to have somebody standing over you who is going to hurt you and you cant do anything about it ? he needed to focus on his kids . `` thank you , '' he whispered , squeezing her card between his fingers until it bowed . he smiled again , laugh lines crinkling . did that mean some were stupid and others were callous , or something else entirely ? but ruth was tough ; her face remained clear and firm . his own birds ate him alive . `` one of my men had an errand to run . '' 