Yessir. I kno.

    You sign on for t at least some notion of . But if its just t it turned out to be a little roug  you s somethin else.

    Bell nodded.

    I guess some tter not put to test.

    I guess ts right.

    take to run Loretta off?

    I dont kno ty bad. It damn sure   be just cause t a little rougime or two.

    Ellis nodded. ipped to a jar-lid on table. Ill take your  , he said.

    Bell smiled.  coffee?

    I ts all rig  over.

    Bell smiled again and rose and carried t to ter and plugged it in.

    t at table drinking coffee out of t   tc change, I reckon.

    be? the old man said.

    know.

    I dont either.

    s you got?

    Several. Depends on . Some of em are  are  just outla truck.

    Did you ruck?

    ?

    I said did you… Youre tle fun h me.

    give you t idea?

    Did you?

    No. I seen ts skedaddle.

    You  some more of this?

    Im done.

    t s you died in prison.

    In Angola. Yes.

    would you of done if hed been released?

    I dont kno be no point to it. t no point to it. Not to  any of it.

    Im kindly surprised to .

    You , Ed tom. All time you spend tryin to get back ook from  you t ter a ry and get a tourniquet on it.

    Your grandad never asked me to sign on as deputy  my own self.

    o do. Paid about t oo old for t one. But I seen  of it. You can be patriotic  and still believe t some t more t tar mot t t for it. You aloo muc