Part One * The book opens with David Hayden recounting his father’s second term in 1948 as the sheriff of Mercer County, Montana. It offers insights into the landscape and traits peculiar to Montana. * David’s father does not fit the conventional mold for his profession, a view shared by his wife who thinks he should aim for a more esteemed role such as being a lawyer. The reason behind David’s father occupying the position of Montana’s sheriff is that it was inherited from his own father, David’s grandfather, upon retirement.
David’s mother desired to depart from Montana for various reasons: she yearned for David’s father to be able to express his true self and not be confined to his job simply because of his familial obligations. She also worried about David’s spiritual well-being and the preservation of his values. In their urban neighborhood, the convenience factor was high as David could reach any destination within minutes. Additionally, David’s mother held a position as a secretary in the Register of Deeds office, located within the courthouse. Consequently, the family had a live-in housekeeper on weekdays.
Marie Little Solider, a Hunkpapa Sioux from the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota, was a young woman in her early twenties. Standing close to six feet tall, she often wore cotton print dresses. Marie resided in a small room adjacent to the kitchen, while David and his parents occupied the upstairs room. The story unfolds in mid-August 1948, when Marie fell ill one morning and emerged briefly to set out lunch. David alerted his mother about Marie’s sickness, causing instant alarm.
His mother was terrified of diseases and illnesses, so she visited Marie and discovered that she had a cold and a fever. They contacted Doctor Hayden, who happens to be David’s father’s brother, to come and examine Marie. However, when Marie woke up, she adamantly refused to see any doctor, insisting that she wanted her own physician rather than Dr. Hayden. David’s mother assigned him the task of looking after Marie for the afternoon. David dutifully checked on Marie frequently but followed his mother’s instructions to stay out of her room. Marie, while dreaming, spoke loudly. Later on, she called out to David and asked him to inform everyone that she didn’t require medical attention.
She tries to pretend that she is okay but then starts to cough and David tells her that he will tell them that she doesn’t need a doctor. David’s mother and father came home at 5 o’clock and had supper, then his father left again four and hour or two if the evening was peaceful. His mother checks on Marie again and she was burning up. She tells Wes, David’s father, to call Frank, the family doctor. David tells his parents that Marie doesn’t want a doctor but his father dismisses it as Indian superstition. David mentioned that his father didn’t like Indians, he didn’t hold them in a very high regard.
His parents ignored David when he informed them that Marie didn’t want a doctor for her defense. His father disregarded David’s remarks and called his brother to come over. When his brother arrived, he rolled up his sleeves and David started comparing his father to his brother, predicting that his father would suffer as a result. Frank placed his black bag on the kitchen table and took a drink before examining Marie. Marie screamed until David’s mother, Gail, entered the room with Frank. David and his father went outside to sit on the porch while Marie was being examined. Shortly after, Frank joined them on the porch.
The speaker explains that Marie did not allow him to examine her properly due to her preference for a ‘medicine man’. He suspects she may have pneumonia or mumps. Despite this, Gail insists on having Marie stay at their house to monitor her. After Frank leaves, Gail expresses her desire to speak privately with David’s father. David regrets not going to the kitchen or his room, or simply stepping off the porch, as he would then not have overheard their conversation. Gail informs Wes that the reason Marie screamed while Frank was examining her is because Frank has molested Indian girls during examinations.
Wes attempts to challenge Gail’s accusation, but she insists that he instructs his patients to undress and assume inappropriate positions, while he fondles their breasts and makes them jump up and down. Gail accuses Wes of his brother engaging in the rape of these Indian women. Curious about who she has shared this information with, Wes asks whether she has told his brother, husband, Marie’s employer, or the sheriff. Contemplating the situation, Wes decides to visit Marie. Later that evening, David’s parents spend an extended period of time in Marie’s room. Following dinner, Wes mentions that he plans to visit Les, his deputy and next-door neighbor.
Les and his wife Daisy, Wes and Len, and Daisy and Gail gathered together. Les and Daisy were in the front yard while Daisy and Gail sat at the kitchen table. David moved back and forth, catching bits of each conversation. Later that night, Gail checked on Marie once more before informing her husband and David that she was sleeping again.
