After the summer ends, Ennis marries Alma Beers and moves to the old Elwood Hi-Top place north of Lost Cabin in Washakie County. After they have their first daughter, they move to Riverton. This is where Ennis gets a letter from Jack Twist asking to meet for the first time in four years.

"Late in the afternoon, thunder growling, that same old green pickup truck rolled in and he saw Jack get out of the truck, beat-up Resistol tilted back. A hot jolt scaled Ennis and he was out on the landing pulling the door closed behind him. Jack took the stairs two by two. They seized each other by the shoulders, hugged mightily, squeezing the breath out of each other, saying, son of a bitch, son of a bitch, then, and easily as the right key turns the lock tumblers, their mouths came together."