cheguinevere.”ahoutsaying.hewas</p>
droppingthegirlsatsel,headingnorthtontereyand</p>
thehospital,drivingnaintosanfrankdooget</p>
thegirlsatschool,uptothehospitalagain.bigsuryfive</p>
nutessouthofcarl.</p>
itdidntkeseoaddniynutes,roundtrip,toallthat</p>
otherdriving,justforthesakeofthecat.</p>
”itleaveheralone,daddy,”hopebegged.”notallday.not</p>
lyingthereallalone,all</p>
daylong””ysdifferent.therearedoctorsandnurseshe</p>
realizedhehadfallenintoatrapwhenshebegannodding.</p>
sighing,hegavein.buthereallydidntissingschool</p>
kay,largelybecausehereallydidnttohavetodrivedoo</p>
getherdday.therehadtobeanotheraboutdun”</p>
ifthened,heulddothis.”thinkhed</p>
cheher”hopelookedskeptical.”hesgo,too.buthe</p>
eshoforlunch.”shebrightenedrginally.”iuldask.”</p>
dunhadaunterofferthathopelikedeveer,thoughjackhad</p>
noideauandter</p>
offspendingthedayatdunsthanatherownhouse.</p>
”hehasfaith,”</p>
push.</p>
hehadbeenhearingaboutdunsfaithforyears.thegirls</p>
ntiointhesabreathansna,sooftenthatjack</p>
hadactuallyaskedrachelherdunbelooacult.</p>
bigsurhaditsshareoffreespirits,aginghippies,sunworshipers,</p>
heold.rachelhadlaughedroundly.</p>
sodunatteredretojackhatin</p>
therushtogetdressedandat,litter,andfoodtothe</p>
sllranchthreeheroad,hopefotabouther</p>
stohe.</p>
jacke</p>
out,hesaid,”thanks.thisansalottoher.”</p>
”hoother</p>
””thesa.ieadingtherenow.”</p>
”bettercallben.”</p>
”beforedunuldansaken</p>
thebignshandandhreverence.</p>
itepictureeautifulhope,hsunnyblondhair,hazelgold</p>
eyes,andnoatouchoflorunderherfreckles,and</p>
dun,elyhhisbigebeard,longears,and</p>
leatheryhands.</p>
”illeforherlater,”hopewassaying.</p>
thebignnodded,gaveherhandasqueeze,andnudgedhertoward</p>
jack.</p>
thehospital,rachelhe,lyingon</p>
crispellingasaicasshehadthedaybefore.</p>
hehadbroughtatubeofandbeganrubbingit</p>
ontothosestretchesofherskinthatwerebare.</p>
”better,”hesaid</p>
flattered.idhavethoughtyouhedlotionto</p>
hercheeks,hebruise.”bladbluehere,</p>
”hetoldher.”iftheydidntkheydbewwho</p>
hityou.</p>
goodthingithathehadeverraisedahand</p>
torachelrtoeitherofthekids.for,everotherfaultshehad,</p>
thatohesonofanaviddisciplinar>ugian,hehad</p>
seenenoughraisedhandstolasthilifeti.”illbetyouhavea</p>
...</p>