Page 69 (1/2)

"Hannah," Jayden said

"And maybe Jayden understands, but I don’t I wish you had died"

"Hannah!" Jayden snatched her wrist "Stop this!"

"Let o, let me--" The crack her pal, she wrenched free and screamed at Chris, "I wished we’d never met you! I wished you’d stayed dead! Why couldn’t you have died, why didn’t you die?"

"Hannah!" Ellie said "Stop! Jayden, make her--"

"I don’t know, Hannah" Every as another twist of the knife, and Chris thought he deserved it all What could he say? I was afraid? "I don’t knohy I’m alive, and I’m sorry I didn’t die You want an

"Oh yes, of course" Hannah started for him "Leave now, leave us to deal with your mess--"

Jayden put hi?" When she looked like she was going to swing again, Jayden put up his hands to ward her off "What are you?"

"What am I?" That stole the wind from her sails for a second She turned him an incredulous look "What do youto keep us alive"

"Not this way," Jayden said quietly "Yours is not the only voice, Hannah It can’t be"

"If you won’t listen to et control of yourself This is Ellie’s right, and I’ to help her If you really cared, if this was about her and not you, you’d see that"

Hannah opened her mouth, but Jayden said, "Please, shut the hell up, Hannah"

"Jayden" Her face cru his side?"

"Chris was scared, and I would never hit you Think about that And, no, I’ her his back before she could reply, Jayden nodded at Chris

He didn’t need any more permission and paid Hannah no more mind Chris cupped Ellie’s hands "Let me help you with Bella, okay? And tell Mina to lie down"

Together, they eased the horse’s head to the snow He waited, ignoring Hannah, who still fu and then bent to whisper into herkick, so be ready" Standing behind the little girl, he positioned her hands on the 30-06, then held the rifle’s er when you’re ready"

"Okay" Ellie craned a look "Thank you, Chris"

Her face shi he didn’t have to aim much, because he’d have to wipe his eyes He had never felther friend killed, and her horse, too In a few more hours, he would also have to tell her about Alex and break her heart all over again Jayden would hate him then, too

But no more lies, Dad You and I are done And was this Jess now, this sigh that o of the hammer

"I’m so sorry, Ellie," he said

"I know" She looked back at her horse "Love you, girl," she said to Bella, and pulled the trigger

88