,,! ,,TIE ,,T ,,B9DS

              ,,K5T ,,H>UF

              ,PUBLI%$ BY
       ,V9TAGE ,BOOKS1 ,NEW ,YORK
      ,COPY"R ^C #AIHD 0,K5T ,H>UF
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  ?AN A SPECIALIZ$ =MAT IS PROHIBIT$4
             ,TRANSCRIP;N (
         ,,ISBN #J-CGE-GBDCH-I


      ,TRANSCRIB$ 9 ,5GLI% ,BRL BY
    ,NANCY ,HAMILTON & ,]IC ,SORLI5
          ,"EGRE5 ,BRL ,S]VICE
           ,S1TTLE1 ,WA%+TON
             ,9 #D ,VOLUMES
               ,VOLUME #A
         ,PAGES ;I-;IV & #A-AJH

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                                    ;III











             ,= ,G+] & ,M>K












                                     ;IV
























          ,,! ,,TIE ,,T ,,B9DS        #A

                   #A

  ,$I? ,GOODN\< ISN'T 9 ! C.TRY ANYMORE4
,%E'S 9 T[N N[1 9 ! HOSPITAL1 LY+ "! 9 T
:ITE B$ )A NE$LE /UCK 9 ! BACK ( "O H& &
A MAN /&+ GU>D 9 ! HALLWAY \TSIDE H]
ROOM4 ,%E W 2 EI<TY YE>S OLD ? WEEK3 A
CL1N B1UTI;L :ITE-HAIR$ WOMAN :O N"E 9
H] LIFE WEI<$ Z M* Z #AAE P.DS1 & %E HAS
WEI<$ A LOT LESS ?AN T S9CE ,NEW ,YE>'S
,EVE4 ,/1 ! %]IFF &! LAWY]S EXPECT H] TO
GET WELL 5 = !M 6SIT H] UP 9 A :EEL*AIR
& !N DRIVE H] ACR T[N 6! C\RTH\SE 62G9 !
TRIAL4 ,:5 T HAPP5S1 IF T HAPP5S1 ,I
DON'T "K T !Y W G S F> Z 6PUT H&CU6S ON
H]4 ,BUD ,S1LY1 ! %]IFF1 HAS TURN$ \ 6BE
A SON (A BIT*1 ALL "R1 B ,I / C'T SEE HM
PUTT+ H&CU6S ON A WOMAN L ,$I? ,GOODN\<4
  ,ON ! O!R H&1 ,I DON'T SUPPOSE ,BUD
,S1LY "E 9T5D$ 62COME A SON (A BIT* AT
ALL4 ,Z LATE Z N9E "DS AGO HE 0 SITT+ ON
A B>/OOL AT ! LUN* C.T] 9 ! ,HOLT ,CA-
F@E4 ,X 0 ,FRI"D AFN2 X 0 AB TWO-?IRTY1
T SLACK "T T -ES E "D = HM :5 HE'S    #B
GOT ALL 8 PAP] "W FILL$ \1 :5 "! ISN'T A
?+ M = HM 6D EXCEPT WAIT =! HI< S*OOL
KIDS 6GET \ ( S*OOL S !Y C 2G9 6RACE UP
& D[N ,MA9 ,/REET OR DRIVE \ ONTO ,U4,S4
#CD & CUT COOKIES ON ! BLACKTOP4 ,S ,BUD
_H "T4 ,HE 0 RELAX+4 ,ALR HE _H EAT5 8
BUTT]SCOT* PIE & ,BETTY _H CLE>$ 8
PLATE4 ,N[1 :ILE HE WAIT$ = 8 SECOND CUP
( BLACK C(FEE 6COOL1 HE 0 TURN$ >.D ON !
B>/OOL S Z 6FRONT ! M5 :O SAT OPPOSITE
HM 9 ! BOO?S4 ,! M5 _H -E 9 E>LI] 9 _!
T[N PANTS & ADJU/A# CAPS4 ,TWO OR ?REE (
!M _H SLAPP$ HM ON ! BACK L !Y D1 & !Y
_H ALL TAK5 _! PLACES ON ! O!R /OOLS OR
9 ! NE>BY BOO?S S !Y CD HE> ! TALK &
KEEP CURR5T4
  ,MO/ (! TALK T AFN 0 ,BUD'S4 ,HE 0
TELL+ !M A /ORY4 ,I 2LIEVE MO/ (! M5 _H
HE>D ? "PICUL> /ORY AT L1/ TWICE 2F1 ?\<
,I D\BT T ANY "O ( !M WD H ?"\ 6/OP HM F
TELL+ X AG1 S9CE ! "O ?+ !Y ALL _H TOO
M* ( 0 J T--"T4 ,I M1N TWO OR ?REE _H
ALR RETIR$ F ! "W !Y _H N"E GOTT5 >.D TO
2G9N+4
  ,AT ANY RATE1 ! /ORY ,BUD 0 TELL+   #C
T AFN _H 6D ) H[ "! 0 ? GUY AT ! ,N,NAL
,WE/]N ,/OCK ,%[ :O 0 WALK+ >.D 9 PUBLIC
)A PIECE ( P9K ?R1D TI$ 6HMF1 L :AT X 0
TI$ 6WAS "O (! AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITS 9 !
PAVILION HALLWAYS4 ,HE 0 SORT ( 4PLAY+
HMF 6FOLKS4 ,T IS1 UNTIL ! POLICE COLL>$
HM & TOOK HM 6JAIL = 9DEC5T EXPOSURE &
CR1T+ A NUIS.E4 ,!Y BOOK$ HM4 ,A FEW
WEEKS LAT] :5 !Y /OOD HM UP 9 FRONT (A
JUDGE--AN OLD MAN ) WIRE GLASSES & NO
HAIR 6SP1K (--! JUDGE SAYS 6HM3 8,SON1
,I'M GO+ 6ASK Y J "O "Q & ,I WANT AN AN-
SW]4 ,SON1 >E Y CRAZY80 ,&! GUY )! P9K
?R1D SAYS1 8,NO SIR1 ,I DON'T 2LIEVE S40
,&! JUDGE SAYS3 8,WELL !N1 >E Y J HALF
CRAZY80 ,&! GUY SAYS '''
  ,B ,BUD N"E GOT 6SAY ? "T :AT ! GUY
SAYS1 2C J !N "S"O WALK$ 96! ,HOLT ,CA-
F@E T NEI ,BUD NOR ANY (! O!R M5 KNEW4
,HE ASK$ : "O ( !M 0 ! %]IFF4 ,"O (!
BOYS PO9T$ 6,BUD4
  ,X TURN$ \ ? NEW MAN 0 A NEWSPAP] RE-
PORT] F ,D5V]4 ,HE _H J DRIV5 96T[N4 ,AT
! POLICE /,N !Y _H TOLD HM T HE MI<T
4COV] ! %]IFF AT ! ,HOLT ,CAF@E1 &    #D
HE DID4 ,S ,I DATE X AB !N1 A LL AF TWO-
?IRTY ON A ,FRI"D AFN 9 ,APRIL1 T ,BUD
,S1LY />T$ S]I\SLY 62COME A SON (A BIT*4
,2C 9 A FEW M9UTES ,BUD & ? ,D5V] MAN
W5T \ 6! T[N'S COP C>2 !Y DROVE (F UP
,MA9 ,/REET1 & ,I DON'T GUESS !Y _H
DRIV5 L;G OR F> 2F ,BUD GAVE HM ! FIFTY-
P.D BAG ( *ICK5 FE$ T _H BE5 KNIF$ OP5 &
LAID 9 EASY A3ESS =! SIX OR SEV5 *ICK5S1
LAID J 9SIDE ! *ICK5 COOP ": X WDN'T GET
WET OR SN[$ ON4
  ,T 0 N 5\<1 H["E4 ,T DID N SATISFY HM4
,! MAN F ,D5V] WANT$ M ?AN J *ICK5 FE$4
,S ,BUD TURN$ (F ONTO "O (! RESID5TIAL
/REETS & DROVE A BLOCK OR TWO "U ! BU4+
ELM TREES RIS5 AL;G ! CURB1 & !N ON
,BIR* ,/REET OR ,C$> HE GAVE HM ! DOG
TOO1 TOLD HM H[ ! OLD MILKY-EY$ DOG1 :
_H N"E BE5 TI$ UP 2F1 _H N"E!.S BE5 TI$
UP T "PICUL> ,DECEMB] AFN ?REE &A HALF
MON?S AGO & AG )9 EASY R1* ( S"EAL "DS'
FOOD & WAT]4
  ,B T / 0 N 5\<4 ,*ICK5 FE$ & AN OLD
DOG M/ H ONLY :ET ! ,D5V] MAN'S
APPETITE4 ,2SS1 ,I SUPPOSE HE 0 BE-   #E
G9N+ 6CR[D ,BUD N[1 %OVE HM H>D = M4 ,!N
TOO1 MAYBE 0? "T ,BUD 0 2G9N+ 6SEE "S?+
9 X = HMF4 ,P]H ,BUD IMAG9$ T HAV+ 8 "N
APPE> ON ! FRONT PAGE (A ,D5V] NEWSPAP]
WD "SH[ 9SURE 8 TW5TY-YE>-OLD 9VE/;T AT
! LOCAL C.TY POLLS1 Z IF X WD P]MAN5TLY
CLOSE AN 9SUR.E POLICY ) U T WD MAKE U
WANT 6G ON M>K+ T ;,X 2S 8 "N -E ! F/
,TUES"D 9 ,NOVEMB]4 ,2C ) 8 "N F1TUR$
PROM95T 9 ! BIG C;Y PAP]S & ON ! FRONT
PAGE1 NO LESS1 WE'D 2 PR\D ( HM1 TAKE
PRIDE 9 "O ( \R [N'S MANAG+ S* A ?+1 &
!N HE WDN'T "E H 6D ANY M /ORYTELL+ 9 !
,HOLT ,CAF@E 9 ORD] 6COLLECT F U4 ,ALL
HE WD H 6D WD 2 65T] 8 "N ON ! PROP]
ELEC;N PAP]S AT ! APPO9T$ "T & SEE 6X T
X 0 SPELL$ "R1 & !N--:Y HELL--J G ON
PAY+ 8 WIFE'S DOCTOR BILLS & S5D+ ^? TU-
I;N PAY;TS 6! /ATE UNIV]S;Y 9 ,B\LD]1 ":
X LOOK$ L 8 KID 0 N"E GO+ 6AM.T 6A GOD-
DAMN OR EV5 6GRADUATE4
  ,B ,I C'T SAY = SURE T'S H[ ,BUD 0
?9K+4 ,:AT ,I'VE SU7E/$ IS BAS$ ONLY ON
:AT ,I "K AB HM AF ^! FIFTY YE>S ( SEE+
& TALK+ 6HM AB ONCE E WEEK4 ,NO1      #F
ALL ,I "K = SURE IS T 8 COP C> 0 \ 9 !
C.TRY A LL LAT] T SAME AFN & HE &! ,D5V]
MAN 7 / 9 X1 / TALK+1 / LICK+ UP 6"O AN-
O!R L !Y 7 A C\PLE ( DOGS 4CUSS+ ! FRE%
JOYS (A BIT* 9 H1T4 ,ONLY !Y 7 N 4CUSS+
COPUL,N1 NOR LOVE &! W1!R1 NOR EV5 !
PRICE ( FAT HOGS AT ! SALE B>N 9 ,BRU%4
,X 0 M ?AN T4 ,I 2LIEVE X 0 A LOT M1 2C
X 0 !N & "!1 ) CORN /UB# ON "O SIDE &
GRE5 :1T ON ! O!R1 T ,BUD ,S1LY EMPTI$
HMF4 ,HE GAVE HM ,$I? ,GOODN\<4
  ,HE TOLD HM H[ 9 ,DECEMB] ,$I? _H SAT
"! QUIET1 ROCK+ H]F & WAIT+1 :ILE OV] "!
ACR ! ROOM F H]1 ,LYMAN1 H] BRO!R1 _H
LA9 ON 8 COT ASLEEP1 SNOR+ AG/ ! WALL4
,BUD DIDN'T H 6TELL T4 ,"! 0 5 )\T ANY (
T4 ,X'S J A GD ?+ ! SON (A BIT* DIDN'T
"K AB ,LYMAN'S TRAVEL PAP]S & PUMPK9
PIE1 2C IF HE _H1 HE'D H ?R[N !M 9 TOO4
,SURE Z HELL4
  ,MYF1 ! NEXT AFN :5 HE CAME 6ME1 ,I
DIDN'T GIVE HM A ?+4

  ,? 0 EI<T "DS AGO4 ,SATUR"D4 ,F/ ,I
HE> ! TIRES ON ! GRAVEL GR9D1 !N !    #G
C> DOOR4 ,X'S TOO E>LY 9 ! AFN = X 6BE
,MAVIS & ,R5A ,PICKETT RETURN+ F T[N1 S
,I LOOK UP F ! SQUEEZE *UTE ": ,I'M DOC-
TOR+ C[S1 &1 AT ! "T1 :5 ,I SEE ! ,D5V]
PLATES1 ,I / ?9K X M/ 2 "O ( ^! /ATE F>M
AG5TS -E \ 6TALK F]TILIZ]4 ,EV5 :5 ,I
SEE HE'S WE>+ A TIE & YELL[ PANTS ,I ?9K
X IS1 2C N[A"DS "S ( YR "Y F>M AG5TS >E
/>T+ 6DRESS L T1 L !Y ?9K AT ANY M9UTE
!Y'RE GO+ 6BE CALL$ ON 6PLAY ,P+-,P;G4
,ANYWAY1 "H HE -ES1 WALK+ OV] T[>DS ME
AWAY F 8 C>4 ,HE GA9S ! CORRAL1 F9DS !
GATE1 FI4LES )! B> LAT*1 B !N X LOOKS Z
IF HE C'T FIGURE \ H[ 6"W X1 2C HE />TS
CLIMB+4 ,X DOESN'T D ! H+ES A LOT ( GD4
,HE CLIMBS UP ON X ANYWAY1 & AT ! TOP1 )
! GATE %AK+ BACK & =? "UN1? HM1 HE SW+S
BO? 8 LEGS OV]1 !N HE DROPS D[N 96! COR-
RAL 2S ME4
  8,I'M LOOK+10 HE SAYS1 8= ,S&]S ,ROS-
COE40
  ,I TURN BACK 6! C[4 ,I %OOT H] & %E
BAWLS1 !N ,I REL1SE ! H1D CAT* ON ! *UTE
& %E GOES \1 ALR RUNN+1 CR[-HOPP+ ) H]
H1D D[N & KICK+ UP FRE% C[ MANURE4    #H
,A PIECE ( X ! SIZE (A HALF DOLL> SPLATS
ONTO 8 %IRTFRONT NEXT 6HIS TIE4
  8,Y F.D HM10 ,I SAY4
  ,HE DOESN'T LOOK 6BE M* M ?AN A KID1 B
,I HAV5'T SE5 A LOT ( 8 FACE YET4 ,"R N[
HE HAS 8 H1D DUCK$ D[N1 /UDY+ 8 %IRT-
FRONT4 ,!N1 :ILE ,I WAT* HM1 HE TAKES AN
,"E%>P P5CIL \ ( 8 %IRT POCKET & 2G9S TO
FLICK )! PO9T ( X AT T LL SPLAT ( MA-
NURE4 ,:5 HE'S GOT X ALL (F PRETTY GD1 S
T X APPE>S Z IF MAYBE HE'S J SPILL$ HM
"S BR[N GRAVY "!1 HE CLIPS ! P5CIL BACK
9SIDE 8 POCKET & /ICKS 8 H& \4 ,8 H&'S L
T TOILET PAP] !Y SAY ON ,,TV !Y DON'T
WANT Y 6SQUEEZE4 ,S(T4
  8,MR4 ,ROSCOE10 HE SAYS4 8,I'M ,DICK
,H>R+TON4 ,)! .,PO/40
  8,T S80 ,I SAY4 8,I HOPE Y'RE N SELL+
ANY?+40
  8,NO10 HE SAYS4 8,! .,D5V] .,PO/4 ,X'S
A NEWSPAP]4 ,MAYBE Y'VE HE>D ( X40
  8,SURE4 ,I'VE HE>D ( X10 ,I SAY4 8,B
WE KEEP X \ ON ! BACK POR* ": WE SCRAPE
\R BOOTS1 S WE DON'T H 6TRACK C[ 96!
KIT*540 ,!N ,I ?R[ MY H1D BACK &      #I
LAU<4 8,X SAVES ?R[ RUGS10 ,I TELL HM4
  ,B HE DOESN'T ?9K T'S R1L FUNNY2 HE
LOOKS AT ME L ,H[ C ,I 2 S DUMB & LIVE8
,GUYS L HM ?9K !Y DRIVE ! #AEJ MILES \
"H DUE EA/ F ,D5V] & :5 !Y GET "H WE
DON'T "K ANY?+4 ,!Y ?9K !Y H 6$UCATE U
POOR DUMB C.TRY BA/>DS4 ,!Y ?9K WE DON'T
"K :AT ! .,D5V] .,PO/ IS4 ,WE "K ALL "R4
,WE J DON'T GIVE A DAMN4
  ,B N[ HE'S BUSY ) 8 H&S AG4 ,X SEEMS L
8 H&S >E ALW FLAT BUSY1 L HE C'T LET !M
RE/4 ,HE R1*ES 2H HM 96! BACK POCKET ( 8
PANTS & REMOVES 8 BILLFOLD1 OP5S X1 &
F+]S \ A LL :ITE C>D4 ,I /UDY X4 ,X HAS
8 NEWSPAP]'S DESIGN AT ! TOP & 8 "N
PR9T$ "UN1? T--ONLY ! C>D SAYS ,RI*>D--)
A PH"O NUMB] 2L 8 "N 6CALL HM AT 8 (FICE
IF ANYBODY WANTS 6CALL HM AT 8 (FICE4 ,I
H& X BACK 6HM4
  8,Y C KEEP X10 HE SAYS4
  8,NO10 ,I SAY4 8,X'D J GET LO/ >.D
"H40
  8,WELL10 HE SAYS4 8,WELL '''0
  ,B !N X'S L HE DOESN'T "K H[ 6G ON4
,HE LOOKS OV] ACR ! CORRAL 6": !     #AJ
?REE OR F\R C[S ,I'VE ALR DOCTOR$ >E
PU%+ "O ANO!R BUTT UP AG/ ! F;E1 FAC+ HM
) _! EYES ROLL$ BACK 6:ITE & LOOK+ L =
TWO BITS !Y'D EI BU/ D[N ! F;E 2H !M1
OR1 IF T DIDN'T "W1 RACE HM H1DL;G ACR !
CORRAL 6T GATE HE CDN'T FIGURE \ H[ TO
OP51 & ESCAPE T WAY4 ,S1 = AB TWO M9-
UTES1 ^? C[S & HM >E WAT*+ "O ANO!R1 />+
AT "O ANO!R ACR T ?IRTY FEET ( CORRAL
SPACE & FRE% C[ MANURE T SEP>ATES !M1
UNTIL ALL (A SU45 T "O C[ ,I HAV5'T DOC-
TOR$ YET DECIDES %E HAS 6BAWL4 ,& !N X'S
L HE'S BE5 J]K$ H>D 0! SLEEVE2 HE TURNS
BACK 9 ! O!R DIREC;N1 QK1 6FACE H]4
,%E'S / CAU<T 9SIDE T N>R[ ALLEY T L1DS
96! *UTE2 Y C SEE H] 2T ! ALLEY RAILS4
,H] EYES H GOT PL5TY ( :ITE %[+1 TOO1 &
%E'S 2G9N+ 6GET A LL ANTSY F 2+ LEFT BY
H]F1 B AT L1/ "!'S T M*--"!'S T F;E--
SEP>AT+ HM & H]1 & 2SS1 CR[D$ 96! ALLEY
! WAY %E IS1 %E C'T BACK UP 5 6COLLECT
H]F =A GD JUMP1 EV5 IF %E WANTS 6JUMP
OV] 9 8 DIREC;N4 ,: %E SURELY DOESN'T4
,ONLY ,I DON'T 2LIEVE HE "KS T4
  8,MR4 ,ROSCOE10 HE SAYS4 8,ISN'T   #AA
"! "S PLACE ELSE WE C TALK80
  8,OH10 ,I TELL HM1 MO;N+ AT ! C[S1
8Y'LL H 6N"E M9D !M4 ,!Y J HAV5'T SE5 _M
YELL[ PANTS 2F4 ,GIVE !M A LL M "T--!Y
MI<T GET US$ 6X40
  ,HE LOOKS D\BT;L OV] AT ! C[S AG4 ,I H
6ADMIT !Y HAV5'T *ANG$ M*4 ,!Y / LOOK L
!Y FLAT WANT 6RUN OR FLY OR GET LOOSE
"SH[4 ,!Y'RE / FAC+ HM ) _! EYES ROLL$
BACK & _! BUTTS JAMM$ UP AG/ ! F;E Z
TI<T 6X Z !Y C GET4
  8,WELL10 HE SAYS1 TURN+ BACK 6ME1 8IF
,I C1 ,I'D L 6ASK Y "S "QS4 ,C ,I ASK Y
A FEW "QS80
  8,DEP5DS10 ,I SAY4
  8,ON :AT80 HE SAYS4
  8,ON :AT Y'RE ASK+40
  ,S !N HE ASKS ME1 & :AT HE ASKS %[S
HE'S N EV5 A /ATE F>M AG5T1 T HE DOESN'T
EV5 AM.T 6T M*4 ,X %[S TOO T YELL[ PANTS
OR NO1 ! JOKE'S OV]4 ,2C :AT HE ASKS IS3
  8,Y'RE A NEI<BORLY SORT ( MAN1 >5'T Y1
,MR4 ,ROSCOE80
  8,I C BE10 ,I SAY1 2C ,I "K :AT HE'S
DRIV+ AT N[2 ,I "K :AT'S -+4         #AB
  8,I M1N10 HE SAYS1 8Y "K ALL ! NEI<-
BORS >.D "H40
  8,MAYBE4 ,"S ( !M40
  8,$I? & ,LYMAN ,GOODN\<1 = 9/.E80 HE
SAYS4 8,P TELL ME Y KNEW !M BETT] ?AN
ANY"O ELSE DID4 ,T Y DID ?+S = !M4 ,IS T
TRUE80
  ,S "! X IS4 ,X HASN'T TAK5 HM L;G4 ,&
,I SAY1 8,DIDN'T ALL ^! P Y SAY Y TALK$
6AT L1/ TELL Y H[ 6SAY _! "N--:ILE !Y 7
TELL+ Y ! RE/ ( X80
  8,Y M1N X'S N ,GOOD-NOW80
  8,NO40
  8,:AT IS X !N80
  8,GOOD-NO40
  8,OKAY10 HE SAYS4 8,SUIT YRF40
  ,!N HE R1*ES 2H HM AG 6DIG 9 8 BACK
POCKET4 ,HE DRAWS \ A LL SPIRAL NOTEBOOK
& WRITES "S?+ 96X ) T ,"E%>P P5CIL HE
US$ A LL :ILE E>LI] 6FLICK ! C[ MANURE
(F 8 %IRT4 ,:5 HE'S D"O SCRI2L+ HE SAYS1
8,!Y US$ 6LIVE D[N ! ROAD F Y1 DIDN'T
!Y80
  8,X'S / _!S10 ,I SAY4 8,NOBODY ELSE
HAS B"\ X F !M YET40                 #AC
  8,YES10 HE SAYS1 8& ,I ALR "K X'S LO-
CAT$ D[N ! ROAD F Y40
  ,S HE'S />T+ 6TALK T WAY N[1 L HE'S
SURE ( HMF1 2C ) T SPIRAL NOTEBOOK & T
P5CIL 9 8 H&S HE'S =GOTT5 HE'S /&+ ON
TOP ( C[ MANURE 9SIDE A "W CORRAL ":1
?IRTY FEET AWAY F HM1 "S FRE%-DOCTOR$
C[S >E / ON 8 SIDE (! F;E1 & !Y WD J Z
SOON RUN "? HM Z H 6LOOK AT HM ANY L;G]4
  ,B HE GOES ON4 ,HE SAYS1 8,I'VE BE5
TOLD T Y 7 ! F/ "O "! T NI<T1 LA/ ,DE-
CEMB]4 ,T :5 ! O!RS >RIV$ !Y F.D Y ALR
WAIT+ = !M1 & !N Y DIDN'T WANT 6LET !M G
9SIDE4 ,Y TRI$ 6PREV5T !M4 ,:Y IS T80 HE
SAYS4
  8,Y TELL ME4 ,Y "K ALL AB X40
  8,LOOK10 HE SAYS1 8,MR4 ,ROSCOE4 ,I'M
J TRY+ 6GET :AT MY $ITOR S5T ME \ "H TO
GET4 ,& ,I DON'T ?9K ,I L X ANY BETT]
?AN Y D4 ,B ,I ?9K ,I "K H[ Y M/ H FELT
AB--0
  8,Y DON'T "K A DAMN ?+10 ,I TELL HM4
  8,ALL "R10 HE SAYS4 8,ALL "R !N1 =GET
T4 ,B LI/51 LET ME J ASK Y ?4 ,LET ME
ASK Y3 Y AGREE X 0 DELIB]ATE1        #AD
DON'T Y8 ,Y DON'T ?9K X 0 J AN A3ID5T40
  ,I DON'T ANSW] HM4 ,"H HE IS1 /&+ 9
FRONT ( ME 9 8 YELL[ ,P+-,P;G PANTS2
HE'S N M ?AN AN >M'S L5G? AWAY F ME1 &=
:AT HE'S TRY+ 6GET ME 6-MIT MYF 6SAY+ ,I
"\ 6SW+ ON HM4 ,B ,I DON'T4 ,I J LOOK AT
HM4
  ,S HE SAYS1 8,B WE BO? "K T1 DON'T WE8
,I J WANT 6"K :AT Y ?9K ( X40
  ,I'VE _H 5 ( HM N[4 ,M ?AN 5\<4 ,I
SAY1 8,Y WANT 6"K :AT ,I ?9K80
  8,YES40
  8,I ?9K X'S N"O ( YR GODDAMN BUSI;S4
,I ?9K Y BETT] G ON BACK 6,D5V]40
  8,MR4 ,ROSCOE10 HE SAYS1 SAY+ MY "N ?
"T L HE 0 SAY+ %IT4 8,I'VE ALR TALK$ 6!
%]IFF1 ,BUD ,S1LY4 ,& HE TOLD ME--0
  8,NO10 ,I SAY4 8,NO1 Y BETT] G N[40 ,&
,I TAKE A /EP T[>DS HM4 ,HE LOOKS SUR-
PRIS$1 L HE'S J OP5$ ! WR;G DOOR & -E UP
ON "S?+ HE N"E EXPECT$4 ,HE BACKS UP A
C\PLE PACES4
  8,X'LL ALL -E \ ANYWAY10 HE SAYS4
8,I'LL F9D \ F "SBODY40
  8,N F ME Y WON'T40                 #AE
  ,I /EP T[>DS HM AG & LOOK AT HM CLOSE
UP1 A FOOT AWAY F 8 FACE4 ,8 M\/A*E IS
?9 "U 8 NOSE & HE'S GOT POCKM>KS AL;G !
SIDE ( 8 JAW4 ,HE CD USE A HAIRCUT4 ,B--
,I'LL GIVE HM ? M*--HE DOESN'T BACK UP
ANYMORE1 EV5 IF HE IS J A KID1 S ,I'M "?
PLAY+ ) HM N[4 ,I WALK >.D HM OV] 6!
CORRAL GATE & OP5 X 0?R[+ BACK ! B> LAT*
& HOLD+ X = HM4
  ,HE WALKS OV] T[>DS ME1 & :5 HE'S J AB
6PASS ME 6G "? ! GATE ,I TAKE 8 LL NOTE-
BOOK \ ( 8 H& & RIP ! TOP PAGE \ ( X1 !
"O HE WROTE "S?+ ON :ILE HE 0 TALK+ 6ME4
,!N ,I GIVE ! NOTEBOOK BACK 6HM4 ,8 FACE
LOOKS L "SBODY J SLAPP$ HM4
  8,:AT >E Y DO+80 HE SAYS4 8,Y C'T D
T40
  8,SON10 ,I SAY1 8GET YR ASS (F MY
PLACE4 ,& DON'T Y "E -E BACK "H4 ,"U/&8
,I DON'T "E WANT 6SEE Y AG40
  ,HE />TS 6SAY "S?+ M2 8 M\? OP5S 2N !
M\/A*E1 !N X CLOSES4 ,HE TURNS & WALKS
AWAY F ME OV] 6HIS C>4 ,HE GETS 9 &=A
M9UTE WAT*ES ME "? ! W9D[4 ,!N HE TURNS
! KEY2 ! C> MOVES1 SPRAY+ GRAVEL \   #AF
2H HM Z HE L1VES4 ,I WAT* HM \ ! LANE
ONTO ! ROAD BACK 6T[N4 ,:5 ,I C'T SEE HM
ANYMORE ,I LOOK AT ! SCRIB# ON ! PIECE (
PAP] ,I TOOK F 8 NOTEBOOK4 ,X R1DS3
..,S&]S ,ROSCOE--FIFTYI%--H1VYSET--OB-
/9ATE--,GOODN\<'S NEI<BOR--.,GOOD-NO4
,!N ,I TE> X UP & DROP X "UFOOT4 ,MY
BOOT HEEL GR9DS X 96! C[ %IT UNTIL X'S
4APPE>$1 G"O1 TURN$ 96J BR[N NO?+4 ,!
DAMN SQUIRT4
  ,B X DIDN'T D ANY GD4 ,HE F.D \ ANY-
WAY4 ,X GOT 96! PAP]S ANYWAY4 ,HE M/ H
TALK$ 6,BUD ,S1LY AG & "S ( ^? O!RS 9
T[N4 ,!Y PUT X ON ! FRONT PAGE4 ,T'S :Y
!Y'RE TALK+ ( TRIAL N[4 ,8 DAMN NEWSPAP]
A3.T SP>K$ ? TRIAL TALK4

