones who ever come around to the house. The school principal, who has always hated Jeremiah, uses what has happened as an excuse to mistreat Jeremiah and then fire him. The family finances, always precarious, are now unsustainable. Making things worse, the case attracts national interest and the media descends en masse on the town, writing lurid accounts of the incident and vying to get interviews with all involved. At first the press plays up the angle of Davy being a hero, defending his family. But Davy doesn't play ball, refusing to give them any fodder for their endless hunger for spectacle and scandal. They find the families of Israel and Tommy to be much more amenable, providing them with sob stories about two misunderstood youths who were turning their lives around. Uh huh. In any case, the press start writing those types of stories, which turn a lot of the public against Davy.
The trial itself is a disaster for the defense as Davy has no desire to play the victim and Reuben, called as a witness, fumbles his testimony, making Davy actually seem worse instead of better. Also not helping, it comes out that earlier on that fateful night Davy had, when they thought he'd gone out for a smoke, actually tracked down the car Israel and Tommy had used to kidnap Swede and smashed all the windows out of it. So when he was waiting in bed that night with the rifle, it was because he knew they would be bound to try to retaliate. It becomes clear that they are going to lose the court case and that Davy will be going to prison for a very long time. Davy certainly realizes this because one night when the trial is wrapping up, he escapes from their little county jailhouse and goes on the run. Fresh sensation ensues... as does a manhunt.
It's discovered that Davy stole a local horse to escape on, which is later found; once far enough out of town, Davy left it and hitchhiked, with whom or where to, no one knows. The Lands later get word that he made his way to the home of an old family friend, August, where they had often taken hunting trips. He borrowed a car from August and drove off for parts unknown, though August suspects the Badlands in North Dakota. Meanwhile the police- and a federal investigator named Andreeson- have no leads and repeatedly question the Lands, to try to discover where Davy is. Of course, the Lands don't actually know and in any case, Jeremiah simply refuses to cooperate in any way with the authorities.
Everything appears to be at a standstill when the Lands get word that Tin Lurvy has died suddenly and left Jeremiah, who had always been so kind to him, his practically new Airstream which he lived in while traveling around. Taking this as a sign, Jeremiah decides to pack up Reuben and Swede and leave town in the Airstream, going on a quest to find Davy. They don't know where he is, but Jeremiah has faith that God will lead them to him. So they quietly pack up and leave but it soon becomes apparent that Andreeson is tailing them, assuming that they know where Davy is and will lead him to the escapee. They manage to lose him on several occasions, including once where Swede sabotages Andreeson's car, giving them time to elude him as they head out to find Davy, not certain where they'll be going or if he'll be there when they arrive.
I'm going to stop my description of the plot here, so as not to spoil what happens if you haven't read this book yourself and decide to do so. In my next- and final- post on Peace Like A River, I'll discuss my thoughts on the book and its themes.