Notes

Clark is Carla’s husband. The story leaves his background relatively murky, but it is clear that he is not well educated and has moved around a lot, doing various odd jobs for work. He lives with Carla in the mobile home and manages the business boarding horses and giving riding lessons, which is how he makes a living for himself and Carla. Clark strongly resents his family for reasons that are not revealed. He is brooding, moody, and has a hot temper, which causes problems for his and Carla’s social lives. He is controlling of Carla and does not allow her much agency, and he neglects her emotionally. Clark seems perpetually annoyed by Carla, which drives her away, but he is also afraid that she will leave him. Clark is controlling and combative not just to Carla, but to everyone around him. When he realizes that Sylvia tried to help Carla escape, he shows up at Sylvia’s house in the middle of the night and tries to intimidate and scare her, demanding that she stay out of his life. When Carla’s goat Flora returns, Clark secretly does away with her (either killing her or taking her somewhere—it’s left unclear), and the story implies that he may become violent with Carla if she tries to leave him.