Describe the Pye family.

Calvin Pye is the farmer who lives next door to the Morrisons. Calvin is the third in a long line of Pye men who have been verbally and physically abusive to his sons. In fact, Calvin lived with his own father alone for nearly twenty years, taking his abuse silently, without fighting back. When Calvin's own son begins to fight back, Calvin reacts with more abuse, eventually killing his only son. Calvin kills himself when the police come to arrest him for the crime.

Laurie Pye is Calvin Pye's fourteen-year-old son. In public, Laurie is a quiet and almost shy young man who suddenly explodes on the schoolyard one day and beats the school bully. This event seems to be a catalyst that shows Laurie that he does not have to sit back and take the abuse at home. One Saturday, Laurie finally has enough of his home life and walks away, but he has nowhere to go. Laurie returns home, only to be confronted by his father and killed for his pains.

Marie Pye is Laurie's oldest sister. Marie is a shy and quiet young woman who is infatuated with Matt Morrison. Katie recalls Marie coming by the house many times after their parents' funeral to speak to Matt. After Laurie's death, Marie takes up the slack on the farm and begins working in the fields beside her father. This leads to Marie and Matt being thrown together quite often as Matt works on the farm as a hired worker. In the end, Marie and Matt become lovers, resulting in a surprise pregnancy. When Calvin learns Marie is pregnant, she runs to Matt and tells him how her father killed Laurie and she is afraid he will kill her too.

Marie and Matt marry after Calvin's suicide, taking over the farm together. They stay married for more than eighteen years. When Katie comes to their home for Simon's birthday party, Marie confronts Katie. Marie accuses Katie of causing tension in her relationship with Matt because of her disappointment in his decision to not go to university. Katie is angry at first, but soon comes to recognize that Marie is right.