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I would expect that kind of unselfishness from you.”
    To emphasize his next point, Nelson leaned across the ravaged pizza that had been opened over the small, round table. “But remember how much Carole herself encouraged you to throw your hat into the ring. I think she would be terribly upset if you withdrew from the race on her account. Terribly upset,” he said, jabbing the space between them with his blunt index finger.
    “And looking at it from a very cold and crass viewpoint,” he went on, “this unfortunate accident might be turned to our advantage. It’ll generate free publicity.”
    Disgusted by the observation, Tate tossed down his wadded napkin and left his chair. For several moments he prowled aimlessly around the room. “Did you confer with Eddy on this? Because he said virtually the same thing when I called him earlier to discuss it.”
    “He’s your campaign manager.” Jack had turned pale and speechless at the thought that his brother might give up before his campaign even got off the ground. “He’s paid to give you good advice.”
    “Harp on me, you mean.”
    “Eddy wants to see Tate Rutledge become a United States senator, just like all the rest of us, and his desire for that has nothing to do with the salary he draws.” Smiling broadly, Nelson got up and slapped Tate on the back. “You’ll run in the November election. Carole would be the first in line to encourage you to.”
    “All right then,” Tate said evenly. “I had to know that I could depend on your unqualified support. The demands placed on me in the coming months will be all I can handle, and then some.”
    “You’ve got our support, Tate,” Nelson said staunchly.
    “Will I have your patience and understanding when I can’t be two places at once?” Tate divided his inquiring look between them. “I’ll do my best not to sacrifice one responsibility to the other, but I’m only one person.”
    Nelson assured him, “We’ll take up the slack for you.”
    “What else did Eddy say?” Jack asked, greatly relieved that the crisis had passed.
    “He has volunteers stuffing questionnaires into envelopes to be mailed later this week.”
    “What about public appearances? Has he scheduled any more?”
    “A tentative speech to a high school in the valley. I told him to decline.”
    “Why?” Jack asked.
    “High school kids don’t vote,” Tate said reasonably.
    “But their parents do. And we need those Mexicans in the valley on our side.”
    “We’ve got them on our side.”
    “Don’t take anything for granted.”
    “I don’t,” Tate said, “but this is one of those instances where I have to weigh my priorities. Carole and Mandy are going to require a lot of my time. I’ll have to be more selective about where I go and when. Each speech will have to count, and I don’t think a high school audience would be that beneficial.”
    “You’re probably right,” Nelson said, diplomatically intervening.
    Tate realized that his father was humoring him, but he didn’t care. He was tired, worried, and wanted to go to bed and at least try to sleep. As tactfully as possible, he conveyed that to his brother and father.
    As he saw them out, Jack turned and gave him an awkward hug. “Sorry I badgered you tonight. I know you’ve got a lot on your mind.”
    “If you didn’t, I’d get fat and lazy in no time. I rely on you to badger me.” Tate flashed him the engaging smile that was destined to appear on campaign posters.
    “If it’s okay with y’all, I think I’ll go home tomorrow morning,” Jack said. “Somebody needs to check on things at the house, and see how everybody is making out.”
    “How is everything there?” Nelson asked.
    “Okay.”
    “It didn’t look okay the last time I was home. Your daughter Francine hadn’t been heard from in days, and your wife… well, you know the state she was in.” He shook his finger at his elder son. “Things have come to a sad pass when a man doesn’t exercise any more influence over his family than you do.” He glanced at Tate. “Or you, either, for that matter. Both of you have let your wives do as they damn well please.”
    Addressing Jack again, he said, “You should see to getting help for Dorothy Rae before it’s too late.”
    “Maybe after the election,” he mumbled. Looking at his brother, he added, “I’ll only be an hour’s drive away if you need me.”
    “Thanks, Jack. I’ll call as developments warrant.”
    “Did the doctor give