Deets helps the men prepare for the coming storm. The cattle begin to run just as the blowing sand blinds Newt. A broken tree limb hits him. Lightning begins to strike, and Newt sees it in the cattle’s horns, arcing from tip to tip. Soon, torrents of rain replace the sand. It is the longest night of Newt’s life.

Lorena’s horse bolts because Jake forgot to hobble their rides. The lightning terrifies her. She hits Jake when he tries to pull her out from beneath a tree. Lightning hits the tree and splits it moments later.

In the morning, Call is pleased with the outcome of the storm. They lost few cattle and no men. Deets can’t find Gus. Dish is happy that he kept the herd together, and everyone admires his skills. Call watches a bull that joined the herd in Texas. It does not wear a brand and joined them of its own accord. It is extremely ill-tempered and is as likely to charge the men as anything else. They are all wary of it and no one understands why it joined their herd.