"Truthfully happy to oblige, Galen," Lee began while Hester padded closer to the freshened burner, "But I've got a few matters I must deal with before I pay this Welcome Center a visit.
Hester and I'll drop by a little later," he added as he touched his hat lightly. "But I think we've troubled you too much." Never mind the fact that he couldn't even figure out what he really was, though!