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They clinked glasses and downed the whiskey

A sweet, slow burn warmed Dalton from the inside out

"That is the best stuff I’ve ever tasted," Brandt said "Dalass over "Hit ain, barkeep, but this one’s a sipper"

"Ditto"

Once their glasses were half-full, Dalton told them about his experience at an Irish bar in London

After he finished, Tell asked, "Do you plan on traveling anymore?"

"Don’t know"

Brandt rested his elbows on the table and looked at Dalton "Me’n Tell got so to say about that"

"Really? You have to do this now? When we’ve been havin’ such a good time?"

"That’s exactly e need to do it now," Tell said

Rather than waiting, Brandt launched right into it "We knohy you left and why you stayed away I’m just sorry we didn’t know the why of it when it happened But that’s neither here nor there Dad was an obstacle to you co around"

Tell sipped his drink, then said, "No need to sugarcoat this He’s gone; obstacle gone"

"But," Brandt inserted, "we know Dad wasn’t the only reason you left We’ve accepted our role in it, and I speak for both of us when I say we’re sorry"

"Really fuckin’ sorry," Tell added

"There ain’t nothin’ we can do to undo what’s been done to you But we can do a couple of things to change hoe handle stuff fro sure Dad doesn’t have a voice even though he’s dead He wrecked a lot of things in our lives You leavin’ one away from us too So he finally accomplished what he’d been tryin’ to do for years; he drove a wedge between us And I say fuck that shit No more He don’t have that power"

"Aet where this was headed

"Bottom line is ant you here, man With you back it’s like it’s supposed to be So we’ve coency plan, but hear us out"

Brandt said, "With all the crap that’s gone down in the lastelk or wildebeests or owls as long as you’re doin’ it here close to us And if by soration plan isn’t accepted by the state, we’ll help you turn that chunk of dirt into another enterprise Raising buffalo or turtles or unicorns Whatever you want"

"If that don’t work for you, we’ll put in that feedlot like we talked about," Tell said "I’ve got the updated regs and e don’t understand I thought Rory could help us figure out, since she’s fluent in the governe But the truth is we’ll support you in whatever you decide We want you to be part of lives, Dalton A permanent part That’s anted to talk about it now While--"

"We’re a little drunk?" Dalton supplied

Brandt shook his head "While we’re reot a responsibility to each other All three of us No one gets left behind in this faain"

Tell leaned closer "We just thought you oughta know"

"Thanks, guys It et choked up Would not

So it was a belated wake of sorts, for Casper McKay But they didn’t toast him They didn’t curse hio

Rory was updating her latest files in the guest bedroom when her ?"

"No It’s a good tile juled two bottles of Mike’s Hard Leht refreshht I was a teetotaler until you started bartending Now look at me I’m a cocktail connoisseur"

"Sorry, that stuff is low end Surprised you can drink it after Gavin’s spoiled you with expensive hooch" Rory gave her a one-arlowy--if you get my drift"