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He tread softly in the direction Brown had fled, gripping the rifle with both hands Once he was far enough away, there was only one thing he could do, vengeance dru his heart

He ran

CHAPTER NINE

Groaning, Ben stretched Where—

With a jolt, he opened his eyes, pushing up to sitting, stiff and craie I’m so sorry

The ground beside him by the lean-to was empty “Jason?”

His only ansas the sway of leaves overhead All was peaceful and still Too still Where was Jason? In sunlight blinking through the trees, he scra, Ben listened for any sounds of life in the nearby bushes He could only hear the thump of his own heart

“Jason?”

Ben circled the lean-to and searched the surrounding area, calling out There was nothing It was as though Jason had sione? They’d both been utterly drained, but Ben hadn’t intended to fall asleep He’d just wanted Jason to rest, but now here they were

Well, here Ben was

“Shit, fuck, fuck!” heJason’s nae to escape the terrible reality and give in to his exhaustion had overwhelmed him

Guilt pricked his skin, and he rubbed his face as he neared the river Then his knees alht occurred He raced to the river’s edge, the roiling, silver-tipped water a good ten-foot drop from the bank

Of course there was nothing there, because if Jason had ju dead

Ben’s empty stomach clenched, bile in his throat In his despair, would Jason have tried to end his life? He gazed about frantically, screa, “Jason!”