Redemption - Book lll

New Friends, Old Problems

John awoke the next morning in an unfamiliar place. It was warm that morning, but not as humid as he had remembered. Ignorant of the pain he was feeling, he attempted to rise up on the cot he was sure he wasn't laying in before. Groaning, he turned his head towards the sudden creak of the old wooden door, revealing a young blonde woman with a holster on her hip. For a split moment, he thought the woman was Minnie. But after focusing his vision, he had realized that this woman was a complete stranger. "Well, you're alive."

"So it would seem." John groaned.

"So, how do you feel?"

"I don't know the polite word for it."

"I do. "Stupid" is the word we use around here," She scoffed. "What were you doin'?"

John breathed a chuckle, "You remind me of someone I know," He commented, referring to Minnie as the woman sounded almost exactly like the former outlaw with the attitude in her voice. "I was, uh, I was doing something stupid." He answered, now sitting up to feel a burning pain on his left side, clutching his flesh tightly.

"Well, you'll be okay. Once you didn't die, the doctor said you'd be fine. He got the bullet out a couple of days ago."

"Good."

"It cost us fifteen dollars."

"I'm sorry, madam. You should've left me there to die."

"Well, I wouldn't have it in me to do that to someone. Besides, you have some old friends of yours staying up the way."

"Do I?" He asked, forgetting completely that Arthur and Minnie were assigned the same mission as John.

"Yeah, a feller and his wife sent from Blackwater a few days ago. They're supposed to come up here in the next day or two to check on you and take you into Armadillo to talk to the sheriff."

"Oh, okay." He sighed.

"I mean, did you want to die, though? Was that it? Was that why you went straight out to Fort Mercer and picked a fight with the worst bandit in the county?"

"Shi-" John scoffed. "No, I don't have a death wish, madam."

"What's your name, Mr..."

"Mr. Marston. John Marston."

"Bonnie MacFarlane. Miss Bonnie MacFarlane. So, what were you doing?"

"Well, I was trying to give Mr. Williamson a chance for old times sake."

"You know Bill Williamson?"

"Knew him. A long time ago. Along with my two friends who are down here to help me track him down."

"What was he like?"

"Dumb."

"Just like you."

They chuckled together as he went to tip his hat at her sarcastically, only to realize that it was no longer on his head. "Uh, seen my hat?"

"I have," She giggled, pointing to the nearby table, watching him limp towards the worn piece of leather. "And uh, what will you do now?"

"Now, I'm gonna take my time and go after him the less kind way."

"Well, that sounds very fun, Mr. Marston. Quite heroic, just like in those penny dreadfuls my brother used to read. Meanwhile, if you excuse me, I've got a ranch to run. Of course, if you're feeling better, why not take a ride with me later and help me patrol the perimeter? You can earn back some of that money we wasted on doctor's bills."

"Of course. And thank you. For savin' my life, I mean."

"Next time, Mr. Marston, I strongly recommend you don't try to lose it quite earnestly."