What do you think Rene thought Mckenzie's deal was when he first met her? Do you think he figured out she was a runaway, or did he think she was dumb enough to go hiking in the Alaskan wilderness with no supplies just for fun? I know he figured it out, but when?
And do you think that someone would help out a girl like that without pressing her to explain what her situation is?
It's hard to tell if he thinks she is a runaway or if he thinks she is just some weird kid who doesn't understand the realities of serious hiking.
I do think that he senses her desperation and also her need to latch on to somebody as a friend and protector.
I do think that someone might help someone out like that. I have to say, though, if I were a man I would be very, VERY nervous about spending so much time alone with a young woman, especially a girl with some clear emotional/boundary issues. Even though Rene's intentions were pure, all it would take would be for her to say something OR for someone to decide (no matter what she said) that there was something going on and he could be in jail.
On the other hand, I think that Rene seems to understand that sending this girl "home" would be putting her into a bad situation. So between sending her back to a bad place, leaving her to fend for herself, or taking care of her, maybe the latter seems like the least bad choice.
Thanks for your interpretation. It makes a lot of sense. I think when he first talks to her the morning after he caught her in his motel room, he gets the sense that she's not some con artist or thief, but that for some reason she's alone. And understandably, he's reluctant at first to get involved--probably for the reasons you stated.
share