It is quite clear that you have read "A Good Man is Hard to Find" (and, I suspect there are other, much deeper reasons why you think the way you do). I couldn't agree more with your assessment of why Nichols behaved the way he did.
AGMIHTF is awesome - as are "And the Lame Shall Enter First", "Good County People" and "Revelation." ALL of them!I think I read somewhere that she was conservo, too!