“Baggs told Minnie to go home,” he said wearily. “He said that the county would have to take care of me, but I can take care of myself.”
“Plenty nerve,” muttered Len admiringly. “Larry, why won’t yuh go out to the ranch with me? I need yuh—need another cowpuncher out there. Me and you would git along great. The boss is a nice lady.”
Larry thought it over for a while, torn between two emotions.
“Mr. Baggs said I hadn’t better.”
“Since when did you start takin’ orders from Baggs, Larry?”
Larry shut his lips tightly. He was a very little boy, but there were things he couldn’t forget.
“Will yuh tell me why yuh won’t go out and live with me?” asked Len. “I ought to know, Larry. After all, you are my son.”
“Well, I don’t know,” he was near tears now. “Mr. Baggs said it wasn’t the place for me. He said you—you⸺”
“He said I wasn’t fit to have yuh, son?”
Larry nodded miserably.