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"Best get going then" She gave hiht fro rooe of his lounger, trying to get up "Wait," he grunted "I got this"

Billy went to hio take a look"

The older ry "I’m not an invalid It’s my house, and I’ll take care of it"

"Of course So how about I coht?" So out there, and he wasn’t about to risk Bear getting julare, and as Billy watched hile from the chair, a puzzle piece clicked into place Sorrow’s father had been raised to be afor pay That his body no longer cooperated had to be a blow to his ego and hismore slowly, but the man wasn’t dead yet It seemed somebody needed to apprise hi Bear’s path "Perhis balance

Billy bit back a smile "Perhed at that "I been waiting for you to speak frankly Because I can’t figure you out"

That wasn’t the response he’d expected "There’s nothing to figure," he said, surprised "What you see is what you get I like your daughter, and I’ away anyti to say about it"

"I don’t kno I feel about her breaking it off with that Sim him "The kid practically prints money at that job of his"

The ht But it didn’t mean Billy would take the bait "Daht guy for Sorrow"

"So if it ca an expression offrankly?"

"No This issuch a nasty old coot Hollering at the woives us all a headache I know your body isn’t what it was, and I’ old sure as hell beats the alternative"

Bear scowled hard at the word old, but Billy pressed on "You want to be powerful again? You put that daughter of yours up on your shoulders You support her, her than you ever did Now there’s a weight that only a real man can handle"

Bear’s features went utterly still, but whether it was anger or attentiveness had yet to be seen "What are you saying?"

"I’s"

The s, she almost set the tavern on fire"

Billy’s response was instant "I don’t believe that was her fault"

"You would say that New sheriff and all We pay you to be suspicious"

"Look, Bear Think what you like But if you were to share et better around here If Sorroants to have ht? I’d bet good money Sully would welcome the help Maybe it’d even prevent incidents like that fire"

"Girl’s got no tis up ot, Sheriff?"

Billy ignored the gibe and pressed on, "Sorrow could use sogled at that, but Billy refused to give him a chance to interrupt "She runs around like a one-arirl is in her twenties, and as far as I can see, her closest friends are a bunch of retirees"

"Laura’s back in town," Bear protested "She’s been helping" His tone was fir to lose steam

"You need to hire sos like repairs, and budget, and reservations, you’ve got Sorrow on roo duty For God’s sake, Bear If you hired someone, if you had more help around the place, you could handlein more tourists Think on it"

"You done?" The er made him look like he’d sed a box of nails