Shotgun Justice by Angi Morgan

it.”
    She had nothing. Couldn’t think of a word to say. No response and couldn’t even say that. Her former best friend was clearly upset...with good reason. She was speechless because he’d said “dead.” Meaning, she might have been close to it.
    Jesse was a smart man. He’d know if she was breathing or if her heart was beating. She’d never seen him like this. Ever. Through all the scrapes and bruises growing up. Or the awkwardness in junior high. Or even going to the spring dance with her to shut up Garrison’s bragging about taking the homecoming queen. This quiet man had never broken down.
    If she didn’t know him so well, she’d swear he was halfway crying with relief. He pressed the corner of his palms into his eyes—her habit—before standing straight and throwing back his wide shoulders.
    Absolutely not. That was impossible. Jesse didn’t cry. Nothing affected him that deeply.
    â€œYou’re obviously tired,” she concluded. “But are you ready to get back to Dalhart?”
    â€œNo!” He marched to her side and pressed on her shoulders to hold her in place. “We aren’t going anywhere. He said to stay put.”
    â€œHe’s talking to you? How? Is he watching? Is that how he knows when you mess with the collar?”
    â€œHe knows when you mess with it or when you try to leave. He’s either triggering it or there’s a sensor embedded. It starts beeping before you’re shocked.”
    â€œI can handle a couple of shocks until we can get to a hospital.”
    â€œAvery, honey.” He rubbed his palms up and down her arms. “You’ve already tried that. This time you can’t remember trying it. We aren’t doing it again. We’re waiting.”
    â€œYou can’t really expect me to just sit here. Until what? He kills both of us?” She could rest a little longer while she figured this out. She headed back to the picnic table. “What about Garrison? Who’s going to warn him?”
    â€œIt’s already been taken care of.”
    â€œRight. And that’s the reason you personally came to rescue his little sister.” She crossed her arms, not meaning to huff, but sort of huffing all the same. She didn’t mean it and regretted the words as soon as they were out, causing a continued tension between them.
    Jesse was talking about things they’d experienced a couple of hours ago that she couldn’t remember. She wasn’t angry at him or his help. She was frightened and didn’t know how to admit it.
    â€œWould you put being angry at me on hold? I know I’m the bad guy in your life. I’m willing to accept that responsibility most days. I just think we have a bigger problem at the moment.”
    Put her anger on hold? That was a ridiculous suggestion and made her want to laugh out loud. But it was also very logical. It was very...Jesse.
    â€œAgreed.”
    Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. Her heart took a little tumble as she watched his surprised expression and the backward step that he took. His hands drifted from her shoulders to her knees and the outline of her body in between.
    Time for her to put distance between them and keep it there. She sat confused on the picnic table. Suddenly cold and warm and severely attracted to him. Even here. She wanted his warmth, his comfort, his concern.
    â€œSo how do you know what Snake Eyes wants?” she asked, pulling her knees to her body and weakly wrapping her arms around them. She couldn’t dwell on how her body felt. She could stay as strong as Jesse. She could remain strong and logical.
    But to think logically, like a law-enforcement officer, she needed the facts, which were all fuzzy. Some danced around in her brain but not as complete sentences. Everything was fragmented like a puzzle.
    â€œSnake Eyes called the sheriff’s office when I arrived at the fire—where you were supposed to be. He