  ,"S ( X 0 EV5 "R4 ,"S ( :AT !Y ?REW ON
! FRONT PAGE 2T ^? TWO PICTURES ( ,$I? &
,LYMAN 0 EV5 ! TRU?1 2C ,I GUESS EV5 A
,D5V] NEWSPAP] REPORT] C WALK 96! ,HOLT
,C.TY ,C\RTH\SE & COPY D[N ! DATE F A
HOME/1D RECORD1 & !N1 AF HE GETS T
/RAI<T1 DRIVE ON \ 6! CEMET]Y & R1D :AT
X SAYS ON ! ?REE H1D/"OS T >E /&+    #AG
"! SIDE 0SIDE 9 BR[N GRASS1 AWAY (F AT !
$GE (! CEMET]Y1 ": "!'S J SPACE 5 LEFT
OV] 2T T LA/ /"O & ,OTIS ,MURRAY'S CORN-
FIELD = "O M GRAVE4 ,2C YES1 HE MANAG$
6GET T M* /RAI<T4 ,& AF HE GOT X1 8 PAP]
MANAG$ 6>RANGE X CL"E ON ! FRONT PAGE4
  ,!Y _H ,$I?'S PICTURE OV] "H ON ! LEFT
& ,LYMAN'S PICTURE OPPOSITE X1 OV] "H ON
! "R1 ) BO? ( !M />+ 96! MI4LE S T !Y
SEEM$ 6N ONLY 2 LOOK+ AT "O ANO!R B 6AL
2 /UDY+ :AT 0 2T !M4 ,& :AT 0 "!1 2T !M1
L X 0 "S K9D ( FUN]AL NOTICE OR MAYBE J
! WRIT+ ON ! 9SIDE COV] (A FAMILY ,BI#1
0 ?3










          ,ROY ,GOODN\< BORN1        #AH
        ,C$> ,C.TY1 ,I[A1 #AHGJ
          ,ADA ,TWAMLEY BORN1
      ,JOHNSON ,C.TY1 ,I[A1 #AHGB
     ,R4 ,GOODN\< @& ,A4 ,TWAMLEY1
              M>RI$ #AHIE
          ,GOODN\<S1 HOME/1D1
     ,HOLT ,C.TY1 ,COLORADO1 #AHIF
        ,$I? ,GOODN\< BORN #AHIG
       ,LYMAN ,GOODN\< BORN #AHII
   ,ADA ,TWAMLEY ,GOODN\< DIES #AIAD
        ,ROY ,GOODN\< DIES #AIEB

  ,& !N1 F9,Y1 2L T "! 0 J "O M DATE1 T
LA/ "O1 ! "O T 0 ! R1SON = "! EV5 2+ A
/ORY ON ! FRONT PAGE AT ALL3

      ,FRI"D1 ,DECEMB] #CA1 #AIGF

  ,S T M* ( X--T M* ( :AT T ,D5V] RE-
PORT] F.D \ & T M* ( :AT 8 PAP] PR9T$--
0 "R4 ,B T WASN'T ALL ( X4 ,T WASN'T EV5
ALL ( T M*4 ,X DIDN'T T\* ON ! H[2 X N"E
M5;N$ ! :Y4 ,& EV5 :5 X W5T ON 6REP1T
:AT ,BUD ,S1LY M/ H TOLD HM AB ^? HALF-
DOZ5 *ICK5S & T OLD DOG & ,LYMAN     #AI
ASLEEP ON 8 COT :ILE ,$I? ROCK$1 EV5 !N
X WASN'T -PLETE4 ,= "O ?+1 X LEFT \
,ROY'S /UBS4 ,= ANO!R1 X DIDN'T SAY A ^W
AB ,LYMAN'S WAIT1 NOR 8 ,PONTIACS & PO/-
C>DS & TW5TY-DOLL> BILLS4 ,= / ANO!R1 X
DIDN'T TELL H[ ,$I? H]F WAIT$1 F/ = "O
6DIE & !N =! O!R 6-E BACK1 & :AT %E DID
) HM :5 HE DID -E BACK1 & H[1 F9,Y1 %E
"E MANAG$ 6LIVE "? ^? YE>S ( TRAVELOGUE4
,X N"E M5;N$ MY DAD4
  ,B !N1 6TELL TRU?1 ,I DON'T GUESS T
,D5V] REPORT] CD H WRITT5 AB ^? ?+S1 EV5
IF HE'D H WANT$ TO1 2C NOBODY TOLD HM AB
!M 9 ! F/ PLACE S T HE CD G ON & WRITE
!M UP AF HE 0 TOLD4 ,I WDN'T TELL HM4 ,I
WD H BE5 ! "O 6TELL HM TOO--,BUD ,S1LY 0
"R AB T4 ,B ,I WDN'T4 ,0,GOD1 ,I WD N4
  ,B LI/5 N[1 IF A P]SON DIDN'T WANT TO
PR9T X UP 9 "S DAMN NEWSPAP] OR ?R[ X
ALL OV] ! FRONT PAGE 2T TWO PICTURES T 7
>RANG$ S ! P 9 ! PICTURES _H 6/>E AT :AT
0 PR9T$ 2T !M L X 0 A ?+ 6BE A%AM$ (--
NO1 IF A P]SON J WANT$ 6SIT D[N QUIET 9
T *AIR ACR ! TA# F ME &1 S9CE X'S ,SUN"D
AFN1 J DR9K 8 C(FEE :ILE ,I TALK$1   #BJ
& !N IF HE J DIDN'T WANT 6RU% ME TOO
M*--WELL1 !N1 ,I CD TELL X4 ,I WD TELL X
S X WD 2 ALL1 & ,I WD TELL X S X WD 2
"R4
  ,2C LI/53



















