In the book One Foot in Eden written by Ron Rash, Billy Holcombe is portrayed as a good, hard-working, God-fearing man who can never seem to get things quite right. Shooting Holland Winchester is justified because Billy has to protect what he truly feels is threatened not physically, but mentally. Billy's judgment is sealed upon his death. For every wrong thing that he does, killing Holland Winchester was the just thing to do; he defends his family. .
Billy Holcombe was a good, hard-working man albeit an unlucky one. The first man in his family to own his land, he toils night and day to ensure good crops that provide for his wife whom he loves dearly. However, suffering from sterility, Billy is unable to give the one thing to his marriage that it lacks - a child. This problem forces Amy to seek solace in another man. This adulterous affair results in an ill-conceived child. Billy is not a trouble-making man until trouble finds him shortly after he discovers the affair between his wife and neighbor. Billy's biggest problem is not his shortcomings, but the fatal act he imposed against Holland Winchester.
Is the unlawful death an immoral act? Both society and God view that murder is wrong and is therefore punishable. Billy knows that the unlawful act he commits is wrong because he hides the body. He lies about the unlawful death to the sheriff, and he suffers hallucinations and fever because of the immorality of the act. However, although murder is deemed immoral, the Bible, as well as society, accepts killing if it is in self-defense. The Bible lists many incidents where man defends against immorality such as David and Goliath. This was not a premeditated act of murder - Billy did not plan on killing Holland - as a result, he does not violate against the principals of right and wrong. .
Justification for killing Holland Winchester comes when Billy's family is threatened. Holland states that he will never leave Amy and the unborn child alone.
