Ah...

（ gene is a man well accustomed to bein' an island. never asked for a lick of help from anyone, never saw himself as someone who needed it. there's a pause, an' then: ）

I do appreciate that, but I reckon favors done here have a different sort of flavor than I'm used to. I'd sooner not find myself in anyone's debt if'n it's all the same to you.