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What will happen now? I thought, un was located A postservice Wild West gunfight? I ive me a break My blood pressure really didn’t need this

“Hi, strangers,” the hippie said, s

I noticed for the first tiood shape—broad shouldered, with big hands I instinctively put myself between him and Juliana

“Nice service,” the guy said “Are you guys new to the parish?”

“No,” I answered for Seah”

“Passing through?” the hippie said “In Aaron Cody’s station wagon?”

“You ask a lot of questions,” I said “I got one for you You always carry in church?”

“Carry?” the hippie said, his bleary eyes squinting “Oh, youas he patted the small of his back after a beat “Oh, sure All us rootin’ tootin’ cowboys up here like our Second A How about you? You always carry in church?”

“Get in the car, guys,” I said to Juliana and Sea weirdo Despite uy’s roscoe, I could tell he was just a high California goofball

“It’s been really fun talking to you, bro,” I said, s as I stared into his red eyes, “but don’t you think it’s tier?”

He burst out laughing at that

“I like you You’re funny,” he said, going into his anorak pocket

“Tight-lipped, too,” he said, re it with a Zippo as if it were thein the world He blew some rancid smoke in my direction

“Around here, tight-lipped works just fine,” he said “Actually, I was just trying to be neighborly The priest’s accent rerandpap I’m Irish, too They call me McMurphy There’s a little bar down the road a bit called Buffalo Gil’s Why don’t we meet up? I’ll buy you a Guinness”

I stared at the lit weirdo, wondering why this kind of crap always happened to ed crazy people was fun, but I had cows to milk