There were a lot of words that could be said. He thought of plenty of sentences that wanted to get out based on what Givens said to him first. Plenty of responses aching to get out. Most of them full of bravado and stubbornness.

Most of them useless in this moment other than as asides. The meat of the problem was buried somewhere deeper than all that. That left him with two choices: continue down the familiar path of anger and doggedness, or risk the fire leaping out into the open. He couldn't seem to make that first step, not on his own. He stared at Givens with that impassive expression on his face. But maybe the lawman would take it for him.

"And what did I actually come here fer then, bull? What great insight do ya have ta share today?"