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Chaney clion and took the reins As we jolted out of the clearing, Jacob reached down to untie my ankles “Turn around and let me do your hands,” he said

I will confess it—I felt a wash of relief They didn’t intend to kill ht

Without any warning a stiff breeze swept over us, along with a spatter of

oversized raindrops The breeze died for aus indy sheets of water

I noticed that Doc’s hite robe had become translucent, so I could read his name stitched on the pharmacist’s jacket he wore underneath

“What you think, Ben?” Jacob asked as the wagon wheels slogged through thea little more sense to you now?”

If Jacob hadn’t been a friend ht then “Listen to yourself, Jacob You just killed a man Do you hear me? You killed him”

I thought he was going to snap back at me, but the fire suddenly died in his eyes He shook his head, in sorrow or disgust He stared down at his callused hands

“You… will… never… understand,” he said “I’m a fool to even try You’re not like us anyed”

“Let me tell you what else I don’t understand,” I said “How you—the one I always thought was my friend—how could you do this to me, Jacob? Jacob, I was your friend”

“I did it to help you,” he said “To keep you alive” His voice eak, pathetic

The rain was beginning to slacken The wagon slowed to a stop outside Scully’s barn, where the evening’s festivities had begun

“Coo home”

“I don’t think so” I turned away and set off walking in the direction of Eudora

“Where the hell you going?” he called after me