To Tame the Wild: a Red Dead Redemption fan fiction

Chapter 10 - Tactics and Small Talk

The ride to Armadillo didn't take nearly as long as Jack thought it would; he found his thoughts were still with Bonnie, and how she would fair in the next several months without him and Maddie on her ranch. I just hope Nathaniel doesn't leave to go to Blackwater, he thought with a frown as he urged Sundance into a gallop to keep pace with his companion. He needs to be there for her, especially now that we'll be gone for quite some time. He rode abreast of Maddie and Gypsy, and despite being sleep-deprived, he looked around at the beautiful landscape of Cholla Springs and the rising sun that bathed the world with a watercolor palette of colors.

However, nature wasn't the only thing that caught his eye: more than once did he scold himself internally for staring at Maddie. The way her hair whipped and curled behind her entranced him; the way the dawn-light warmed her face and made it glow struck him with awe. He also noticed that she rode Gypsy with purpose, leaning slightly forward in the saddle and moving gracefully along with the mare's movements, her hands holding the reins above the saddle horn. She kept her hat tugged down low over her face and her scarf hiked up to her chin to fight against the biting wind. She was dressed to kill, as it were, with her four firearms and her other bounty hunting equipment, and he found that prospect both fascinating and ironic.

Within ten minutes, Armadillo was in their sights, and they eased their horses back into an easy lope. By that time, it was around seven o'clock, and the town was bustling as travelers and townsfolk went about their morning business. When they were within a hundred yards of the sheriff's office, Maddie slowed Gypsy to a walk. Jack did the same; the palomino stallion blew loudly, tired but happy from the morning ride.

As they rode around to the front of the sheriff's office, they were met by Jonah, who was leaning his elbows on the porch railing with a stupid, vacant expression on his face. He looked Maddie briefly over with an annoyed scowl, but when he caught sight of Jack, he jerked up straight with an incoherent curse and drew his revolver. Aiming at Jack's forehead, he hollered in his annoying, high-pitched drawl, "Well, isn't it the cock-suckin' bastard who shot me! The fuck you doin' back here in my town?!"

Maddie rolled her eyes as she and Jack stopped their horses before the hitching post. "Put your gun away, Jonah. We're here on business. Calm yourself."

The deputy acted as if she had never spoken; he drew back the hammer with his thumb and spat at Jack, "Last time you was in town, I had yer ass locked up in jail, 'n' fer good reason! You shot me, ya fuckin' prick! I oughta make a maggot hole in yer head RIGHT NOW 'n' be done with ya!"

Jack merely laughed and shook his head. "My, my, Jonah! I'm surprised you've got enough grit to stand up to me. As I recall, last time you were shakin' in your boots. What happened? Did you finally grow a pair and become a man?"

"SHUT YER MOUTH, ASSHOLE!"

Jonah quaked with rage; Jack chuckled.

"Oh, good Lord," Maddie griped with a roll of her eyes. She shot Jack an admonishing sneer¾though he could've sworn he caught a glimpse of amusement in her eyes¾and ordered, "Stop bein' a dick and shut your mouth." She looked down at Jonah with a nod. "And you. Simmer down and put the gun away. There's no sense in startin' up a shoot-out."

"Don't you be tellin' me what ta do, ya cross-dressin' whore!" he snapped back, his gun shaking in his hand. He glared maliciously at Jack. "This sum-bitch needs ta die, 'n' Imma be the one ta do him in!"

Before either men could blink, Maddie had dropped the reins, drawn both pistols, and set her sights on Jonah's forehead. "Put. The gun. Away."

Jonah's eyes widened; Jack grinned as the deputy hastily holstered his revolver.