Toby felt his tongue get even more stuck to the roof of his mouth. Most people, even tactless Ashlanders, didn't generally call out his speech impediment directly. It was just overly low hanging fruit as far as insults went. He might have struggled to start a single syllable of reply if it hadn't been for Rei.

The protective, fiery emotion she brought close warmed up his frozen jaw so he could speak. [Color=lightblue]"Intimidation isn't my strong point. But I think I make up for it by being a g-- a good shot, so d--don't try anything."[/color]

Toby angled his gun briefly toward a stretch of low shrubs, yellow weeds, and ashen dirt at the corner of the house. [Color=lightblue]"There's a well over there. Help yourself. And stay away from....um...everyone."[/color]

Evidently the man didn't recognize him. His throwaway comment made Toby suspect that he and Spire weren't the only opportunistic would-be killers that had taken a stab...or a shot...at this young man.