                   #B                #BA

  ,MO/ ( :AT ,I'M GO+ 6TELL Y1 ,I "K4 ,!
RE/ ( X1 ,I 2LIEVE4
  ,I "K1 = EXAMPLE1 T !Y />T$ 9 ,I[A1 L
! PAP]S SD4
  ,I 2LIEVE1 ON ! O!R H&1 T HE M/ H SE5
FLY]S TALK+ AB X4 ,MAYBE HE SAW NOTICES
9 ! ,I[A PAP]S & GOV]N;T BRO*URES TOO1
ALL TALK+ AB X1 SAY+ "! 7 / "S ACRES ( X
LEFT \ "H & IF HE PROV$ ON "S ( X1 /AY$
ON X1 X 0 8 6HOME/1D4
  ,HE 0 TW5TY-FIVE4 ,HE _H M>RI$ LATE4
,ADA _H M>RI$ LAT]--=A WOMAN1 ,I'M TALK+
AB1 S9CE ? 0 EI<TY-TWO YE>S AGO & %E 0
ALR TW5TY-?REE4 ,B ?+S L AGE & "T WD H
BO!R$ HM 9 A DI6]5T WAY ?AN !Y DID H]1
2C ! PICTURES ,I H SE5 ( H] %[ T %E 0 A
SMALL ?9 WOMAN ) EYES T SEEM$ TOO BIG =
H] H1D--"O ( ^? WOM5 ) BLUE VE9S %[+ AT
BO? TEMPLES4 ,A WOMAN L T--TI<T /RUNG1
N]V\S1 TOO F9E ALT = :AT 0 WANT$ ( H]--
N"E %D H M>RI$ "SBODY L HM1 & %E PD = X4
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LEGS1 ) AN ,ADAM'S APPLE L A HICKORY NUT
T JU7$ UP & D[N :5 HE *EW$ OR SD     #BB
"S?+1 & ,I DON'T SUPPOSE HE 0 M* M ?AN J
GETT+ US$ 6HAV+ A WOMAN 9 8 B$ 2F HE 0
ALR ?9K+ "S?+ L3 ..,"H ,I BE5 M>RI$ A
HALF YE> ALR1 B ,I'M / AT HOME4 ,I'M /
%OVEL+ CORN 6ANO!R MAN'S HOGS1 / SPOON+
S\P AT "SBODY ELSE'S D9N] TA#4 ,JESUS
.,GOD4
  ,HE 0 A M1N SORT ( PRIVATE MAN1 ,I "K
F P]SONAL EXP]I;E ) HM1 & M MULEH1D$ EV5
?AN HE 0 PRIVATE4 ,HE HAT$ L ! V GODDAMN
6BE DEP5D5T ON ANY"O = ANY?+4 ,S ,I BE-
LIEVE "! _H 6BE "S?+ L ^? FLY]S1 & ,I
2LIEVE HE _H 6H SE5 !M4
  ,ON ^? COLD WET ,I[A NI<TS !N 9 T F/
W9T] ( _! M>RIAGE1 ) 8 BRO!RS & SI/]S
SLEEP+ 9 ! B$ROOMS NEXT DOOR & 8 FOLKS
SNOR+ F ANO!R ROOM D[N ! HALL1 ,I PIC-
TURE HM /&+ 2S A K]OS5E LAMP4 ,I PICTURE
HM R1D+ ^? FLY]S & NOTICES & GOV]N;T
BRO*URES TILL HE _H !M 0HE>T1 :ILE 9 !
ROOM ) HM ,ADA WD H BE5 LY+ ?9 & /RAI<T
9 _! B$ "U "S ?ICK HOMEMADE QUILTS1 LY+
"! WAIT+ = HM ) H] HAIR ALR -B$ \ &
BRAID$1 TRY+ 6/AY AWAKE = HM 2C %E NO
D\BT 2LIEV$ A NEW WIFE WD D T OR     #BC
%D AT L1/ TRY TO4 ,& /--2C ,I "K T'S !
WAY HE WAS--HE M/ H G"O ON NI<T AF NI<T
! SAME4 ,G"O ON /&+ "! 2S T DAMN F\L-
SMOK+ LAMP1 R1D+ & PLANN+ & %IV]+ 9 8
L;G SAG-BUTT "UWE>1 ) 8 R$ FEET IT*+ F !
COLD & 8 /R+Y >MS & LEGS G"O ALL 6GOOSE
BUMPS & PIG'S BRI/LE 0! "T HE F9,Y BLEW
\ ! LAMP & CRAWL$ 96B$ 2S ,ADA--N 6SLEEP
YET1 Y "U/&1 OR EV5 6RAISE ,ADA'S FLAN-
NEL NI<TG[N S HE CD RUB 8 CALL\S$ H&S
OV] H] ?9 HIPS & LL BR1/S--B J 6WAKE H]
AG1 WAKE H] S HE CD TELL H] "O M "T H[1
0,GOD1 HE _H X ALL FIGUR$4
  ,WELL1 HE _H X ALL FIGUR$--HE ALW DID
--B ,I DON'T SUPPOSE T COLD-FEET1 GOOSE-
BUMP1 2+-WAK5$-IN-!-NI<T SORT ( ?+ CD H
G"O ON = TOO L;G1 2C EV5 ,ADA WD N H PUT
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"M 9 ,JOHNSON ,C.TY1 CLAIM+ :AT"E !Y
CALL$ 9COMPATIBIL;Y 9 ^? "DS1 & !N ,ROY
WD H FUM$ & CLAIM$ F\L & 2GUN 6RAGE "S?+
AB A WIFE'S DUTY4 ,& MAYBE T WD H BE5 !
BE/ ?+ = BO? ( !M2 AT L1/ X WD H BE5 !
BE/ ?+ = ,ADA1 2C !N %E MI<T N"E H _H
6L1VE ,I[A4 ,B1 L ,I SAY1 T GOOSE-   #BD
BUMP BUSI;S M/ N H G"O ON = TOO L;G1 N
6! PO9T ": ,ADA LEFT HM1 ANYWAY1 2C -E !
NEXT SPR+1 ! SPR+ ( #AHIF1 ,I "K !Y BO?
LEFT ,I[A 9 A LOAD$ WAGON & MOV$ 6! ,HI<
,PLA9S ( ,COLORADO4
  ,!Y DROVE ACR WE/]N ,I[A & F]RI$ ACR !
,MISS\RI ,RIV]1 !N !Y CROSS$ ALL ( ,NE-
BRASKA4 ,!Y CDN'T H MADE M ?AN TW5TY
MILES A "D1 & !Y PROBABLY CAME AL"O1
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?IRTY YE>S1 & MAYBE 0! MI4LE (! SECOND
WEEK ,ADA _H /OPP$ LOOK+ \ ! BACK (!
WAGON4 ,ANYWAY1 !Y GOT "H1 & :5 !Y GOT \
"H 6NOR?EA/]N ,COLORADO1 :AT DID !Y F9D8
,T HAPP5S 6BE "O (! ?+S ,I "K2 ,I "K :AT
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PECT$ 6F9D4 ,X DEP5DS ON :AT K9D ( LIES
^? FLY]S & GOV]N;T BRO*URES TOLD4 ,B IF
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?R[N ANY BAG ( SE$ OR ANY PL[ OR FOOT-
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? C.TRY 0 0 S&Y1 & X 0 DRY1 &=! MO/ "P X
0 J FLAT1 ) ONLY "S L[ S& HILLS RUNN+ (F
9 A NOR?EA/]LY DIREC;N T[>DS ! ,NEBRASKA
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  ,EV5 N[ "! >E N _M TREES "H1 AL? P 9
T[NS L ,HOLT H FULL-GR[N TREES T 7
PLANT$ 0E>LY RESID5TS SIXTY & SEV5TY
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& "EGRE5 & COTTONWOOD & A%1 & E ONCE 9 A
:ILE A /UNT$ MAPLE T "SBODY /UCK 9 !
GR.D ) M HOPE = X ?AN R1L EXP]I;E ( ? >-
EA WD "E H ALL[$4 ,9 ! C.TRY WE H A FEW
TREES N[1 TOO1 ( C\RSE1 /&+ UP >.D \R
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US$ 6LIVE1 2C ( ^? TREES1 B WE >E M 9T]-
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BR1KS1 &! GOV]N;T WANTS 65C\RAGE X4
  ,E SPR+ N[ ! SOIL-3S]V,N (FICE TRIES
6SELL U R$ C$>1 BLUE SPRUCE1 POND]OSA
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TONWOOD1 LILAC1 SUMAC1 PLUM1 &
H"OYSUCKLE--?9 SAPL+S AT N9E DOL-    #BF
L>S =A BUNDLE ( ?IRTY OR FIFTE5 DOLL>S =
A BUNDLE ( FIFTY4 ,= ANO!R TW5TY C5TS P]
TREE ! GOV]N;T W S5D \ "SBODY 6PLANT !M
= U4 ,LA/ SPR+ X 0 AN OLD MAN ON A TRAC-
TOR PL[+ A FURR[ S T A "Y WOMAN RID+ A
TREE PLANT] 2H ! TRACTOR1 )A BUNDLE (
SAPL+S 9 A BOX 2S H] & H] FEET RAIS$ ON-
TO /IRRUPS 6BE \ (! WAY1 CD POKE ! SAP-
L+S D[N 2T H] ?I<S 96! PL[$ FURR[ ALM L
%E ?"\ %E 0 GIV+ BIR?4 ,? "PICUL> "Y
WOMAN 5JOY$ GETT+ Z M* SUN Z %E CD ALL
OV] H] BODY1 &! FOLKS D[N AT ! SOIL-
3S]V,N (FICE >E / TRY+ 6FIGURE \ H[ M*
6*>GE U = WAT*+ H] D T4
  ,B !N ,I 0 TALK+ AB :AT X 0 L 9 ? C\N-
TRY 9 #AHIF :5 ,ROY & ,ADA RODE "H 9 A
WAGON F ,I[A 6HOME/1D1 & ,I SD "! 7 ALM
NO TREES "H !N1 & T'S TRUE4 ,! ONLY
TREES 9 ? C.TRY AT T "T /OOD AL;G ! RIV-
]S &! CREEKS1 & "! 7 ONLY TWO EA* ( ^?4
,6! NOR? 0 ! ,S\? ,=K (! ,PLATTE ,RIV] &
AB "O HUNDR$ & FIFTY MILES 6! S\? 0 !
,>KANSAS ,RIV]2 9 2T 7 ! TWO CREEKS1 !
,REPUBLICAN &! ,>IK>EE4
  ,:AT !Y F.D :5 !Y GOT "H !N--&     #BG
,I DON'T 2LIEVE ,ADA "E GOT OV] ! %OCK (
X--WAS A FLAT1 TREE.S1 DRY PLACE T _H
ONCE 2L;G$ 6,9DIANS4
  ,X 0 A HELL (A BIG PIECE ( S&Y C.TRY1
)A HORIZON T 9 E DIREC;N M/ H SEEM$ !N--
6"S"O :O DIDN'T "K H[ 6LOOK AT ? C.TRY &
2F ,H5RY ,=D & PAV$ HI<WAYS DIM9I%$ X J
A LL--6R1* ="E AWAY "U A SKY 9 SUMM] T
DIDN'T GIVE M* (A GD GODDAMN :E!R OR N !
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T S& "E AM.T$ 6A PI4L+ ?+1 &A SKY 9 W9T]
T1 EV5 IF X 0 Z BLUE Z PICTURE BOOKS SD
X %D 2 & Z HI< & B"R Z ANYBODY CD HOPE
=1 / DIDN'T C>E :E!R OR N ! FRAME H\SE
,ROY 0 GO+ 6BUILD "E MANAG$ 6KEEP ! SN[
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WASN'T A ?+ 9 ! _W 3C]N$ 5 6C>E :E!R
,ROY'S CORN DID ANY?+ M ?AN %RIVEL1 & "!
WASN'T A ?+ TALL 5 OR WIDE 5 ANY": 2T
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,I[A4
  ,B ,ADA WDN'T H LEFT ,I[A AT ALL IF ?
_H / BE5 ,9DIAN C.TRY4 ,%E WASN'T    #BH
! K9D ( WOMAN 6D>E T M*4 ,"SH[ %E WD H
BLOCK$ ,ROY'S HOME/1D PLANS1 & %E WD EI
H F.D A WAY 65DURE ,ROY'S COLD FEET OR
%E WD H G"O HOME 6H] "M1 L ,I'VE ALR
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0 E/ABLI%$ C.TRY 0T "T1 & FEEL+ AT HOME
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PICTURES ( H] %[1 MI<T N"E H TAK5 ROOT 9
H] EYES4 ,B ! ,9DIANS 7 G"O4 ,%E DIDN'T
H T R1DY EXCUSE NOR GD R1SON N 6-E4 ,%E
_H 6FOLL[ H] HUSB&1 IF :AT HE PROPOS$ 6D
SEEM$ EV5 REMOTELY R1SONA#1 & AF ALL1 0!
2G9N+ (! LA/ DECADE (! LA/ C5TURY1 ?
C.TRY 0 ALR />T+ 6FILL UP ) HOME/1D]S2
"! WASN'T M* HOME/1D L& LEFT4 ,S ,ADA
CAME4
  ,B ,ROY N[1 ,I SUPPOSE ,ROY WD H -E
ANYWAY1 EV5 IF ,9DIANS 7 / "H4 ,HE 0 AB
5 (A FOX T]RI] 6TROT 96A T]RITORY T BE-
L;G$ 6"SBODY ELSE1 & ONCE HE GOT "!1
RAISE 8 H9D LEG 6X1 CLAIM X = 8 [N1 )\T
?9K+ TWICE AB PRIOR CLAIMS OR POS-   #BI
SI# 3SEQU;ES4 ,B ,ROY N"E GOT ! *.E TO
PROVE T EI4 ,COLORADO _H ALR BE5 A /ATE
= TW5TY YE>S 0! "T HE GOT "H2 ! ,9DIANS
_H BE5 G"O = AT L1/ T L;G2 &! LL PIECE (
L& HE CLAIM$ 0 SIGN$ OV] 6HM 9 A LOCAL
GOV]N;T (FICE4
  ,B ALL "R1 0LATE SPR+ 9 #AHIF ! ,GOOD-
N\<S GOT "H 9 _! WAGON F ,I[A1 & IF !Y 7
4APPO9T$1 IF :AT !Y F.D WASN'T :AT !Y
EXPECT$ 6F9D1 HAV+ R1D ^? FLY]S & GOV]N-
;T BRO*URES1 / !Y /AY$2 !Y DIDN'T G
BACK4 ,!Y UNHIT*$ ! WAGON1 & !N1 NO
D\BT1 ,ROY /UCK ,ADA 9 ! RAM%ACKLE BO>D-
+H\SE 9 T[N 6BIDE H] "T1 6WA% ! DIRT \ (
H] HAIR & WRITE ANO!R L;G MIS]A# LR
HOME1 :ILE HE RODE \ ON "O (! "WHORSES
6LOOK ? C.TRY OV]4 ,I DON'T SUPPOSE T
TOOK HM V L;G4 ,HE 0 9 TOO M* (A HURRY2
HE 0 TOO MULEH1D$2 HE WANT$ 6GET "S SE$
9 ! GR.D2 & HE MI<T EV5 H "KN T IF HE
DIDN'T D "S?+ QK1 !N ,ADA MI<T "SH[ WAKE
F H] DR1M & DAZE1 SIT UP & LOOK >.D H]1
& !N J TAKE (F1 WALK+ IF %E _H TO1 ) H]
SMALL *9 & H] BIG EYES PO9T$ EA/4 ,S1 9
A HURRY1 HE LOOK$ ? C.TRY OV]1       #CJ
F9D+ ! EXPANSES ( BLUE/EM & BU6ALO & S&
LOVE & SWIT* GRASS & PRAIRIE S& RE$1 : /
/OOD BELLY HI< ON 8 ,BELGIUM1 LOCAT+ ^?
>1S T / REMA9$ AF O!R1 E>LI] HOME/1D]S
_H /AK$ _! CLAIMS & D"O _! *OPP+ & BU/+4
  ,HE F.D :AT HE ?"\ HE WANT$ SEV5 MILES
S\? ( T[N4 ,"! 0 ALR A H\SE &A %$ OR TWO
&A C\PLE ( P5S1 J A HALF MILE WE/ (!
CORN] (! QU>T] SEC;N ,ROY 9T5D$ 6CLAIM =
HMF1 B 9 ! H\SE "! 0 ONLY A SIX-YE>-OLD
BOY LIV+ AL"O )A BLACK-EY$ SIL5T WOMAN4
,& ,I 2LIEVE ,ROY PICK$ T PLACE 2C HE
?"\ T BOY & T HALF-,9DIAN WOMAN :O LIV$
"!1 A HALF MILE UP AL;G :AT WASN'T EV5 A
WAGON TRACK YET1 WD N"E LA/1 9 FACT1 CD
N"E LA/4 ,) "T !N1 & N V M* "T AT T1 HE
2LIEV$ HE WD 2 A# 6TAKE OV] T O!R PLACE
T 0 ALR />T$1 2C "! WASN'T ANY MAN >.D4
,! MAN :O %D H BE5 "! _H 4APPE>$ ?REE
YE>S E>LI]4 ,ON A ,SATUR"D MORN+ HE _H
G"O 6T[N--6! ?REE /ORES1 ! BO>D+H\SE1 !
SALOON & GRAVEY>D & FIFTE5 OR TW5TY WOOD
H\SES T M1NT ,HOLT !N--& HE N"E CAME
BACK1 & N"E WROTE EI1 S9CE ! SIX-YE>-OLD
BOY CDN'T R1D YET & 2C ! PIPE-       #CA
SMOK+ WOMAN HE LEFT 2H N"E WD 2 A# 6R1D4
,X WD J 2 A WA/E ( P5 & PAP] &A TWO-C5T
/AMP 6D "S?+ L -POSE A LR & TELL :Y4
  ,ANYWAY1 Y "U/&1 2C X 0 T "PICUL> QU>-
T] SEC;N ( GRASS A HALF MILE EA/ ( T O!R
H\SE T ,ROY PICK$ = 8 [N1 DECID$ 9 ALL !
_W 0 HIS1 T'S ! R1SON :Y ,I "K :AT ,I D
AB HM1 & AL AB ,ADA & ,$I? & ,LYMAN1 2C1
( C\RSE1 ! SIX-YE>-OLD BOY LIV+ 9 ! H\SE
0 ,JOHN ,ROSCOE1 & ,JOHN ,ROSCOE LA/$4
  ,WELL1 ! ,GOODN\<S LA/$1 TOO4 ,& ?+S--
AT L1/ AT F/--W5T AL;G AB L Y WD H EX-
PECT$ !M TO4 ,ROY FIL$ 8 CLAIM1 PUT 8
HORSES 6PULL+ A SOD-BU/+ PL[1 PLANT$ 8
BAG ( ,I[A SE$ Z BE/ HE CD 9 ! R\< GR.D1
B"\ A C[ OR TWO 6/AKE \ ON ! NE>BY
GRASS1 & !N TURN$ F9,Y 6?R[+ TGR A FRAME
H\SE = ,ADA4 ,%E'D BE5 LIV+ "U A T>P
TILL !N1 : 0 TI$ 6! SIDE (! WAGON & : _H
6BE UNTI$ ANY "T ,ROY DECID$ HE NE$$ TO
HAUL "S?+1 LIV+ ALM L %E 0 "S K9D ( NO-
MAD ,>AB B )\T EV5 T M* P]MAN;E OR EXPE-
RI;E AT X4 ,%E _H 6COOK OV] AN OP5 FIRE
& TRY 6COAX A FEW B1NS & P1S & MAYBE A
C\PLE ( Z9NIA PLANTS 6GR[ 9 ! COR-   #CB
N] (! PL[$ SOD ,ROY ALL[$ H] 6CALL A G>-
D54 ,X WASN'T EASY4 ,6WAT] H] LL G>D5 &
EV5 6H "S?+ 6DR9K B N"E 6H 5 LEFT OV] TO
TAKE A BA? IN1 ,ADA _H 6WALK A HALF MILE
"O WAY ) TWO YOK$ PAILS ACR H] ?9 %\LD]S
& FET* WAT] F T O!R PLACE ": ! BOY &!
WOMAN LIV$ & [N$ A W9DMILL T PUMP$ WAT]4
  ,B T O!R WOMAN APP>5TLY TOOK "S 9T]E/
9 H]4 ,OR MAYBE %E FELT "S?+ L P;Y T[>DS
H]--L MAYBE Y WD T[>DS "S DOG T _H BE5
DROPP$ (F \ 9 ! C.TRY & N "S /R;G M;GREL
DOG T WD MANAGE 6LIVE ANYH[1 B A TOY
POODLE1 SAY1 OR A ,PEK9ESE1 T 2L;G$ 9 !
P>LOR--2C ,I "K =A FACT T AT L1/ ONCE !
WOMAN WALK$ \ 6,ADA1 ": ,ADA 0 /OOP+ 2S
H] TWO PAILS AT ! W9DMILL & HORSE TANK1
SPLA%+ WAT] ONTO H] WRI/S & FACE1 & SD3
  8,DON'T Y WANT 6TAKE A BA?80
  ,ADA LOOK$ AT H]4 ,%E DID "S?+ ) H]
M\? T 0 M1NT 6BE A SMILE & !N QK LOOK$
EA/ 6": %E CD J MAKE \ ,ROY WALK+ 2H 8
HORSES 9 ! FIELD1 & TURN$ BACK4
  8,IF X WDN'T 2 ANY BO!R40
  8,-E 96! H\SE40
  ,S ,I "K T ,ADA TOOK AT L1/ "O M   #CC
BA? T SUMM] 2SS ! "O %E _H TAK5 9 !
BO>D+H\SE 9 T[N4 ,:5 %E 0 DRESS$ AG1 %E
SD3
  8,B DON'T TELL HM4 ,HE WON'T WANT 6"K
,I TOOK A BA? 9 "SBODY ELSE'S H\SE40
  ,WELL1 ,ROY N"E KNEW T AB 8 WIFE4 ,&
,I SUPPOSE "! 7 A LOT ( O!R ?+S HE
DIDN'T "K OR "U/& AB H]1 B HE DID BUILD
H] A H\SE4 ,HE _H ! F/ "P ( X -PLET$ BY
FALL4 ,LAT] "! 7 O!R ROOMS A4$ ON1 A NEW
KIT*5 &A BACK POR* & AL :AT TURN$ \ 6BE
A P>LOR1 B ! F/ SQU>E TWO-/ORY "P (!
H\SE 0 RAIS$ LATE T SUMM]4 ,& HE 0 A GD
R\< C>P5T]1 ,I'LL SAY T = HM4
  ,HE _H 6BUY ! LUMB] 9 T[N1 9 ,HOLT1 &
HAUL X HOME 9 8 WAGON1 & !N HE _H 6NAIL
X TGR HMF4 ,ADA HELP$ HM 6LIFT ! WALL
FRAMES 96PLACE & /1DY !M :ILE HE TACK$
!M D[N1 B =! MO/ "P HE DID ALL ! "W HMF1
S9CE HE _H PICK$ A PLACE 6LIVE ": "!
WASN'T ANO!R FULL-GR[N MALE ANY": NE>1 &
ANYWAY HE WDN'T H ASK$ = HELP IF "! _H
BE54 ,!Y B"\ A FEW /ICKS ( FURNITURE 6G
AL;G ) ,ADA'S SEW+ MA*9E & MOV$ 96! H\SE
"S"T 2F "T 6PICK CORN4               #CD
  ,ROY'S DRYL& CORN DIDN'T D V WELL T F/
YE>4 ,"! WASN'T M* 6PICK4 ,"! 0 TOO M*
SAGEBRU% & SOAPWE$ & TOO _M GRASS ROOTS
63T5D )1 & EV5 9 8 HURRY ! CORN _H / BE5
PLANT$ LATE2 ! CORN SE$ 0 / 9 ! BAGS :5
MO/ ( :AT RA9 WE GET "H FALLS 9 ! SPR+4
,S 8 CORN DIDN'T D V WELL1 & ,I DON'T
SUPPOSE ,ADA 0 DO+ V WELL1 EI4 ,0CORN
H>VE/ ,I 2LIEVE %E 0 GD & SICK1 2C "S"T
9 ,AUGU/ ( T SUMM] ,ROY _H F.D 5 SAP &
5]GY & "T TOO 6GET H] PREGNANT1 S T ON !
NI<T ( ,APRIL TW5TY-F/ 9 ! FOLL[+ SPR+1
AF %E _H MANAG$ "SH[ 6GET "? T F/ L;G
,HI< ,PLA9S W9T]1 ,ADA GAVE BIR? 6A GIRL
%E "ND ,$I?4
  ,ROY 0 GO+ 6D T 0HMF1 TOO1 ( C\RSE4
,HE 0 GO+ 6BOIL ! %EETS1 ROTATE ! H1D1
SLAP "S BR1? 96! BABY1 & SEW ,ADA UP
AFWS ) NE$LE & ?R1D--)\T HELP F ANY"O4
,I DON'T "K1 MAYBE HE _H R1D "S FLY]S &
GOV]N;T BRO*URES AB T TOO1 B ?+S 9 ?
CASE DIDN'T HAPP5 ! WAY HE EXPECT$ !M
TO1 EI4 ,2C "S"T T NI<T1 AF ,ADA _H BE5
9 LABOR = TWO OR ?REE "DS ) H] ?9 BR[N
HAIR SW1T-/UCK 6H] FACE & H] :ITE    #CE
?I<S G"O Z RIGID Z /ICKS1 ,ROY CAU<T "O
( 8 "WHORSES & GALLOP$ T D>K HALF MILE
WE/ 6! O!R H\SE & WOKE ! HALF-,9DIAN
WOMAN4 ,:5 H] FACE APPE>$ 9 "O (! UP-
/AIRS OP5$ W9D[S HE YELL$ UP AT H]3
  8,GODDAMN X1 ,I C D X4 ,B %E WANTS Y4
,%E WANTS Y 6-E OV] "!40
  ,HE 0 SITT+ D[N "! ON T B>EBACK EXCIT$
,BELGIUM1 YELL+ UP 96! D>K T[>DS A D>K
FACE HE CD B>ELY SEE4
  8,I CD D X MYF1 B N[ %E SAYS %E HAS 6H
Y "!4 ,B ,I'LL MAKE T "R TOO1 GODDAMN X4
,Y WAIT & SEE40
  ,! WOMAN 9 ! UP/AIRS W9D[ WAT*$ HM ON
8 HORSE 9 H] FRONT Y>D4
  8,DON'T Y HE> ME80 HE YELL$4 8,DON'T Y
"U/& A GODDAMN ?+ ,I'M TELL+ Y8 ,%E
WANTS Y OV] "!40
  ,B ! WOMAN 0 G"O 0N[1 L1V+ HM YELL+ UP
96! D>K ": "! WASN'T EV5 A SIL5T FACE 9
A W9D[ 6HE> HM YELL & RAGE4 ,! WOMAN _H
G"O 6WAKE H] BOY1 :O 0 SEV5 N[ & _H BE5
S9CE ,FEBRU>Y TW5TY-F\R?4 ,%E TOLD HM TO
GET _! SA4LE HORSE R1DY2 %E 0 RID+ OV]
6! ,GOODN\<S' 6SET ?+S "R & %E WD    #CF
2 BACK 9 ! MORN+4 ,& ,I GUESS ,ROY "U-
/OOD T HE _H D"O 5 YELL+ = "O NI<T :5 HE
SAW ! BOY G \ ! BACK DOOR T[>DS ! COR-
RAL1 S HE GALLOP$ BACK HOME AG4
  ,! WOMAN GOT "! A FEW M9UTES LAT]4 ,I
C'T SAY EXACTLY :AT %E DID OR H[ %E DID
X1 B ,I'M C]TA9 %E GOT ,ROY \ (! ROOM ":
HE 0 LESS ?AN NO HELP1 & !N ,I 2LIEVE %E
0 A# 6GET ,ADA REVIV$ 5 6MAKE ANO!R EF-
=T4 ,MAYBE %E MADE "S TEA OR "S?+ HOT )
H]BS 9 X1 OR MAYBE X 0 J H] VOICE & H&1
B ANYWAY %E DELIV]$ ! BABY GIRL & ,ADA
GOT "S RE/4 ,& AFWS %E M/ H MADE A C\PLE
( ?+S PLA9 5 T EV5 ,ROY "U/OOD !M1 2C
TWO YE>S LAT] 9 ,JUNE1 :5 AG X 0 ,ADA'S
"T1 ,ROY DIDN'T WAIT UNTIL 8 WIFE _H BE5
9 LABOR = TWO OR ?REE "DS & _H TURN$ TO
FRAZZLE 2F HE DECID$ X 0 "T = HM 6/>T
H[L+ 9 ! D>K4 ,NO1 HE CAME 9 BROAD "D-
LI<T1 KNOCK$ AT ! FRONT DOOR1 & ASK$ IF
! WOMAN WD -E4 ,S ,LYMAN'S BIR? W5T EAS-
I]1 SMOO!R1 )\T ! GALLOP+ HORSE &! YELL-
+4 ,? 0 #AHII4
  ,WELL1 ,ROY _H A GIRL &A BOY N[1 & ,I
DON'T SUPPOSE HE "E EXPECT$ M* F     #CG
,$I? 7M ?AN J 3/ANT "W1 ,I M1N7 OR "E
?"\ M* ( HOP+ "S?+ = H] EI--HE WDN'T H2
%E 0 A GIRL1 A POTATO PEEL]1 AN EGG GA?-
]]--B HE MI<T H EXPECT$ M F ,LYMAN1 S HE
PROBABLY WASN'T R1L ?RILL$ )! WAY ,LYMAN
TURN$ \4 ,& X WASN'T T ,LYMAN DIDN'T "W
H>D 5\<--HE DID1 9 8 LOOSE1 ME*ANICAL1
DRY FA%ION--& ,LYMAN SURE Z HELL DIDN'T
L1VE ! F>M V (T5 UNTIL X 0 ALM TOO LATE
= HM 6"E L1VE X AT ALL4 ,B HE J DIDN'T L
ANY ( X2 HE N"E RE,Y GOT 8 H& IN4 ,LYMAN
0 TOO M* (A LAPDOG EV5 6SUIT 8 "F4
  ,B AT L1/ ) BO? A BOY &A GIRL ON H& N[
6HELP1 ,ROY CD 2LIEVE 5 9 TM 62G9 A4+ ON
6HIS ORIG9AL QU>T] SEC;N1 & HE DID4 ,GOD
ONLY "KS HE 0 FRUGAL 5\<4 ,9 FACT1 HE 0
AB S TI<T Z 6BE A# ACTU,Y 6SQUEEZE BLOOD
F ! TURNIPS ,ADA GREW 9 ! FAMILY G>D54
,Z = 8 F>M+1 HE WD D ?+S L G ON TY+ 8
MA*9]Y TGR ) BAL+ WIRE & PAT*+ X UP H["E
HE CD1 R ?AN D ANY?+ Z RA% Z 6BUY "S?+
NEW4 ,2F HE WD D A ?+ T CRAZY HE _H 6BE
D1D C]TA9 T BAL+ WIRE & GODDAMNS WDN'T
"W ANYMORE4 ,HE N"E SP5T FIVE C5TS ON
HMF OR 8 WIFE OR 8 KIDS1 & :AT HE    #CH
MADE HE SAV$1 & !N AB ONCE E EI<T OR N9E
YE>S HE WD SUCK 9 8 BELT1 SPIT1 & !N FI-
N,Y BUY ANO!R QU>T] SEC;N ( NE>BY ,HOLT
,C.TY S& = ,LYMAN 6HELP HM SW1T OV]4 ,S
9 "T1 ,ROY ACQUIR$ Q A LOT ( L&4 ,HE _H
"S ,H]E=D C[S ) CALVES ON GRASS1 &A FEW
,%ORTHORNS 6MILK1 2SS ! :1T & CORNFIELDS
6TILL & PLANT & H>VE/4
  ,M1N:ILE1 ,$I? & ,LYMAN 7 GR[+ UP \ "H
SEV5 MILES F ,HOLT1 & !Y 7 AB ALL EA*
O!R _H4 ,Z KIDS1 ,$I? SAYS1 !Y SLEPT TGR
9 A D\# /RAW-TICK B$ 9 "O (! UP/AIRS B$-
ROOMS1 & WRAPP+ _! LEGS >.D "O ANO!R TO
KEEP W>M !Y TOLD !MVS /ORIES AB :AT !Y 7
GO+ 6D :5 !Y 7 BIG 5 & FREE 5 (! F>M &
_! "F 6D ^? GRT ?+S4 ,WELL1 !Y N"E DID
!M4 ,B DUR+ ! "DS :5 !Y 7 KIDS1 9 ! FEW
H\RS LEFT :5 !Y W]5'T HOE+ B1NS OR MILK+
C[S OR *URN+ BUTT] OR %OVEL+ %IT \ !
MILK-B>N W9D[1 !Y PLAY$ ^? GAMES F>M
KIDS PLAY 2H HAY/ACKS & DEEP 9 TALL
CORNFIELDS4 ,9 ! W9T] !Y W5T 6S*OOL A LL
BIT4
  ,:5 ,$I? />T$ S*OOL 9 #AIJC1 :5 %E
/>T$ RID+ ! ?REE MILES F>!R S\? 6!   #CI
3V]T$ *ICK5 H\SE )! F\L TWO-HOLE PRIVY
2H X1 RID+ ON "O (! PLAY$-\ "WHORSES H]
"F / KEPT & ^: BACK 0 S BROAD T RID+ HM
H] LEGS /UCK /RAI<T \ SIDEWAYS1 ! BOY :O
LIV$ D[N ! ROAD F H] 0 ALR 9 8 SEV5? &
NEXT-TO-LA/ YE> ( S*OOL4 ,I 2LIEVE HE 0
A HELP 6H]--,JOHN ,ROSCOE WAS--& ,I BE-
LIEVE HE TOOK C>E ( H]4 ,I "K !Y RODE TO
S*OOL TGR1 ! ?IRTE5-YE>-OLD BOY ) /IFF
BLACK HAIR &! SIX-YE>-OLD GIRL 9 HI<-
TOPP$ %OES T _H BE5 H] "M'S1 & ,I "K E
S*OOL "D = TWO YE>S !Y RODE HOME TGR4
,HE AL PROTECT$ H] DUR+ LUN* H\R & RE-
CESS1 N"E M9D :AT ! O!R KIDS SD AB
..,JOHNNY HAS A GIRL FR1 A9'T %E SWEET1
:5 %E TAKES H] BOOTS (F1 HE TICKLES H]
.FEET1 2C ,I 2LIEVE T'S :5 & H[ :AT LAT]
HAPP5$--N9ETE5 YE>S LAT]--/>T$4 ,) J T
M*4
  ,!N T 5D$4 ,! TWO YE>S 7 UP2 HE _H F9-
I%$ ! EI<? GRADE1 S = Q A :ILE ,JOHN
,ROSCOE & ,$I? ,GOODN\< DIDN'T SEE A LOT
( EA* O!R EXCEPT DUR+ H>VE/1 EV5 IF !Y
LIV$ J A HALF MILE A"P4 ,NEI<BOR+
FAMILIES DON'T VISIT M* :5 "O (!     #DJ
NEI<BORS IS ,ROY ,GOODN\<4
  ,ANYWAY1 ,LYMAN 0 OLD 5 6/>T S*OOL !N1
S ,$I? RODE D\# ON ! BROK5-D[N "WHORSE
6S*OOL ) HM4 ,B T DIDN'T LA/ V L;G1 EI4
,LYMAN ONLY W5T 6S*OOL = F\R OR FIVE
YE>S1 & ,$I? H]F N"E F9I%$ ! EI<? GRADE4
,T HAS ALW BO!R$ H]1 TOO4 ,I 2LIEVE %E
?9KS ?+S MI<T H 5D$ DI6]5T ?AN !Y DID IF
%E _H F9I%$ ! EI<? GRADE4
  8,B :AT 0 ,I GO+ 6D80 %E SAYS4 8,HE
WDN'T ALL[ X4 ,X 0 A WA/E ( "T40
  ,BY 8HE0 %E M1NS1 ( C\RSE1 ,ROY4

