In "Why, You Reckon?" the narrator and the other man do not hold Edward for ransom. What was their reason? Is their motivation for not holding Edward for ransom internal or external?
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In "Why, You Reckon?" the reason why the narrator and the other man do not hold Edward for ransom is because they realize that he is not actually a wealthy man. Edward pretends to be rich and important, but in reality, he is in debt and struggling financially. This realization makes it clear to the narrator and the other man that there would be no point in holding him for ransom, as they would not be able to extract any significant sum of money from him.
Their motivation for not holding Edward for ransom is external. Their decision is based on the information they gather about Edward's financial situation and the fact that he is not as wealthy as he claims to be. They do not hold him for ransom because they know it would not be profitable or beneficial to do so, rather than any internal conflicts or moral qualms.