To Tame the Wild: a Red Dead Redemption fan fiction

Chapter 11 - Redemption In Dub

Chapter Track: "Redemption in Dub" – Bill Elm and Woody Jackson, Red Dead Redemption soundtrack

"Marston. Hey. Marston, wake up."

Jack felt his shoulder being jostled about. Jerking awake, he looked up into Maddie's eyes. He ran a hand over his face. "Hmm? What?"

"Get up," she whispered earnestly. "It's time to go. Hurry up."

Jack peered about the room; it was still pitch black and cold. "What time is it?" he groaned as he sat up in bed.

"Four o'clock. Now come on. Hop to it." She was already dressed and ready to go; her hair was tied back into a single long braid. Her red scarf adorned her neck, covering it completely and draping down the front of her vest. Her brown eyes burned eagerly as she beckoned him to stand. "Come on. We need to be out of town and on the road as quick as possible. I want us to be in position and ready before dawn."

"Alright, alright," he grumbled as he got out of bed and went over to the armoire, where he retrieved his belongings and got dressed as quick as he could muster. He loaded his revolver and repeater, cursing under his breath when his fingers fumbled in the chilly morning air. He threw the rest of his things in his duffel bag and hefted it over his shoulder.

"Leave it," Maddie instructed. "We'll be back in town later. Besides, if we carry our bags, they'll slow us down and get in our way."

Jack tossed his bag onto his bed, shrugged his duster on, slung his repeater over his back, strapped on his bandolier and revolver, and tugged on his hat before nodding to his companion. Maddie nodded in return before walking out of the room. Jack followed, quietly closing the door behind him and locked it with the key the bartender had given him.

The stable boy stood waiting outside the livery holding their saddled horses. The poor boy was shivering in his place, despite wearing many layers of clothes, but he made no utterance of discomfort as he handed Maddie and Jack their horses. Maddie tipped him an extra dollar and patted him on the shoulder. "Go inside and stay warm, little one. You've done your job well; you deserve to go back to bed."

The boy thanked her and disappeared into the stable.

"That was generous of you," Jack noted as he mounted Sundance. The leather saddle creaked loudly as he took his seat and gathered the reins. Beneath him, Sundance yawned and swished his tail sleepily.

"I felt bad for the kid," Maddie answered as she mounted Gypsy. "It's a little cold out this morning for such a little thing like him to be standing out here." She tugged her hat down lower. "Right. Let's get goin'." She clicked her tongue, and Gypsy bobbed her head as she bounded forward into a brisk trot. Jack followed suit, and he urged Sundance faster as she spurred her horse into a lope after they passed the train station and livestock pens. He and Maddie soon galloped their horses down the road towards the hills of Cholla Springs.

Jack could barely see the wilderness around him; all that he could discern was the road he and Maddie rode upon. The moon hardly gave them any light, and the stars weren't showing as brightly as he wanted them to be. The biting wind sucked the heat from his body with an insatiable thirst; he shivered in the saddle. With the combination of being cold, tired, and hungry, he wasn't in the cheeriest of moods as he followed Maddie's lead.

Not a single word was shared between the two as they rode their horses closer to their bounty target's last known location. A sense of urgency and wariness settled deep within Jack's heart, making it pound with trepidation. What if I screw up? he thought as he leaned further into the saddle and held the reins before him. Then what? Nearer and nearer they rode to Rattlesnake Hollow; higher and higher Jack's skepticism and fear rose. He dared not let it show, however, and he kept his cold visage on at all times. Still, he wondered if Maddie felt just as scared as he was. I doubt it, he mused, shaking his head. She's as cold as this morning has been. I doubt if she feels anything anymore.