The Signal by Ron Carlson

and get out of these fucking mountains.”
    “You love these mountains.”
    “I used to.” Her pack trembled. “But they’re full of liars now. You even ruined the mountains.”
    “Do you want to camp someplace else?” She didn’t answer but turned and stood looking at the corrugated lake in the mountain twilight. “I’m sorry, Vonnie.” He now too felt it a mistake, all the mistakes. “This was the wrong spot, all wrong. I’m sorry.”
    “Valentine Lake,” she said. “Go get some wood.”
     
     
     
    The wind was steady, but the small fire bent and flourished, and he cooked the tomato soup as always and burned the bread on his long fork so they could dip strips into their bowls. The fire helped. Vonnie took off her boots and wore her camp moccasins, sitting by the fire. They’d unpacked and Mack had set his tent. Vonnie was reading, holding the book flat to catch the light.
    “How’s the school?” he asked.
    “It’s going well; every time they cut the music program some rich parent steps up. Somebody gave us a grand piano, but we don’t have a room for it, so now they’re building a room. There’s a lot of money in that town, but it only comes out in certain ways.”
    “A grand piano.”
    “Yeah, and Kent started a board that does fund-raising.”
    “He’s got to be good at that. And he gave the school a car.”
    “He did.”
    Mack had wiped out the bowls and wrapped them in the dishtowel. “Did he not want you to do this?”
    “Of course he didn’t. He hates you. You should have never fucked with his car.”
    “I shouldn’t have done anything I did this past year, Vonnie, but breaking the most expensive windshield in Jackson was as pure an act as ever I did.”
    “You were drunk?”
    “I was drunk for, let’s see, just about five months.” Mack turned to her and held open his hands. “I’m sorry, Vonnie. Sorry. But more, I’m done with it. I’m done with desperation. I was as lost as you get.”
    “How was jail?”
    “That is a great question. You always said I was in my own way with my pride, remember that?”
    “You were.”
    “I was. Jail fixed that. I’m not proud anymore. Jail is jail and I had weeks of it and those weeks were the same as a lot of weeks last year. I’m all even all over town, except for two more apologies and the bills. Bills and three more apologies, but I’ll get them.”
    “Who’s on the ranch?”
    “Jessups. He was going to get sheep, but as far as I can see they’re just living there.”
    “Do you get a decent rent?”
    “Decent minus the horses, the upkeep. I’m a little negative, but I’m working on some projects.”
    “Did Yarnell come through?”
    “Sort of.” Mack set sticks into the small fire. The last daylight was trading around from the rocky towers, and the gloaming would last half an hour. It took the darkness a long time to fill.
    “Kent says you’re tight with Yarnell and that Yarnell is the enemy, a crook.”
    “He’d know.”
    “He’d know before you’d know.”
    “Well, I’ve got some projects is all.”
    “You could sell it all and just go.”
    “I could and where would I go? Where do people go, Vonnie? San Diego? My knees are too bony. This is where I go.”
    “You’re fighting the whole county.”
    “I just want to keep the place. Stay straight and do what I can to keep the place.”
    “The bank?”
    “The bank is the bank. They were with me and now they’re deciding. You want me to sell so you can get that money?”
    “Mack, did you look at the letters?” He had the five ivory envelopes unopened in his father’s rolltop.
    “Not yet. I’m sure they explain your position. They are beautiful envelopes, Vonnie. That guy has some bona-fide stationery. My theory is that beautiful envelopes are full of terrible news. I can wait if you can.”
    “You are still proud. And you are dumb as a stone.”
    “Don’t let the stones hear you talking that way.”
    There had been a dozen ups and downs before Mack