Alan Corker and Ted Merrington spend an afternoon guiding cows down to the fields. Corker proves to be patient with the animals while Merrington curses and hits them. Corker explains that he enjoys obliging Merrington, who tends to act like a spoiled child. The two men go back to Merrington's house to drink and eat with his wife Patricia. At home, Corker's guests tell him stories of his father, Careful Bob. They explain the best time that Bob got the better of them, which was during the Bullock Run, which was made up of 4,000 acres of land. As Corker enter's Merrington's painting room, he recognizes that Ted has something he craves; to have an affect on the people around him. Corker decides that he will invite Merrington to the Bullock Run one day soon, and they can ride horses while Patricia, Liz (Corker's wife), and Liz's sons ride bikes and have a picnic. Alan hopes that his own twin daughters (who live with their mom, Alan's ex-wife) will come. When the twins decide to visit Alan for their 17th birthday, he is upset that they will be staying for less than 24 hours, but Liz reasons with him. Alan and Liz pick up Abbey and Tina, the twins, at the train station. A few days later, Merrington invites Corker and his family over for dinner. Corker takes Merrington up to the Bullock Run, explaining that he will let Ted graze his cows on the land in exchange for a painting. Ted expresses some hesitation over the painting that Liz chooses, but Alan reminds him that it's the only way that he can use the Bullock Run for grazing. Abbey begins to model for Ted's painting. One day, Liz picks her up from the Merringtons' and Abbey breaks down, telling her step mother what happened (it is implied that Ted sexually assaulted her). Liz tells Alan later that night, after Abbey has left. Alan, incredibly angry, returns both Ted's cattle and his painting. The story ends with Alan looking out over the Bullock Run, reflecting on who he is.