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As I got out, I said to O’Conner, “I see you’ve es around here”

He sured we needed to go ahead and get into the market with this fall’s crop, which’ll be our first We took soot contracts for all we can produce Should be several thousand pounds of top-grade ginseng root We’re not getting quite what the poachers get for the stuff from the national park,” he said, “but close If we can keep things fro out in the heat of the summer, we should have several thousand pounds, at almost two hundred dollars a pound”

I did the ures?”

“Should be,” he said “Seven if we get real lucky But you knohat? It doesn’texperi, which would be good And I’ve got half a dozen people working forhere in Cooke County But I don’t really need the ”

I laughed “Yeah, I kno big that sheriff’s paycheck is,” I said

“Well, yeah, I’ot al operation here My car’s provided I’ve long since owned this farht I live like athe county pays me”

“You sound like a man whose life is in balance,” I said “Of course, even when you looked like an outlaw, you seemed pretty balanced and content”

“It took et there,” he said “But yeah I mean, you are who you are, you aren’t what you do”

He motioned me up toward the ooden porch, where a pair of weathered wooden rocking chairs sat side by side, like an old couple

“Come on up,” he said “Sit a spell You want some iced tea?” I nodded

The wooden screen door had been freshly painted, too, but the spring still creaked when O’Conner pulled it open He grinned

“Always did like that sound,” he said “The guys working on the house replaced the old spring with a new one that didn’toff and put the old one back on”

O’Conner disappeared, then e two tall ceramic tumblers The one he handed me was ice cold and frosted at the top-fresh fro tea once before, but never iced ginseng I liked it cold It had the slightly earthy, tangy taste I’d remembered, and hints of honey, plus maybe a little fruit juice in it, too

“It’s good,” I said “You ought to bottle this stuff”

He smiled “It’s in the business plan-year two,” he said

“You’ve got a good head for business, Doc”

I took another sip “No, I just know so of it,” I said

O’Conner sat in the other chair and began to rock in time with me A small end table separated the rockers, a remote control rested on the table O’Conner pressed a button on the re fan stirred a breeze down onto us

“Another new addition,” I said

“Yeah,” he said “Usually there’s a pretty good breeze, but this summer’s been so hot I finally broke down and hauled in soot a house in to, but soht’s not too hot, I’ll come up here and sleep on the porch” He opened a drawer in the end table and pulled out a small silver flask “You want a little nip of Jack in there?” he said

“No thanks,” I said

“That’s right, you don’t drink,” he said “You mind if I add a little nip to mine?”

“Go right ahead,” I said “I’ the taste any, but you probably knohat you’re doing”