Unshaken

Bury the Hatchet?

Tensions were growing in camp. Liam woke that next morning to bickering and worry. He got out of camp and decided to get a good feel of Annesburg. When he arrived to the polluted city, he wasn't very impressed. It had a sad feel to it. He rode past miners coughing from the soot they constantly were breathing in. He went to the gunsmith and purchased more ammo. He went to the general store and purchased a leather coat. It matched the brown leather hat he always wore. It was brand new. It felt like it was made with care. He walked out of the store and took another look at the city. He felt detached, so he decided to leave.

As he was walking to Colter, a woman got his attention. "You want me to show you a good time?" She said. He froze in his tracks. He recognized her voice. He turned to the woman. His face went white. It was his mother. She also froze. Tiffany Romano Parker wore a cheaply-made dress and some black boots. Her cropped blonde hair seemed dirty. "Oh, Liam, my boy. I can't believe it's you!" She said walking closer to him. He didn't say anything. He looked down at his feet. "What are you doing here?" He asked warily. He didn't attempt hide his scowl.

"I-, I, Rhodes got bad, bandits been running around the place. I had to leave. Thought Annesburg would have opportunities for me." Tiffany said. "What, the opportunity to whore?" He asked abruptly. "That ain't fair!" She said to him. "Fair? You wanna know what wasn't fair? All them years I needed you, and you weren't there. All them years he beat me! I always wondered why you never cared! Wondering what I did wrong to make you not love me! That's what ain't fair." He told her, a hurt in his voice. He grunted and started to walk off when she grabbed his arm and pulled him between the buildings. "Look, I wasn't a good mother, I know that. I was, well, just so afraid of your father and, I felt like I couldn't help you." She said. "Well your mama sure was able to help me where she could." He told her. "I know, and I'm sorry. I- I miss her." She said. He didn't reply.

"What do you want from me?" He asked. "I want my son back." She said. "I was never your son." He said. "Liam, I'm sorry. I want to make things right." She said. He contemplated her words. He stayed silent. "I'll be here at noon tomorrow. It's your choice. Forgiveness can go a long way." She said. "Yeah, so can grudges." He said ripping his arm out of her hands and storming off.

Liam climbed on Colter and rode towards Willard's Rest. He sat at the Brandywine Drop to clear his mind. Why would his mother come to Annesburg? Saint Denis seemed like a city she'd thrive in. He remembered what she had said about him ruining her life. He wondered if she'd actually changed. He decided to go and check on the professor, who didn't live far from there.

Liam rode down the trail and up to Doverhill. He got off his horse and walked up to the front doors. They were slightly ajar. He opened them and couldn't believe what he saw. "Professor?" He asked walking up. Dragic was dead on the floor with machete wounds to his chest. "Where's your creation now?" He asked, noticing the machine was nowhere to be found. He looked to Marko's left and saw an electric lantern. He picked it up and it turned on and off without a flame. He put it in his satchel. Liam picked up Dragic's body and threw it over his shoulder. He buried him in behind the lab and stuck the three conductor rods over the grave as a symbol of a headstone. He felt bad, but not to the extent of a normal person. He knew he processed death and hurt differently than the average person.

"Rest in peace, Professor. If that's even possible." Liam said climbing onto Colter and riding off. He rode back to camp. It was evening. Liam was surprised food was still there, considering Susan had just ranted about someone smashing the donation box. Micah found it funny.

Liam had just gotten word that Dutch had killed Cornwall. "He made a huge deal about law following us back from Sisika, and then he kills the man who funds the PINKERTONS?" Liam wrote in his journal. He thought about the massacre in Valentine when Cornwall had him, John and Strauss hostage, and the bloody shootout that followed. He climbed in his tent and thought about his mother's words. He never wanted to see her again. The more he thought about it, the more he thought maybe he was being a little too harsh. He decided he would go and see her.