A Test of Time (Red Dead Redemption story)

Chapter 11

Jack had to be extra careful returning to camp after his run in with Milton and Ross. Taking backroads and going through the dense swamps just to make sure he wasn't followed. Again, his attention was elsewhere, on Sinclair, on the government men, on the gang and the strange man who knew about where he came from. How did did he even know about him?

He noticed them before they noticed him. A gang of about 5 O'Driscolls stalking behind some bundle of trees just outside of Rhodes and annoyingly in the path back to camp. He remembered his father talking about the gang unfavorably in the past. An occasional flashback to the days before the ranch. Before the men came and took him and Abigail away.

Jack's hand hovered over his pistol as he passed the gang. He could feel their eyes on him.

"Hey! You wanna pass through here, you gotta pay" one of the O'Driscolls.

"Last I checked this was a free country" Jack said turning his head to look at the man.

Unassuming. As all O'Driscolls were. He watched as the others circled him, blocking his path from riding off.

"Nothings free partner" he said, "and the few of us who know that know how to make money".

"You... really don't wanna do this friend" Jack said, looking beside him, trying to see where they were. How fast he could shoot them if his horse got spooked and bucked him off.

It dawned on him... that he either needed to kill them or ride off and shake them like he did the government. Dutch wouldn't be too happy with him if he brought these bunch back with him. Granted, he wast too pleased with him anyway, but he wasn't about to risk his spot in the gang. Not when he was so close to the gang and so close to saving them.

"Oh I think we do, boy" he said, "Now come off that horse".

Jack slowly lifted himself off his horse and onto the ground. The men circled him and he was put into a position he knew all too well. Surrounded and forced to be the fastest shot in the end. Something he remembered Landon Ricketts mentioning to him when he was in Mexico.

"Where you from boy?" Said one behind him.

"Up near Annesburg" Jack said, slowly turning to look at the man who asked. He knew he couldn't actually tell them. It's not like he was even from anywhere. He could easily say he was from somewhere in Texas or Oklahoma or even somewhere far from south (although his accent would say otherwise), but it's not like they'd like that awnser.

"Got a sister from Annesburg... yeah she's a real pain in the ass" he said.

Jack chuckled, "is that any way to talk about a lady?"

It took about 2 seconds for the O'Driscoll to get offended by the comment and reel back to hit Jack with the butt of a rifle. Jack fell back, holding his nose and taking his pistol from his holster and shooting at the men who ran for cover. He himself ran behind a large boulder as to not be shot again. Wasn't really something he wanted to experience again. He listened for the men's shots, opting to shoot when they were reloading. When the moment came, he whipped to the side and shot quickly and accurately at 3 of the men. The other 2 started yelling insults and curses at him as they tried they're best to shoot him. He stood, and aimed his gun and shot at them with wild precision. The men fell down, all dead. His father would be proud. Or he wouldn't, who knows what was in that man's head.

There was nothing more to say when it was all done. Jack was still holding his face staring at the dead men in the floor. He almost didn't notice when someone was walking up behind him.

He spun around to see it was just Javier seeming slightly relieved.

"Dios, what happened here amigo," Javier asked, gesturing behind Jack.