Read The Returners for Free Online

handed him the shovel. "That's okay, any decent person would have done the same thing."
    Jacob took the shovel. "I don't think there's many of them left ma'am. These days people have a tendency to shoot first and ask questions later."
    She couldn't agree with him more on that one, but now really wasn't the time or place for that discussion. "Go take care of your dog, Emily and I will finish taking care of the bear."
    Jacob moved towards the log and began digging a spot near the campfire. Jessica and Emily took over where he'd left off and continued cutting up the bear. After a few minutes of digging he looked up to see both women had obviously taken care of game before. It was strange, but for some reason he felt a sense of relief. He couldn't explain why, he just did.
    It took Jacob roughly thirty minutes to dig the hole for Flash. When he finished he placed the dog in it and removed the shirt from the dog’s head, patting him one last time.
    "Goodbye old friend," He said, his voice beginning to crack.
    Flash was just a puppy when he got him, a present from his father when he graduated college. Since then they'd been inseparable and now his best friend was gone. Through this entire ordeal, he'd always had Flash by his side. It felt like someone had ripped out his heart as he placed the shirt back over the dog and began filling in the hole. He'd found a large flat stone at the edge of the stream and placed it at the head of Flash's grave. Jessica and Emily walked over to him and stood by his side as he placed it.
    "I'm really sorry about your dog Mister," Emily said.
    "Thanks kid.” It was the first time she had spoken to him since they'd arrived. “He and I went through a lot together. This was the least I could do for him, he was my best friend." He looked over at Jessica and could see sympathy for what he was going through in her eyes.
    "Do you want us to leave you alone for a minute?" Jessica figured he may want a few moments to himself.
    "If you don't mind, I'd like you to stay while I say a few words?" Right now he didn't want to be alone. Even though he didn't know these women he already felt comfortable around them.
    Both Jessica and Emily remained silent and lowered their heads. Jacob looked down at the mound of dirt at his feet. Trying to come up with the right words.
    "Flash, you were my friend. You saved me more than once, in more ways than one. You kept me sane through all this and never left my side, even when things got bad. I never would have made it this long if it wasn't for you." He paused as a tear ran down his face. Kneeling down he placed his hand in the dirt of the grave. "I hope you're chasing rabbits and running free wherever you are. Good-bye ol' buddy, I love you."
    As Jacob stood up both Jessica and Emily wiped tears from their eyes. None of them spoke for a moment as they stood there in awkward silence, each unsure of what to say.
    Jessica became aware the sky was starting to darken as night quickly began to move in on them. Jessica knew they'd have to head back to the cabin soon. They didn't want to be out roaming far from it after dark.
    Emily turned to her Mother. "Mom, can he come stay with us tonight? We have plenty of room."
                  Jessica was caught off guard by her daughters question. She hadn't even thought of asking Jacob to come back to the cabin with them. With the chaos and unexpected nature of the situation, that though hadn't even crossed her mind. Even though she didn't think he would do anything to either of them, but there was still a twinge of doubt in the back of her mind. It put her in a precarious situation.
    "If he wants to hon. That's up to him." Her eyes locked with his as she spoke.
    "I don't want to impose on you, if it's a problem I can be on my way. I'm used to being alone out here, I'll be fine," Jacob said.
    He could see the apprehension on Jessica's face. After what she'd done for him he didn't want to impose on her any further. Deep in his