“I jumped into the river with yuh,” smiled Skeeter, “and then I packed yuh plumb over to the sheep-herder’s shack and then brought yuh here.”
Freel digested this as he studied Skeeter closely.
“You unlocked the handcuffs—when?”
“After I got yuh out of the river.”
“And—you—stayed?”
Skeeter’s mind flashed back to the bank of the river, in the drenching storm and darkness, when he started to toss the sheriff back into the flood.
“Yeah,” said Skeeter slowly. “I stayed.”
“You—had—your—chance,” said Freel painfully.
“I know I did.”
Skeeter’s voice held no regrets.