“You think those hounds are howling?” Bennet said. “You want to be in Ruth’s bedroom right now. Bet she’s a screamer. Bet she lets loose like a goddamn banshee. Can’t you picture it, Goldy? You’ve seen dogs do it. They learned that from the English.”

Goldwin was staring at Bennet, his expression like that of an infant trying to decide whether or not to cry.

Bennet’s voice went briefly high-pitched. “‘Oh, Goldy, I’m just not sure I can be with anyone right now.’ Ain’t that what she said to you, sucker? Ain’t it? Weren’t more than three days on she gives that limey bastard a place to bury his fucking bone. Then he comes to you for a fucking shit, shave and shampoo. You’ve always been the same. Look at you. Can’t even put that fucking old gyp out of its misery. That’s why that Johnny-come-lately’s plowing your field right now. You were always soft, even when we were kids. Man, if I didn’t know you I might start wondering which way your pecker points. Might start thinking you’re one of them ho-mo-sexuals. That it, Goldy? You playing for the pink team?”

Goldwin leveled the rifle at Mina’s head and pulled the trigger. The bolt snapped forward. The chamber was empty. Goldwin staggered back, as if it had gone off.

“Jesus.” Finn pulled a dollar out of his pocket and handed it to Bennet. All the other men but Magnus did the same.

“I said he would,” Sal said.

“You said shit,” Otto said.

Goldwin dropped the rifle on the ground and lurched off into the woods toward the baying of his dogs. Mina, like a living wound, dragged herself after him.

Dear Ruth,

Will you let me no why I am so bad? A friend told me he thought this young man was kin of yours but it is clear now that what is going on between you and this young man is of a man-woman kind. You think I have no place to speak. But many people in this town new we were dating so it is bad for me. We spent much time together of a man-woman kind and I thought we would be together in a man-woman way. I do not get why for four months you said yes to me taking you out. You even let me buy you a stake at a very fancy place that you did not even eat. What did you think I wanted. You are a single woman and I am the same, did you think I just wanted to feed you up. Not that I mean you had to be my girl or nothing but why did you keep saying yes. That diner cost me near fifteen dollars. I am torchered to think maybe I should have been more bold. I saw a movie with a man taking hold of a woman even though she hit him and wandered maybe if this is what you wanted. You did not seem to like my place and now your with this young man. Did he buy you a more high price stake in New York City. And he is much younger and not from this country even.