I started Ninc up again and moved slowly to catch up with them. All the men on horseback had guns in saddle boots. They looked as nervous as cats with kittens. One of them had a string of packhorses on a line and he saw me and called to another who seemed to be the leader. That one wheeled his black horse and rode back toward me.
He was a middle-aged man, maybe as old as my Daddy. He was large and he had a hard face. Normal enough, but hard. He pulled to a halt when we reached each other, but I kept going. He had to come around and follow me. I believe in judging a person by his face. A man can't help the face he owns, but he can help the expression he wears on it. If a man looks mean, I generally believe that he is. This one looked mean. That was why I kept riding.
He said, "What be you doing out here, boy? Be you out of your head? There be escaped Losels in these woods."
I told you I hadn't finished filling out yet, but I hadn't thought it was that bad. I wasn't ready to make a fight over the point, though. Generally, I can't keep my bloody mouth shut, but now I didn't say anything. It seemed smart.
"Where be you from?" he asked.
I pointed to the road behind us.
"And where be you going?"
I pointed ahead. No other way to go.
He seemed exasperated. I have that effect sometimes. Even on Mother and Daddy, who should know better.
We were coming up on the others now, and the man said, "Maybe you'd better ride on from here with us. For protection."