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Making the trek up to Lake Isabelle took a little longer than he thought would take. It’s also far colder than Jack was thinking; thankfully, he still has his Uncle Arthur’s old winter coat to help him keep warm. He had since taken his Pa’s hat off since it wasn’t doing anything with this wind, and it almost blew away a few times. He stops at the curve of the lake and takes a second to look around.
It’s pretty quiet up here.
Jack remembers his parents telling him about their time in Colter which is much farther from here. There are a few gang members’ graves up that way as well if Uncle Arthur’s journal is right. He doesn’t know if he even has the right to visit them or not…a whiny cause Jack to come back to the here and now.
Standing not too far from him is the White Arabian; a stunning horse that he had seen twice in one lifetime. Uncle Arthur brought her back the first time – calling her Countess (if Jack read the name right, it was pretty stretched out) – and his Pa brought her back the second – calling her Majesty. Both names suit her quite well. Though Jack doubts the horse standing in front of him is the same one, he has seen stranger things.
(Horses of the Apocalypse, a robot that refuses to leave his property, and so much more.)
Jack hops off of Challenger (Lusitano) and slowly approaches the Arabian.
It kept an eye on him, head held high and staring Jack down. There’s something otherworldly about this horse; as if it has seen everything but nothing all at once. It kinda of reminds him of Uncle Arthur and Pa a bit. Both seem to be out of touch with the world but so in tune that it can make your head spin. People had told Jack that he was a bit like that too.
He stops when the horse huffs and staggers back.
Jack stayed still and could only watch.
He read about how his Pa and Uncle would tame horses but Jack’s leg isn’t as good anymore and can barely keep standing sometimes. Guess that’s what he gets for running. It’s easier to follow Linde’s advice at the moment. Jack is sure if he needs to there’s a few miles in him. If not then he’ll try again tomorrow – Pronghorn Ranch is a bit of a trek back but it be better than trying to camp in a blizzard, and there is Colter if Jack really wants to.
“I ain’t doing nothing,” Jack said.
The horse’s ears suddenly snap forward at his voice; pricked up.
“Just wondering if you’re who I think you are, Majesty.”
Jack chuckles at the sudden confusion.
“Okay, maybe not who I think you are.”
It was a long shot, to be honest. Arthur caught Countess back in 1899 while his Pa caught Majesty back in ’07. It would have taken a miracle for a horse like that to appear back in the wild for a third time. However, it does seem that this Arabian could be related to the first one.
Jack stepped forward but didn’t notice the twig underneath him, snapping on impact. He cursed as he watched the horse run away into the trees. He brought his hands down and put them onto his hip.
“Whelp, that didn’t work.” When he said that, Jack looks back at Challenger, earning him a huff. “Alright, let’s try again tomorrow. Uncle Arthur’s journal said that it took him three days to catch Countess–” Jack mounts Challenger before remembering something else “– but Pa managed to catch Majesty in a day…” He decided to move on for the time being. “Let’s head up to Colter, it's closer.”
…
“So, why this horse?”
Jack finishes closing his saddle bag before turning to face Linde, who looks quite tired and worried. She’s not all that great at being by herself which is why Jack had asked Sadie to come spend some time at the ranch for a bit. He knows she’s living around nearby somewhere.
“She used to be Pa and Uncle Arthur’s horse.” Jack shrugs, not really having an answer. “Guess I have some responsibility to go find her, to make sure she’s okay.”
Linde isn’t sure about the answer but she’ll take what she can get.
“How long are you going to be gone for?”
“A couple of weeks, maybe more depending on my final decision.” Jack turned back to checking his gear. He knows that if he keeps looking down at Linde then he’ll call the whole trip off. He never understood why his Pa did what he did but now he kinda does. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“Just take care of yourself, Marston.” Linde had gently taken his arm and turned him back to face her. Her smile is soft and warm. “I can’t be the one telling you to do it for you while you’re out there.”
"I promise.”
…
Colter has this strange familiar feeling that Jack never knew he would have with this place. It was colder up here but Jack has a feeling that it’s colder up on the mountain. His Ma told him about the wolves and what Uncle Arthur and Javier did for his Pa.
He put Challenger into the barn – which is surprisingly still standing even though it should have been torn down a long time ago – before going farther into the broken little town. He found Davy Callander’s Grave easily enough and if his Uncle’s journal is right then Jenny Kirk is just up ahead, along the river.
