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"He lived here but he didn't fight here. You see, what's interesting, Dave, is that part of your information is correct but the rest you created from associations. Look here—"
She turned the notebook around so I could see the notes she had taken. "You're right, he commanded the Texas Brigade," she said. "It was a famous cavalry outfit. But look here at this date. When you asked the general what the date was, he told you it was April 21, 1865, right?"
"Right."
"April 21 is Texas Independence Day, the day the battle of San Jacinto was fought between the Mexican army and the Texans in 1836. Don't you see, your mind mixed up two historical periods. Nothing happened out in that mist, Dave."
"Maybe not," I said. "Wait here a minute, will you?"
I walked to the front of the house, where my boat trailer was still parked, pulled back the tarp, which was dented with pools of rainwater, reached down inside the bow of the boat, and returned to the backyard.
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
"Why'd you go out front?"
"I was going to show you some junk I found out in the marsh."
"What junk?"
"Probably some stuff left by an old lumber crew. It's not important."
Her face was puzzled, then her eyes cleared and she put her hand on top of mine.
"You want to go inside?" she said.
"Where's Alf?"
"Playing over at Poteet's house."
"Sure, let's go inside."
"I'm kind of dirty."
She waited for me to say something but I didn't. I stared at my iced-tea glass.
"What is it, babe?" she said.
"Maybe it's time to start letting go of the department."
"Let go how?"
"Hang it up."
"Is that what you want?"
"Not really."
"Then why not wait awhile? Don't make decisions when you're feeling down, cher."
"I think I've already been cut loose, Boots. They look at me like I have lobotomy stitches across my forehead."
"Maybe you read it wrong, Dave. Maybe they want to help but they just don't know how."
I didn't answer. Later, after we had made love in the warm afternoon gloom of our bedroom, I rose from the softness of her body and sat listlessly on the side of the bed. A moment later I felt her nails tick lightly on my back.
"Ask the sheriff if he wants your resignation," she said.
