“No.” I smiled and ate.
“What"s your business in such a place? Do you realize the trip is extremely hazardous?”
“Yes. So, I"ve been told.”
“You"ll need to carry water to get through the desert,” he said.
“I understand. I"ll fill up before I leave.” I wiped my mouth with the napkin. “I"ll need a small barrel for water. Could you sell me one?”
“Do you have a pack animal?”
“Yes.”
He scratched the back of his head. “I"ve got just about anything you"ll need, except food.”
“I"ll be your first customer when we get to town,” I told him. “Enough about me. What about you? Married?”
“My wife died in childbirth. I"ve raised Barnabas myself. He and I have lived in Patchwork Junction for the past twenty years now. He takes care of the store while I go on sales forays.”
“So, you"ve never remarr