  ,WELL1 !N1 :AT M D ,I NE$ 6TELL Y AB
^? FIFTE5 YE>S T PASS$ 2T ! LA/ TWO "TS
,ADA WANT$ ! WOMAN D[N ! ROAD 6-E8 ,J ?1
,I SUPPOSE3 9 ! PICTURES TAK5 ( ,$I? &
,LYMAN 2T #AHII & #AIAD1 ,$I? IS A B1U-
TI;L GIRL1 ) H] "M'S BIG EYES & BR[N
HAIR & 5 ( H] "F 9 H] 6MAKE H] /& UP
/RAI<T & FACE ! CAM]A FULL ON4 ,AL1 9 "O
(! PICTURES ,I'VE SE5 9 ! ,GOODN\< FAMI-
LY ALBUM1 ,$I? HAS H] >M >.D ,LYMAN4 ,HE
IS /&+ "! ALM Z IF HE'S BE5 TUCK$ 96!
FOLDS ( H] L;G SKIRT1 L HE'S "S      #DA
K9D ( WET-COMB$ COCK] SPANIEL4 ,LYMAN
LOOKS SC>$ & HALF PROTECT$ AT ! SAME "T4
,I DON'T ?9K HE FELT T WAY J :5 "SBODY 0
TAK+ 8 PICTURE4
  ,B X 0 AB ,ADA T ,I WANT$ 6TELL Y N[4
,I'VE ALR SD H[ ? C.TRY 0 A %OCK 6H]1 H[
%E _H 6LIVE "U A T>P = ?REE OR F\R MON?S
AF ALR LIV+ 9 A WAGON = ?REE OR F\R
WEEKS1 & H[ Z ?9 Z %E 0 %E / _H 6C>RY
WAT] 9 YOK$ PAILS =A HALF MILE E "D UN-
TIL H] HUSB& F.D "T 6DIG _! [N WELL4 ,%E
WASN'T MADE = T K9D ( LIFE4 ,& EV5 IF %E
_H BE51 %E 0 / M>RI$ 6A MAN L ,ROY
,GOODN\<4 ,%E 0 B.D 0LAW 6A HICKORY
/ICK4
  ,S 9 ! SAME FAMILY ALBUM1 :ILE ,$I? &
,LYMAN >E GR[+ UP1 _! "M1 ,ADA1 SEEMS TO
2 S9K+ D[N4 ,9 "O PICTURE AF ANO!R1 %E
LOOKS SMALL]1 %ORT]1 ?9N]4 ,H] *EEKS
SUCK 96B"O1 H] ?9 BR[N HAIR TURNS 6SP>SE
GRAY4 ,0#AIAC1 9 :AT M/ 2 ! LA/ PICTURE
TAK5 ( H]1 %E /&S B>ELY Z TALL Z ,ROY'S
%\LD]1 & HE 0 NO M ?AN FIVE FEET EI<T
HMF4 ,9 ! PICTURE ,I'M TALK+ AB1 ,ADA
LOOKS L %E MI<T 2 H] HUSB&'S "M4     #DB
,AB ALL Y C MAKE \ ( H] FACE 9 ! GRA9Y
PHOTOGRAPH IS H] BIG EYES1 />+ N AT :O"E
X 0 T HELD ! CAM]A1 B AWAY1 (F T[>DS "S-
?+ 9 ! 4T.E4
  ,!N 9 #AIAD1 9 ,AUGU/1 9 ! HOTTE/ MON?
(! YE> 9 ,HOLT ,C.TY1 %E GOT SICK4 ,!Y
SAY X 0 ! FLU1 & P DID DIE (! FLU !N4 ,B
,I 2LIEVE1 & ,$I? SAYS1 T X 0 M ?AN J A
VIRUS BUG T KILL$ H]4 ,X 0 ALL ^? YE>S (
LOOK+ EA/2 X 0 ALM TWO DECADES ( 2+ M>-
RI$ 6,ROY4 ,ONCE1 :5 H] [N "M DI$1 %E _H
G"O BACK HOME 6,JOHNSON ,C.TY ON ! TRA91
& %E _H /AY$ S L;G AF ! FUN]AL T ,ROY _H
_H 6G \ & BR+ H] BACK4 ,%E N"E W5T A
SECOND "T4 ,N[1 ON ! ,HI< ,PLA9S ( ,COL-
ORADO1 %E LAY UP "! 9 ! SECOND-/ORY B$-
ROOM1 )! W9D[S OP5 6CAT* ANY BREEZE "!
WAS1 SW1T+ & BURN+ UP ) :AT MAYBE ONLY
"O ( H] FAMILY / 2LIEV$ 0 J FLU FEV]4 ,S
X 0 ALM ! SAME /ORY AG4 ,X 0 ALM L ! TWO
"TS %E _H DELIV]$ BABIES "! 9 T SAME B$-
ROOM4 ,ONLY X 0 ,AUGU/ ? "T1 & 9/1D ( H]
>MS & LEGS GO+ RIGID Z /ICKS1 %E SEEM$ Z
W1K Z WAT] N[4 ,%E DIDN'T MAKE M* (A
BUMP "U ! SW1T-SOAK$ %EETS4 ,%E      #DC
DIDN'T MOVE4
  ,ON ! SECOND OR ?IRD "D ( ?1 %E TOLD
,ROY1 8,I WANT H] N[40
  8,:AT80 HE SD4
  8,I WANT H] 6-E4 ,I ?9K X'S "T40
  8,N[1 DAMN X1 ,ADA '''0
  8,PL1SE10 %E SD4
  ,MAYBE ,ROY ?"\ %E 0 TALK+ \ ( H] H1D1
T X 0 J FEV] TALK1 B :5 %E SEEM$ WORSE
0! MI4LE (! AFN :5 ! SUN 0 ! HOTTE/1 HE
DROVE ! HALF MILE WE/ 6GET ! PIPE-SMOK+
HALF-,9DIAN WOMAN4 ,%E 0 AN OLD WOMAN
N[1 ?\< H] EYES 7 / CLE> & BLACK1 & H]
HAIR 0 / ! SAME /RAI<T BR[N2 H] HAIR N"E
DID GET V GRAY4 ,B %E _H "S TR\# M.T+ !
/AIRS1 S T ,$I? _H 6HELP H]4 ,:5 %E 0 L$
96! ROOM ": ,LYMAN & ,ROY /OOD AG/ !
WALL1 %E F/ PULL$ ! BLS ON ! W9D[S & !N
SAT D[N ON ! WOOD *AIR 2S ! B$4
  ,AF A :ILE ,ADA OP5$ H] EYES4 ,%E FUM-
#D H] H& \ F "U ! B$%EET T[>DS ! OLD]
WOMAN4 8,I ?ANK Y10 %E SD4
  8,D Y WANT ANY?+80
  8,I ?ANK Y = -+40
  ,!Y /AY$ T WAY ! RE/ (! AFN4       #DD
,LAT]1 ,ROY W5T \ 6FE$ & MILK ! C[S1
:ILE ,$I? 3T9U$ 6SMOO? ! B"O-?9 YELL[+
=EH1D )A COOL WA%CLO? & ,LYMAN W5T ON
/>+ AT 8 "M F 8 PLACE AG/ ! WALL1 L HE 0
ROOT$ "!1 L HE DIDN'T D>E D ANY?+ ELSE B
/& & />E AT 8 DY+ "M4 ,ADA SLEPT = S"EAL
H\RS T WAY1 ) H] LOOSE H& HELD 0! O!R
WOMAN1 :O AL MANAG$ 6SLEEP "S1 SITT+ UP
9 ! *AIR 2S ! B$4 ,! OLD WOMAN'S H1D
ROCK$ BACK ABV ! TOP (! *AIR1 & H] D>K
M\? DROPP$ OP5 A LL4
  ,AT SIX ,ROY SD !Y %D EAT4 ,S HE &
,$I? & ,LYMAN W5T D[N/AIRS 6! KIT*5 ":
,$I? W>M$ "S POTATOES & GRE5 B1NS1 SLIC$
"S BR1D1 & MADE A FRE% POT ( C(FEE4 ,:5
! FOOD 0 ON ! TA# 9 FRONT ( HM1 ,ROY SD
GRACE & 2GAN 6EAT4
  ,2T M\?;LS HE SD1 8,Y DIDN'T TELL ME T
R$-FAC$ C[ 0 GO+ DRY40
  8,:AT80 ,LYMAN SD4 ,HE 0 PU%+ 8 B1NS
>.D ON 8 PLATE4
  8,%E'S DAMN NE> DRY4 ,Y N"E TOLD ME40
  8,I =GOT40
  8,:AT ELSE H Y =GOT80
  8,NO?+4 ,I DON'T "K40              #DE
  8,N"E M9D1 ,DA4Y10 ,$I? SD4 8,N N[40
  8,WE NE$ ! MILK10 ,ROY SD4
  ,AF SUPP]1 ,$I? PUT ! DI%ES 6SOAK &
TOOK A PLATE ( FOOD &A CUP ( C(FEE UP-
/AIRS 6! OLD WOMAN4 ,!Y F.D T %E 0 AWAKE
N[1 SMOK+ "O ( H] SC>R$ BRI> PIPES4 ,%E
_H RAIS$ ! BLS AG1 &! BLUE PIPE SMOKE
DRIFT$ \ ! OP5$ EA/ W9D[4 ,%E DIDN'T
WANT ! FOOD4 ,2S H]1 ,ADA / LAY SIL5T 9
! B$1 L A ?9 WAX *4
  8,DID "M SAY ANY?+80 ,$I? ASK$4
  8,NO40
  8,DID %E WAKE AG80
  8,NO4 ,%E'S RE/+4 ,%E'S GETT+ R1DY40
  8,I 2LIEVE %E DOES FEEL COOL] N[1
DON'T Y ?9K8 ,MAYBE ! FEV]'S BROK540
  8,X HASN'T40
  ,! OLD WOMAN PUT H] PIPE AWAY 9 H]
APRON POCKET & !Y W5T ON WAIT+4 ,GRADU,Y
X GREW D>K] 9 ! ROOM1 B ,$I? SAYS %E RE-
MEMB]S "! WASN'T M* (A SUNSET T EV5+4
,%E _H HOP$ "! WD BE2 %E ?"\ H] "M MI<T
L 6SEE "O1 T X MI<T MAKE H] FEEL BETT]4
,"! WASN'T1 ?\<4 ,"! W]5'T ANY CL\DS TO
MAKE A SUNSET4 ,X 0 J HOT4           #DF
  ,:5 X 0 -PLETELY D>K 9 ! ROOM1 S D>K
!Y CD B>ELY 4T+UI% ! YELL[ FACE F ! :ITE
PILL[1 ,ROY FUM#D OV] 6! *E/ ( DRAW]S 9
! CORN] & LIT A LAMP ON TOP ( X4 ,!
LAMPLI<T CA/ WAV]+ %AD[S1 & !N ! MILL]S1
^? SMALL DU/Y MO?S ? C.TRY HAS M MIL-
LIONS ( ?AN X NE$S1 CAME \ F ! CRACKS 9
! WALL & FLUTT]$ >.D ! LAMP1 BUMP+ AG/ !
HOT GLOBE & S+E+ !MVS4 ,"O (! MILL]S L&$
ON ,ADA'S =EH1D & LEFT XS SMUDGE ( DU/
"!1 S X M/ H BE5 T1 :5 ,$I? BRU%$ X (F1
T WOKE H] AG4
  ,ADA SEEM$ 6R\SE =A M9UTE !N & 6LOOK
DIMLY >.D H]4 ,:5 %E SEEM$ 6H EA* P]SON
9 PLACE1 H] ?9 LIPS MOV$4
  8,Y MAKE HM4 ,TELL HM40
  8,:AT80 ,$I? SD4 8,WD Y L "S WAT]80
  8,I WANT HM 6TAKE ME 6,JOHNSON ,C.TY4
,I WANT 6SLEEP 2S MY "M40
  8,YES4 ,ALL "R40
  8,Y MAKE HM40
  8,YES40
  ,%E DIDN'T SAY ANY?+ M4 ,%E W5T BACK
6SLEEP1 Z IF %E _HN'T SD ANY?+ AT ALL1
OR Z IF %E _H SD ALL "! 0 6SAY4      #DG
,"S"T 2F MIDNI<T %E DI$4 ,$I? SAYS !Y
DIDN'T "K = SURE :AT "T X 0 %E DI$2 !Y
CDN'T SET ! EXACT M9UTE4 ,!Y W]5'T A# TO
TELL :5 %E /OPP$ BR1?+1 2C H] BR1? 0 S
S(T AT ! LA/ ANYWAY4 ,!Y J KNEW = C]TA9
T %E 0 D1D :5 ,HANNAH ,ROSCOE PUT ,ADA'S
H& "U ! %EET AG & !N W5T D[N/AIRS &
WALK$ HOME 0H]F4
  ,0! LAMPLI<T1 ,$I? WA%$ ! *-SIZ$ BODY1
-B$ ! HAIR 96PLACE1 & PUT ON ! ,SUN"D
DRESS4 ,! NEXT "D ,ROY BURI$ H] 9 !
,HOLT ,C.TY ,CEMET]Y NOR?EA/ ( T[N4
  8,Y "K :AT "M WANT$10 ,$I? SD4 8,Y 7
"!40
  8,NO10 HE SD4 8,%E 0 SICK !N40
  8,Y HE>D H] SAY S40
  8,I WANT H] "H40
  8,B "M DIDN'T L X "H4 ,%E HAT$ X4 ,?
WASN'T H] HOME40
  8,YR "M'S D1D4 ,Y'RE ! "M N[40
  8,:AT D & M1N8 ,I C'T REPLACE "M40
  8,Y W40
  ,ADA'S 0 ! F/ (! ?REE ,GOODN\< GRAVES
T H BE5 DUG S F>1 OV] "! 9 ! BR[N GRASS
2S ! F;E L9E T SEP>ATES ! CEMET]Y    #DH
& ,OTIS ,MURRAY'S CORNFIELD4 ,ADA LIV$
6BE =TY-TWO4






















