Lamb To The Slaughter (Red Dead Redemption 2 Fanfic)

Eastward Bound

In the morning, Fae sat in front of the warm crackling fire in the ladies cabin. She gently rubbed her fingers together to avoid touching her tender palm, as she sat alone with her thoughts. Fae pulled the blanket over her shoulders closer to her, Susan insisted that she rested that hand and would get her if she needed help. Fae was stubborn,  she packed up the items in the cabin without Susan knowing. The chill that still filled the cabin had gotten to Fae,she took a minute to warm herself before returning to her work.

Fae felt hands on her shoulders, looking up expecting to see Javier, she was met by the oldest Van Der Linde child. Finnick stood over her, his hair messy and a smile on his lips. He placed a kiss on the girls cheek and sat next to her.

"You know." He said in his light southern accent," Everytime we pack up and move I only think about one thing ."

He'd caught her curiosity, a smile grew on her lips," What's that?"

Finnick looked over at John,who slept peacefully in the back of the room making sure he wouldn't hear what he was about to say. Finnick removed his hat and ran his fingers through his black hair," How you and I could just run. Like we used to talk about when we were kids."

The smile faded from Fae's face, she couldn't think about leaving right now," I couldn't leave."

"I know, I know, neither could I. But like I said it's a thought."

"No its not, not anymore. Sure maybe when we were younger and stupid but we have things here that are tieing us down that are far more important then our selfish needs."

He nodded, Fae was always right when it came to his stupid ideas," I guess I'm a fool, Fae Bennett. I'm a fool because of how much I love you."

Fae placed her hand on the back of his neck and went in for a short but sweet kiss, then allowed him to rest his head on her shoulder," We can't keep doing this."

"If I can't have this with you, then I don't want it with anyone."

Fae smacked her lips," Ah come on. Relationships are messy and people's feelings get hurt. I mean look at us Finnick, we're young, we live in some of the most beautiful places in the world." she shrugs," Who needs it? We might as well have fun while we can and save the serious stuff for later."

"And what happens when you fall in love?"

Fae chortled pushing his head off her shoulder.

"What?" Finnick asked with a laugh

"You don't believe that do you?"

"Why yes I do. I believe in true love everytime I see you look at Javier, I believe in true love everytime I see my mother look at my father, I believe in true love everytime Delilah holds her stomach." He got on his knees and took her hands," I'm in love with you and it's not in a traditional sense. It's more like I think of you every moment of everyday. You know when something funny happens, your the first person I want to tell. To see if you think it's funny too. And when something sad happens, I just wanna know if you think it's sad. I want to be with you for the rest of my life, and I know I can't. I fight that feeling everyday, then I remember if I can't have you as my lover, then I'm lucky to have you as my best friend. So Fae, if you want to stop this we can, it will end right here, right now."

Fae placed her arms around Finnick holding him in a tight hug, kissing his cheek," Thank you." she whispered into his ear

He held her tightly, until the door open. They quickly pulled out of their hug, and to their relief it was only Susan. She looked at them for a moment she was one of the few that knew about them,then she  spoke," Finnick your father needs you, something about Delilah."

Finnick nodded, his gaze yet to leave the beautiful girl before him," Okay, thank you Susan."

Him and Fae stood at the same time, nodding as a way to dismiss each other. Fae took the blanket off her shoulders and folded it neatly, placing it in one of the boxes," Now Miss.Fae you didn't have to do that."

"I wanna help Susan, I'll be damned if I sit here and end up like Marston." Fae closed the box and picked it up

Susan shook her head," First the ankle and now the hand, what's next a broken arm, a missing finger?"

Fae chuckled as she followed Susan out of the cabin," We will just have to see. Miss. Grimshaw."

Susan took the box from Fae's hands and began to yell again," Oh, for Lord's sake, put that book away and go help! Oh, Mary-Beth!"

Fae turned away from Susan, pulling a cigarette from her pocket and lighting it. She took a deep breath as the smell of tobacco filled the air. Fae heard the birds song on the breeze once more, she embraced it.

"And take Little Fae there too!" She heard Dutch's voice, Fae whipped her head around for a moment trying to figure out where it came from. Then from out of nowhere she saw a hand, reaching down for her. She looked up, it was Arthur. She hadn't seen him since last night, at the train.

"You comin' shorty?"

Fae stuck the cigarette into her mouth, and took his hand, " Screw you Morgan." He pulled her up top the wagon. She planted herself between him and Hosea.

"Why, good morning Miss. Bennett." Hosea said

Fae tipped her hat to the old man,taking a puff from her cigarette,"Good morning. You seem chipper."

"We're gonna live, Fae. And we're getting out of this hell whole. I believe that is reason enough to be chipper."

Arthur flicked the reins in one swift movement, the wagon began to move out from under the horses in a jolt.

Fae was always closer to Dutch than Hosea, but never viewed him as his lesser. Both him and Dutch were fathers to her, had been since she was four. But between the two Fae always did prefer Bessie, Hosea's late wife. She and a handful of other women were or still are mothers to the petite gunslinger.

"Do you have any idea where we're going?"

"Horseshoe Overlook, spent some time there a while back."

"What's it like there?"

"Green." He chuckled," Warm, sunny, it's beautiful country. I heard about Daisy, real sorry about that dear. It's always hard losing a horse."

"Sure." Fae said," But it's a part of life. I'm sure I'll find another one when we get to this civilization you speak so high and mighty of."

"You know there is a stable in the local town. Valentine it's called all mud and morons if I remember correctly. Anyway a fine stable with fine saddles and horses I bet you'll have no problem finding one for a fare price. If you'd like I'll go with you."

Fae nodded," Thank you, Hosea."

"Now." He reached into a satchel that laid under the seat of the wagon," Read me some poetry."

She took the book from his hands, handing her cigarette to Arthur, and opened it to the first  page. Fae took a moment to peer back at Colter as it sank into the distance. Returning to the book, she cleared her throat and began.