Chapter 16: Inside the Wire

We killed the four that stayed by noon.

Hank did two with the dozer blade, and Eli did the other two with a fence post, because he wouldn't waste shells.

Then we dragged them to the burn pit by the pond and poured diesel over them.

Cody didn't come outside.

He sat in the farmhouse kitchen with the dog in his lap and stared at the door his mother hadn't come through.

I made him cocoa from the pantry, and he held it without drinking.

"She said take him," he said at last. "Mom said Eli's mine."

"She did."

"Is he my dad?"

I sat down across the table from him.

"Eli is your father," I said. "Your mom told us both this morning. He didn't know until a few weeks ago."

"Why didn't she say?"

"Because she was scared, and she did something wrong. That's between her and him. You didn't do anything."

He looked at the cocoa.

"Mr. Brent said I was his boy."

"Mr. Brent was wrong."

"He said he would take me to the boat."

"I know."

His lip shook, and I came around the table and he let me hold him.

At nine, I put him on the cot by the stove with the dog at his feet.

Eli stood in the doorway until the boy's breathing slowed.

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