                   #C                #DI

  ,$I? 0 SEV5TE5 :5 H] "M DI$4 ,LYMAN 0
FIFTE54 ,!Y 7 A YE> OLD] :5 ! NEXT ?+
HAPP5$ T FIX$ X = !M4 ,X WASN'T 5 T _!
"F 0 ,ROY ,GOODN\< OR T _! "M DI$ E>LY2
"! _H 6BE AT L1/ "O M ?+ 6CL9* MATT]S1
6FIX !M ="E1 6MAKE ,$I? & ,LYMAN 5D UP !
WAY !Y DID--TWO OLD P1 A SI/] &A BRO!R1
LIV+ AL"O \ "H 9 A YELL[ H\SE SURR.D$ BY
WE$S4
  ,X 0 AN A3ID5T T DID X4 ,X 0 DUR+ H>-
VE/1 & ,ROY ,GOODN\< M/ H HAT$ H>VE/"T4
  ,NO--T'S N Q "R4 ,L ! RE/ ( U1 HE M/ H
LOV$ X TOO1 2C X M1NT ! 5D2 X M1NT ! AC-
-PLI%;T ( :AT _H BE5 />T$ MON?S 2F )
PL[$ S& & BAGS ( SE$4 ,AL1 HE M/ H WOR-
RI$ AB X1 L WE ALL DID & / D1 /EW$ 9 8
JUICE OV] X1 /EPP$ \ ! F/ ?+ 9 ! MORN+1
EV5 2F HE _H 8 PANTS BUTTON$ GD1 6SE>* !
SKY = CL\DS 9 ! HOPE N[ T X WDN'T RA91
OR WORSE1 T IF "! 7 CL\DS1 !N HE WD DE-
TECT NO SICKLY GRE51 2C T K9D ( GRE5 9
CL\DS M1NT HAIL4
  ,B AT ! SAME "T HE 0 LOV+ X & WORRY+
AB X1 HE M/ H HAT$ X TOO1 2C AT      #EJ
H>VE/"T ,ROY _H 6ASK "S"O = HELP4 ,HE
CDN'T D X AL"O4 ,HE CD OP]ATE ! H1D]
HMF1 B EV5 ) ,$I? DRIV+ ! T1M ( HORSES
PULL+ ! H1D] B>GE & ,LYMAN LEVEL+ ! :1T
(F 9 ! BACK (! B>GE1 HE / NE$$ "O M P]-
SON 6/ACK ! :1T ONCE ! B>GE 0 FULL &
R1DY 6BE UNLOAD$4 ,S HE _H 6ASK ,JOHN
,ROSCOE1 D[N ! ROAD A HALF MILE1 6D T4
  ,JOHN ,ROSCOE 0 TW5TY-FIVE 9 #AIAE4
,I'VE ALR SD AB HM T HE LA/$4 ,B HE 0 A#
6LA/ N S M* 0F>M+ HMF1 L ,ROY DID1 Z BY
A4+ M GRASSL& 6! ORIG9AL CLAIM 8 M;GREL
"F _H FIL$ T5 YE>S 2F HE "E W5T 6T[N T
,SATUR"D MORN+ & 4APPE>$4 ,CALV+ "T 0 !
WOR/3 Y _H 6GET UP AT ?REE O'C 9 ! MORN+
9 A ,M>* BLIZZ>D 6PULL A CALF T 0 TRY+
6-E BREE*2 B USU,Y "O MAN CD MANAGE A
SMALL CATTLE OP],N4 ,HE AL F>M$ "S1 ?\<1
9 A SMALL WAY4 ,8 "M COOK$ D9N] & WA%$
CLO!S1 SMOK$ H] PIPE & ROCK$ H]F 6SLEEP
9 ! AFNS 2S ! /OVE 9 ! LIV+ ROOM4 ,ANY-
WAY1 X 0 ,JOHN ,ROSCOE T 0 HELP+ !
,GOODN\<S H>VE/ _! :1T T ,JULY 9 #AIAE4
  ,I DON'T SUPPOSE X 0 Z HOT !N Z X _H
BE5 ! PREVI\S YE>1 :5 ,ADA DI$ 9 !   #EA
UP/AIRS B$ROOM1 B X 0 HOT 5\<4 ,! SKY
/AY$ CLE>1 B"R1 HI<1 &! H1DS (! :1T _H
FILL$ & TURN$ TAN1 R1DY 6BE CUT4 ,!Y _H
ALR CUT MO/ ( X 9 ! PREC$+ FIVE OR SIX
"DS1 & ,ROY 2LIEV$ HE CD F9I% TD1 OR AT
! LATE/1 TM4
  ,S ON ? ,?URS"D MORN+ LATE 9 ,JULY1
:ILE ,LYMAN MILK$ & F$ ! SIX OR SEV5
,%ORTHORNS !Y KEPT = MILK C[S--2C !Y
GAVE M MILK ?AN _! ,H]E=DS--,ROY SLID !
SICKLE B> \ ! 5D (! H1D] 6%>P5 ! BLADES4
,$I? _H 6HELP HM AF %E _H COOK$ BR1KFA/
& WA%$ DI%ES2 %E _H 6HOLD ! 5D (! L;G
SICKLE B> :ILE HE SAT ON ! N>R[ IRON
S1T1 PUMP+ ! FOOT P$ALS (! GR9D/"O L HE
0 "S OV]GR[N KID RAC+ 6HELL ON A TRICY-
CLE4 ,HE GR.D & HON$ BO? CUTT+ $GES (
EA* BLADE1 ^? TRIANGUL>-%AP$ S]RAT$
BLADES CALL$ SEC;NS T 7 RIVET$ AL;G !
L5G? (! SICKLE B>4 ,A FEW (! SEC;NS _H
BE5 NICK$ 0ROCKS1 B HE DIDN'T BO!R RE-
PLAC+ !M4 ,T WD TAKE M "T2 HE WANT$ 6F9-
I% :ILE ! W1!R HELD4 ,HE GR.D ! NICK$
S]RAT$ $GES D[N SMOO? S T !Y %"O L
J-HON$ KNIFE BLADES4                 #EB
  ,LYMAN CAME OV] & WAT*$ Z 8 "F SAT
PUMP+ ON ! GR9D/"O4
  8,Y TURN ! C[S \80
  8,YES40
  8,DID Y PUT A CLO? OV] ! MILK CANS80
  8,YES40
  8,"! 0 A GOB ( FLIES DUNK+ 9 X YE/]-
"D40
  8,I "K4 ,I CDN'T F9D ! COV] CLO?40
  8,WE WDN'T NE$ NO CLO? IF Y _HN'T LO/
! GODDAMN LIDS4 ,B Y N"E LOOK$ =! CLO?
EI1 DID Y8 ,X 0 HANG+ ON A NAIL 9 !
KIT*540
  ,LYMAN LOOK$ QK ABV 8 "F'S B[$ H1D AT
,$I?4 ,LYMAN MADE A FACE4
  8,B G ON N[10 ,ROY SD4 8,GET ! HORSES
9 & H>;S$4 ,WE'RE LATE ALR40
  ,LYMAN LOOK$ ONCE M AT ,$I? & AM#D (F
9 8 H>D HI<-TOPP$ %OES & LOOSE OV]ALLS
T[>DS ! HORSE PA/URE4 ,!N ,ROY 0 F9I%$ )
! SICKLE B>4 ,$I? W5T 9 6PREP>E "S?+ =
LUN* =! F\R ( !M2 !Y WD EAT AT NOON 9 !
%ADE (! :1T /ACK4 ,X SAV$ HAV+ 6G 6!
H\SE4
  ,:5 ,ROY _H ! SICKLE B> SLID 96!   #EC
FRONT (! H1D] & BOLT$ 9 PLACE S T ! %>P
SEC;N BLADES1 SET 2T IRON SPIKES CALL$
GU>DS1 WD MOVE BACK & =?1 SLIC+ ! :1T (F
CLOSE 6! GR.D1 ,LYMAN WALK$ SIX HORSES
UP 6! BACK (! H1D]1 ": ,ROY H>;S$ !M1
?REE AT EA* SIDE1 AL;GSIDE A H1VY IRON
POLE4 ,!N ,$I? HIT*$ TWO M HORSES 6!
WAGON1 6! H1D] B>GE1 & !Y DROVE RATTL+ \
(! Y>D T[>DS ! :1T FIELD4 ,:5 !Y 5T]$ !
FIELD !Y CD SEE ,JOHN ,ROSCOE /&+ ON !
/ACK F> OV] "! 9 ! CORN]1 WAIT+ =! F/
LOAD4 ,!Y /OPP$ ! HORSES S T ! H1D] WD 2
R1DY 62G9 CUTT+ ": !Y _H LEFT (F ! NI<T
2F AT ! NE> 5D (! FIELD4
  8,I SUPPOSE ,ROSCOE'S BE5 WAIT+ "! =A
H\R10 ,ROY SD1 8)\T A GODDAMN ?+ 9 ! _W
6D EXCEPT WAIT ON U40
  8,HE DOESN'T H 8 %IRT (F YET10 ,$I?
SD4
  8,X A9'T HOT 5\<4 ,HE WANTS 6GET
BURN$4 ,HE ?9KS FRI$ SK9 LOOKS PRETTY40
  8,I DON'T ?9K HE'LL BURN10 ,$I? SD4
8,HE'S TOO BR[N40
  8,T'S ! ,9DIAN 9 HM40
  8,DA4Y10 ,$I? SD4                  #ED
  8,:AT80 HE SD4 8,Y "K X WELL Z ANY-
BODY40
  8,J ! SAME1 ,I DON'T C>E--0
  8,Y DAMN ,GOD BETT] LE>N TO10 ,ROY SD4
8,GET ! B>GE 9 PLACE40
  ,ROY 5GAG$ ! GE>S & *A9S ON ! BULL
:EEL1 & !N HE CLIMB$ UP 96! S1T AT !
BACK (! H1D]1 2T 8 TWO T1MS ( HORSES4
  8,GI4UP10 HE SD4 8,G ON N[40
  ,! SIX HORSES MOV$1 LUNG$ =W>D1 PU%+ !
H1VY RATTL+ H1D]4 ,! 5GAG$ GE>S & *A9S
TURN$ ! REEL AT ! FRONT T CAME >.D &
LAID ! :1T D[N ONTO ! SICKLE B>1 6BE CUT
(F 0! SLIC+ KNIFE-%>P SEC;NS4 ,Z ! :1T 0
CUT X FELL ONTO A PLAT=M 2N ! ROTAT+
REEL1 & !N X 0 C>RI$ 0A CANVAS BELT (F
6! SIDE & UP ANO!R CANVAS BELT "? A *UTE
& \1 FALL+ 96! H1D] B>GE T ,$I? DROVE
AL;GSIDE4 ,LYMAN 0 9 ! BACK (! B>GE ": !
CUT :1T ON XS DU/Y /ALKS FELL >.D HM &
ON HM1 MADE HM IT* & SW1T & SCRAT*1 :ILE
HE =K$ ! /UFF >.D 9 ! B>GE 6LEVEL X (F4
,$I? CD HE> HM CUSS+ MIS]ABLY1 9SANELY1
2H H]1 B N S L\D T ,ROY WD HE>4
  8,0,JESUS10 HE 0 SAY+4 8,OH1 Y     #EE
DIRTY SON (A BIT*4 ,GET OV] "!4 ,HOG %IT
9 A BUCKET40
  ,!Y F9I%$ T F/ SWA? "? ! L5G? (!
FIELD1 !N ,ROY 45GAG$ ! GE>S ON ! BULL
:EEL1 PULL$ ! L"E 6! TILL] :EEL1 &! H1D]
MADE XS N1T SQU>E TURN1 ) ?REE (! HORSES
WALK+ SL[1 ALM BACK+ >.D1 :ILE ! O!R
?REE HORSES WALK$ \ FA/ AT AN ANGLE1 TO
PO9T ! H1D] BACK UP ! FIELD4 ,! GE>S 7
5GAG$ AG1 &! ,GOODN\<S />T$ ANO!R SWA?4
  ,:5 ! H1D] B>GE 0 FULL1 S T ,LYMAN
/OOD UP HI<] N[ ON TOP (! CUT :1T ) 8
HI<-TOPP$ %OES FULL ( BITS ( *AFF1 ,ROY
/OPP$ 8 SIX HORSES4
  8,WELL10 HE SD1 8G PIT* X (F4 ,& DON'T
TAKE ALL "D JA2]+40
  ,LYMAN CRAWL$ UP ONTO ! FRONT S1T (!
B>GE1 & HE & ,$I? DROVE OV] 6! CORN] TO
,JOHN ,ROSCOE1 ": ! /ACK WAS4 ,ON ! WAY
,LYMAN TOOK 8 %OES (F & DUMP$ ! *AFF \4
,:5 !Y /OPP$ AT ! /ACK BO? ( !M GOT 96!
BACK 6PIT* ! :1T (F ) _! ?REE-T9$ :1T
=KS4
  8,%OES BO!R+ Y AG80 ,JOHN ,ROSCOE SD4
  8,SON (A BIT*10 ,LYMAN SD4         #EF
8,TRADE ) ME4 ,I'LL /ACK ? /UFF40
  8,C'T4 ,YR OLD MAN WANTS Y "R ": HE C
SEE Y1 GETT+ YR NOSE FULL ( X40
  8,SON (A BIT*10 ,LYMAN SD4
  8,:Y DON'T Y ASK ,$I?8 ,$I?1 :YN'T Y
CRAWL BACK "! & RELIEVE YR LL BRO!R8 ,2
GD = Y 6D "S R1L "W =A *ANGE40
  8,Y %D H HE>D HM10 ,$I? SD4 8,MY1 MY40
  8,NE$S 8 M\? WA%$ \ ) SOAP40
  8,LYE SOAP ? "T10 ,$I? SD4
  8,OH1 DIRTY BA/>D10 ,LYMAN SD4 8,OH1
HORSE PISS TOO40
  ,!N ,JOHN ,ROSCOE & ,$I? LAU<$ & ,LY-
MAN GR9N$ L A COCK] SPANIEL4 ,!Y W5T ON
"W+ T WAY "?\T ! MORN+1 :ILE ! ,JULY SUN
ROSE HI<] & HOTT] 9 ! SKY &! DU/ 2H !
MA*9]Y HUNG 9 ! AIR L CL\DS ( GNATS4
,ROY SAT UP "! H>D ON ! S1T AT ! BACK (!
H1D] )! HORSES ON EI SIDE ( HM4 ,! HORS-
ES LUNG$ AG/ ! H>;S 6GET ! H1D] MOV+ AG1
6PU% ! H1VY MA*9E =W>D 6CUT ANO!R SWA? (
:1T AF X _H BE5 /OPP$ AT ! 5D (A SQU>E
TURN OR AF /OPP+ 6WAIT = ,$I? & ,LYMAN
6-E BACK )! EMPTI$ B>GE4 ,!N )! H1D] 9
MO;N1 ! SIX HORSES WALK$ /1DILY UP   #EG
! FIELD1 PU%+ ! WEI<T & NOISE (! MA*9E
AH1D ( !M4 ,! HORSES 7 D>K ) SW1T AL;G
_! NECKS & %\LD]S1 ": ! COLL>S RODE1 &
AL;G _! FLANKS4 ,:ITE FOAM1 L SOAP LA!R1
"W$ UP 2T ! BIG MUSCLES ON ! 9SIDES ( _!
BACK LEGS4 ,FLIES BO!R$ _! EYES & "UBEL-
LIES1 S T Z !Y WALK$1 /RA9+ AG/ ! H>;S1
!Y TOSS$ _! H1DS & SWIT*$ _! L;G H>%
TAILS4
  ,ROY SAT GRIMLY 2T !M1 WAT*+ /RAI<T
AH1D1 ! TILL]-:EEL L"E /UCK UP 2T 8
LEGS4 ,9 ! H1D] B>GE ,LYMAN 0 COV]$ ALL
OV] ) SW1T-/UCK *AFF & :1T HULLS2 8
*EEKS & NECK & >MS 7 COV]$ ) X1 & HE _H
ALM /OPP$ CUSS+4 ,HE 0 TOO TIR$1 TOO
HOT4 ,ONLY ,$I?1 9 H] ?9 "W DRESS &
FLAT-BRIMM$ /RAW HAT1 CLUCK+ 6H] HORSES
F H] S1T AT ! FRONT (! B>GE1 SEEM$ AT
ALL -=TA# 9 ! MORN+ H1T & DU/4 ,O3A.N,Y1
%E LOOK$ UP AT ,JOHN ,ROSCOE ACR ! FIELD
ON ! :1T /ACK4 ,%E CD SEE T 8 B>E BACK
%"O WET 9 ! SUN1 !N %E WD TURN BACK AG
6BE SURE T %E _H ! B>GE 9 POSI;N 6CAT* !
FALL+ :1T4 ,%E %R$D$ S"EAL H1DS ( :1T &
*EW$ ! H>D K]NELS 6MAKE :1T GUM      #EH
:ILE %E SAT ROCK+ ON ! WOOD S1T1 WAT*+ !
RISE & FALL (! HORSES' RUMPS AH1D ( H]4
  ,AT NOON !Y F9I%$ A SWA? AT ! 5D (!
FIELD NE>E/ ! /ACK & /OPP$4 ,!Y UNHIT*$
! HORSES1 !N AT ,ROY'S -M& ,LYMAN M.T$
"O (! HORSES & L$ ! O!RS AL;G ! F;E L9E
& !N ACR ! ROAD 6! TANK AT ! ,ROSCOE
PLACE1 S9CE !Y 7 "W+ 9 ! WE/ FIELD T "D1
: 0 CLOS] 6! ,ROSCOES' ?AN X 0 6_! [N
PLACE4 ,AT ! TANK 2S ! CORRAL1 ! EI<T
HORSES PU%$ 9 2S "O ANO!R1 SNORT$ 96!
WAT] & DRANK4 ,LYMAN CLIMB$ D[N !N &
HELD 8 H1D "U ! PIPE T RAN WAT] F ! W9D-
MILL1 ! SAME PIPE & W9DMILL Y SEE "! N[1
! "O 8 "M _H WALK$ A HALF MILE 6) H]
YOK$ PAILS ?REE YE>S 2F HE 0 BORN4 ,I
DON'T SUPPOSE ,LYMAN ?"\ AB T1 ?\<1 OR
REMEMB]$ X IF HE KNEW X AT ALL4 ,HE HELD
8 H1D "U ! RUNN+ WAT]1 : 0 S COLD X
NUMB$ 8 FACE1 & WI%$ HE CD TAKE 8 OV]-
ALLS (F & CLIMB 96! HORSE TANK L A LL
KID1 8 "F 2 DAMN$4
  ,:5 ! HORSES _H /OPP$ DR9K+ & _H 2GUN
6SNIFF AT ! WAT] OR 6RAISE _! H1DS 6LOOK
>.D !M ) D>K EYES1 SI<+ & %U4]+ A    #EI
LL L HORSES D :5 !Y'VE BE5 "W$ H>D &
SEEM 6LOOK (F AWAY T[>DS "S?+ Y YRF D N
SEE1 _C SEE1 !N ,LYMAN M.T$ AG1 DRIPP+
WAT] F 8 H1D & %\LD]S D[N 96HIS PANTS1 &
L$ ! BIG HORSES BACK ACR ! ROAD 6! /ACK4
,ON ! NOR? SIDE (! /ACK ,ROY & ,$I? &
,JOHN ,ROSCOE SAT 9 ! %ADE1 EAT+4
  8,FE$ 'EM10 ,ROY SD4
  ,LYMAN TI$ ! HORSES 6! H1D] & AL;G !
SIDE (! B>GE4 ,JOHN ,ROSCOE CAME OV] &
HELP$ HM FIT ! NOSE BAGS ONTO ! HORSES'
H1DS & SLIP ! /RAPS 2H _! E>S 6HOLD !
BAGS ) B>LEY 9 PLACE1 :ILE ! HORSES
SWUNG _! H1DS SU45LY & /AMP$ _! FEET TO
W>D (F FLIES4
  8,Y FALL 9 ! TANK80 ,JOHN ,ROSCOE SD4
8,H1D F/80
  8,I WI% ,I DID10 ,LYMAN SD4 8,A9'T X
HOT80
  8,GO+ 6GET W>TS ON YR D9KUS T WAY1
BOY4 ,"!'S TOADS 9 T HORSE TANK40
  8,HELL1 TOO10 ,LYMAN SD4
  ,!Y W5T BACK & SAT D[N 9 ! %ADE !N1 &
ATE ! FRE% P1S & B1NS ,$I? BR"\1 &! SALT
PORK & ?ICK SLICES ( BR1D & COLD     #FJ
BOIL$ POTATOES & ,DUT* APPLE PIE1 &
DRANK BUTT]MILK 9 T9 CUPS4 ,:5 !Y 7 F9-
I%$ ,$I? PUT ! ?+S AWAY & ,ROY GOT UP TO
OIL ! GE>S & *A9S ON ! MA*9]Y & 6EXAM9E
! SEC;N BLADES4 ,!N ,$I? & ,LYMAN &
,JOHN ,ROSCOE LAY D[N ) _! /RAW HATS OV]
_! FACES & TALK$ 6"O ANO!R UP "? ! SW1TY
CR[NS ( _! HATS4
  8,LUDI ,PFEI/] & 8 CREW GO+ 6?RE% = Y
AG ? YE>80
  8,I DON'T "K10 ,LYMAN SD4 8,PA DON'T
TELL U NO?+ "O WAY OR ANO!R40
  8,HE IS10 ,$I? SD4 8,I WROTE ! LR 6HM
9 ,KANSAS40
  8,I ?"\ HM & ,LUDI _H A LL >GU;T LA/
FALL40
  8,!Y DID10 ,LYMAN SD4 8,LUDI ?"\ ! :1T
_HN'T SW1T 5\<4 ,8,TOO WET 6?RE%10' HE
SD4 ,PA SD1 ,8,?RE% X ANYH[40'0
  8,LUDI'S ALL "R4 ,HE'S GOT 6?9K ( 8
?RE%]1 ?\<40
  8,DA4Y'S "R1 TOO1 "S"TS10 ,$I? SD4
  8,I'M J TALK+1 ,$I?4 ,I N"E M1NT NO?-
+40
  8,I "K10 %E SD4                    #FA
  ,! SUN SPECKL$ "? ! /RAW W1VE ( _!
HATS1 & !Y CD HE> ! HORSES /AMP+ & RAT-
TL+ _! H>;S4 ,LYMAN LAY 2T ,$I? & ,JOHN
,ROSCOE2 ! WET BACK ( 8 %IRT & OV]ALLS 0
CAK$ N[ ) S&4 ,!Y CD SMELL ! CUT :1T1
DU/Y & H1VY 9 ! AIR1 &! %>P GRE5 SMELL (
! SAGEBRU% ACR ! F;E L9E 9 ! NATIVE PAS-
TURE T 2L;G$ !N 6! ,ROSCOES & / DOES4
,LYMAN W5T 6SLEEP 9 A LL :ILE1 BR1?+
SL[1 REGUL>LY1 L A SMALL BOY1 B ,I BE-
LIEVE 8 SI/] & MY "F M/ H /AY$ AWAKE
TGR1 ?9K+ AB "O ANO!R ACR ,LYMAN'S OV]-
ALLS1 )! SUN SPECKL+ D[N ONTO _! FACES4
,I "K ,I WD H4
  8,GET UP10 ,ROY SD4 8,-E ON40
  ,2C ! HORSES _H F9I%$ EAT+1 Y "U/&4 ,!
HORSES _H RE/$ 5\<1 & ALL ! GE>S & *A9S
7 OIL$1 & HE WANT$ 6GET BACK 96! :1T
FIELD4 ,S !Y 2GAN 6"W AG L !Y _H ALL
MORN+1 ONLY X 0 HOTT] N[4
  ,ROY 0 UP ON 8 S1T 2T ! HORSES1 SITT+
UP "! RAMROD /IFF 9 ! SUN1 )! REEL AH1D
( HM TURN+ &! %>P SEC;N BLADES AL;G !
SICKLE B> CUTT+ ! :1T (F CLOSE 6! GR.D1
& !N ! CANVAS BELTS C>RY+ ! :1T (F   #FB
& UP "? ! *UTE 6DROP 96! H1D] B>GE ,$I?
DROVE AL;GSIDE S ,LYMAN CD LEVEL X (F 9
! BACK4 ,MY "F /AY$ ON ! /ACK1 =K+ ! :1T
LEVEL & EV5 ALL >.D HM1 & ,I 2LIEVE !Y
WD H F9I%$ TOO4 ,I 2LIEVE1 IF :AT ,I RE-
MEMB] AB T AFN IS "EY?+ T ,I 0 TOLD AB
X1 T !Y WD H F9I%$ CUTT+ T FIELD ( :1T
2F D>K1 & !N ALL ,ROY ,GOODN\< WD H _H
6D 0 6LET X /AY "! 9 ! /ACK SW1T+ =A C\-
PLE ( MON?S UNTIL X 0 DRY 5 = ,LUDI
,PFEI/] 6-E AL;G ) 8 CREW & ?RE%+ MA*9E
& ?RE% X = HM4
  ,B LATE 9 ! AFN1 AL;G AB FIVE O'C1 !
H1D] /OPP$ "W+4 ,X JOLT$ H>D1 LUR*$1 &
!N PASS$ OV] S"EAL RODS ( :1T )\T CUTT+
!M (F4
  8,GODDAMN X1 BACK UP10 ,ROY %\T$4 ,HE
SAW$ AT ! L9ES 6! HORSES1 PULL+ !M BACK4
8,N[ /& /10 HE SD4
  ,! HORSES /OOD "!1 N]V\S1 HI<-/RUNG1
HOT1 BO!R$ 0FLIES1 :ILE ,ROY CLIMB$ D[N
6SEE :AT _H HAPP5$4 ,!Y _H J MADE "O (!
SQU>E TURNS AT ! 5D (! FIELD NEXT 6!
B>BWIRE F;E SEP>AT+ ,ROY'S :1T F !
NATIVE PA/URE ACR F X4 ,S MAYBE      #FC
T'S ": !Y PICK$ UP ! WIRE4 ,OR MAYBE A
PIECE (! H1VY WIRE ,ROY ALW TI$ 8 MA*9]Y
TGR ) F9,Y BROKE & FELL 96! TEE? (! SEC-
;N BLADES4 ,B ,I DON'T SUPPOSE X MATT]S
": X CAME F1 2C HE _H X1 ALL "R4 ,HE _H
WIRE /UCK H>D 2T TWO BLADES & ANO!R
PIECE RUNN+ ACR ! TOP (! SICKLE B> & !N
D[N ": X 0 /UCK 2T TWO M BLADES1 S T !
:OLE BUSI;S 0 /OPP$ D1D F CUTT+ :1T4 ,HE
BLAM$ ,LYMAN4 ,HE BLAM$ MY "F4
  8,Y1 ,LYMAN10 HE YELL$4 8,GODDAMN Y40
  ,&! HORSES LUNG$ =W>D !N1 ?9K+ HE
WANT$ !M 6/>T UP AG4 ,!Y PU%$ ! H1D] TO-
W>DS HM ": HE /OOD 9 FRONT ( X1 CURS+4
  8,:OA4 ,GODDAMN X4 ,/OP N[40
  8,PA10 ,LYMAN CALL$4 8,D Y WANT ME TO
HOLD !M8 ,PA1 D Y WANT ,I %D--0
  8,NO4 ,/AY 9 ! B>GE4 ,Y & T ,ROSCOE H
D"O 5\<4 ,C'T EV5 FIX A GODDAMN F;E )\T
Y H 6SPR1D WIRE ALL OV] GODDAMN HELL40
  8,B Y TOLD ME--0
  8,I "K :AT ,I TOLD Y4 ,I TOLD Y 6HELP
HM FIX 8 F;E1 = HM HELP+ ME LA/ YE>4 ,B
T DON'T M1N Y H 6SPR1D X ALL OV] A MAN'S
:1T FIELD1 DOES X8 ,DOES X8 ,ANSW]   #FD
ME40
  ,LYMAN DIDN'T SAY ANY?+4 ,:AT 0 HE GO+
6SAY8
  8,ANSW] ME40
  8,X'S N ,LYMAN'S FAULT10 ,$I? SD4 8,Y
"K X ISN'T40
  8,Y %UT UP10 ,ROY SD4
  8,X'S N ,JOHN'S FAULT1 EI40
  8,/AY \ ( ?1 ,I SD4 ,ANSW] ME1 BOY4
,DOES X OR N8 ,I WANT 6"K40
  8,NO1 ,PA10 ,LYMAN SD4 8,NO40
  8,NO1 0,GOD1 X DON'T10 ,ROY SD4 8,B ,I
GOT X J ! SAME1 DON'T ,I8 ,ROSCOE'S F;E
WIRE /UCK 9 MY H1D]4 ,GODDAMN X1 ANYWAY4
,SON (A BIT*+ KIDS40
  ,B MY "F 0 TW5TY-FIVE & NO KID T SUM-
M]1 & X MI<T J Z WELL H BE5 ,ROY'S [N
WIRE /OPP+ ! TEE?--WIRE HE US$ 6TIE UP 8
DAMN MA*9]Y ) 9/1D ( "E BUY+ "S?+ NEW OR
EV5 =K+ OV] ! TWO C5TS T WD BUY ! BOLT T
WD FIX X4 ,B T DIDN'T MATT] 6HM3 HE KNEW
HE _H F;E WIRE /UCK 9 8 H1D] & N[ HE
CDN'T CUT :1T4
  ,HE B5T D[N 9 FRONT (! H1D]1 "U ! WOOD
BATS (! REEL1 & 2GAN 6PULL AT !      #FE
WIRE ) BO? H&S1 "W+ X BACK & =?1 SAW+ AT
X 6EI BR1K ! WIRE OR GET X FREE "SH[1 &
HE MANAG$ 6GET "O PIECE \ T WAY4 ,HE
/OOD UP PANT+ !N1 GL>+ AT ,$I? & ,LYMAN1
!N HE B5T D[N AG & />T$ ON ! O!R PIECE (
H1VY WIRE1 B5D+ X BACK & =?1 TRY+ 6SAW
"? X )! %>P S]RAT$ BLADES1 B X WDN'T -E1
& HE W5T A LL 9SANE )! H1T &! SALT SW1T
RUNN+ 96HIS EYES1 &! WIRE WASN'T -+4 ,HE
PULL$ AT X1 SAW$ AT X & X WDN'T -E1 & HE
W5T ON B5D+ X1 SAW+ AT X VICI\SLY--!N X
CAME S SU45LY1 SNAPP$ S FA/1 T HE /OOD
UP TOO QK & BANG$ 8 H1D H>D AG/ A REEL
BAT4
  8,GODDAMN X10 HE YELL$1 L\D & FI]CE4
8,GODDAMN X1 6HELL40
  ,& T'S :AT DID X4 ,X 0 T1 8 HOT ANGRY
9SANE YELL+1 T DID X = HM4 ,& ,I SUPPOSE
X'S ONLY "R TOO3 ! VOICE T HE H>DLY "E
US$ AT ALL EXCEPT 6TELL "SBODY :AT 6D )
OR 6CURSE Y )1 6DAMN Y1 ! VOICE HE J
DIDN'T SEEM 6"K H[ 6USE 9 ANY WAY T 0
K9D AT ALL--HIS [N ANGRY 9SANE VOICE
FIX$ HM4 ,2C1 Y "U/&1 ! HORSES 7 HOT4 ,!
HORSES 7 HI<-/RUNG1 N]V\S1 JITT]Y    #FF
N[ ) 8 YELL+ AT !M &) 8 SAW+ AT ! L9ES4
,2SS1 !Y 7 US$ 62+ />T$ 0HIS YELL+1 & !Y
CDN'T ANYWAY 4T+UI% 8 GI4UP F 8 GODDAMN4
  ,& X 0 GODDAMN1 HE YELL$4 ,GODDAMN X1
TO HELL4
  ,S ! HORSES LUNG$ =W>D4 ,! SIX "WHORS-
ES ?REW !MVS H>D 96! H>;S1 &! H1D] MOV$1
JOLT$ =W>D4 ,X 0 FREE ( WIRE N[4 ,! L;G
BAT (! REEL CAME >.D1 HIT HM H>D1 A BL[
ACR ! NAPE (! NECK4 ,X DROPP$ HM ONTO 8
H&S & KNEES4 ,HE BRAC$ 8 FALL1 B 8 F+]S
CAU<T 9 ! %>P BLADES (! SEC;NS4 ,HE _H
HON$ !M T MORN+ HMF ON ! GR9D/"O2 !Y 7
KNIFE %>P4 ,N[ 8 F+]S 7 9 !M1 2T ! B"R
BLADES1 & 8 F+]S 7 2+ MANGL$1 TORN 6B"O
& BITS1 BROK51 CUT1 SLIC$4 ,& HE 0 YELL-
+4 ,ALL ! "T HE 0 YELL+1 CURS+1 SCR1M+1
8 FEET KICK+ \ WILD 2H HM1 ! H1D] 0 /
MOV+ =W>D1 JOLT+ 9 ! R\< FIELD1 ) ,$I? &
,LYMAN RUNN+ AL;GSIDE1 YELL+ AT ! HORS-
ES1 ! HORSES WILD )! NOISE & / LUNG+ =-
W>D 9 ! H>;S1 %OV+ ! H1D] AT HM1 C>RY+
HM =W>D ) X1 CUTT+ :1T ) 8 F+]S4 ,X 0
9SANE1 9SAN;Y1 X 0 HELL4 ,! BATS (! REEL
7 CRACK+ HM D[N AG & AG1 & / ! :1T   #FG
0 2+ CUT ALL >.D HM1 & 8 F+]S 7 9 !
BLADES1 2+ CUT1 SLIC$1 HACK$1 & !N X 0
OV]4 ,X 0 D"O4 ,T FA/4 ,HE 0 TORN FREE F
8 F+]S & C>RI$ (F 6! SIDE 0! CANVAS
BELT4
  ,!Y GOT ! HORSES /OPP$4 ,JOHN ,ROSCOE
_H SE5 :AT 0 HAPP5+4 ,HE _H JUMP$ D[N F
! /ACK & _H -E RUNN+ ACR ! FIELD1 & HE &
,LYMAN _H /OPP$ ! HORSES F9,Y4 ,N[ ,$I?
0 HELP+ H] "F CRAWL \ (! H1D]4 ,X 0 BAD4
,HE _H A L;G OP5 CUT ABV 8 EYES1 ANO!R 9
! HAIR AT ! BACK ( 8 H1D2 "O ( 8 PANTS
LEGS 0 RIPP$ F CUFF 6?I< & %[$ DEEP
BRUISES & CUTS ALL AL;G 8 LEG2 HE 0 COV-
]$ ALL OV] ) BLOOD & :1T *AFF4 ,B X 0 8
H&S T F"R5$ Y4 ,HE HELD !M 9 FRONT ( HM1
\ AWAY F 8 BODY1 Z IF !Y 7 EXHIBITS4 ,8
H&S 7 GORE N[1 RAW M1T1 HAMBURG]4 ,ALL !
F+]S &! ?UMB ON 8 "R H& 7 G"O1 *OPP$ (F4
,! ?UMB &! F/ ?REE F+]S ON 8 LEFT H& 7
G"O TOO1 J RA7$ M1T & SPL9T]$ B"O1 L1V+
8 LL F+] AL"O ON T H&1 AL"O ( ALL 8 F9-
G]S1 UNCUT4 ,X 0 RIDICUL\S4 ,8 LL F+] ON
8 LEFT H& DIDN'T H A SCRAT* ON X4 ,X 0 A
MOCK]Y4 ,HE HELD 8 H&S \ 9 FRONT (   #FH
HM1 />+ AT !M1 Z IF HE _H F9,Y G"O 9SANE
5TIRELY1 :ILE 8 RU9$ H&S ?RO2$ BLOOD1
DRIPP+ ! BLOOD (F ! JA7$ /UMPS ( 8 F+]S1
D[N 96! :1T /UB# & S& AT 8 FEET4
  8,OH ,DA4Y10 ,$I? CRI$4 8,OH ,GOD1
,DA4Y4 ,-E ON1 WE'VE GOT 6GET 6! DOCTOR4
,C Y WALK8 ,OH ,GOD1 -E ON1 ?\<40
  ,ROY SEEM$ ALM 6WAKE UP !N4 ,HE SEEM$
ALM 6-E \ ( 8 WILD FASC9AT$ DAZE4 8,I
A9'T L1V+10 HE SD4 ,HE WASN'T YELL+ ANY-
?+ N[2 HE 0 J TALK+1 HI<1 9 A K9D ( OLD
MAN'S %OCK$ :9E4 ,8 F+]S 7 G"O4 8,I A9'T
L1V+10 HE SD4 8,!Y'RE M9E40
  8,:AT8 ,NO1 -E ON4 ,:AT >E Y TALK+ AB8
,WE'VE GOT 6HURRY4 ,HELP ME40
  8,I A9'T L1V+ !M "H4 ,!Y'RE M9E4 ,!Y
A9'T YRS1 >E !Y8 ,!Y A9'T YRS40
  8,NO1 PL1SE4 ,OH ,GOD4 ,HELP ME1
,JOHN40
  ,JOHN ,ROSCOE TOOK ,ROY'S >M & TRI$ TO
L1D HM AWAY1 TRI$ 6GET HM 6WALK T[>DS !
ROAD4 ,B HE PULL$ 8 BLOODY >M FREE4
  8,!Y'RE M9E1 GODDAMN X4 ,I TELL Y1 !Y
A9'T YRS4 ,I TOLD Y1 DIDN'T ,I80
  8,YES1 Y TOLD U10 ,JOHN ,ROSCOE    #FI
SD4
  8,!Y A9'T YRS40
  8,NO40
  8,!Y'RE M9E4 ,I TOLD Y ALR40
  8,YES1 ALL "R4 ,WE'LL F9D !M40
  8,GIVE !M 6ME4 ,I WANT !M ALL40
  8,WE'LL F9D !M10 ,JOHN ,ROSCOE SD4
8,LYMAN1 G GET MY C> />T$4 ,BR+ X "H40
  8,OH ,JESUS10 ,LYMAN SD4
  8,HURRY UP1 GODDAMN X4 ,RUN40
  ,LYMAN TURN$ & RAN /UMBL+ ACR ! :1T
/UB# 6GET ! C>4 ,HE FELL D[N1 JUMP$ UP
AG1 & RAN ON4 ,$I? & MY "F /OOD ) ,ROY
,GOODN\< 2S ! H1D]4 ,8 H&S & >MS 7
TWIT*+ UNCONTROLLABLY N[1 DRIPP+ BLOOD
ALL ! "T4 ,HE HELD !M \ 9 FRONT ( HM4 ,8
FACE 0 BLOODY F ! W.D ABV 8 EYES1 & "! 0
M BLOOD RUNN+ D[N ! BACK ( 8 NECK4
  8,I TOLD Y10 HE SD4 8,I ALR TOLD Y S40
  8,HE'S GO+ 6DIE10 ,$I? SD4
  8,NO1 HE ISN'T4 ,N YET40
  8,I'M AFRAID HE'S GO+ 6DIE1 ?\<40
  8,/AY ) HM4 ,I'LL LOOK IF ,I C F9D ANY
( 8 F+]S4 ,JESUS ,*RI/ ,ALMI<TY40
  8,GIVE !M 6ME4 ,!Y'RE M9E4 ,!Y     #GJ
A9'T YRS40
  8,YES1 ,DA4Y4 ,HU% N[40
  8,I WANT !M40
  8,YES1 ,I "K40
  8,!Y'RE M9E1 ,I TOLD Y40
  8,OH1 PL1SE 2 QUIET4 ,PL1SE1 ,DA4Y40
  8,!Y A9'T YRS4 ,!Y'RE M9E40

