How does Porter, Starla's father, react to the news that she has run away in the novel, Whistling Past the Graveyard?

When he learns that Starla has run away, Porter rushes home to find her. When he hears that she is in Nashville, he drives through the night to get her. Porter unhesitatingly brings Eula and James home with him as well, grateful to Eula for saving and protecting his daughter. He then makes sure Starla realizes that she is the best thing in his life, and has Eula live with them until Eula takes on work for Mrs. White. Porter ultimately leaves the oil rig and takes a local job as a grease monkey to be home with his daughter.