David noticed that his father was struggling to accept the fact that his brother was exploiting his Indian patient. He wanted to prevent this information from spreading in town because he didn’t want his father to find out.
They stopped talking as his mother didn’t want to discuss it in front of David. Wes tells his wife that he will handle the situation according to his own approach. Despite not admitting it, David’s father was aware of his brother’s guilt. Part Two * The next day, Wes commenced an investigation into the accusation made by Marie against his brother. Later on, David noticed his father at the Coffee Cup, which was not uncommon. However, what stood out was that he was not seated at his usual spot at the large table in the center of the shop but rather at a two-person table near the far wall.
He was sitting with Ollie Young Bear, the most respected Indian in north-eastern Montana and even the whole state. David knew that his father was sitting with Ollie Young Bear because he was asking Ollie if he had heard anything about his brother molesting young Indian girls. David walked over to his father and his father asked him to check on Marie and make sure she took her medicine when he went home. * When David arrived home, Marie was sleeping and her medicine and a glass of water were there, so he assumed she had taken her medicine.
However, David quickly sensed a problem after a few minutes. Firstly, the radio was turned off, which was unusual because Marie always had it on when she was home. To ensure that she could hear some music when she woke up, David decided to switch on the radio to her favorite channel. * One evening, Wes proposed that David and his mother should take a walk so that he could speak to Marie again. However, instead of going far, they headed to their own backyard. Despite already knowing the answer, David decided to inquire about what was happening. In response, his mother mentioned the possibility of trouble with the Indians.
He asks his mother many questions about the Marie situations, but she gives him vague answers. The following Sunday, David and his parents go to his father’s parents’ ranch. Marie had felt better so they decided it was okay to leave her for the day. The entire car ride was quiet and David knew why because his mother had wanted to refuse the invitation to dinner because she knew that Frank and his wife would be there. Soon enough though, he knew they weren’t fighting anymore because his father had made a promise of a holiday that David knew he would never follow through with.
When they arrived, Frank’s truck was already parked there. Upon reaching the front porch, David’s grandfather warmly welcomed them. As they engaged in a conversation about Frank and his wife starting a family, it became clear that Grandfather was already aware of Frank’s situation. He made remarks about the potential resemblance between Frank’s children and the townspeople, emphasizing their skin color. Additionally, David recounted an incident where his father had returned home inebriated from his brother’s bachelor party, which occurred before his brother’s wedding. The following day, during their train trip back home, chocolates were passed around as they began discussing Frank and his new spouse, Gloria.
David’s Grandfather remarked how his marriage to a white woman might prevent him from living on the reservation. During dinner, David sat between his Aunt Gloria and Grandma and contemplated why Gloria married his uncle despite being unaware of his profession. David also questioned why his uncle engaged in certain activities when he had a wife like Aunt Gloria, which sparked a desire in David. After dinner, David left to go riding and his Grandfather gave him a Hi-Standard automatic .22 target pistol and cartridges due to the increased presence of coyotes.
David depleted all the ammunition in the stable, capitalizing on its distance from the house to avoid attracting attention. Typically, David’s shooting accuracy is subpar, but on this occasion, he successfully struck a magpie from a distance of under 40 yards. Interestingly, as he approached the bird to confirm its demise, he experienced an unexpected sense of tranquility. Using his heel, he created a shallow depression in the earth and delicately laid the bird inside before covering it with soil. While returning to the ranch via an alternative route, David unexpectedly encountered his father and uncle engaged in a heated dispute near the creek where David occasionally fishes.
The narrator desired to eavesdrop on the group’s conversation, so he dismounted his horse and began walking towards them. However, he halted midway as he felt he was getting too close but still unable to hear anything. Suddenly, Frank menacingly approached David’s father, prompting David to retrieve his gun and lean it against a tree after disabling the safety. Despite the gun being unloaded, David pondered what would have occurred if it had been loaded. As thoughts consumed David’s mind, his father and uncle exchanged handshakes before departing together. They left for home prior to dusk, and while returning, Wes informed his wife that he had spoken with Frank. She berated him, yet Wes assured her that he believed the issue had been resolved and that Frank would cease causing trouble. Gail scolded her husband for breaking the law and for the harm inflicted by his brother thus far. However, Wes maintained that his brother would face punishment in the next life and that he wouldn’t take any action to arrange it during this lifetime.* Upon arriving home, Doris Looks Away remained present, and Marie’s condition was improving despite her persistent cough.
