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Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Summary

Lorena's side of meeting Jake Spoon. He is the first man to walk into the Dry Bean and not be made nervous by her, and within a minute he names San Francisco — the one hope she has left. Over an afternoon she tells him her whole story, something she has never done. Jake explains that he killed a dentist in Fort Smith and is wanted, dropping a note of sad impermanence into his talk that makes her want to keep him alive. Upstairs he bathes in the washtub without shame, comments critically on her frayed dress, and takes his time with her; his breath tastes of cedar toothpicks. Lorena refuses to let money pass between them, deciding instead that Jake will be the one to get her out of Lonesome Dove. By the end of the week, when Jasper Fant tries to approach her, she simply stares him off — the only sporting woman on that stretch of border has quit the trade.

Analysis

Lorena's hope, given so completely that its collapse is guaranteed. Jake's method — attentiveness he doesn't mean — is diagnosed in the same chapter it succeeds. Her retirement from the trade is the plot's true trigger: it makes her portable, and therefore stealable.

Plates

Lorena alone at her table in the Dry Bean, waiting without pleasure for Dish Boggett to come back with the two dollars he has borrowed somewhere.
00 Lorena alone at her table in the Dry Bean, waiting without pleasure for Dish Boggett to come back with the two dollars he has borrowed somewhere.
Jake Spoon walks in the door of the Dry Bean — Lippy whoops, Xavier comes out from behind the bar to shake his hand, and Jake sees Lorena without being made nervous by her.
01 Jake Spoon walks in the door of the Dry Bean — Lippy whoops, Xavier comes out from behind the bar to shake his hand, and Jake sees Lorena without being made nervous by her.
Jake brings his bottle to Lorena's table, sits down looking her right in the face, and says she belongs in San Francisco.
02 Jake brings his bottle to Lorena's table, sits down looking her right in the face, and says she belongs in San Francisco.
The long afternoon in which Lorena lays aside her caution and tells Jake her whole story, while Lippy and Xavier listen from across the room in astonished silence.
03 The long afternoon in which Lorena lays aside her caution and tells Jake her whole story, while Lippy and Xavier listen from across the room in astonished silence.
Jake tells her he killed a dentist in Fort Smith and is a wanted man, the sad note coming into his voice as though he expects to die soon.
04 Jake tells her he killed a dentist in Fort Smith and is a wanted man, the sad note coming into his voice as though he expects to die soon.
Upstairs, Lorena eases Jake's boot off and soaks the ankle a horse broke years ago in hot water and Epsom salts.
05 Upstairs, Lorena eases Jake's boot off and soaks the ankle a horse broke years ago in hot water and Epsom salts.
Jake sits in the washtub with the door latched against Lippy, and Lorena gives up on the haircut after cutting away only a small portion of his curly black hair.
06 Jake sits in the washtub with the door latched against Lippy, and Lorena gives up on the haircut after cutting away only a small portion of his curly black hair.
Jake holds the undone dress up and remarks critically on the frayed collar — the first man ever to notice her clothes, and some glow seeps out of the moment.
07 Jake holds the undone dress up and remarks critically on the frayed collar — the first man ever to notice her clothes, and some glow seeps out of the moment.
Back downstairs, Lorena is more cheerful than she has been in years — Dish Boggett has drunk a bottle of whiskey and got to singing, and she laughs as loud as Lippy.
08 Back downstairs, Lorena is more cheerful than she has been in years — Dish Boggett has drunk a bottle of whiskey and got to singing, and she laughs as loud as Lippy.
Jake has ridden south with Captain Call, and that night Lorena stares Jasper Fant off without a word — the only sporting woman on the river has quit the sport.
09 Jake has ridden south with Captain Call, and that night Lorena stares Jasper Fant off without a word — the only sporting woman on the river has quit the sport.