Bearclaw Valley lilacs

did toad truly feel that way, or was he merely intelligent enough to know that the coinage of male flattery went far in ursus? merrick opted to elevate toad mentally to the second option. fields would not have brought a stupid man to merrick, or a weak one.
but how cunning was the little frog?
"my mother was absent as well," the coywolf murmured sympathetically, cutting straight to the heart of his assumptions as a method of means-testing. "at any rate, it's ironic for you. but maybe it's not about looks. maybe it's about how smart toads can be."
he eyed the other, smirking. "or am i giving her too much credit?"