To Tame the Wild: a Red Dead Redemption fan fiction

Chapter 33 - Labored and Lost

Chapter Track: "When Love & Hate Collide" – Def Leppard

Two days later, Jack, Bonnie, and the MacFarlane ranch doctor said their goodbyes in front of the house. The doctor and his boss did all they could to help Maddie kick-start her way to recovery: while the doctor regularly changed and cleaned her bandages and gave her morphine to ease the pain, Bonnie kept her best friend as comfortable and pampered as she could by helping her bathe and brush out her long hair that become so tangled that she had to trim an inch off the ends. She helped clean her clothes, as well as some old dresses of Abigail's that Jack had given to Maddie, since she had but one pair of clothing at the ranch. Such heartfelt feminine companionship brightened Maddie's spirit and helped drag her out of the dark abyss within herself.

The doctor held their horses while Bonnie and Jack embraced in front of the front porch steps.

"Take care of yourself and Maddie. I hope all goes well for you two. You know where I'll be if you need my help."

Jack nodded against her shoulder. "I will. I can't thank you and the doctor for all that you've done. With any luck, Maddie will be just how she was before all this happened."

"I do what I can for my family." She kissed his cheek as they stepped away from each other.

Once again, Jack watched as Bonnie and her companion rode away and out of his sight. This time, however, he felt hope he never thought could be rekindled after such a strenuous four days. Breathing in the crisp morning air, he turned and went to the barn to feed and water his livestock. Somehow, he caught himself whistling a familiar tune, and with a gasp he recalled it was the song he'd heard Maddie sing the day he found her bathing. Memories stirred, emotions flared, and he couldn't stop thinking about her and that day. As he went about his chores, he couldn't help but think, Maybe there is some hope after all. I mean, maybe someday things'll be back to where they were before I hurt her. I can only pray she'll forgive me...

When he went inside for a quick lunch, he nearly tripped over his boots when he came into the kitchen and found Maddie was standing over the stove cooking what looked like some sort of stew. Her back was to him; he realized she was wearing one of his mother's old dresses and had pulled her hair up into a bun. The sight of her resembling his mother so much nearly made his heart stop, but he was relieved to find her up and around instead of moping in bed. Maybe she's feelin' better already, he thought with a hopeful grin as he stepped into the room, his boots thudding loudly on the wooden floor.

At the sound of footfalls, Maddie jumped and whirled around. The cup of coffee she held in her hands spilled and ran down her hand, staining the sleeve of her dress. When she looked down at herself, she noticed that some of her drink had spilled onto the floor. "Goddamn it," she moaned and, grabbing a nearby towel off the kitchen counter, bent down and hastily wiped up her mess.

"Sorry I startled you," Jack said with a sheepish grin. He stepped closer to her, hoping to help clean up.

The venomous countenance she gave him made him instantly rethink his action, and he backed away quickly. Without saying another word, he turned and left the room. He decided it best to skip out on lunch and continue his repairs outside on the house.

* * *

The next day proved more fruitful than the last: he found her in the kitchen the next morning making breakfast. The smell of sausage and biscuits made his stomach roar; the intoxicating aroma of freshly-brewed coffee blended well with the scents of the morning meal.

Without saying a word, she and Jack ate breakfast. He studied her carefully from across the kitchen table: there were bags under her eyes from the temporary insomnia she'd had just days ago, but her eyes held a small spark of what stubbornness and pride she once had—it shown through very weakly through the veil of shame, fear, and depression.