  ,JOHN ,ROSCOE F.D TWO (! F+]S & "O (!
?UMBS4 ,! ?UMB 0 / /UCK 9 ! SEC;N
BLADES4 ,! TWO F+]S HE F.D 9 ! S& & /UB#
2H ! H1D]1 B HE CDN'T F9D ANY M4 ,$I?
HELD !M 9 H] LAP ON ! WAY 6T[N1 SITT+ 9
! BACK S1T (! OLD ,MODEL ;,T ,=D 2H H]
"F4 ,!Y LOOK$ L ?ICK BLOODY SAUSAGES 9 !
H&K]*IEF ON H] LAP1 EXCEPT T !Y _H BLACK
HAIR ON !M 2T :AT WD H BE5 KNUCKLES & !Y
_H F+]NAILS ON ! 5DS4 ,"! 0 / DIRT "U !
NAILS4 ,$I? BRU%$ ! S& & :1T *AFF (F !M3
! F+]S 7 V /IFF4 ,ROY SAT 9 FRONT ( H] )
8 H1D FALL5 ON 8 *E/4 ,HE 0 MUMBL+ 6HMF1
& 8 BLOODY H&S DRIPP$ BLOOD /1DILY ONTO
! FLOORBO>DS (! C>4
  8,I'M AFRAID HE'S GO+ 6BLE$ 6D1?10
,$I? SD4                             #GA
  8,I DON'T "K10 ,JOHN ,ROSCOE SD4
8,HE'S GETT+ W1K40
  8,DA4Y10 ,$I? SD4 8,DA4Y1 C Y HE> ME80
  8,I TOLD Y10 ,ROY 0 SAY+4 8,I TOLD Y1
DIDN'T ,I8 ,I TOLD Y40
  8,GOD 9 H1V510 ,$I? SD4 8,AT L1/ HE'S
/ ALIVE40
  8,YES4 ,WE'LL 2 "! SOON40
  ,LYMAN SAT 2S 8 SI/]1 />+ =W>D AT !
BACK ( 8 "F'S H1D1 )\T SAY+ A ^W4 ,!Y
DROVE Z FA/ Z !Y CD 9 ! ,=D ON ! DIRT
ROAD GO+ NOR? 6T[N4
  ,HOLT DIDN'T H A HOSPITAL YET2 "!
WDN'T 2 "O = ANO!R FIFTE5 YE>S4 ,!Y
/OPP$ ! C> ON ,MA9 ,/REET AT ! /OREFRONT
T 0 ! DOCTOR'S (FICE1 NEXT 6! H>;S & G5-
]AL /ORE T HAS S9CE 2COME A ,COA/ 6,COA/
/ORE4 ,!Y GOT ,ROY ,GOODN\< \ (! C>1 &
MY "F & ,$I? SUPPORT$ HM "U ! >MS &
WALK$ HM 9SIDE4 ,DOC ,PACK] WASN'T "!4
  8,G F9D HM4 ,QK40
  8,I C'T10 ,LYMAN SD4 8,:AT IF ,I C'T
F9D HM80
  8,J LOOK = HM4 ,HURRY UP4 ,GODDAMN X1
ASK "SBODY40                         #GB
  8,B ,JESUS10 ,LYMAN SD4 ,!N HE RAN \
ONTO ! SIDEWALK4
  ,I DON'T "K :E!R OR N ,M>CELLUS ,PACK]
0 ! F/ DOCTOR 9 ,HOLT1 B HE 0 "O (! F/4
,HE 0 A %ORT MAN1 & FAT1 )A WALRUS M\S-
TA*E L Y SEE 9 PICTURES ( ,T$DY ,ROOSE-
VELT4 ,8 M\/A*E 0 ALW 4COLOR$ F TOBA3O
JUICE1 EV5 Z AN OLD MAN1 :5 ,I 0 TAK5 TO
HM Z A KID ) MUMPS4 ,HE "P$ :AT HAIR HE
_H 9 ! MI4LE4 ,LYMAN F.D HM 9 ! D>K BE]
SALOON ON ! CORN]1 TALK+ 6"S (! M5 AT !
TA#4
  8,Y GOT 6-E10 ,LYMAN SD4
  8,:AT'S WR;G1 BOY80
  8,X'S ,PA40
  8,:AT'S WR;G ) HM8 ,SL[ D[N4 ,/& / A
M9UTE1 C'T Y80
  8,X'S ,PA40
  8,": IS HE80
  ,LYMAN RAN BACK ONTO ! SIDEWALK 9 !
SUN & UP ! BLOCK 6! (FICE4 ,PACK] FOLL[$
HM1 TAK+ %ORT QK /EPS "U 8 BIG /OMA*1 ON
UP ! SIDEWALK & 96! BACK ROOM (! (FICE1
": ,$I? & MY "F _H ,ROY S1T$ ON A *AIR )
A BUCKET ON ! FLOOR 2T 8 FEET TO     #GC
CAT* ! BLOOD4
  8,GD ,GOD1 MAN10 ,PACK] SD4 8,:AT HAP-
P5$ 6Y80
  8,!Y A9'T YRS10 ,ROY SD4 8,!Y A9'T YRS
NEI40
  8,:AT'S HE TALK+ AB80
  8,HE GOT CAU<T 9 A H1D]10 MY DAD SD4
8,HE 0 TRY+ 6PULL "S WIRE \4 ,! HORSES
SPOOK$40
  8,HE'S S W1K N[10 ,$I? SD4 8,HE'S BE5
BLE$+ ALL ! "T40
  8,I C SEE T4 ,HELP ME GET 8 %IRT (F
HM4 ,T CUT OV] 8 EYES A9'T S BAD1 B !M
H&S ( 8 ''' GD ,GOD40
  ,!Y CUT 8 %IRT & L;G "UWE> (F AL;G !
SLEEVES S !Y WDN'T H 6T\* 8 H&S YET4 ,HE
SAT "! 9 8 RIPP$ PANTS DRIPP+ BLOOD 96!
BUCKET4 ,!N !Y MOV$ HM OV] 6A TA#4
  8,PICK UP 8 FEET10 ,PACK] SD4 8,"! N[1
"!4 ,LAY HM D[N4 ,HOLD 8 >MS = HM4 ,GET
ANO!R BUCKET1 BOY1 IF Y A9'T GO+ 6HELP
LIFT HM1 S HE DON'T BLE$ ALL OV] MY
FLOOR4 ,OV] "! 9 ! CORN]4 ,"! N[1 T'S
BETT]4 ,HOLD HM / N[ :ILE ,I TRY 6WA% "S
( ? BLOOD (F HM4 ,JESUS ,GOD1 HE'S   #GD
LUCKY HE DON'T FEEL NO?+40
  8,!Y A9'T YRS10 ,ROY SD4
  ,HE 0 LY+ BACK ON A TA# ) 8 >MS HELD \
6! SIDE1 & ,DOCTOR ,M>CELLUS ,PACK] 0
WA%+ "O (! /UMPS ( 8 H&S ) ALCOHOL4 8,I
TOLD Y !Y'RE M9E10 HE SD4 8,I TOLD Y S40
  8,:AT'S HE TALK+ AB8 ,HOLD HM /40
  8,Y MI<T Z WELL GIVE !M 6HM1 ,$I?4 ,D
Y / H !M80
  8,YES40
  ,$I? R1*$ 96! POCKET ( H] DRESS & H&$
! H&K]*IEF 6,DOC ,PACK]4
  8,:AT'S ?80 HE SD4 ,HE LOOK$ AT ! TWO
F+]S &! ?UMB 9 ! BLOODY H&K]*IEF4 8,:AT
D Y EXPECT ME 6D ) !M ?+S80
  8,HE _H 6H !M10 ,$I? SD4 8,B WE CDN'T
F9D ! O!RS1 & ,JOHN LOOK$ ALL OV]4 ,HE
WDN'T L1VE )\T !M40
  8,Y WA/$ YR "T10 ,PACK] SD4
  ,HE %OOK !M (F ! H&K]*IEF 96"O (!
BUCKETS4 ,!Y LOOK$ L !Y MI<T 2 BLUNT FI%
NOS+ "O ANO!R 9 ! BUCKET4
  8,I A9'T NO ,JESUS ,*RI/10 HE SD4
8,HOLD HM / N[4 ,? IS GO+ 6HURT4 ,MAYBE
Y ?9K ,I'M "S DAMN CIRCUS MAGI-      #GE
CIAN80

  ,9 ! 5D AB ALL ,DOC ,PACK] CD D 0 TO
TRIM ! /UMPS ( ,ROY'S F+]S & ?UMBS A LL
BIT S !Y WDN'T 2 S %>P1 !N HE /RET*$ !
RA7$ FLAPS ( SK9 OV] ! 5DS & /IT*$ !M UP
96H>D WELTS4 ,ROY / _H ! "O UNCUT1 UN-
SCRAT*$ LL F+] ON 8 LEFT H&1 & HE DAMN
NE> DI$4 ,HE PROBABLY %D H DI$1 TOO1 B
HE DIDN'T DIE4 ,HE LIV$ = ANO!R ?IRTY-
SEV5 YE>S ) ^? CRUEL1 RAW-LOOK+ H&S4 ,HE
CD CROOK 8 >MS "U A BUCKET & HOLD A F;E
PO/ :ILE Y TAMP$ 9 >.D X1 & HE LE>N$ TO
PU% A BUTTON "? XS HOLE S HE CD GET 8
%IRT ON 0US+ T "O LL F+]1 B HE CDN'T
MILK A C[ OR "W A F;E PLI]S OR DRIVE A
TRACTOR4 ,HE CDN'T D ANY ( ^? ?+S T MAT-
T]$4 ,S HE 0 SNOOK]$ ALL "R4 ,HE 0 FIX$4
,N[ HE 0 DEP5D5T ON O!R P1 & HE HAT$ X4
  ,B IF _! "F 0 FIX$1 ,$I? & ,LYMAN 7
FIX$ EV5 WORSE4 ,!Y 7 /UCK N[ ON T S&-
HILL F>M4 ,H[ 7 !Y GO+ 6L1VE HM1 ! WAY
HE WAS8 ,!Y CDN'T L1VE HM4 ,N T WAY1 !Y
CDN'T4 ,X 0 HELL = ALL ( !M4 ,!Y 7 ALL
FIX$4                                #GF
























                   #D                #GG

  ,B IF ,$I? & ,LYMAN _H BE5 C;Y KIDS1
?+S MI<T H BE5 DI6]5T4 ,C;Y KIDS1 EV5 9
#AIAE1 _H "S OPPORTUNITIES 6ESCAPE : F>M
KIDS DIDN'T H4 ,C;Y KIDS CD TAKE (F &
WALK T5 OR FIFTE5 BLOCKS OR JUMP ON A
TROLLEY C> GO+ ACR T[N & 5D UP Z F> AWAY
F HOME Z IF !Y 7 9 ANO!R /ATE 5TIRELY1
ANO!R C.TRY EV54 ,!N !Y CD MAKE _! M>K1
OR N MAKE X1 & />T _! LIFE OV] OR 5D X1
B :AT"E HAPP5$1 AT L1/ ! TIES WD H BE5
CUT1 ! LIMITS ( HOME WD H BE5 BROK54
  ,OR IF ,$I? & ,LYMAN _H BE5 C.TRY KIDS
LIV+ N[1 ALIVE & H[L+ 9 ! #AIGJ;S1 ?+S
MI<T H BE5 DI6]5T TOO4 ,X'S ,,TV & MOVIE
%[S & HI< S*OOL & #C.B BE] & L\D MUSIC &
PAV$ HI<WAYS & FA/ C>S 7& :AT GOES ON &
-ES (F TOO 9 ! BACK S1TS ( ^? C>S1 UNTIL
MAYBE ,BUD ,S1LY %9ES 8 FLA%LI<T 9 "? !
SIDE W9D[S7--X'S ALL ^? ?+S & M T C.TRY
KIDS H N[1 & Y C'T TELL A F>M KID F A
T[N KID1 EV5 )A PROGRAM4 ,!Y'RE J AB ALL
! SAME1 ALL ALIKE 9 _! C>S1 DRIV+ UP &
D[N ,MA9 ,/REET E ,SATUR"D NI<T1 HONK+ &
H[L+1 9 ,HOLT1 ,COLORADO4            #GH
  ,B ,$I? & ,LYMAN DIDN'T H ^? ?+S1 ^?
*.ES & OPPORTUNITIES 6ESCAPE4 ,!Y 7 F>M
KIDS 9 ! SECOND DECADE ( ? VIOL5T C5TU-
RY1 & !Y 7 /UCK4 ,_! "M DI$ E>LY1 L
,I'VE ALR SD2 _! "F 0 ,ROY ,GOODN\<1 &
EV5 IF HE 0 A RAG+ MADMAN "S"TS1 EV5 IF
HE YELL$ TOO M* AT !M1 HE 0 / _! "F4 ,&
!N--6CL9* MATT]S1 6TURN T H1VY VISE A
FEW M TURNS 6! "R--!Y _H 6SEE HM GET 8
H&S RU9$4 ,!Y _H 6BE "R "! :5 X HAPP5$2
!Y _H 6WIT;S X ALL1 WAT* 8 H&S 2+ GR.D
6HAMBURG]2 !Y _H 6RUN = HELP1 GET HM TO
T[N1 C>RY :AT 0 LEFT ( 8 F+]S WRAPP$ UP
9 A DAMN H&K]*IEF1 & !N "O ( !M _H 6HOLD
AN >M 9 PLACE1 & !Y BO? _H 6WAT* :ILE
,PACK] DID :AT LL HE CD 6RECTIFY !
BLOODY MESS ( 8 H&S--& ALL ! "T HE 0 /
TALK+ AB ,I TOLD Y S1 ,I TOLD Y1 DIDN'T
,I8
  ,S :5 ,I SAY !Y 7 /UCK1 ,I DON'T M1N
!Y 7 /UCK J A LL BIT4 ,I DON'T M1N !Y 7
J SORT ( /UCK ! WAY Y MI<T 2 IF Y /EPP$
96"S MUD & Y 7 A# 6GET \ ( X IF Y MADE !
EF=T1 & ONCE Y 7 \ ( X AB ALL ! LOSS Y'D
H 6%[ 0 T Y MI<T H 6L1VE A PAIR (    #GI
GD NEW %OES 2H Y 9 ! MUD4 ,NO1 ,I M1N !Y
7 DEEP /UCK4 ,I M1N X 0 L !Y 7 /UCK CLE>
UP 6_! *9S1 ALM UP 6EYE LEVEL1 & NO R1L
EF=T 0 EV5 POSSI#4 ,!Y MI<T MANAGE 6WIG-
GLE _! >MS A LL BIT N[ & !N1 !Y MI<T
TURN _! H1DS A FEW DEGREES1 B !Y CDN'T
GET \ NO MATT] :AT1 & AB ALL !Y CD SEE 9
ANY DIREC;N >.D !M1 :5 !Y DID MANAGE TO
TURN _! H1DS A LL BIT1 0 J M MUD4 ,M (!
SAME4 ,OR1 9 _! CASE1 M S& & M "W & DUTY
& OBLIG,N4
  ,S ,$I? W5T ON1 ( C\RSE1 COOK+ & CL1N+
& M5D+ & WA%+ CLO!S & IRON+4 ,AL1 %E /
_H ! G>D5 6MANAGE3 6PLANT1 HOE1 WAT]1 C1
& PICKLE4 ,AL1 %E _H ! WOOD 6CUT & C>RY
IN1 ! /OVE 6/OKE1 ! *ICK5S 6FE$1 ! E7S
6GA!R & CL1N4 ,AL N[1 E MORN+ & E NI<T1
ON TOP ( ALL ^? O!R DUTIES %E _H 6D !
MILK+4
  ,H Y "E MILK$ C[S8 ,NO1 ,I SUPPOSE N4
,WELL1 MILK+ C[S IS ALL "R IF "! ISN'T
ANY WAY Y C GET \ ( X1 B X'S N Q ! FUN
"TS OLD PICTURES MAKE X \ 6BE1 ) "S B>E-
>M$ MILKMAID SITT+ D[N 2S "S NICE BR[N &
:ITE ,GU]NSEY C[ "U AN OAK TREE &    #HJ
OV] "! N F> AWAY IS A BLUE /R1M BU2L+ &
"EY?+ LOOKS LAZY & F9E & "SH[ X'S ALW
SUMM]4 ,NO1 Y GET UP--,$I? GOT UP--E
MORN+ 9 ! D>K1 N"E M9D IF X 0 BLIZZ>D+
\1 N"E M9D IF %E 0 / EXHAU/$4 ,%E GOT
UP1 ?REW ON A DRESS &A COAT & W5T \TSIDE
6F9D ! FIVE OR SIX ,%ORTHORNS 9 ! C[
PA/URE4 ,%E WALK$ !M "? ! GATE & 96!
B>N1 SET ! H1D CAT* 6HOLD !M "!1 HIT*$
UP H] SKIRT & COAT 6CLIMB UP ! LA4] 6!
L(T1 ?REW D[N "S HAY 96! MANG]1 CLIMB$
D[N AG1 SET ! ;,T-%AP$ MILK /OOL 9
PLACE1 SAT D[N ) H] H1D CLOSE 6! C['S
FLANK 6KEEP F GETT+ HIT 9 ! FACE TOO M*
0! /++ %IT-FILL$1 EYE-BL9D+ TAIL1 WA%$ !
TITS (F )A WET RAG1 PULL$ "S F/ SQUIRTS
( MILK F EA* TIT 6FUR!R CL1N !M & 6*ECK
= MA/ITIS1 SQUEEZ$ ! BUCKET 2T H] KNEES1
& !N1 F9,Y1 MILK$ ! C[ \ 5 6/ L1VE "S =A
CALF 6SUCK & SURVIVE ON4 ,& !N %E DID !
SAME )! NEXT C[1 &! NEXT1 &! NEXT4 ,&
ALL ! "T %E 0 TALK+ QUIETLY 6!M 6KEEP !M
CALM 5 T !Y WD LET ! MILK D[N & N KICK !
BUCKET AWAY F H]4
  ,:5 %E 0 F9I%$ MILK+1 %E TURN$ !   #HA
C[S \ 6PA/URE AG1 & !N C>RI$ ! BUCKETS (
MILK 96! H\SE 6! BACK POR*1 ": %E RAN !
MILK "? ! SEP>ATOR1 TURN+ ! CRANK 0H&4
,AFWS1 "S"T DUR+ ! "D1 %E _H 6F9D "T TO
MAKE BUTT] & 6GET ! S\R CR1M R1DY 6TAKE
6T[N 6SELL4 ,I 2LIEVE !Y DID T ONCE A
WEEK1 TOOK ! CR1M & E7S !Y DIDN'T NE$
96T[N 6,BI%OP'S ,CR1M]Y OPPOSITE ! RAIL-
ROAD TRACKS4
  ,B Y "U/&1 DON'T Y1 T :AT ,I'VE TOLD Y
S F> 0 J ! MORN+ MILK+4 ,2C %E _H 6D X
ALL OV] AG LATE 9 ! AFN 2F %E COOK$ SUP-
P]2 TWICE A "D %E _H 6D X1 E "D 9 !
WEEK4 ,Y AL "U/& T :AT ,I'VE SD AB MILK+
C[S IS BAS$ ON ! %AKY ASSUMP;N T "EY?+
WD G "R4 ,I M1N1 T'S H[ X 0 SUPPOS$ 6BE4
,B1 ( C\RSE1 X DIDN'T ALW G T WAY4 ,"! 7
_M "DS :5 :AT"E CD G WR;G1 DID G WR;G4
,A C[ /EPP$ ON H] FOOT4 ,ANO!R "O KICK$
! BUCKET OV]4 ,"O ( !M TURN$ UP SICK &
_H 6BE DOCTOR$4 ,OR MAYBE !Y J DIDN'T
WANT 6-E 9 F ! PA/URE 9 ! F/ PLACE4 ,:O
"KS :AT AN OLD SPECKLE-FAC$ C[ IS ?9K+8
,OR IF %E'S ?9K+ ANY?+ AT ALL8 ,WELL1 "S
P CLAIM PIGS >E SM>T1 & MAYBE !Y     #HB
>E1 B NOBODY ,I "K HAS "E SD T AB C[S4
  ,B ! WOR/ "P ( MILK+ 0 ALW T 3/ANT /++
F\L TAIL4 ,N[ A %IT-FILL$ TAIL IS BAD
5\<4 ,/RUCK ACR YR EYES OR SNAPP$ 96YR
M\?1 A %IT-FILL$ TAIL W D = />T]S1 & X
HAPP5S ALL ! "T4 ,B Y DON'T "K :AT BAD
IS1 Y HAV5'T EXP]I;ED ! FULL B5EFIT (
/9K & \TRAGE1 UNTIL Y'VE _H A FRE% C[
7ESPECI,Y AN OLD RAW-BON$ BIT* (A "O T Y
HATE ANYWAY7 -E 9 6BE MILK$ =! F/ "T AF
HAV+ A CALF1 & :5 %E GETS 9 %E HAS A
?REE-"D-OLD AFBIR? HANG+ D[N \ ( H] 2C
%E HASN'T CL1N$ \ "R4 ,S "! X IS1 T
DAMN$ /UFF IS HANG+ D[N \ ( H]1 SW++ "!
2T H] BACK LEGS2 X'S %IT-SOAK$1 JUICY1
BUZZ+ ) FLIES1 &! ROTT5;S ( X IS S PU-
TRID1 S ,GOD-AW;L1 T X'S ALL Y C D 6KEEP
F ?R[+ YR GUTS UP4 ,B Y'VE GOT 6MILK H]1
DON'T Y8 ,T'S :AT %E'S "! =4 ,S Y SET !
BUCKET D[N1 P]* YR BUTT ON ! MILK/OOL1 &
Y PRAY OR HOPE OR CROSS YR F+]S1 Y MAKE
ALL K9DS ( IMPOSSI# PROMISES3 IF ONLY Y
C J GET H] MILK$ )\T HAV+ 6TA/E ANY ( T
PUTRID F\L;S4 ,& 0,GOD1 YES1 X LOOKS L
Y'RE GO+ 6MAKE X4 ,YES1 T'S "R1      #HC
Y'RE GO+ 6MAKE X4 ,S EASY N[1 EASY ,MA-
MA1 EASY4 ,T'S "R4 ,& ,JESUS1 YES1 Y'VE
ALM GOT H] MILK$ \ 5 6CALL X GD--:5
BANG1 OH HOLY %IT1 OH ,*RI/ ON A CRUT*1
%E HITS Y ) X ALL1 ALL ( T BLOOD & %IT &
JUICE & UNBELIEVA# \TRAGE1 "R ACR YR
FACE4 ,X COV]S YR EYES1 YR NOSE1 YR M\?4
,Y C EV5 FEEL "S ( X DRIPP+ D[N ! BACK (
YR NECK4 ,OH BRO!R1 HELP ME4 ,SON (A
BIT*4 ,!N Y C'T HOLD X ANY L;G]3 Y ?R[
UP1 ALL OV] YRF1 ALL OV] ! DAMN C[1 ALL
OV] ! MILK BUCKET4 ,Y ?R[ UP UNTIL Y'RE
GA7+ ON ACID BILE1 YR /OMA* HURTS1 &
Y'RE GROP+ = AIR4
  ,WELL1 X HAPP5$ 6ME ONCE4 ,ONCE 0 5\<4
,X MADE ME WANT 6KILL "S?+4 ,B ,I SUP-
POSE X HAPP5$ 6,$I? ,GOODN\< A NUMB] (
"TS4 ,X _H TO4 ,$I? MILK$ C[S TWICE A
"D1 E "D (! WEEK1 ALL ^? YE>S4

