Montana 1948

Sheriff Hayden goes out to the Native American reservation to gather evidence to support Marie’s accusations against Dr. Hayden. David also sees the Sheriff consulting with Ollie Young Bear, a respected local Native elder.

That evening, David’s father questions Marie again, while David and his mother wait outside. David’s mother tells her son how she has never gotten used to Montana and how she longs for the flatlands of her native North Dakota.

The following Sunday, David and his parents have dinner with David’s grandparents, Julian and Enid Hayden on their ranch. Wesley talks to his father, and his father mentions that Frank has been involved with Indian girls all his life: “You know Frank’s always been partial to red meat. He couldn’t have been any older than Davy when Bud caught him down in the stable with that little Indian girl” (Chapter 2, p. 63).

David interrupts the narrative to relate a story about Uncle Frank’s bachelor party before he married his wife Gloria. One of Frank’s college friends teased Grandfather Hayden about being a hick with cow dung on his boots. The elder Hayden threatened the loudmouth with a gun, and Frank’s friend ran away, eliciting great laughter from the Hayden brothers.