To Tame the Wild: a Red Dead Redemption fan fiction

Chapter 36 - Temptation

Chapter Track: "Stay With Me (Brass Bed)" – Josh Gracin

Jack rapped his knuckles on the door. "Maddie?"

"Go away," she moaned from behind the door. Bedsprings groaned and creaked; bed sheets rustled.

"You doin' all right? Can I come in?"

A long sigh and a groan answered him at first. "I feel like shit... Hell, I even look like shit."

Jack chuckled softly. "You did drink half a bottle of whiskey last night. And as far as lookin' like shit, I highly doubt that, darlin'."

"Don't flatter me."

"Can I come in?"

"Oh, alright."

He turned the knob and pushed the door open, the hinges squeaking softly. His boots thudded against the wooden floor as he stepped into the room. She lay on her side facing him. Her hair was a mess around her shoulders; terrible bags formed under her half-opened eyes. She pulled the covers up over her head and moaned with misery. Jack chuckled as he walked up to her bedside and sat down on the corner.

"Maddie, c'mon," he encouraged with a smirk. "You don't look that terrible. You never have to me, anyways."

"Oh, you're just layin' it on thick this morning, aren't you?"

"I'm just being honest is all."

She gave an unimpressed grunt as she slowly lowered the covers to her chest. Her face scrunched into a countenance of pain, and she rubbed at her temples with her fingers gingerly, gasping and wincing.

Jack scooted closer to her. "Headache?"

She nodded, her eyes shut tight.

"I've still got that medicine the doctor gave you. I can get it for you."

She laid her head back down on the pillow and rolled onto her back; she covered her face with both hands and sighed heavily. "If you would, please."

He wasted no time retrieving the medicine from her belongings across the room; she'd kept her things, what little she had at the ranch, sitting atop the dresser. After she'd taken the pills, she laid back down and closed her eyes, her forehead furrowed as the pain continued to wrack her head. Jack sat beside her for a time, looking her over with concern.

"You gonna be okay?" he asked as he rested a hand on her arm.

She shook her head. "I don't think it's been this bad before. Jesus Christ, what was I thinkin' last night?"

His thumb caressed her skin; he squeezed her arm. "Well, I don't think you were thinkin' at all, Maddie. But then again, I went and did the same thing in town." He glanced to the side and frowned. "I'm sorry."

She opened an eye and frowned quizzically at him. "For what?"

"For last night. For leavin' you here, alone. And for yellin' at you."

She blinked and opened her other eye, staring at him with a blank expression.

"Or do you not remember?"

"It's...fuzzy...but yes, I remember. And I'm sorry for everything you've had to go through." Her eyes softened as she looked up at him. She took his hand in hers and squeezed it.

"No need to apologize, ma'am. All that has happened so long ago. None of it matters anymore."

She frowned as she closed her eyes and sighed.