Qeya River a big shadow cast by a tiny tree

fair enough, he said wordlessly through the snort of his nostrils. and then he swung his teeth in a clicking grin. "yew think i'm settlin'-down material, miz walker?" briggs demanded dryly. "not two feet out'n an affair an' yew askin' me t'get hitched."
his turn to leer at her with the same grin he always wore shortly before asking her into his arms in the crudest way imaginable; he fixed his mouth to speak but said nothing just wait, waiting for her to shoot him down.