Lonesome Dove: Chapter 37 Summary & Analysis

Roscoe Brown’s trip toward Texas gets off to a rough start. Then, on the second day, he comes on a farmer pulling stumps from a field just before sunset. The prospect of a hot meal makes him stop. Much to his surprise, the farmer is a woman, and she puts him to work on the stumps before they’re even properly introduced. Afterwards, she explains that her name is Lousia Brooks. She lives alone—her first and second husbands and two daughters died, and her six sons all got tired of farming life and moved on when they got old enough. Louisa invites Roscoe back to her house for dinner, which turns out to be nothing more than cornbread.

Over dinner, Roscoe explains his mission to Louisa, who thinks it’s pointless. Instead, she proposes that Roscoe stay on the farm and marry her. She thinks she can get a few good years out of him. When he hesitates, she offers a “tryout.” If he likes it, he can stay. If not, he can leave. Roscoe isn’t even willing to commit to a tryout, so he sets up his bedroll outside. But early the next morning, Louisa tries him out sexually anyway. She decides he’s not quite feisty enough for her taste, but also not hopeless, so she leaves her invitation open. She could use the help and the companionship. Roscoe demurs, saying he might take her up on it on the way back. Only if, she says, someone better hasn’t come along first. Roscoe rides off with mixed feelings.