I hope that I can explain the dynamics of a small rural community in the south. This by no means refers to the south as a whole but I believe it does apply to Darden Tenn.
I moved from a large city in the north to a large city in the south. I met a guy from a small city, married him and moved to what he referred to as, God's Country. Soon after I referred to it as God Forsaken. I don't now. There was nothing to do, no where to go, they rolled up the sidewalks at dark!
It was very different for me and I didn't understand anything. Growing up we didn't have family near us so at holidays we were alone.
Suddenly I had his entire family which consisted of his parents, 3 siblings, grandparents on both sides. Thirty-two female first cousins and fifteen male first cousins on one side. Not only that, his father had 7 brothers and 4 sisters and they all lived within hollering distance to his grandmother. His maternal grandparents also lived with his parents.
It gets better, my husband went into the military three days after we were married and left me with his parents. The plan was for me to join him after basic training but, best laid plans of mice and men as the saying goes, I got pregnant right away. DON'T LAUGH!
Next, I wasn't allowed to go with him. He was shipped to another base, trained, and shipped to Korea. I didn't know a sole. I was miserable!
His family was great. They treated me like a daughter. His mother was with me when I had my son. Three and a half days of labor and she stayed by my side. When I went home she hired someone to clean house so she could help with the baby. She worked full time too.
His sister came everyday during lunch and bathed and fed the baby. Everyone was wonderful. I was never treated like an outsider. I was family.
We went to church together and so did most of the other siblings' families. Not all the same churches. After church all my hubby's siblings and sibling in laws came for dinner. It was like Thanksgiving every Sunday.
I had a hard time with people wanting to get to know me. I thought they were being nosy and later realized they cared. When my sister finally had a baby after trying for 10 years my ex's grandmother crocheted a beautiful afghan for the baby. The other one knitted a hat, sweater, and booties. They had only met her once but she was my sister so they claimed her too.
When my husband came home we moved to his Dad's farm. My husband's sister and hubby, and his brother and wife built down the road on the farm land. About a dozen cousins built on the same road.
We were close enough to be neighbors but not close enough to see what went on at each house. Some went to church, some didn't. Most did.
Church was a big part of most of our lives. Church youth groups, camps, slumber parties, vacation bible school. Big meals on special occasions at the church and inviting the preacher and his family to your house for a meal is normal behavior. In a small town (rural community) these things are very important. What else would the children have without the church. Who else would help when someone is ill, in financial need, going through a divorce, or dying if not for the church.
Its not a cult. Its a way of life. People helping people. Children mingling with other children in a safe environment. Giving them a place to go that is safe and fun. Teaching them to socialize. Families living close and being there for each other. Not a cult.
As far as hunting and carrying guns, many do hunt. They eat what they hunt. Its not just for sport but many of them enjoy hunting. I can honestly say I have heard more gunshots in the big cities I have visited and/or worked in than I have heard when I lived on a farm in a rural community. My husband (now ex-husband) never hunted. Most of his cousins did.
As far as the Bobo grandmother saying that was the first night Holly and Clint had spent apart I think I can explain what she meant by that.
It has nothing to do with them sleeping together. My father in law used to stand up when the sun went down and say he was going to bed, regardless of the time. He would say its night time the sun is down, time to go to bed. He was up every morning before the sun came up.
A lot of southerners who come from farms might say, he came over last night and it actually means it was dark or close to dark, not night as we might think of it.
Holly's grandmother would NEVER mean they spent the night together as in sleeping together. That would be something she would never talk about even if she suspected it. She meant they saw each other every day and it was dark or dark when he left. Therefore, in her eyes they spent every night together.
I hope this helps and clarifies things so you will have a better understanding of the rural community in Darden as well as the close relationship to the church and the pastor.
One other thing. In smaller communities many pastors lives off the offerings of the church, the church also has to operate off these offerings. It is not unusual to have a minister who works as a house painter, carpenter, sheriff, deputy sheriff, or any number of other things to subsidize his income and take care of his family. LE in small communities don't make a lot of money either so most of those who choose that as a profession want to work in bigger towns or cities. In other words, no one wants to work for free or peanuts.
I hope this helps and sorry it is such a long post. MOO