The Hunting Wives

Sophie feels hurt and left out when she sees a Facebook post featuring Margot, Tina, Jill, and Callie. She texts Tina to ask if Margot was upset when she left the night early, and Tina responds vaguely. Sophie decides to accept that she won’t be part of Margot’s group, and she texts Erin to make other plans, intending to refocus on the friends and relationships she already has.

The next day (five days after the hunting party), Margot abruptly texts Sophie to invite her to the lake house to sunbathe. Sophie is elated and hurries over.

At first, Sophie is excited to spend time one-on-one with Margot. However, shortly after her arrival, Brad and his friend Jamie (another high school boy) arrive. While Sophie and Jamie are alone, Jamie explains that Brad has a girlfriend named Abby. Jamie flirts with Sophie, and she kisses him but then grows alarmed and quickly leaves. She is unclear about the nature of the interactions between Margot and Brad.

Sophie hurries to pick up her son, feeling confused and guilty about the encounter with Jamie. Margot texts Sophie, claiming that she didn’t know the boys would stop by and alluding to Sophie’s encounter with Jamie. She also invites Sophie to join the next hunting party, which means that Sophie will need to cancel her plans with Erin.

Later that evening, Sophie has sex with her husband, feeling both guilty and aroused after the encounter with Jamie. She also says that they need to cancel their plans with Erin and Ryan; Graham is unbothered since he thinks that Sophie is benefiting from spending time with her new friends.

Before the hunting evening, Margot texts to tell the women that they are going out afterward. After briefly shooting, they change into sexy clothing and drive into Dallas to go to a nightclub. At the club, Callie brings Sophie a drink. Shortly thereafter, Sophie becomes disoriented and woozy. She thinks that she sees Margot having sex with a man from the club. Then, she passes out. She comes to in the car as Callie drives the group home. By the time she wakes up fully, it is four o’clock in the morning, and she is distressed to discover that Graham has left several messages, confused about why she is out so late.

The next morning, Sophie wakes up with a hangover. She rushes to the farmer’s market to meet Graham and Jack, watching as Graham flirts with a younger woman. She pleads with Graham to forgive her and claims that her phone died, preventing her from texting or calling. He softens and forgives her. Later, Sophie thinks she glimpses Harold (the man who lives in a neighboring house) watching her again.

For the next several days, Sophie focuses on her home and family, trying to avoid thinking of Margot. On Wednesday (five days after the latest hunting evening), Sophie decides to drive to Margot’s lake house and surprise her. When Sophie arrives, she catches sight of Margot performing oral sex on Brad. She hurriedly leaves, but Margot has already seen her. Margot texts her, stating that she trusts Sophie to keep her secret. Sophie assures Margot that she won’t tell anyone about the illicit relationship between Margot and Brad.

That night, Margot texts the group to say that there will be no hunting party that week. Sophie is relieved, as she knows that when she spends time with Margot, she tends to make risky decisions.

Sophie and Graham have dinner with Erin and her husband, Ryan. Sophie reflects that Erin has been a good friend and a steady presence in her life. Erin seems happy with the life she has chosen—settled in a small town with her husband and child. Sophie also thinks about how she had a brief romantic relationship with a woman in college; she told Graham about this relationship when they first dated, but she also falsely reassured him that she was primarily attracted to men.

Now, Sophie takes the opportunity to ask Erin why she is suspicious of Margot. Erin explains that like many wealthy residents of the town, Margot is snobby and entitled. There are also rumors that after Margot caught her husband having an affair, she threatened his young mistress with a gun.

Later that night, Jill texts Margot, Sophie, Tina, and Callie, inviting them to her lake house on Sunday.

The women gather at Jill’s house and begin discussing their sex lives. They tease Jill, who has a lively sex life with her husband. Jamie and Brad arrive at the house, along with Abby. Sophie is very uncomfortable being around Jamie, and Margot is irritated by Abby’s presence. Eventually, Margot takes off her bikini top, exposing her breasts to everyone. Brad, Jamie, and Abby abruptly leave, and Jill chastises Margot for behaving inappropriately. Margot storms off, and Sophie later catches sight of Callie comforting her.

After a few days of silence, Margot tells the women to meet at her house for Friday evening shooting, as usual. When they gather, Sophie is hesitant to shoot because the kick from the shotgun sometimes hurts her shoulder. Callie offers her a specific gun, suggesting that it will be more comfortable, and Sophie uses it to shoot at the targets.

Back at the house, Margot tells the women that she is too tired to go out, so they should simply go home. However, she privately tells Sophie to stay. When Sophie and Margot are the only ones left in the house, Sophie catches sight of Margot’s cell phone and reads a text conversation between Margot and Brad. In the text conversation, Margot is annoyed that Brad is having dinner with Abby and her parents and demands that he leave and come see her. Brad explains that although he wants to be with Margot, he also needs to be sensitive to Abby’s feelings, especially since she previously attempted suicide when he tried to break up with her. Margot ominously tells Brad to “get rid of her” (166).

A short time later, Margot tells Sophie that Brad will be joining them and urges her to stay.

Brad arrives and tells Sophie that Jamie will also be arriving shortly. When Jamie comes to the house, the four of them drink heavily and eventually play a game of “spin the bottle.” However, Margot becomes irritated and storms off.

Brad goes off to pursue Margot, and Jamie and Sophie are left alone in the house. They begin kissing again, and Jamie fondles her. Sophie considers having sex with him but instead tells him that she needs to leave. She goes outside to look for Margot and catches sight of Margot and Brad having sex outside near the boathouse.

Sophie goes back to the house, intending to gather her things and leave. Instead, she has another drink and then passes out on the couch. She wakes up several hours later to find that Callie is at the door. When Sophie explains that she doesn’t know where Margot is, Callie hurriedly leaves. Sophie also leaves and drives home.