Chapter 60: Bittersweet Reprieve, Part 1

Chris reached out and closed Carl's eyes. "We need to bury him," he said through his tears.

Trevor nodded. "I'll drive us back to the ranch," he whispered.

"We have to tell Pops," Aiden said, lifting his head from my shoulder, wiping his eyes. Without another word, Travis pulled the sheet over Carl's face, then sat down on the floor beside him.

I wanted to do something … to say something that would make everything better, but there was nothing I could say. What words could ever justify the loss of your best friend? Then, I thought of something. "He was a hero," I said to no one in particular.

Everyone nodded and sat down, lost in thought. Derek sat down, but said nothing. He glanced at me a few times, but now wasn't the time for conversation. I sat down on one of the side benches that stretched the length of the van next to Jada, who was staring off into space.