“What?” He stopped eating.
“Be our lookout, our guard. What do they call them in the army? Sentry. We've had one blamed thief after another around here, day in and day out. They've been robbing us blind, and I can't run the place and keep chasing them too. That would be your job — keeping thieves off the place.”
“Well… I don't know what to say. I sort of figured on going down south for the winter…”
“I can't pay you nothing,” Hoffman continued. “Not in money. We ain't got none left and you couldn't spend it anyway. But we can offer you a good home and the best eating in this part of the country; my wife's a fine cook!”
Gary glanced at the woman and then the two children. “I'd certainly like to, Mr. Hoffman, but—”
“Please?” Sandy broke in.
He glanced down the table to find the girl shyly smiling at him, a pleading invitation in her eyes.
“Do you really want me to stay, Sandy?”
She nodded eagerly. “Pretty please?”
“Well…” He scratched his ragged beard, pretending to consider it. Finally his gaze swung back to Hoffman. “Oh well, all right.” And then he added quickly, “Until spring, anyway.”