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Chapter 22
«Well,theAssociationdon’tlikethegovernmentcamps.Can’tgetadeputyinthere.Thepeoplemaketheirownlaws,Ihear,andyoucan’tarrestamanwithoutawarrant.Nowiftherewasabigfightandmaybeshooting—abunchofdeputiescouldgoinandcleanoutthecamp.»
Timothyhadchanged.Hisshoulderswerestraightandhiseyescold.«Whatyoumean?»
«Don’tyouevertellwhereyouheard,"Thomassaiduneasily.
«There’sgoingtobeafightinthecampSaturdaynight.Andthere’sgoingtobedeputiesreadytogoin.»
Tomdemanded,«Why,forGod’ssake?Thosefolksain’tbotheringnobody.»
«I’lltellyouwhy,"Thomassaid.«Thosefolksinthecamparegettingusedtobeingtreatedlikehumans.Whentheygobacktothesquatters’campsthey’llbehardtohandle.»Hewipedhisfaceagain.«Goonouttoworknow.Jesus,IhopeIhaven’ttalkedmyselfoutofmyfarm.ButIlikeyoupeople.»
Timothysteppedinfrontofhimandputoutahardleanhand,andThomastookit.«Nobodywon’tknowwhotol’.Wethankyou.Theywon’tbenofight.»
«Goontowork,"Thomassaid.«Andit’stwenty-fivecentsanhour.»
«We’lltakeit,"Wilkiesaid,«fromyou.»
Thomaswalkedawaytowardthehouse.«I’llbeoutinapiece,"hesaid.«Youmengettowork.»Thescreendoorslammedbehindhim.
Thethreemenwalkedoutpastthelittlewhite-washedbarn,andalongafieldedge.Theycametoalongnarrowditchwithsectionsofconcretepipelyingbesideit.
«Here’swherewe’rea-workin’,"Wilkiesaid.
