With Ethan’s help, Jesse buried Joey Jr. in a shallow grave behind the cabin. He removed the gold hoop earrings Joey always wore, pocketing them, and marked the grave with a cairn of small flat stones from the creek. Then he sent Ethan back to Defiance after eliciting a promise that his lover would stay at the Holcombe, away from Billy’s. The last thing Jesse wanted was to get Ethan involved in what he had to do. He’d find Carter first. Then he’d find that weasel Mace. And finally he’d go up against Shelton himself.
When that was over, he’d saddle up and take Ethan west. “Listen to me,” Jesse said in an earnest tone as he helped Ethan climb onto his mare. His lover’s eyes were red and raw, bloodshot with tears he struggled to hold back. Jesse wiped a gentle thumb across Ethan’s cheek, cl
