To Tame the Wild: a Red Dead Redemption fan fiction

Chapter 35 - Truth

Chapter Track: "Love/Hate Heartbreak" – Halestorm

Maddie and Jack spent the next week relentlessly repairing the barn. It took them far longer than they expected to reinforce the interior and fix up the stalls as well as the work benches. Maddie worked at an almost tireless gait, hardly stopping for breaks when Jack did. Other than speaking about their work and what needed to be done next, they hardly made friendly conversation. Not once did Jack try to make her reconsider; instead, he kept his thoughts and yearnings to himself and refused to let any emotion show past his scowling mask.

After another week of it, he'd had enough. After they called it night, Maddie turned and started walking inside to start on supper while he snuck away to his horse, led him to the barn, and saddled up.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Jack flinched and turned around. He cringed as he locked eyes with Maddie, who stood in the barn doorway with her arms crossed. She flashed her eyebrows and waited for an answer.

He swallowed thickly as he turned back to his horse and finished with the back cinch. "Headin' to Blackwater."

"Why?"

"I need a drink." He bit down on his lip afterwards, feeling bad for speaking his mind. He glanced back at her when he heard her boots crunching on the hard dirt towards him.

Her jaw dropped as she came to stand beside him. "And just what the hell for?" Her eyes searched his. Her eyebrows rose and she drew back her head in offense. "It's because of me, isn't it?"

He opened his mouth to answer but then clamped it shut when he didn't know how to respond, so he walked around her and led his horse out in front of the barn. Maddie followed, right in step behind him. Before he could mount up, she grabbed his right arm and yanked him away from his horse.

"What the hell are you doin', Jack?" she demanded. "Why are you leavin' me?"

"I'm not leavin' you, Maddie. I just need—"

"To get away from me?"

"No, I just need to get out for a change. I haven't left this ranch for about two and a half months, and me and my horse could use a good ride. That's all."

Her eyebrows narrowed. "Liar."

He clenched his jaw.

"So, while you're out "riding", what the fuck am I supposed to do?" Her grip on his arm tightened and she stared warily up into his eyes.

He shrugged. "You could read or somethin'. Hell, I don't know." His irritation faded into empathy the second he noticed the terror in her eyes. "Unless you wanna come along...?"

"No!" she shouted and released him. She took a step towards the house and shook her head furiously, her hair swaying.

"Maddie, it'll be fine. You and I both know we could use a good ride."

"No! I'll not go anywhere near that town, or anywhere else tonight! Go and drown your sorrows without me, Jack. I'll do no such foolish thing."

"What will you do, then?"

She shrugged angrily and shook her head. "Well, Django's in the house. He'll keep me company. I'll think of something." She waved him away. "Now go."

Guilt stabbed at his breast. After their argument earlier, he'd had enough of it all and needed an escape. Still, he looked her over and asked, "Maddie, are you sure you'll be okay? 'Cause I can stay here and—"