Summary

Cecil runs away from his uncle's place. He quickly runs out of money and tries to beg for money but gets ignored. He meets a girl, Ell, who invites him to come back to her place with her because she doesn't want to be alone, though she warns him she's pregnant and that her man's getting out of prison soon. Cecil agrees. Cecil and Elle grow closer. Cecil confides that his mother started to molest him when he turned twelve years old. Cecil says he was just experimenting with Cloninger's dog and that he didn't mean to hurt anyone.

Pete goes back to the dropoff spot and leaves more things for the Pearls, despite knowing it won't get used. He returns to Missoula and runs into Mary. They go back to her place and sleep together. Mary asks him what made him run...