To Tame the Wild: a Red Dead Redemption fan fiction

Chapter 29 - Desecration

Chapter Track: "The Gravel Road" – James Newton Howard, The Village soundtrack

The thunderous hoof beats were all that Maddie heard as her horse barreled down the road across Hennigan's Stead. The wind ripped at her face, hair, and clothes, as if trying to pull her back to the safety of the ranch. She furiously refused to go back, not while he was still there. Not after what he's done, she thought. Her mind was in an endless circle of turmoil; she couldn't comprehend the gravity of the truth she had been so blind to.

He lied to my face all these months... He LIED to me! Her face contorted into a hateful grimace as she rode on. She didn't pay attention to the path before her or the travelers she passed. She wriggled in the saddle, livid. Why did I not see this?! Why did I fall for him?! I KNEW I should've never let myself trust that man. I swore to myself I'd never fall prey to a man, much less be treated like my mother was, and yet here I am betrayed and heartbroken!

Gypsy began to slow into a tired lope as she made her way through the dark and dreary swamplands of Thieves Landing. People dove out of the way in the criminal-infested town; Maddie didn't care as she kicked her horse back up to speed.

"HYAH! LET'S GO!"

The mare obeyed and ascended the trail leading up to the Great Plains. Maddie reined her toward Tall Trees and kicked her hard, not giving her mount a chance to slow as she changed direction and followed the path that would lead her to Bearclaw Camp.

When I'm done with this Jackson Randall fellow, I'll deal with Jack, just not now, not after what he's done. She gripped the reins tighter and her scowl deepened. I just need to...shoot SOMETHING! I need to get away from all this, from everything he's ever said to me, from everything he's ever done and lied about.

Gypsy galloped down the road, heaving herself forward and panting loudly. Her sides had become slick with sweat and her gait, usually smooth and effortless, was now bumpy and lethargic. As Bearclaw Camp came into Maddie's view three hundred yards ahead, she abruptly turned her exhausted mount off the road and urged her up the steep incline. Her horse's hooves slipped often on the rock, but Maddie kicked the mare onward and upward. At last, as they topped the rise, she loped her horse forward, just barely in sight of the camp. Maddie looked over and down at her quarry, and already she could see the gang hideout was teeming with criminals. She did a quick headcount and grew increasingly worried when she counted twenty-five.

No matter, she reasoned, giving herself a reassuring nod of self-confidence. She urged her horse up another rise in the land east of the camp. When she was far enough away, she stopped her horse and dismounted twenty yards away from the edge. Sweat dripped off her rocky mountain mare; Gypsy held her head low and her tail hung motionless as she stood panting. Maddie looked her horse over and felt a pang of guilt. She gave the mare a reassuring pat on the neck and grimaced at the white foam that covered her coat.

"I am sorry, hon," she whispered. "When this is all over, I'll give you a proper rest."

She reached over her shoulder and unslung her Carcano rifle. She drew back the bolt, her hands shaking from adrenaline and anger. She crouched as she approached the edge of the rise, gun held at the ready. Her pride beckoned her to carry out the hunt, but her instinct told her something was wrong.

She shook her head and bit down on her lip as she laid down on her stomach and pressed the butt of the rifle to her right shoulder. No, she thought. None of that now. Don't you dare start havin' doubts. You can do this. You've done this far too many times to recall: it's just another bounty hunt. You can do this. You can do this without him.