The grim smile returned with Givens's answer. The lawman remembered the dog bit, because of course he did. He accepted the mug without reluctance and held it in one hand, close to his chest, as he listened to the marshal continue. It was after the word 'sentimental' that he shook his head in wry amusement.
He could have said words then but Givens beat him to it. So he listened some more.
It was plain as day that he hadn't expected the story. There was plenty of information to unravel in such a small set of sentences and Collins fell thoughtfully quiet. He met the lawman's easy gaze with a cool one of his own. It wasn't quite as hard as it had been two seconds before.
"You brought someone from tha Barge here to yer home?" His voice was carefully modulated to hold neither bite nor pity. He didn't want to convey either of those things. He didn't want to pretend he felt them, or discover if maybe he did for real or not. "Was he an inmate?"
no subject
He could have said words then but Givens beat him to it. So he listened some more.
It was plain as day that he hadn't expected the story. There was plenty of information to unravel in such a small set of sentences and Collins fell thoughtfully quiet. He met the lawman's easy gaze with a cool one of his own. It wasn't quite as hard as it had been two seconds before.
"You brought someone from tha Barge here to yer home?" His voice was carefully modulated to hold neither bite nor pity. He didn't want to convey either of those things. He didn't want to pretend he felt them, or discover if maybe he did for real or not. "Was he an inmate?"