Summary

The first part begins with Helen’s first person, past tense narration. She describes her boyfriend Shane telling her about Rudy, his boss, explaining how he refuses to work for Rudy anymore because Rudy is crazy. After this, Helen reflects on how she ended up in the camper she shares with her boyfriend. Having moved from Seattle, she used her uncle’s inheritance to buy a property in Appalachian Ohio, the rest of which her boyfriend paid off using money he earned up north in an oil field. When Helen asks him to stay with her for the winter rather than working up north, he leaves her.

Helen decides to work for Rudy. Rudy takes Helen on an errand for Lily and Karen, two lesbian partners who live on the Women’s Land Trust. Lily is pregnant. Helen finds out from Lily...