To Tame the Wild: a Red Dead Redemption fan fiction

Chapter 24 - The Storm Breaks

An explosion sounded, startling Jack awake. He sat up with a jolt of fear, thinking they were under attack. He reached for his guns that lay beside his bed roll on the floor, but a soothing voice materialized in the darkness nearby.

"Easy, Jack. It's just a thunderstorm."

Sure enough, like the rapid gunfire of a Gatling, the rain began to pelt the roof of the shack. Mother Nature let loose a torrential storm that was long overdue for Gaptooth Ridge. A flash of lightning streaked across the sky in the distance, followed by another booming thunderclap. Outside, the horses shrieked and whinnied in fear.

Panting from his start, Jack looked around in the dark. He noticed the fire had long died out in the fireplace, and as his eyes adjusted, he slowed his breathing. Sleep begged him to return; he ran a hand over his face and groaned, his mind and body numbed with exhaustion. Once he had settled in for the night, it was difficult for him to fall asleep after what happened, and what didn't. She was already in bed with her back facing him when he entered the shack. For what seemed like hours, he thought about her and what he should've said or done.

I should've kissed her, he thought sluggishly as he looked around the room once again. His heart leapt into his throat as his eyes snagged on Maddie's silhouetted form standing in the doorway. She stood leaning against the door frame watching the storm, a cup of coffee cradled in her hands and her right leg crossed over her left. Even in the extreme low light, she was beautiful, rugged, and fierce. The wind from the thunderstorm blew her hair and duster back. She raised her cup of coffee to her lips and took a reflective drink; the steam swirled and caressed her face.

"What time is it?" Jack grumbled, his voice hoarse. He ran a hand over his face again.

Maddie withdrew her pocket watch from inside her duster and looked at it. "Just past three o'clock." She returned the watch back inside her duster and resumed watching the thunderstorm. "It's almost time."

Jack grunted as he struggled to his feet. His body, stiff and sore from sleeping on the hard floor, creaked and popped as he shuffled over to his companion.

"We'll need to start gettin' ready soon," she murmured and sipped at her coffee again as he came to stand beside her. She motioned to the table behind them with a nod. "There's some coffee for you." She glanced over at him and smirked. "Looks like you need it, Marston." Her eyes lingered on him for a moment longer before she looked away. She switched her weight from one boot to the other.

Jack took the hint and shuffled over to the table. He poured himself some coffee, leaned against the table, and drank from his tin cup. She refused to look back at him, seeming too preoccupied in watching the storm to take any notice of him. Jack frowned and sighed.

I should've kissed her...

Clearing his throat, he ambled up to her and leaned against the other side of the door frame. He lifted the cup to his lips and took another sip of his coffee. "This storm will help us today."

"Mm-hmm."

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "Maddie, I...um...I have somethin' important to tell you."

Fear settled across her face as she turned her head and stared at him.

Jack looked her in the eyes. "I want you to have my horse and all of my things if today doesn't go well for me."

Maddie relaxed from her tense stance and nodded. "Of course, Jack. Same goes to you."

He looked out at the storm in unison with her. "And you can have my ranch."