Snake Skin | John Marston

Making Tracks

After discovering that John had made his way to Nuevo Paraíso, she decided it was time to stop chasing shadows. He was alive and well, riding the trails and living his life. A part of her heart swelled with relief knowing he was on the right side of the law this time, unlike the years gone by.

Bonnie, ever the kind soul, served Y/N a hearty breakfast. The blonde woman had a gentle spirit, a level head, and had even played a part in saving John. That was enough for Y/N to see Bonnie as an ally, a friend in these uncertain times. After they finished their meal, Bonnie had chores to attend to around the ranch, and Y/N had her own homestead to return to.

As Y/N rode back to Beecher's Hope, she spotted Uncle sprawled out on the front porch, clutching an empty whiskey bottle. A quick glance around told her the cattle were gone, the barn stood wide open, and the chicken coop lay in ruins. She'd only been away for a day, but it looked like a tornado had swept through.

"You fool!" Y/N called out, giving the old man a light kick with the toe of her boot. Not surprisingly, he was drunker than a sailor on leave and didn't stir. With a heavy sigh of disappointment, she stepped inside the house. She dropped her belongings, weapons and all, onto the living room couch and groaned under the weight of fatigue.

That got Charles's attention, and he stepped out of his small room. "You're back!"

"Of course, where else would I go?"

"Any news about John?"

"He's in Mexico..."

"Really? They sent him to Mexico?"

"Yeah. 'Cause Javier and Bill are both in Nuevo Paraíso. Still can't believe Edgar Ross turned John into his own errand boy."

"Errand boy? Arthur was the errand boy, I remember," Charles mused, a painfully thin smile crossing his lips. Y/N didn't quite grasp what he meant, but by the look on Charles's face, it was clear he missed Arthur dearly. She did too. Arthur had protected her, fed her, but most importantly, trusted her when most of the gang didn't.

Without a word, Y/N nodded.

"Y/N, I'm leaving."

"What? Where you planning to go?"

"I don't know yet. Maybe Canada? I don't know. I can't rely on you and John forever, so I'll start my own life. Leave the past behind, maybe start a family, build a new life," Charles explained.

"Well," Y/N sighed. "We can't keep you here forever either. When are you leaving, Charles?"

"Tonight."

"Are you sure?" Y/N asked as she wandered into the kitchen.

"Very sure."

Suddenly, Uncle burst through the front door, waving the same empty bottle around for all to see. "An angry bull's less dangerous than an angry woman!"

Y/N and Charles turned to face the drunk man.

"Shut your trap before I make you run against a hill, old man," Y/N spoke with a slight Old West drawl.