Part 3, Chapter 31 Summary

Tom spends the rest of the summer and fall working with Meo on Red's spread. Red tries to get Tom to go back on the circuit for some excitement, but Tom refuses. During this time, Red leaves the ranch and stays away for a week or so on a drinking binge, each time coming back sick or mean or both.

One day, a stranger comes to the ranch to tell Tom that Red is very sick in the hotel in Aztec. Tom drives over and speaks to the doctor, who tells him that Red has only a few hours to live. Red has a bad heart, kidneys and liver. The doctor follows Tom back to the hotel room, where Red dies holding Tom's hand and telling Tom to take him home.

The doctor tells Tom that Red was a squatter on...