Doris Looks Away immediately left, and Marie asked David about his day before she went back to bed. However, that turned out to be the last conversation David ever had with Marie. Sadly, on Monday, August 13, 1948, Marie Little Soldier passed away. When Gail came back from work at 5:15, she found Marie’s lifeless body. Then, at 6:00, when David returned from a day of fishing with Georgie Cahill, he noticed his Uncle Frank’s pickup truck parked in the front. Additionally, he saw Undset’s Funeral Parlour station wagon backing out of the driveway, carrying Marie’s body.
David immediately understood the purpose of the funeral truck’s presence and had the choice to continue walking indefinitely, carrying the secret of what happened in that house. However, he decided against it. He stored his fishing equipment in the garage and went inside his home. The whole family gathered in the kitchen, where he hugged his mother. Uncle Frank was there, completing the Mercer County Certificate of Death, while Daisy, their next-door neighbor, entered the room suddenly. Wes informed her about Marie’s death. Frank then explained that some patients experiencing phenomena might face complications like lung collapse or others.
Wes decides to drive to see Marie’s family since he can’t reach them. David suggests riding with his father to inform him of what he knows, but he doesn’t want to leave his mother. Frank leaves and Daisy speaks to Gail, telling David to go to her place and enjoy as much ice cream and blueberry pie as he wants. Len turns out to be home when David arrives, appearing intoxicated. They converse, and Len implies that he may have witnessed something related to Marie. David asks if he did, and Len responds with the same question.
David chose not to reveal what he had witnessed, acting as if he had forgotten his responsibility to return the pie to his mother. It occurred to David that Len might have feelings for his mother. Despite being cautioned against his grandmother’s superstitious beliefs from a young age, David couldn’t shake the feeling of his house becoming eerie and death-like due to these superstitions. Fearing something, he went to his parent’s room and shared with his father what he had seen: his Uncle Frank present at their house around the time Marie was found dead, approximately three o’clock.
He informs his father that he had gone fishing with Charley and Ben after coming from Ben’s house. They were riding their bikes along the tracks on their way to Fuller’s gravel pit. However, he needed to use the bathroom and didn’t want to go all the way home. Instead, he went to Len and Daisy’s outhouse. He told his friends to continue without him, as he would catch up with them later. While he was sitting there, he had a view of someone crossing his backyard through a hole. It turned out to be his Uncle Frank. After exiting the outhouse, he noticed his uncle heading towards town, walking along the tracks.
Carrying his doctor’s bag, David’s father observed his brother approaching their house and engaged in a silent conversation with himself to understand the purpose behind his visit. However, his wife urged him to cease the internal dialogue. David revealed that only Len possessed knowledge of what he had witnessed. Though aware that he could prevent Les from divulging the information to others, his father believed that ignoring his brother’s actions would serve as sufficient punishment. Wes instructed David to go to bed and rest, but neither he nor anyone else residing in the house managed to find sleep that night. Reflecting on how he encountered Indians on a daily basis, David pondered whether they would ever descend from Circle Hill in search of Marie’s murderer.
In Part Three, David and his family planned on attending the funeral; however, Marie’s body was being transported back to her hometown in North Dakota instead. Wes diligently worked towards constructing a case aimed at unravelling the truth behind Marie’s fate. Several days later, Wes brought over his brother to their residence; unfortunately, rain disrupted David’s plans for the day.
Frank brought a small satchel, not his medical bag, as his father guided him to the basement. They spent considerable time there while David strained to catch any hints about the situation. Eventually, he heard footsteps nearing the stairs, but only his father came back and firmly shut the door. David attempted to inquire about what was amiss, but his father instructed him to wait until he finished his half-full glass of whiskey. His father also mentioned that he awaited Gail’s return because there were new developments and he preferred to explain everything just once.
