Home Sweet Home - A Red Dead Redemption II story

The Letter

"Miss Bucker."

"Yes, Miss Grimshaw?"

Ruth replied, head tilting curiously as Bill and her trotted back into camp on Brown Jack.

Ruth slid off the back and walked up to Susan as Bill dismounted and led his horse away.

"Got a letter here, thought it was for one of the boys but it's addressed to you." She handed an envelope that felt too bulky to be just a letter.

"Sent from a..Miss Lewis?" Susan said, with a tinge of uncertainty.

Ruth had never so desperately snatched a piece of paper in her life.

Susan was caught off guard by Ruth's brashness.

"Thank you so much, Miss Grimshaw!" She gushed, holding the envelope in her hands so carefully, yet close and tight as if it were her last possession.

"You're welcome, Miss. Just..don't shirk your duties today , you hear me?"

"Yes ma'am!"

Susan began to leave and Bill walked up next to Ruth.

"What was that about?" He asked.

"Remember when I told you about my friend in Valentine? I.. wrote her a letter a while ago and she's replied!" Ruth was beaming with excitement. "Bill.. do you know how to read?" She asked him.

"A little.." He said, uncertain.

"That's perfect, you probably know more words than I do! Can you help me read it?"

"Uh.." Bill looked into camp, then at her. "Sure." He told her, easily swayed away from camp.

"Thank you. Let's go find someplace to sit." She walked toward the horses behind the ladies' wagon.

Ruth took a seat in the hay and Bill followed suit.

Ruth held the letter between her fingers and took a deep breath, beginning to tear it open.

She peeked into the envelope and pulled out a beautifully ornate pendant necklace; it was silver trimmed with one small red jewel encrusted in the middle that was cut in the shape of a teardrop.

Ruth held it up carefully by the chain and gazed at it fondly, longing for her friend yet happy to be in possession of one of her belongings.

Bill just watched her admire the necklace, not wanting to interrupt what was no doubt a very personally important moment for Ruth, something she probably hadn't been able to experience for some time.

"Bill, could you help me out please?" She asked, unclamping the hook then handing the necklace to him. "Please be careful with it." She emphasized.

Bill took the necklace gingerly in his two hands, Ruth swivelled her body in the opposite direction of him and lifted her hair up; Bill brought the necklace around her neck and secured the hook, it took him a couple of tries to get it done but he did it.

Ruth brought her fingertips up the the jewel and smiled, turning back to Bill.

"Thank you." She lifted it to look at it better, her eyes looking sweet, thinking of happy memories.

"Yer' welcome." Bill said softly.

Ruth was lost in her thoughts of Margaret when she suddenly snapped back to reality.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" She said, grabbing the envelope. "I got caught up in.. my thoughts." She excused herself.

Bill laughed to himself. "It's fine, I ain't rushin ya."