Jack doesn’t know what to do or say so he just leaves them both alone. They have laid to rest a long time ago and he shouldn’t disperse the dead. (Even though that nightmare says otherwise). Jack left the grave alone and headed into one building that still stood strong; a simple layout with a fireplace in the middle and two doors on either side.
The fireplace appears to be stable; Jack manages to light a small fire in it but he still keeps an eye on it even while he takes a second to look around. It’s familiar and not all at the same time.
…
“Do you believe in ghosts?” Jack questioned, tilting his head back to look at Linde.
The woman gently pushes Jack’s head back upright so she can continue brushing it out. Why he kept it long? Even Jack doesn’t know or want to think about it too much. He’s a bit worried about getting it cut but Linde reassured him that she knows what she’s doing, having done both her father's and younger brother’s hair plenty of times.
“A little, why?” Linde sets down the brush and grabs a pair of scissors.
“Just something I’ve been thinking about.”
“You hoping that your parents are watching or something?”
Jack tense for a second at the sound of snipping before relaxing when Linde stop long enough to press her left hand into his shoulder; quietly telling him that it’s okay. And it is okay. Though he hasn’t had his hair done since his Ma died.
“Maybe,” Jack said. “I just want them to know that I’m doing okay.”
Linde set the scissors down and stepped to Jack’s side, gently taking one of his hands and placing one of her own against his cheek. “If I know one thing about how you talk about them, they would be so proud of you, no matter how much you think otherwise.” She pulls away and grabs a mirror from the table. “Gunslinger, lawyer, rancher, doesn’t matter.”
Jack ran his fingers through his hair; taking a moment to get used to how short it was.
“This is amazing, thank you, Ms. Smith.”
“You’re welcome, Mr. Marston.”
…
Jack forgot how much he disliked canned corn beef but it was the only thing he could get at the general store at the time. He does miss the home-cooked meals, even the meals that the Thompsons make. Even though Sherryl Thompson drove him insane; she did step up and help him out once he returned home with her brother-in-law.
No matter how much Joseph likes to say his sister-in-law is a nightmare, he’ll always turn to her first if he needs anything. Jack feels the same way, just because Sherryl is close by and would never turn him away in a time of need. This is why Jack felt confident in leaving the ranch in her and her husband’s hands while he was away.
He finishes off the can and sets it on the floor next to the fireplace; leaning back into the chair and crossing his arms. Jack tilts his head back and stares up at the ceiling. Almost tricking himself that he was back home but the harsh cold could never leave long enough.
“Do you think I did the right thing, Pa?” Jack couldn’t stop himself from speaking out loud. No one was around to stop him. “Killing Ross like that? Basically, throwing away everything just for some kind of revenge, to make myself feel better about your death.” He could’ve become a lawyer or something that could have made his Ma proud but instead, he joined a never-ending cycle of death. “I don’t think I could ever be proud of that.”
Another cold wind comes rushing through, making Jack shiver and pulling his coat closer to himself.
…
Jack clings a bit tighter to the flowers in hand – both of his parents’ favourites in hand – but stops just as he gets to the top. Sitting there is Linde; getting her going out dressed all dirty but his friend never cared about that before. Jack smiles softly at the humming, even knowing the song.
“You don’t have to worry about Jack, Mrs. Marston.” Linde stood back up and brushed the dirt off the best she could. “Jack is stubborn but knows what he’s doing, Mr. Marston taught him that.” Linde steps back to take a moment to look at both graves. “And when he comes back, I’ll make sure he takes proper care of himself.”
Jack chuckles softly – alerting her of him being here – and comes to stand next to her.
“Yep, you would’ve liked her, Ma.”
He took note of the flash of red before Linde excused herself.
“You too, Pa.”
Jack lay down the flowers.
…
The wind howls and bangs against the glass that barely stays in place. Jack slept soundlessly until one of the doors banged, causing him to jump to his feet and whip out his gun. Scanning the area before relaxing again. There’s nothing but himself in the building, even though he swears he can hear faint voices and the warmth of a fire.
Jack put his gun away before checking outside; it’s almost a white-out but that won’t stop him. He haven’t had much experience traveling through one however he wasn’t going to give up just because of that. He made sure his jacket was tight and that his bag was tucked safely inside the coat before stepping outside.