David believed that his father murdered his own brother in the basement. However, his certainty wavered when he heard noises emanating from that very space. Upon Gail’s arrival, Wes disclosed that Frank was in the basement due to being apprehended by Wes himself. As the town’s sheriff, he had no alternative but to take action against Frank for transgressing the law. Given that Frank desired to avoid public scrutiny and incarceration, Wes reached a compromise by allowing him to stay in his basement instead of jail. Wes left to inform Gloria, Frank’s wife, as he believed she deserved to know the truth. Gail expressed her belief that Gloria would eventually learn the truth regardless and encouraged Wes to be honest with her.
Before leaving, Wes called David out to the porch and informed him that they would be painting the house, emphasizing that it would be a challenging task. David expressed his readiness to take on the job. Furthermore, Wes instructed David to alert Len if any trouble arose, regardless of whether Len was sober or drunk. At 9 o’clock, David’s grandparents arrived at his house. Wes, Gail, and David had been sitting in the living room, deliberately avoiding thoughts about the person in their basement. Suddenly, Gail instructed her son to go and see who was at the door.
Wes happily greets his parents, while Grandfather immediately asks about Frank’s whereabouts. Wes knows that Gloria had already informed them and that his father wants to see Frank. However, Wes advises against it, explaining that it wouldn’t be a good idea. Despite Wes’s objections, his father insists on seeing Frank. Wes tries to explain to his angry father that this situation is not about family but about the law. The argument gets heated, prompting David’s mother to tell him to go upstairs. David is relieved but also curious about how the confrontation will unfold. He hurries to the room where the vent allows him to eavesdrop on the conversation below.
David is in the kitchen with his parents as his father tries to resolve an issue with his own parents. They give up on persuading Wes to change his mind and leave. David goes downstairs and finds his mother and father in the kitchen, with his father crying on his wife’s lap. Wes tells David that if his Grandfather comes over when he’s not there, he should not let him or his Grandmother inside. That night, David cries for the first time since everything started, but it’s not because of his uncle, Marie, or the strained family relationships; it’s because of Nutty, his horse.
His horse, Nutty, who lives at his Grandparents’ ranch, he may never see again due to the distancing caused by this situation. The following day, David’s mother stayed home with him and instructed him to go to the grocery store at 10 o’clock. However, the shame associated with his family name prevented him from wanting to enter the store. Nevertheless, he entered and swiftly obtained the items his mother requested. Upon returning home, he inquired about the duration of Frank’s stay in the basement.
According to her, Wes is currently working on it and it will happen once there is a trial, in her opinion. David argues that regardless, he will escape any consequences because his Grandfather has the power to manipulate anyone to his advantage. He also feels that they are being treated unfairly, a sentiment shared by his mother.* Eventually, David becomes the first to notice a truck containing four men circling their house. He identifies them as his Grandfather’s employees. His mother quickly becomes aware of their presence and insists that David reveal their identities since she is aware that he knows who they are.
David contacted his father, leaving a request to return home. Upon glancing at his mother, he observed her grasping his father’s shotgun and loading it. Instructing David to locate either his father or someone capable of aiding them, she proceeded to shout at unfamiliar individuals to depart and keep their distance while gunshots were heard emanating from their residence. Determined to retrieve the firearm from his mother, David embarked on a quest for his father but unexpectedly caught sight of Len emerging from the bushes that divided their properties.
He had a gun and threatened to shoot at the strangers in David’s front yard. They quickly left and Gail rushed to his side and embraced him. Wes then joined them and she ran to hug him as well. David remained still, clutching his father’s gun. Wes informed them that a few Indian women were willing to testify against Frank for assault and sexual assault, but nothing would be done regarding Marie. Len and Wes continued discussing the prosecution of Frank while David and his mother returned inside the house. Shortly after, Len and Wes joined them indoors and stated that if Wes couldn’t be present with David, Len would take his place.
Wes plans to confront his father while Gail suggests freeing Frank from the basement as a solution. Len and Wes agree that Wes’s father will never change. Wes goes down to the basement to talk to his brother. Meanwhile, Len and Gail speculate on the possibility of Frank being responsible for Marie’s death and discuss the need for an autopsy. Len eventually leaves, leaving Gail and David waiting for Wes and Frank to return from the basement. Eventually, only Wes emerges from the stairs.
