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Rex took the kid’s hand and shook vehemently, careful to keep his eyes pinned to their visitor’s “Where ya from, kid?”

Billy withdrew his hand, acting as if he were afraid he ht lose an arm if he didn’t take a step back “Dallas”

“H way from home, aren’t ya?”

Billy shrugged “From what Lucy said, Tennessee is home for us now”

Rex snarled “Really? She said that?”

How had Rex ht before, revisiting the conversation they’d had with Lucy Hadn’t she said soaze flickered across Billy Surely not This guy was nothingdi eyes, and exemplified youth

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-two Why?”

Twenty-two’s ass! He was probably still in his late teens If Rex cared to add a guess, the boy hadn’t figured out his balls weren’t a hed at that

The kid watched hi funny?”

“Nothing,” Rex replied

“Say you’rea shirt fro it over his shoulder

“Most likely,” Billy said “Is she home?”

“Who?” Rex asked

“Lucy Is she here?” Billy looked from one brother to the next