His hat is lower and he forces his way through the snow until he reaches the barn. Challenger rests her head – flickering her ears – and gently nudges against Jack while he tacks the horse back up.
The two set out back down the mountain but something tugs against Jack, making him stop. Looking back at Colter, he can faintly see outlines of people moving about. Soundless voices drift across the wind and Jack continues on his journey back down the mountain.
…
“Care to dance, Ms. Smith?”
Jack held a hand out to Linde, who was in the middle of sewing one of Jack’s vests back together. Linde still refused to believe that one of the calves had done it. She looks from his face to his hand before setting her work to the side; her hand hovers over top of his own as she stands to her feet.
“Why thank you, Mr. Marston.”
Jack pretends to put a hand on her side while guiding Linde’s other hand in place. The two gently swayed to the music. They could barely hide their smiles and laughs at the silliness of all of this. Jack pulled back and got Linde to spin before stepping back into place.
“I really do mean it,” Linde said. “Thank you, Jack.”
“For what?”
Jack hasn’t really done anything for Linde; other than letting her stay at the ranch after she ran away from home. Though he would never have changed that day, barely remembering the life before Linde showed up. Though he does remember the loneliness and self-hatred of those days.
“For everything. For letting me stay here, for…I don’t know.”
“Don’t worry about it, Ms. Smith.”
…
The snowstorm has cleared up once Jack reaches the lake; there’s a bit of wildlife roaming around but nothing he has to worry about. He hops off his horse and heads towards the last spot where he had seen the horse however there is nothing there.
The horse can blend into the landscape but it’s like it has magically disappeared.
He turned back to check on Challenger (taking note of where she was) before he felt warm air blow on the back of his neck. Jack tilts his head back and sees the nose of the horse that he’s been looking for. Carefully, he turns around and backs up a step.
The White Arabian stares coldly down at him looking so much like the horse that he could barely remember. Jack held his hand out slowly and kept still, knowing that he’d never actually catch the horse. He has to stop kidding himself.
“I knew you once,” Jack said, being quiet and gentle so as not to spook her. “Uncle Arthur and Pa brought you home, they were so proud of themselves. Especially Pa.”
His dad came riding in on Majesty and could not stop talking about his trip up north. His Mom grew tired of it quickly but never stopped him from talking; Uncle jumped in and shared about Arthur’s trip into the camp, basically confirming that the two have similar reactions just Arthur didn’t talk about it as much.
When Jack went to check on the horses after his dad’s death, Majesty was gone with only a chilly breeze to remember her by. Like Father Winter came in himself and whisked her away. His mom barely notices far too busy trying to put their lives back together and keeping the farm going without Uncle and Pa around.
“You were like a random beacon of hope for the both of them.”
The Arabian’s ears are forward; listening to every word. Even seem hesitant to take a step forward.
“Proving to themselves that the impossible could be possible…”
Maybe that’s why Jack came out here. To prove that he’s just as great as his Pa and Uncle Arthur; two great men that Jack always looked up to. They both tamed the same horse and both prove that they really are like no one else…Maybe Jack just wants to have another connection to both of them.
Jack pulls away while shaking his head.
“But I don’t need to,” Jack said. “Just seeing you is enough.”
The White Arabian steps back – watching Jack just as much as he watching her – before racing back into the woods. Jack whipped away the tears that started following; taking a second before whistling to call Challenger over.
He mounts onto Challenger and heads back down the path because there’s no reason to stick around anymore. Closure was something that Jack never really thought much about until Charles mentioned it once while visiting. Sadie was in the same boat about properly closing that chapter in her life; never forgetting about what happened but accepting that it’s time to move on.
Guess it's Jack’s turn to close that chapter of his life and focus on the next one.
Maybe he’ll get a journal like his Pa and Uncle Arthur to keep track of what’s coming next.
Jack pulls on the rein and looks over his shoulder; startled by the sound of twigs snapping. He thought it was the Arabian but it was a deer staring straight at him with a wolf hanging just at the edge of the woods but neither one seemed to mind the other; both focused on Jack.
Suddenly, the deer takes off and the wolf disappears.
Jack smiles softly – shaking his head – before getting Challenger to continue on; moving on to the next chapter of his own life because he has his closure.