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“I didn’t have much choice” Buck continued to smile “They don’t let you take those prison uniforms with you when they turn you loose”

“But a hat and a pair of boots like that don’t co somewhere”

“Not yet But I’ve got me a job lined up Looks like I’ll be startin’ soon”

“Where?”

“That’s forof beer

“Don’t worry We will” Ty spotted Quint standing quietly by the wall, watching the pool garess

As he started to ards to your pa, but I don’t think he cares to hear froh You can count on that”

Ty had the uneasy feeling the man spoke the truth But he didn’t have time to dwell on it as Trey suddenly spied Quint He kicked at Ty with his legs as if to hurry hi

The restaurant and bar had filled up So while the local cowboys and mine workers filed into the café in twos and threes Most of thereetings He acknowledged them with a wave or a lift of his head

Ty sidestepped a cue stick, drawn back by its shooter, and jostled a towheaded boy of eighteen, his freckled face sunburned except for a white band across the top of his forehead

“Sorry, Taylor” Ty apologized to the son from a family that ranched some land that adjoined the south boundary of the Triple C There was a passel of kids in the faht

“It’s okay” The lanky boy shifted, giving Ty a gliirl with him

“Hey, Emily” Ty was surprised to see her in Taylor’s coht you were here with Ballard”

“No I just danced with hi a hand next to her mouth to whisper in a secretive manner “Rick says Dy-Corp doesn’t have a helicopter He says they don’t need one”

“Really” Ty straightened, absorbing the information “He works at the mine”