But once in a while, even if nobody mentioned one, the thought of women entered his head all on its own, and once it came it usually tneded to stay for several hours, filling his noggin like a cloud of gnats. Of course, a cloud of gnats was nothing in comparison to a cloud of Gulf coast mosquitoes, so the thought of women was not that bothersome, but it was a thought Pea would rather not have in his head.
In Larry McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove," the protagonist, Pea, occasionally finds himself overwhelmed by thoughts of women, even when the topic hasn't been raised. These thoughts drift into his mind uninvited and linger, much like a bothersome cloud. While he compares this mental intrusion to a cloud of gnats, he reassures himself that it's not as irritating as the mosquitoes found along the Gulf Coast.
Despite his comparisons, Pea would prefer to be free from such thoughts altogether. The presence of these mental distractions highlights his inner struggle and discomfort with feelings that he would rather avoid, illustrating his complex relationship with love and desire.
