He glanced to her, feeling like that question was leading, but he wasn't sure he knew the answer. Did he want to do something with her? "Don' much like that she hurts like that, darlin'. Wouldn' mind helpin' fix that, but I can't hardly do it if she won' let me. M'just a grumpy old man, I don't got the patience to babysit."
He'd try again, maybe, if he saw her. Probably. Though he probably would have without speaking to River, too. Big heart indeed.
He quirked a half smile at how she told him there was nothing to worry about between her and Kyle immediately following his statement that he didn't have the patience to babysit. "Well good," he decided. "Reckon I'll have a talk with him anyway, jus' t'be safe. Your brother migh' try t'hit me again if I don't," he joked, but truthfully he was glad that she'd been able to reach out and make a connection, even if the circumstances behind it were a bit strange.