The Returners Read Online Free PDF

heap. The final two shots snuffing the life from its body. The woman now turned towards him with her pistol aimed at his head.
    "Put your hands above your head. Now!" Jessica barked out with as much authority as her voice could muster.
    Jacob raised his hands above his head. His brain still trying to process what was going on. He suddenly realized Flash was no where to be seen and a sense of dread came over him.
    "My dog? Have you seen my dog?" His voice filled with worry.
    "Your dog saved you. He ran towards the bear trying to protect you. The bear cuffed him and knocked him away." Motioning with her head where the dog had been knocked aside.
    Jacob began to rise to his feet.
    "Not so fast mister." She took a few steps towards him.
    "Listen lady you can shoot me if you want, but I'm going over there to see if my dogs still alive, whether you want me too or not." He could now see Flash laying a few feet away from the bear. The dog’s chest heaved slowly up and down, his white and brown fur matted with blood.  
    Jacob walked towards the animal, as he got closer he could see the gaping wound in his belly where the bears claws had slashed. He dropped to his knees and took the dog's head in his hands.
    Flash looked up at him with big playful eyes that seemed to say to him, “ You're okay, I protected you.”
    Tears streamed down Jacob’s face as he looked into his dog's eyes. "I'm sorry boy, I screwed up, I should have been more careful." His words broken by sobs. “I love you buddy.”
    Even in its hurt state the dog sensed Jacob's sadness and licked his hand. He patted Flash's head as he began to convulse and the last remaining air escaped from his body. Flash lay still, his life force gone. Jacob shut Flash's eyes and lifted the dog holding him in his arms. Tears streaming down his face as he walked back towards where he'd been sitting. 
    Jessica had all she could do to hold back tears watching the situation unfold before her. She had to be strong and make sure this man wasn't dangerous and kept her gun fixed on him as he moved towards his things.
    "What are you doing?" Jessica said, his movements making her nervous.
    Jacob turned and looked at her, his dog lifeless in his arms. "I'm going to bury my friend. He saved me, he deserves that." His voice shook with emotion.
    Something came over her, a realization that this man wouldn't hurt her or her daughter. She didn't know what it was, but something inside told her she could trust him. Lowering her 9mm she slipped it into its holster.
    "I'm sorry," Jessica said, ashamed of how she had acted. Ashamed she had let fear get the best of her.
    "Don't be sorry. I wouldn't trust a random stranger out in the middle of the woods either," Jacob said, his voice calm and collected. He laid Flash down and opened his backpack up. Taking a shirt out, he covered the dog up with it.
    "I don't know how I'm going to bury him. I don't have anything to dig with." The frustration starting to show in his voice.
                  "I can help you with that, just give me a few minutes," Jessica said. She truly felt sorry for him and what he was going through.
                  "Thank you," Jacob said as he sat down on the log and stared at the shirt covering his dog and best friend, trying to process what had happened.
                  When she didn't answer, he looked up and saw her walking into the woods. Disappearing like she was never there.
     

                                                                      Chapter 4
     
                 
     
     
     
     
     
    Emily heard five muffled gunshots while she waited in the cabin. The shots were spread out except for the last two, which were one behind the other. It had been about fifteen minutes since the last one.
    She was beginning to get nervous, her mom was never gone this long unless she was hunting, and she always took her when she