For several days after the disturbing visit, Darnell did his best to appear calm and go about his routine without a ripple. The first day, he knew Wade went to town to speak with his lawyer. When he returned, he was in a hurry to get back to the unending work of running the ranch, but he took a few minutes to reassure Darnell. No, he said, there was not one thing in the New Mexico statutes to require a household with children to include a woman. The old biddies could go piss up a rope.
Although that relieved a bit of Darnell’s worry, others still gnawed at him. He was sorely torn between his longing, even his need, to stay, and his fear that in doing so he was going to cause some kind of harm or calamity.
While the children were out, he got his old suitcase and packed in it only the item