Wes informs his wife and son about his brother’s guilt. He plans to transfer him to jail the next morning, but he can’t bear to release Frank because it would haunt him. Gail sends David to the butcher’s shop as a way to keep him out of the house. At 1:00am, David is awakened by strange noises coming from the basement. He goes to his parents’ room, but they are not there, indicating that they hastily left their bed to investigate the source of the noises.
David became frightened when he found his parents sitting on the couch, informing him that his uncle had been in the root cellar breaking all the jars. Despite understanding that his uncle sought attention, David chose to be patient and wait, aware that eventually, there would be no more jars left. His parents told him to go back to bed and get some rest, assuring him that by the time he woke up, the situation would have improved. At 6 o’clock, David awoke to silence, with no further sounds of jars shattering.
In the morning, he got out of bed quickly and quietly and went downstairs to the kitchen. To his surprise, his father was already there. Wes told his son that he would wait until he hears his brother waking up, and then they would go to the jail together. While they waited, Wes shared a childhood story about his older brother. After finishing the story, Wes brought down some coffee for his brother. Shortly after, he heard his father cry out for help. David hurried downstairs to find his uncle’s head on his father’s chest, with both of his wrists cut. Wes told his son to wake up their mother and tell her to bring Len.
And to not tell his mother to come down to the basement. He then started to cry. As David made his way to his mother’s room, he knew that his uncle’s suicide had solved all of their problems. As David climbed the stairs, he felt something he hadn’t felt for his Uncle Frank in a very long time; something very close to love.
Epilogue * David talks of how his family moved out of Bentrock and the fact that their minds had been made up to move for months. His mother had said to her husband short after his brother’s suicide that she could no longer live in Montana anymore.
Frank’s death was presented as an accident that took place while he was assisting his brother in constructing basement shelves. He fell and fatally struck his head. Furthermore, it was agreed upon that Frank’s wrongdoings would remain undisclosed, as they held no significance for anyone. Consequently, these efforts to hide the truth led to a scandalous burial for Frank. All members of the family were present at the funeral, but Aunt Gloria and Wes’s parents refused to engage in conversation with Wes, Gail, or David. Instead, they stood on the opposite side of the cemetery grave.
They all bid farewell to their friends and neighbors while their car was being loaded, and then set off to begin their new lives. * Just as they were preparing to leave, David leaped out and returned to their house to observe what it looked like when they were not there. When David glanced back at his parents patiently waiting in the car, he wondered why two individuals who were simply trying to do what was right were compelled to abandon their home and embark on a fresh start. * After staying with Gail’s parents during the winter, they relocated to Fargo. In this city, Wes secured employment at a small law firm and in only five years, he became a partner.
Gail was pleased with her husband’s achievement of becoming a lawyer. She had hoped that David would also pursue a similar path, but when he mentioned his desire to be the sheriff of Montana, she remained silent regarding his career choice. Eventually, David became a history teacher in Rochester, Minnesota. Despite this, their connection to Montana was only through Grandma Hayden. She maintained correspondence and made a few visits until her failing health prevented further communication. Although she kept the family informed about the individuals involved in the tragedy, she never discussed the specific events.
Aunt Gloria left Montana shortly after the family did and eventually got married again. Len was unable to finish his term in office and suffered a stroke, which left him partially paralyzed. Despite living for several more years, David’s grandfather passed away within three days. David connected both strokes to the pressure of keeping the secrets about Frank and Wes’s cancer from forty years ago. David also mentioned his happiest moment with Marie and talked about his wife, Betsy. David shared the events of the summer of 1948 with Betsy, who asked his parents about it and described it as the Wild West. At the time, David’s father had only received one cancer treatment and was not in good health. He became agitated and slammed his hand on the table during dinner, expressing that Montana should not be blamed. He then left the room and never returned for the meal. Following the incident, David revisited his father’s seat at the table and placed his hands on it, feeling the lingering vibrations from his father’s blow.