  ,B ,LYMAN1 M1N:ILE :AT AB ,LYMAN8 ,2C1
AF ALL1 ,LYMAN 0 /UCK1 TOO4 ,I M1N1 HE
SURE Z HELL WASN'T ANY SIXTE5-YE>-OLD
KID F ! C;Y4 ,HE 0 J A TALL BIG-BON$
MOP-HAIR$ F>M KID1 ) RAW WRI/S &     #HD
PAT*$ OV]ALLS & HI<-TOPP$ %OES1 & HE
SEEM$ 6/UM# AB 9 A K9D ( DAZE1 L HE _H
LO/ "S?+ & CDN'T REMEMB] :AT X 0 HE _H
LO/1 LET AL"O "K ": 6LOOK = X4 ,LYMAN 0
/UCK \ "H ON T SAME S&HILL F>M1 /UCK 9 !
SAME WAY 8 SI/] WAS4 ,HE 0 CAU<T 9 !
SAME VISE1 S"M$ 9 ! SAME MUD HOLE ) J 8
*9 7W1K & PO9T$ L 8 "M'S7 /ICK+ UP ABV
X1 & ,I DON'T 2LIEVE ,LYMAN 0 EV5 A# TO
GET 8 H1D UP 5 6LOOK >.D HM1 6SEE T "!
WASN'T A ?+ 9 ! _W \ "! B M (! SAME4
  ,ROY SAW 6T4 ,ROY1 ) 8 DE/ROY$ H&S & 8
H>D EYES1 KEPT ,LYMAN'S NOSE BURI$ 9 X4
,X 0 L ,LYMAN 0 J "S ASS-:IPP$ M;GREL
DOG T ,ROY KEPT AT HEEL ON A %ORT *A91 &
ANY "T ,LYMAN GOT ANY NO;N O!RWISE1 !N 8
"F WD GIVE HM A %>P J]K 6MAKE HM REMEMB]
& PAY ATT5;N4 ,2C T'S ! WAY X 0 =A L;G
"T3 ,ROY KEPT ,LYMAN'S NOSE BURI$ "R "!
AT HOME4 ,HE MADE DAMN SURE T ,LYMAN N"E
_H "T 5 6HAT* UP ANY ESCAPE PLANS2 HE
SAW 6X T ,LYMAN SP5T ALL 8 BRA9 & ALL 8
MUSCLE & ALL 8 SW1T "R "! PLANT+ ^? QU>-
T] SEC;NS ( CORN & :1T1 PLANT+ ! SAME
CORN R[S YE> AF YE> & !N CULTIVAT+   #HE
T CORN & H& PICK+ X1 PLANT+ ! SAME :1T
FIELDS & DISK+ & H>VE/+1 & 9 2T "TS :5
HE WASN'T "W+ CORN OR "W+ :1T1 !N HE 0
EXHAU/+ HMF ) RAK+ ! SAME HAYFIELDS &
/ACK+ ! SAME HAY/ACKS4
  ,S1 =A L;G "T1 ,LYMAN /AY$ "! "W+4 ,&
X WASN'T T "! 0 ANY?+ "PICUL>LY UNUSUAL
AB T--"EY"O 9 ! C.TRY "W$1 "W$ H>D TOO--
B :AT MADE X WORSE = ,LYMAN1 ! ?+ T M/ H
MADE X SEEM L HE _H "O ( ^? B>B$ GOAT
H1DS1 "O ( ^! POISON\S S&BURS1 BURI$ ="E
9 ! BACK ( 8 NECK 0 ! FACT T ALL ! "T1 E
"D1 HE 0 2+ ORD]$ >.D4 ,"! 0 N"E ANY
LETUP4 ,X 0 ,ROY :O DECID$ "EY?+4 ,ROY
RUL$ X ALL4 ,IF ,LYMAN _H _H ANY SAY-S1
IF HE _H _H ANY *OICE 9 :5 6PLANT ! CORN
OR ": 6/ACK ! HAY OR H[ _M ACRES ( :1T
HE 0 GO+ 6PLANT1 !N X MI<T H BE5 ALL "R4
,B HE DIDN'T4 ,HE MI<T J Z WELL H PISS$
AG/ ! W9D Z 6SU7E/ ANY?+ 6,ROY4
  ,=A L;G "T !N1 :ILE ,LYMAN "W$ T S&-
HILL F>M1 AB ALL HE CD MANAGE 6D 0 6WAIT
& 6HOPE TOO1 ,I SUPPOSE1 HOPE 9 8 DOG-
EY$ DAZ$ FA%ION1 HOPE T "S"D "SH[ "S K9D
( B>N DOOR OR PA/URE GATE WD GET     #HF
LEFT OP5 J 5 6LET HM SQUEEZE "? X1 S T
ONCE HE MADE X "? & GOT 8 OV]ALLS UN-
/UCK1 !N HE CD TAKE (F & />T RUNN+4 ,&
0,GOD1 N"E LOOK BACK4 ,N EV5 L;G 5 6SEE
IF "S?+ 0 GA9+ ON HM4
  ,WELL1 ,LYMAN DIDN'T NE$ M*1 Y "U/&1 B
HE SURE Z HELL DID NE$ "S?+4

  ,?+S W5T ON ! SAME = AB SEV5 YE>S1 &
!N X 0 ,$I? :O MADE ! F/ ATTEMPT 6GET \4
,OR AT L1/ = "O SUMM] %E SEEM$ 65C\RAGE
! POSSIBIL;Y ( X4 ,& IF Y'VE "U/OOD :AT
,I'VE SD AB H]--OR M 6! PO9T1 IF ,I'VE
MANAG$ 6MAKE X PLA9 5\<--!N X %DN'T SUR-
PRISE Y T X 0 ,$I? :O MADE ! F/ ATTEMPT
6BR1K FREE4 ,(! TWO ( !M1 %E 0 ! "O :O
_H ! S&4 ,2SS1 0#AIBB1 :5 ,$I? 0 TW5TY-
FIVE1 %E M/ H BE5 J AB Z B1UTI;L Z ANY
WOMAN C BE4 ,& ,I 2LIEVE %E / IS1 9 H]
[N CLE>-EY$ WAY1 & NO M S ?AN N[1 :5 9
F\R "DS %E W 2 EI<TY YE>S OLD & / LY+ "!
9 ! DAMN HOSPITAL B$1 WAIT+ 6GET WELL4
  ,B 9 ! SUMM] ( #AIBB %E M/ H BE5 J AB
P]FECT4 ,%E 0 SLIM & QK1 ) BR[N EYES &
BR[N CURLY HAIR4 ,%E 0 WOMAN BR1/-   #HG
$4 ,%E _H /R;G H&S4 ,%E 0 UNCOMPLA9+ )
PL5TY 6-PLA9 AB4 ,%E 0 ''' B HELL1 ,I
DON'T "K H[ 6DESCRIBE WOM54 ,ONLY LOOK
"H1 ? IS M :AT ,I M1N3 %E 0 QUIET & FO-
CUS$ & "! = Y 9 A WAY T DIDN'T MAKE Y
FEEL AWKW>D OR CLUMSY EV5 :5 Y 7 WORSE
?AN BO? ( ^? ?+S1 Z FAIL+ ON YR FEET Z A
NEWBORN COLT1 Z DRUNK Z A J-DROPP$ CALF4
,%E MADE Y WANT 6HOLD H] "! 9 ! FRONT
S1T ( T C> ON T C.TRY ROAD1 HOLD H]1 PUT
YR >M >.D H]1 KISS H]1 BR1! H] HAIR1
TALK 6H]1 TELL H] ALL ^? ?+S Y _HN'T
TOLD ANY"O ELSE 2F1 ALL ^? ?+S 2Y !
JOKES &! SURFACE FACTS ( YRF1 ?+S Y YRF
DIDN'T "K = SURE Y FELT OR ?"\ UNTIL Y
HE>D YRF TELL+ !M 6H] 9 ! D>K 9 ! /OPP$
C> ) YR >M >.D H]1 2C "SH[ X WD 2 ALL "R
IF %E HE>D !M & !Y WD 2 TRUE !N4 ,$I?
,GOODN\< M/ H BE5 "S?+ T SUMM]4
  ,B1 ,*RI/1 :AT A WA/E ( LIFE4 ,X MAKES
Y SICK 6YR /OMA*4 ,X MAKES Y WANT 6D
ANY?+ ELSE 9 ! _W B ?9K AB H]4

  ,Y SEE1 ,$I? & MY DAD1 ,JOHN ,ROSCOE1
W5T \ TGR T SUMM]4 ,& IF Y ?9K AB    #HH
T =A M9UTE Y'LL "U/& AT L1/ "O (! R1SONS
:Y ,I FEEL AB ,$I? ! WAY ,I D4 ,= SIX OR
SEV5 WEEKS T SUMM]1 ,$I? & MY DAD W5T
SPOON+ OR SP>K+ OR :AT"E X 0 P CALL$ X
!N :5 TWO P DRIVE \ TGR 9 AN OLD ,=D C>
)! W9D[S ROLL$ D[N &! D>K AIR BL[S 9 ON
!M1 C>RY+ T GRE5 SMELL ( SAGE 9 ) X4
,DRIV+ 9 ! C>1 !Y TURN T[>DS "O ANO!R N[
& !N1 & !N M & M (T5 Z ! EV5+ FADES2 !Y
LAU< A LL BIT AB "S?+ T MAY SEEM FUNNY
6!M ONLY1 :ILE ! />S H 2GUN 6SNAP OV]-
H1D1 & 2H !M "!'S ONLY T DU/ BILL[+ UP 9
! ROAD AF ! C> HAS PASS$4
  ,S ,$I? & MY DAD W5T 6A FEW D.ES TGR4
,!Y W5T 96T[N 6A MOVIE OR TWO4 ,!Y ATE
SUPP] ONCE 9 ,NORKA1 ! NEXT T[N WE/ (
,HOLT4 ,B MA9LY !Y DROVE AL;G ! C.TRY
ROADS 9 ! S&HILLS 9 MY DAD'S OLD ,=D1
TALK+ & LAU<+ A LL BIT4 ,X M/ H SEEM$ 5
6BE TGR & 6BE MOV+1 & ALM ALW !Y _H ,LY-
MAN ) !M 9 ! BACK S1T4
  ,MAYBE T'S ! R1SON :Y ,ROY LET !M G4
,) ,LYMAN AL;G 6/ICK 8 H1D UP 2T !M F !
BACK S1T1 X MAY H SEEM$ ALL "R 6LET ,$I?
G \ DRIV+ ) MY DAD4 ,I SUPPOSE HE    #HI
?"\ ,LYMAN WD PUT A HALT 6ANY FUNNY
/UFF4 ,N T ,LYMAN WD SAY ANY?+ 6ANYBODY
--,LYMAN DIDN'T D M* TALK+ 9 8 LIFE1 EX-
CEPT MAYBE 6,$I?--B HE DID ALW SEEM 6BE
"!4 ,Y'D 2 "W+ ON "S?+ 9 ! MA*9E %$ OR
VISIT+ ) "S"O ON ,MA9 ,/REET1 & !N Y'D
LOOK UP & "! ,LYMAN WD BE1 /&+ (F A LL
WAYS1 CL1N+ ! DIRT F "U 8 F+]NAILS )A
JACKKNIFE1 & Y CDN'T 2 SURE H[ L;G HE'D
BE5 /&+ "! OR H[ M* HE'D SE5 OR HE>D1 B
"! HE 0 ALL "R1 WAIT+ L A /RAY DOG 6SEE
:AT DEVELOP$4 ,S MAYBE T'S ! R1SON :Y
,ROY ALL[$ T SIX- OR SEV5-WEEK VAC,N1 T
BRIEF LESS5+ ( 8 HOLD ON ! VISE T SUMM]1
B T'S ONLY A GUESS4 ,X SURE Z HELL
WASN'T L HM4 ,MAYBE HE J WANT$ 6SEE H[
F> X WD G1 6K9D ( TE/ ! WAT]4 ,OR MAYBE
HE ALR _H 9 M9D :AT HE 0 GO+ 6D NEXT4
  ,ANO!R ?+ ,I C ONLY GUESS AT1 3C]N+ T
SUMM]1 0 :Y X TOOK MY DAD S L;G4 ,HE 0
ALR ?IRTY-TWO4 ,HE 0 / "Y1 ( C\RSE1 / 9
8 PRIME--/R;G1 T\<1 BLACK HAIR$1 ! K9D (
MAN DOGS & HORSES W -E UP 6=A SCRAT* &A
PAT )\T 8 "E HAV+ 6:I/LE OR SNAP 8 F+]S4
,B = AT L1/ T5 YE>S "! _HN'T BE5     #IJ
ANY R1SON 6D\BT T HE WD MAKE A GD G (
RAN*+4 ,HE _H BE5 WELL E/ABLI%$ = Q A
:ILE2 HE _H ?+S 9 3TROL4 ,S MAYBE HE 0 J
WAIT+4 ,HE 0 A C.TRY BOY TOO1 AF ALL1 &
E FALL DUR+ H>VE/ HE 0 / "! HELP+ !
,GOODN\<S1 WAT*+ ,$I?1 TALK+ 6H] "S &
JOK+ ) ,LYMAN1 :ILE HE HMF DROVE ! H1D]
N[ T ,ROY CDN'T4
  ,!N 8 "M1 MY GR&"M1 DI$4 ,T 0 9 ! SPR+
( #AIBB4 ,:5 HE CAME 9 = SUPP] "O EV5+1
HE F.D H] D1D 9 ! ROCK+ *AIR ) TOBA3O
A%ES SPILL$ \ ONTO H] BLACK DRESS1 & HE
BURI$ H] UP ON T LL RISE NOR? (! B>N4
,HE /UCK H] BRI> PIPE "U H] H&S ON H]
*E/4 ,$I? 0 ! ONLY O!R P]SON "!4 ,TGR !Y
%OVEL$ ! S& 9 ONTO ! WOOD BOX4
  8,"! "\ 6BE A TREE OR BU%1 ?\<10 ,$I?
SD4 8,EV5 IF X'S J ! ?"\ ( X1 %E "\ 6H
"S %ADE40
  ,! BOX 0 COV]$ N[4 ,MY DAD 0 M.D+ ! S&
ON TOP & PACK+ X )! FLAT ( 8 %OVEL4
  8,I M1N 9 ,JULY & ,AUGU/10 ,$I? SD4
8,I DON'T L ?9K+ ( H] UP "H !N40
  8,BE A AW;L L;G WAY 6C>RY WAT]40
  8,A BUCKET OR TWO E O!R "D10 %E    #IA
SD4 8,WE CD TAKE TURNS40
  8,:AT K9D ( TREE80
  8,A COTTONWOOD4 ,!Y GR[ FA/1 & IF "!'S
ANY W9D Y C HE> ! L1VES WA%+ & TURN+ 9
X4 ,UN.S Y'D R X 0 "S?+ ELSE40
  8,I 2LIEVE %E LIK$ COTTONWOODS4 ,%E
N"E SD40
  8,Y CD GET "O F AL;G ! ,>IK>EE40
  8,I'LL GET "O ? AFN10 HE SD4 8,I GUESS
WE'RE D"O "H N[40
  ,!Y /OOD ON ! RISE LOOK+ AT ! M.D (
DAMP S&1 )! SWIT* GRASS & BROME & SAGE-
BRU% >.D X4 ,!Y CD SEE ! H\SE S\? ( ":
!Y /OOD4
  8,D Y WANT ME 6L1VE N[80 ,$I? SD4 8,I
W40
  8,NO4 ,:Y WD ,I WANT T80
  8,MAYBE Y WANT 6BE AL"O40
  8,I'LL H T Z SOON Z ,I G D[N 6! H\SE10
HE SD4 8,NO4 ,NO1 Y LOOK OKAY "!4 ,Y
MI<T EV5 LOOK PRETTY IF Y DIDN'T H ALL T
WET S& ON YR %OES40
  8,G ON10 %E SD4
  8,& YR BIG NOSE WASN'T PEEL+40
  8,G ON1 Y10 %E SD4 8,B ,JOHN1 %E   #IB
0 A GD WOMAN1 WASN'T %E8 ,MY "M ?"\ S4
,%E MADE A DI6];E = MY "M40
  8,SURE1 %E MADE ALL ! DI6];E4 ,B ,I'LL
N"E =GET H[ T SON (A BIT* LEFT H]40
  8,NOR Y EI4 ,HE LEFT Y TOO40
  8,N"E M9D ME4 ,I ALW _H H]4 ,B %E N"E
_H ANY?+--J A SIX-YE>-OLD KID &A HOME/1D
HE _HN'T EV5 GOT />T$ GD YET4 ,! SON (A
BIT*4 ,I DON'T "K H[ %E /OOD X40
  8,"S P C'T10 ,$I? SD4 8,%E DID ?\<4
,%E 0 Z /R;G Z ANY?+40
  8,%E %DN'T ( _H 6BE T /R;G4 ,T'S :AT
,I M1N4 ,HE J LEFT H] \ "H--) ME &A MILK
C[ & "O HORSE4 ,C Y 2LIEVE T8 ,HELL1 HE
EV5 TOOK ! O!R HORSE40
  8,I'LL HELP Y WAT] ! TREE TM10 ,$I?
SD4
  ,S MAYBE T'S :AT HE 0 WAIT+ =3 8 "M TO
DIE & ,$I? ,GOODN\< 6SU7E/ "S %ADE = H]4
,ANYWAY1 HE PLANT$ A COTTONWOOD & !Y
TOOK TURNS WAT]+ X--OR WAT]$ X TGR1 M L
--EA* ( !M C>RY+ A BUCKET;L UP 6! RISE 9
! EV5+S1 & LAT] HE BUILT A F;E >.D X1 &
!N !Y 2GAN GO+ \ TGR 9 8 ,=D C> ) ,LYMAN
AL;G 9 ! BACK S1T =! RIDE4           #IC

