CHAPTER
8
DAVID TELEPHONED his sister, Jill. He had thought to call her on several earlier occasions. At first, he had put off calling because he was not sure whether he would be staying on at Sixbury’s. Later, he merely hadn’t wanted to speak with her.
“David, where are you?” She was pleased to hear from him. A note of some kind of concern rang through her voice.
“I’m in Wyoming.”
“I’ve been worried sick about you.”
“You have?”
“I’ve sold the house.” She was referring to their parents’ house. “So I have some money for you.”
“Good. I can use it.”
“It went for forty thousand.”
“How is your husband?”
“Oh, Rodney’s doing very well. You know, David, I’m really sorry about the way I behaved the last time you called.”
“Me, too.”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m working. I’ve met good people. I live on a ranch.”
“You’re working on a ranch?”
“No, I live on the ranch. I work at a rest area.”
“Oh.”
“Here’s my address.”
“Okay, go.”
“You can write me in care of Chloë Sixbury, Slut’s Hole, Wyoming.”
“I missed that last part.”
“Wyoming.”
“Before that.”
“Slut’s Hole.”
“Slut’s Hole.”
“Right.”
“Do you have a phone?”
David gave her the number.
“David,” she said in her little-sister voice, a tone that implied that she wanted something. “Rodney has—rather Rodney and I have—started a group called Action for Vets, to help Vietnam veterans adjust and deal with the system.”
“That’s nice.”
“I was wondering—I mean—I was just wondering if you wouldn’t like to come here and give a little talk.”
“I don’t have a problem with the system.”
“You were there. You know what it was like.”
“They already know what it was like.”
“It would mean so much,” she said. “You being my brother and all. The guys in the group might trust me and Rodney a little more.”
“I don’t trust you and Rodney.” David thought about hanging up, but did not. “What is it? Are soldiers in vogue now? Last time I called, and wanted to see you, you said you couldn’t have anything to do with a ‘soldier.’”
“I was younger then.”
“That was two months ago!”
“I was wrong. I’ve already apologized. What more do you want?”
“Send me my money.”
“Will you think about coming to visit?”
“Send my money.” He hung up.