Teddy stared at the man a moment. Somehow he seemed different, as though there was something in him that had not been apparent before.
“You didn’t do it just out of meanness, then?”
“Mean?” he shouted. “Silent, mean? Say, buddy, he’s the kindest—”
“Buckle it up!” Silent tersely ordered from his place on the ground. “This ain’t no debatin’ society.”
The men wandered away. Nick and Bug Eye returned to the cows. Teddy bent down and thrust out his hand.
“Want to shake?” he asked quietly.
Silent got to his feet and eyed the boy in amazement.
“You mean I ain’t fired?”
“Not any! I didn’t get the idea, that was all. I thought you did it for fun.”