  ,X 0 CALL$ ! ,GEM ,!AT] !N4 ,X 0 ON !
O!R SIDE (! /REET & NOR? A BLOCK &A HALF
F ! !AT] WE H N[1 ! ,HOLT ,!AT]4 ,"! IS
A M>QUEE \ FRONT ABV ! D\#-DOOR 5TR.E 6!
,HOLT ,!AT] N[1 S P C SEE :AT ,BLA9E
,FI%] IS %[+ = _! 5JOY;T ON ! WEEK5D1 B
Y C ONLY R1D :AT IS %[+ IF Y >E DRIV+
S\? ON ,MA9 ,/REET1 2C ,BLA9E ONLY *ANG-
ES ! ^WS ON ! NOR? SIDE ( 8 M>QUEE4 ,I
SUPPOSE HE FIGURES T'S 5 LA4] CLIMB+ =
HM1 ) 8 BIG /OMA* & 8 SK9NY LEGS & HI<
BLOOD PRESSURE4 ,BLA9E L1VES ! O!R SIDE
(! M>QUEE ALW ! SAME3 ..,5JOY ,FRE% ,HOT
.,POPCORN4 ,X MAKES Y WOND] N[ H[ FRE% X
IS & H[ HOT1 3SID]+ H[ _M YE>S HE'S BE5
ADV]TIS+ X T WAY4
  ,Z =! OLD ,GEM ,!AT]1 ,I C'T REMEMB]
:E!R X _H "O ( ^? ?+S ABV XS DOORS OR N
--PROBABLY N--& X WDN'T H _H S.D 0#AIBB1
EI4 ,B MY DAD & ,$I? & ,LYMAN M/ H _H "S
FUN "! J ! SAME1 )! LI<TS 9 ! AUDITORIUM
D>K5$ &! H1DS ON ! SCRE5 FLICK]+ BI7]
?AN ANY HUMAN H1D CD BE1 & !N 2F !Y 7
R1DY = X1 T GUY )! P5CIL M\/A*E 0    #ID
TY+ ! LL BLOND 6! RAILROAD TRACKS1 OR
/RAPP+ H] D[N GD 6A BUZZ SAW1 & %E 0
LOOK+ ,HELP ME "R AT ,LYMAN *EW+ 8 POP-
CORN & "R AT MY DAD & ,$I? HOLD+ H&S ON
,$I?'S LAP1 & ALL OV] T PRETTY LIP/ICK
M\? %E _H T BIG SCR1M SCR1M+ 8,HELP40
,"S ?+S 7 SIMPL] !N4
  ,B X 0 LATE 9 ! SUMM]1 AF "O ( ^? TWO
OR ?REE NI<TS 9 T[N AT ! PICTURE %[ & AF
A DI% ( ICE CR1M AT ,LEXTON'S ,3FEC;N]Y1
T :AT />T$ "R1 5D$ WR;G1 & X /OPP$ :AT"E
ELSE MI<T H HAPP5$ LAT]4 ,!Y 7 9 ! C>
GO+ S\? T[>DS HOME4 ,LYMAN 0 ASLEEP 9 !
BACK S1T ) 8 H1D %OV$ UP AG/ ! SIDE4 ,:5
!Y GOT 6! CORN] ": !Y _H 6TURN EA/ 6-E !
MILE (F ! HI<WAY 6! ,GOODN\<S'1 !Y WOKE
,LYMAN UP & ,$I? ASK$ HM IF HE WD WALK !
RE/ (! WAY1 N Q HOME1 %E TOLD HM1 B WAIT
= H] 2F HE GOT HOME S !Y CD G 96! H\SE
TGR4
  8,=A FAVOR 6ME10 %E SD4 8,W Y80
  8,DON'T =GET ,JOHN10 HE SD4
  8,YES4 ,= HM TOO4 ,:AT'S WR;G1 ?\<80
  8,NO?+10 ,LYMAN SD4 8,:AT IF ,PA F9DS
\80                                  #IE
  8,HE WON'T4 ,"H1 Y C TAKE MY COAT 6LIE
ON 9 ! GRASS40
  8,B :AT IF HE DOES80
  8,I DON'T "K4 ,W Y D X80
  ,LYMAN GOT \ (! C> !N & SPOKE 9 "? !
W9D[ 6,$I?1 S CLOSE T 8 BR1? MOV$ H]
HAIR4 8,DON'T =GET 6PICK ME UP10 HE SD4
  8,WE WON'T4 ,& ?ANK Y1 ,LYMAN4 ,B
DON'T Y WANT MY COAT80
  8,NO4 ,LAY ON X YRF40
  8,DON'T SAY T4 ,:Y WD Y SAY T8 ,:AT'S
WR;G ) Y80
  8,NO?+'S WR;G ) ME40
  8,:AT'S WR;G1 ?\<8 ,"S?+ IS40
  8,X BETT] N TAKE V L;G10 ,LYMAN SD4
8,T'S ALL ,I "K40
  ,!N HE TURN$ 6WALK AL;GSIDE ! ROAD 9 !
D>K1 AWAY F ! C>4 ,MY DAD & ,$I? DROVE A
MILE OR TWO F>!R S\? ON ! HI<WAY & !N
TURN$ WE/ 96! S&HILLS4
  8,HE'S TIR$ ALL ! "T10 ,$I? SD4 8,DID
Y SEE HM BACK "!8 ,HE'S GO+ 6H A /IFF
NECK TM40
  8,LYMAN'S ALL "R10 MY DAD SD4 8,HE
NE$S 6GET \ M4 ,NE$S A GIRL HMF 6G   #IF
RID+ )4 ,EV5 IF %E HAS 6EAT Z M* ICE
CR1M Z Y D4 ,*OCOLATE & NUTS ALL OV] X1
L %E WASN'T N"E GO+ 6H ANO!R *.E AT X4
,J H[DY1 MI/]1 & =GET ! NAPK9S2 ,I A9'T
GOT "T 6BE FANCY40
  8,OH1 2 QUIET1 Y10 ,$I? SD4 8,I ONLY
_H "O DI% ( X40
  8,Y1H1 J A LL OLD TRIPLE DECK]40
  8,B ,I L ICE CR1M4 ,& X 0 /RAWB]RIES1
N NUTS40
  8,GD4 ,I'LL H ,LEXTON BR+ Y A GALLON (
BO? NEXT "T4 ,MAKE HM /ACK !M ON TOP 8
H1D L A TRA9$ MONKEY4 ,HE'S GOT T NICE
FLAT BALD SPOT1 J "R = JU7L+ ?+S ON X40
  8,HE DOESN'T EI4 ,& X'S N FLAT L Y SAY
X IS--X'S RIDG$40
  8,:Y1 X IS TOO4 ,FLAT Z A PANCAKE4
,X'S ": 8 MA HIT HM )! %OVEL40
  8,%E DIDN'T D ANY S* ?+40
  8,WELL1 %E DID4 ,BANG$ ON ! H1D )A
%OVEL4 ,8,N[ 2HAVE YRF10' %E SD1 ,8&
QUIT PICK+ !M BRIT*ES1 OR ,I'LL BANG Y
AG40'0
  8,I'LL BANG Y ON ! H1D )A %OVEL10 ,$I?
SD1 8IF Y DON'T 2 QUIET4 ,N[ HU%1    #IG
& SEE IF Y C KEEP ? C> \ (! DIT*40
  8,I'M J TRY+ 6GET Y "S ICE CR1M1 ,$I?4
,I DON'T WANT Y 6G HOME HUNGRY40
  8,I'M SICK ( ICE CR1M4 ,& ,I DON'T
WANT 6G HOME YET40
  8,GD10 MY DAD SD4 8,I DON'T EI40
  8,B ,I C'T IMAG9E ANY ( ? = HM10 ,$I?
SD4 8,C Y80
  8,:O8 ,B]NIE ,LEXTON80
  8,NO4 ,LYMAN4 ,I ?9K ,I'M ! ONLY WOMAN
HE'S "E TALK$ TO4 ,2SS "M1 ,I M1N40
  8,POOR BU7]40
  8,YES4 ,& N ! WAY Y M1N X1 EI40
  ,S !Y 7 AL"O N[4 ,X 0 "O (! FEW "TS1 &
! C> 0 /OPP$ ON ! C.TRY ROAD4 ,ON BO?
SIDES ( !M1 S9CE X 0 A PIECE ( S&HILL
C.TRY & TOO /EEP = PL[S1 !Y _H ALL ^?
SUNFL[]S & ALL T SAGE & SOAP WE$ & BLUE
GRAMA GRASS1 & ,I DON'T "K :E!R OR N !Y
_H ! MOON4 ,B ,I HOPE !Y DID1 A FULL
MOON1 2C ,$I? ,GOODN\< DES]V$ 6BE SE5 9
T PALE BLUE LI<T AT L1/ ONCE 9 H] LIFE1
& ANYWAY ,I "K !Y _H ! HI< />S SNAPP+
CL1N = !M1 & ALL T C.TRY 0 QUIET TOO4 ,S
MY DAD M/ H HELD H] !N1 & KISS$ H]   #IH
--& N "O ( ^? F/ NOSE-POSI;N+1 *9-BUMP+
KISSES1 B ": Y'VE G"O PA/ T "P ALR &
Y'VE LE>N$ 6MAKE A GD MIXTURE ( YR M\? )
H]S1 & X TA/ES GD & Y BO? WANT M1 & !N Y
H M4 ,S HE M/ H KISS$ H]1 & BE5 KISS$ 9
RETURN1 & ,I'M GO+ 6HOPE !Y GOT \ (! C>
!N4 ,I'M GO+ 62LIEVE !Y DID T1 2LIEVE !Y
/OOD \ 96T PALE BLUE QUIET & !N TGR
WALK$ AWAY F ! C>1 UP ! HILLSIDE1 UNTIL
!Y F.D A HOLL[ 9 ! GRASS & LAY D[N ON 8
COAT & TALK$ QUIETLY1 ALM 9 A :ISP]1 ?\<
"! 0 NO NE$ = :ISP]+1 :ILE HE UNBUTTON$
H] S(T BL\SE & %E WAT*$ 8 EYES1 & 8 EYES
%[$ T HE KNEW HE 0 2+ GIV5 A GIFT1 &!
ONLY ?+ HE 0 AFRAID ( 0 T 8 H>D "W-
CALL\S$ H&S MI<T "SH[ H>M S* SMOO? BLUE
:ITE;S1 & ALL ! "T ON H] "P %E WASN'T
AFRAID ( ANY?+1 B 0 J WAIT+ & WAT*+ HM
/1 8 D>K EYES1 & !N %E _H "O H& W>M ON 8
NECK &! O!R ALIVE 9 8 BLACK HAIR4 ,&
,I'M GO+ 62LIEVE T X 0 Z B1UTI;L Z "S"TS
X C BE1 :5 Y'RE "R ) "O ANO!R1 :5 TGR
X'S GD = Y BO?1 2C ,$I? DES]V$ T TOO4

                                     #II
  ,AFWS !Y M/ H TALK$ A LL1 / QUIETLY1 9
A SAD :ISP] N[4 ,$I? M/ H SD1 8,:AT'S
GO+ 6HAPP5 6U1 ,JOHN8 ,:AT AM ,I GO+ 6D
N[80
  8,:Y1 WE'RE GO+ 6GET M>RI$40
  8,B ,I DON'T "K T40
  8,WE'RE GO+ 6GET M>RI$4 ,WE'LL H A F9E
"T40
  8,I DON'T "K T AT ALL40
  8,I'M ASK+ Y1 ?\<4 ,"R N[4 ,IS T :AT
Y'RE WAIT+ =8 ,I'M TOO -=TA# & EASY 6GET
UP ON MY KNEES1 B Y "K ,I WANT U 6BE M>-
RI$40
  8,T'S N :AT ,I M1N4 ,I M1N H[ C ,I80
  8,:Y HELL1 GIRL1 Y J SAY YES N[1 &A LL
LAT] Y SAY ,8,I D40' ,:AT ELSE IS "!80
  ,$I? M/ H SAT UP !N1 MOV+ UP (F 8 >M
": %E _H BE5 LY+ :ILE HE MADE CIRCLES 9
H] BR[N HAIR ) 8 F+]S4 ,%E M/ H 2GUN TO
PUT H] BL\SE & SKIRT ON AG4
  8,I M1N10 %E SD1 8"!'S ,LYMAN40
  8,WELL1 DAMN ,LYMAN10 MY DAD SD4
8,HE'S OLD 5\<4 ,:AT IS HE--TW5TY-F\R1
TW5TY-FIVE8 ,HE'S OLD 5 6MANAGE BY
HISSELF1 A9'T HE80                  #AJJ
  8,LYMAN 0 TW5TY-?REE10 ,$I? SD1 8,JUNE
SIX?4 ,B X'S N A MATT] ( AGE1 Y "K X
ISN'T4 ,X'S HM1 X'S ! WAY HE IS1 & X'S
ME TOO4 ,I'VE ALW _H 6BE "! = HM--AG/
,DA4Y40
  8,ALL "R1 YES1 ,I "K T4 ,I'VE SE5 X
ALL (T5 5\<4 ,B ,JESUS1 ,$I?1 Y'D ONLY 2
A HALF MILE A"P EV5 S40
  8,X'S N A MATT] ( MILES EI40
  8,WELL1 :AT !N8 ,HELL40
  8,X'S ,DA4Y TOO4 ,DON'T Y SEE T8 ,?9K
AB HM1 ! WAY HE IS4 ,8 H&S40
  8,I DON'T WANT 6?9K AB HM4 ,HE'S A
DRI$ UP SON (A BIT*4 ,EV5 2F 8 H&S1 HE
WAS40
  8,T'S N FAIR40
  8,X'S A FACT1 ,$I?4 ,HE'S NO GD 6ANY-
BODY1 LET AL"O 6HISSELF40
  8,B T DOESN'T SEEM 6MATT]10 %E SD4
8,DOES X8 ,I C'T HELP T4 ,ALL ,I C HELP
IS ''' ,I C HELP AB "M40
  8,B = GODSAKE1 ,$I?4 ,YR "M IS D1D40
  8,I "K T4 ,T'S :AT ,I M1N4 ,:5 "M DI$
,I _H 6TAKE ?+S UP 96MY [N H&S4 ,& Y "K
X DOESN'T MATT] IF ,I WANT$ 6OR     #AJA
N3 "S"TS N[ ,I DON'T EV5 "K :AT X 0 ,I
MI<T H WANT$ ONCE4 ,I C'T RECALL4 ,X'S
BE5 TOO L;G2 X W 2 EI<T YE>S 9 ,AUGU/
S9CE "M DI$4 ,B ANYWAY1 ^! ?+S & ^! P "H
>E M9E N[4 ,I'VE TAK5 !M UP4 ,T'S ALL "!
IS4 ,& 2SS1 :AT WD ,LYMAN D80
  ,S :AT 0 MY DAD GO+ 6SAY 6ANY ( T8 ,HE
0 LY+ "! 9 S&HILL GRASS1 WAT*+ H] :ILE
%E TALK$ & :ILE ! LI<T %"O PALE ON H]
F9E FACE1 & ,I SUPPOSE HE M/ H "KN T HE
CDN'T W9 ANY FI<T AG/ ! MEMORY ( ANY
FRAIL LL WOMAN1 EV5 IF T WOMAN 0 J SK9NY
& T9Y & HOMESICK & EV5 IF %E _H BE5 D1D
= CLOSE 6EI<T YE>S4 ,B P]H HE / _H R1SON
6HOPE--,I SUPPOSE HE DID--S P]H HE *ANG$
T>GETS & AIM$ 9/1D AT ,$I?'S OBLIG,N TO
,LYMAN1 2C MAYBE HE / ?"\ HE CD AT L1/
W9 A FI<T AG/ A TW5TY-?REE-YE>-OLD %UF-
FL+1 %AMBL+ BRO!R4 ,) HUMOR !N MY DAD M/
H SD "S?+ L3
  8,ALL "R1 HELL !N4 ,IF HE HAS TO1 ,LY-
MAN C -E LIVE ) U4 ,I'LL CUT HM ANO!R
HOLE 9 ! \TH\SE40
  8,:AT8 ,DON'T 2 SILLY40
  8,HE C H 8 [N ,SE>S1 ,ROEBUCK     #AJB
CATALOG TOO4 ,WE WON'T BO!R X N"O4 ,WE
WON'T EV5 NOTICE IF HE USES ALL ! PAGES
EXCEPT ! "OS ) CORSETS & WOMAN'S SOCKS
ON !M4 ,HE C SP5D ALL ! "T HE WANTS 6\
"!--WE WON'T C>E40
  8,Y >E GD = ME10 ,$I? SD4
  8,:Y SURE4 ,OLD ,LYMAN W 2 Z HAPPY Z A
D1D S[ 9 CLOV]40
  ,$I? FELT AB 9 H] HAIR 6SEE IF %E _H
ALL (! GRASS -B$ \4 8,GIVE ME ANO!R
KISS10 %E SD4 8,& /OP ALL ? TALK+ AB \T-
H\SES & D1D S[S40

  ,!Y W5T HOME !N1 \ (! S&HILLS ":1 =A
:ILE1 !Y _H BE5 AL"O 9 ! SAGE &! BLUE
LI<T1 !N NOR? ON ! HI<WAY 6! CORN] & EA/
ALM A MILE1 2F !Y GOT 6! ,GOODN\<S'1 TO
F9D ,LYMAN4 ,!Y DIDN'T F9D HM1 ?\<1 N "R
AWAY4 ,!Y _H 6/OP ! C> & LOOK = HM AL;G
! ROADSIDE 9 ! TALL GRASS1 & !Y DIDN'T
F9D HM UNTIL !Y TURN$ ! H1DLI<TS (! C>
ON AG4 ,EV5 !N !Y DIDN'T F9D HM IMMLY4
,HE 0 LY+ ON 8 SIDE1 ROLL$ 96HMF L A
KID1 ASLEEP ) SPIT DRIB#D ONTO 8 *94 ,HE
0 A GD FIFTE5 FEET (F ! ROAD4       #AJC
,$I? BRU%$ HM (F4
  8,>E Y AWAKE N[80 %E SD4
  8,":'S ,PA80
  8,IN ! H\SE4 ,-E ON4 ,C Y GET 9 ! C>80
  ,MY DAD DROVE !M 96! Y>D & SQUEEZ$
,$I?'S H& 2F %E GOT \4 ,!N HE DROVE !
HALF MILE HOME1 & ,$I? & ,LYMAN WALK$
96! H\SE TGR4 ,ROY 0 WAIT+ = !M 9 !
KIT*54 ,HE 0 SITT+ AT ! KIT*5 TA# 9 8 "W
PANTS & L;G "UWE>1 ) 8 RAW H&S & "O GD
F+] RE/+ ON ! :ITE 5AMEL$ WOOD 9 FRONT (
HM4 ,"S ?+S W]5'T ANY SIMPL] !N ?AN !Y
>E N[4
  8,GET UP/AIRS10 HE TOLD ,LYMAN4
  ,LYMAN LOOK$ AT ,$I?4 ,HE 0 FULLY
AWAKE N[ & AW>E1 B HE W5T UP/AIRS ANY-
WAY4 ,! B>N DOOR _H J BANG$ %UT AG = HM4
  8,Y'RE D"O ) T10 ,ROY SD 6,$I?4 8,T'S
5 ( ,ROSCOE40
  ,$I? /OOD ON ! O!R SIDE (! TA#1 WAIT+1
WAT*+ H] "F FEEL 8 LL F+] OV] ! BAD NUBS
( 8 "R H&4 ,8 F+] LOOK$ L A CLAW RAK+
D1D M1T4
  8,I SE5 HM /OP ! C>10 ,ROY SD4 8,I SE5
! LI<TS ON ! ROAD G (F & -E ON      #AJD
AG4 ,B T'S D"O )40
  8,I'M TW5TY-FIVE10 ,$I? SD4
  8,T DON'T M1N A DI4LE40
  8,JOHN'S ?IRTY-TWO40
  8,T DON'T M1N A GODDAMN1 EI4 ,HE'S A
HALF-BRE$ BA/>D1 & Y'RE D"O ) HM40
  8,HE'S N EI40
  8,HE IS IF ,I SAY HE IS1 GODDAMN X4 ,&
Y'RE 8 :ORE4 ,N[ GET 6B$4 ,Y M/ 2 ALL
WORE \ AF TN40
  8,%UT UP1 ,DA4Y4 ,Y DON'T "K :AT Y'RE
SAY+40
  ,ROY /OOD UP !N2 ! *AIR BANG$ D[N 2H
HM ONTO ! WOOD5 FLOOR4 ,HE R1*$ ACR !
TA# AT H] ) 8 F+]1 B %E /EPP$ BACK4
  8,Y DON'T TELL ME 6%UT UP10 HE YELL$4
8,I'M YR "F4 ,I'LL SAY ANY GODDAMN ?+ ,I
PL1SE4 ,I TOLD Y 6G 6B$4 ,N[ GET40
  8,I W G 6B$10 ,$I? SD4 8,B ,I WON'T
LI/5 6Y SAY T40
  8,? IS MY H\SE4 ,I BUILT X4 ,I'LL SAY
ANY?+ ,I WANT 9 ^! ROOMS4 ,D Y "U/& ME80
  8,X'S MY H\SE TOO4 ,& ,LYMAN'S4 ,& X 0
"M'S 2F %E DI$40
  8,I WI% %E CD SEE Y N[4 ,%E'D     #AJE
HATE ! DAMN SI<T ( Y40
  8,NO1 %E WDN'T10 ,$I? SD4 8,%E WD N40
  8,0,GOD1 DON'T TELL ME1 Y GODDAMN--0
  ,B ,$I? WALK$ PA/ HM !N--HE 0 9SANE1
WILD-EY$1 /UMP WAV+--& W5T 96! LIV+ ROOM
& UP ! /AIRS 6! B$ROOM4 ,HE 0 / YELL+ AT
H]3 8,Y'RE D"O ) HM1 Y HE> ME8 ,GODDAMN
S[ 6A ,ROSCOE1 Y'RE D"O N[4 ,Y'RE "?4 ,Y
:ORE4 ,Y HE> ME80

  ,! NEXT "D ,ROY US$ M ?AN J 8 VOICE4
,9 ! AFN :ILE ,$I? 0 SNAPP+ B1NS 9 !
KIT*5 & ,LYMAN 0 M[+ HAY 9 ! FIELD1 ,ROY
,GOODN\< KICK$ ! *OPP+ BLOCK OV] ) 8
BOOT & PU%$ X ROLL+ )! HEELS ( 8 H&S ACR
! Y>D 96! B>N4 ,"! HE "R$ X AG "U A
CROSSB1M 9 ! C5T] ALLEY (! B>N4 ,! *OPP+
BLOCK 0 A SAW$-(F /UMP ( AN ELM TREE1 )
DEEP AX M>KS & D>K DRI$ BLOOD ON X ": !
SLACK H1DS ( *ICK5S _H BE5 *OPP$ (F4
,OV] ! CROSSB1M ABV HM ,ROY LOOP$ A HEMP
ROPE & TI$ A FULL-H&L$ AX 6! ROPE S T !
AX WD FALL & CUT DEEP 96! BLOCK4
  ,HE EXP]I;T$ ) X TWICE1 PULL+ ! AX UP
ALM 6! CROSSB1M 6GIVE X 5 WEI<T     #AJF
6D :AT HE WANT$ X 6D :5 X FELL4 ,!N HE
PULL$ X UP "O M "T & CLAMP$ ! ROPE TI<T
2T 8 "R ELB[ & 8 RIBCAGE4 ,! AX HUNG
R1DY ABV HM 9 ! DU/Y HORSE-%IT AIR4 ,HE
WAIT$ UNTIL X 0 /1 NO L;G] SW++4 ,A
SPECKL$ PIGEON WAT*$ X ALL F A HI< P]* 9
! B>N RAFT]S1 & !N HE LAID 8 "O F+] D[N
ON ! BLOCK & REL1S$ ! ROPE4 ,! PIGEON
BL9K$ A P9K EYE :5 ! AX FELL1 ?UNK+ "? 8
F+] 96! BLOCK4
  ,ONLY X DIDN'T J CUT 8 F+] (F4 ,MAYBE
HE MOV$ A LL :5 HE REL1S$ 8 ELB[-HOLD ON
! ROPE & !N SAW ! AX FALL+ & FALL+1 TAK+
TOO L;G 6FALL4 ,OR MAYBE HE _HN'T EXP]I-
;T$ 5\<4 ,:AT"E W5T WR;G1 ! AX *OPP$ "?
! TOP KNUCKLE ( 8 H&1 SPL9T]+ X BAD Z X
SMA%$ "? B"O & JO9T & GRI/LE4 ,B X M/ H
/ BE5 SATISFACTORY4
  ,HE P9*$ UP ! TWIT*+ F+] F ! BLOCK L X
0 J A *ICK5'S H1D1 P9*$ X UP 2T 8 TWO H&
/UMPS & C>RI$ X BLOODY 96! H\SE 6! KIT*5
& DROPP$ X 96! B[L ( SNAPP$ B1NS ON !
TA# 9 FRONT ( ,$I?4 ,AT F/ %E DIDN'T
MOVE1 DIDN'T SP1K4 ,X BL$ A LL AM;G !
B1NS4 ,!N %E LOOK$ UP F ! B[L AT    #AJG
H] "F4
  8,Y MI<T H SAV$ YRF ! TR\#10 %E SD4
8,I ALR DECID$ LA/ NI<T ,I CDN'T L1VE ?
H\SE40
  ,%E GOT UP & W5T 6! B&AGE BOX %E KEPT
9 A KIT*5 DRAW] & P\R$ ALCOHOL OV] 8 H&
& WRAPP$ X 6/OP ! BLE$+4
  8,Y'LL PROBABLY GET 9FEC;N10 %E SD4
8,I SUPPOSE Y %D SEE ,DOC ,PACK] AG1 B
,I'M N GO+ ) Y4 ,I'VE BE5 "! ONCE4 ,& ,I
MI<T H M>RI$ ,JOHN ,ROSCOE4 ,I MI<T H
M>RI$ HM4 ,I DON'T C>E :AT Y SAY4 ,HE
WANT$ ME 6& ,I MI<T H4 ,OH YES1 ,GOD 9
M]CY1 ,I MI<T H4 ,OH DAMN Y40
  ,B %E 0 CRY+ !N4 ,"! WASN'T ANY S.D TO
X4 ,X 0 PA/ ! PO9T ": ! PUNY S.D (A HU-
MAN VOICE C MAKE ANY DI6];E4 ,%E WALK$ \
(! H\SE AWAY F H] "F T[>DS ! HAYFIELD TO
TELL ,LYMAN1 )! UNREG>D$ TE>S FALL+ ONTO
! BR1/ ( H] BL\SE4 ,AF T1 ,I "K ( ONLY
TWO O!R "TS 9 H] LIFE T ,$I? ,GOODN\<
ALL[$ H]F 6CRY4 ,NEI 0 AT ! D1? ( H] "F4


                                    #AJH