Pa took most of that.

Seems like pas and dogs gets everything." Billy laughed dolefully.

Involuntarily Wesley Sinton reached his hand.
They were coming into the business part of Onabasha and the streets were crowded.

Billy understood it to mean that he might lose his companion and took a grip.

That little hot hand clinging tight to his, the sore feet recklessly scouring the walk, the hungry child panting for breath as he tried to keep even, the brave soul jesting in the face of hard luck, caught Sinton in a tender, empty spot.
"Say, son," he said.