Lamb To The Slaughter (Red Dead Redemption 2 Fanfic)

Van Der Linde's Game

1884

It was her first real job, the job that made her just as important as Delilah and Finnick. She noticed some horseflesh that seemed too nice to pass up. She tugged on Dutch's coat and pointed them out, by that afternoon they'd had robbed them. Made it look like the fences came down, take their pick of the lot, then return the horses and demand for pay. But first Dutch had a lesson to teach Fae, and just her alone. One he'd already taught to his own children.

"Beautiful country, isn't it?",Dutch had haltered and drew a gray pony away from the group. Fae sat on a downed tree trunk, not too far away, shivering in the winter air," The good book says prosperity is the path to godliness. That if god wanted men to be poor, he wouldn't have surrounded him with so much beauty." He gestured to the landscape around him. Fae only saw the dead tree she sat under and the dull tan grass that made her legs itch.

"Which good book is that, Dutch.. I thought you weren't religious?" Fae taps her leg quickly, felt like the only way she would stay warm

Dutch spun the horse slowly in circles," You sure know how to pick fine horseflesh, my dear. When you get better at reading, you might come across a fellow named Xenophon."

"Xenophon?" The name made her giggle," Come on, Dutch. Why don't you just admit you make this stuff up?"

Dutch chuckled at the girls naiveness," You sound like Finnick... Xenophon was a Greek fellow, a student of Socrates and, some say, the first real horseman." Dutch stopped spinning the creature and patted it on the temple, then running his hands over its withers," He believed that horses, being prey animals and all...their greatest instincts..were fear flight, and lastly fight. So on account of our old Greek friend, thought taming them made more sense then breaking them. And that... rather than hauling and beating the animal, use a bit of rope." He grabbed the horse by the withers and gently pulled back on the reins beginning to make the animal fall to its knees. Fae watched with a glimmer in her eyes," And some gentle restraint and kindness." The animal was laid down under his spell. Dutch kneeled by it, watching the girl," Do it that way."

He waved Fae over, she jumped down from the log as gently as she could, not to spook the horse. She went to Dutch, taking his hand kneeling by the head of the horse. Dutch took her hand and placed it on the horse's neck," Go on sweetie, pet him..." she did, hesitated of course. But when her hand was warmed by the soft fur of the gray horse she looked up at Dutch with a big smile," You know it's not natural for a horse to be laying down. Makes him amenable, but full of fear. Makes it hard for to do what he wants, which is bolt. So he's gotta trust you. Despite what some men think, it's not just about just showing him who's boss. It's about showing him that you're the one who's going to feed him, and water him. You're the one who's gonna take care of him." Dutch brushed some dirt off of her rosy cheek with his thumb, " He's a good horse, Fae. Maybe you should keep him."

"Me... I've never taken care of a horse.."

Dutch pats her head," Your a smart girl Fae, probably the smartest person I know.. Your good too, you look after this beast and he will always look after you."

Fae nodded, he only used this sweet tone with Delilah. She was surprised he wanted to drag her out here to the middle of nowhere and teach her this beautiful lesson," Now come on, grab the mane by his withers and sit on his back. I'll hold the reins so he doesn't run." Dutch patted the horse on the back, Fae stood with shaky knees, the horse sat up and nickered making Fae jump. Dutch took her hand," It's okay my dear, it's about showing him that he can trust you."

Those few words are all it took for Fae to swallow her fear and push her to mount the resting steed. When she mounted, finally sitting and getting comfortable, the horse under her stood as gently as he could. Fae's rosy lips curled up into the biggest smile, Dutch smiles big too," There you see! Now don't sit nervously, he can tell when you're nervous or afraid... Are you afraid?"