“Do you trust me?”
“I do,” he managed. She took his hand and squeezed it. He squeezed back. He might not have entirely agreed—but at least he was on board. “Can we get the hell out of here now?”
“Let’s go,” McCready ordered. Buckner nodded and they went on their way. The trip back to the Forest was mostly silence, only broken by Jesse’s occasional curses.
Kate felt bad for him—he must have felt so stupid and betrayed. She knew he blamed himself for not noticing it sooner. She wanted to tell him that it wasn’t his fault and there was nothing he could do, but she knew he wouldn’t listen.
Jesse was stubborn, headstrong, and entirely set in his ways. It was part of what drew her to him: he was as unyielding as a boulder breaking apart a stream, and about as large to boot. He woul
