Gary and Nicole grow more sexually experimental, including involving Rosebeth, a teenage girl who develops a crush on Gary. Though she likes the idea of Rosebeth as a “gift to Gary” (135), Nicole becomes uneasy about the legal risks and the effect on her children, but does not immediately end the arrangement. Tension rises as Gary grows more demanding and increasingly drinks and steals. He misses car payments to Val Conlin and resents the unreliable Mustang, pressing instead for a white truck he cannot afford without a cosigner.

Gary’s behavior becomes erratic. He steals beer regularly, brings home stolen goods, including water skis that he plans to sell, and brags openly of his crimes despite warnings from Vern and Spencer that he is violating parole. He quarrels with Nicole over sex, money, and control, storms out at night, and describes his recurring dreams of execution and burial. At work, he asks coworkers to buy stolen items and admits to theft. Financial strain, jealousy, and wounded pride deepen his agitation as the Mustang repeatedly fails to start. Despite Gary’s aggressive attitude, Val insists that he needs a cosigner for the truck.

Gary unsettles Kathryne Baker when he begins dropping by at lunchtime, boasting about thefts, violence, and prison stories while drinking stolen beer at her table. Nicole clashes with Gary after mocking his declaration of love. He strikes her for the first time, apologizes, then escalates the tension by showing her multiple pistols. Days later, at Sterling Baker’s party, Gary starts a fight over sunglasses and is beaten badly. His wounded pride worsens his volatility.

That night, after arguing with Nicole and still seething that he cannot buy the white truck, Gary attempts to steal a tape deck, crashes her Mustang, abandons the car, and considers fleeing to Canada. Urged by Brenda, he turns himself in. With Mont Court’s guidance, he confesses to Lieutenant Gerald Nielsen, who declines to jail him immediately. Gary quickly maneuvers a guilty plea before a substitute judge, securing temporary release pending sentencing.

Reunited afterward, Gary and Nicole experience a brief, intense calm despite the looming court date.

April Baker visits Nicole and immediately clashes with their mother. She bonds with Gary, praising his intelligence and artistic skill as he teaches her to paint and plays Johnny Cash records. April speaks obsessively about Hampton, recounting their affair and betrayal.

During the Fourth of July Bicentennial celebration at their grandparents’ home, tensions run high. The large gathering exposes old grievances, particularly in Nicole’s father, Charley, who broods over his failed marriage, military discharge, and memories of his children’s troubles. Charley reluctantly invites Nicole. She brings Gary, who unsettles several relatives. In conversation with Charley, he abruptly asks whether he ever feels like killing someone.

Charley is struggling in his own way. He is struck by terrible memories regarding his daughter, April. When the family was in Midway, she was sexually assaulted. He only learned of this later, and he blames himself for being “really hard” on April when her behavior was erratic.

At the party, Gary drinks heavily, kisses Nicole until reprimanded, nearly provokes a fight, and leaves intoxicated. Charley later quarrels with his own father and storms out, adding to the night’s discord.

Nicole’s loyalty to Gary begins to erode. She thinks about Roger Eaton, a clean-cut executive who had first approached her after sending an anonymous proposition letter and who later offered sympathy after Gary assaulted her. That night, Gary drinks heavily and boasts about stealing a motorcycle. He struggles sexually, blaming prison and headaches while using alcohol and Fiorinal. Nicole privately concludes he is “a bad package” (179).

In the next few days, Nicole spends time driving with Hampton. Gary strikes her again during an argument. Police respond to a neighbor’s complaints about her children playing outside; Nicole angrily threatens the officer. Fearing a police inspection, Gary removes several stolen firearms and stores them at Kathryne’s house.

Nicole secretly resumes intimacy with Hampton. Gary grows more volatile, smashing his windshield when the Mustang stalls and threatening violence over business disputes. After another argument, he leaves Nicole and the children at her mother’s house, saying he does not want to see her again. Though he returns seeking reconciliation, she refuses and secretly moves into an apartment in Springville with Barrett’s help, keeping the address hidden. Nicole reflects that unless she changes “the way she [lives] with men” (184), she fears she will return in another life unwanted and unseen.

Barrett has long been emotionally attached to Nicole. Though he has repeatedly abandoned her during their periods together, he always returns in spite of his jealousy and humiliation. After meeting Gary, he gets a “scared feeling.” After learning that Gary is an ex-con, Barrett keeps visiting when possible and eventually sleeps with Rosebeth.

As Nicole’s situation worsens, she turns to Barrett for escape. He is convinced that she has “special feelings” for him. He finds a Springville apartment and helps move her furniture out while she carries a derringer, fearing Gary is also armed. Gary reacts with obsessive grief, searching for Nicole, pleading through Kathryne, promising to give up alcohol, and pressuring Spencer to co-sign for a truck while leaving guns as “security.” Nicole returns once to Spanish Fork for her vacuum, and Gary blocks her car until she points her gun at him.

While Gary is searching for Nicole, she is pursuing her secret relationship with Roger Eaton, a married mall administrator who meets her regularly, buys her clothes, and hopes to continue their relationship. Gary tells Brenda he thinks he might kill Nicole, then sleeps at Craig’s house, claiming he will “give up drinking” (203).