The Journey of Redemption *Red Dead Redemption*

• Chapter 1 •

Welcome to the West

The sun was bright, normally this would've have been a blessing back home but goddammit, in this damned desert? this dry desolate place was the worst time to have the sun. I could feel sweat coming up from beneath my clothes, even after removing a pale blue neck and stuffing it into my pocket and unbuttoning a few buttons of the cotton blouse. My head was hot but I either sacrifice my eyesight or my or hat being soaked in sweat, the only liquid here dripping from my forehead. But alas we had arrived, me and my steed; it wasn't what I was used to, my horse is back home in South America with my neighbour. She offered to purchase a horse for the journey down along with some money to make it to the West.

"Not much farther now girl"

Eliza panted taking a quick swig from her waterskin before placing it in her satchel away from the sun. Delight in her eyes as she views the ranch from afar, the ranch was a beautiful place, a wonderful piece of structure. It still felt soo new, nostalgia flooded in when Eliza's mind shifted over time back 11 years ago back when this building was first developed. However upon arriving her mouth fell, the windows boarded up, furniture destroyed and thrown outside and began gathering sand and dust. Her boots stomped up the wooden steps of the ranch to see that the windows and doors were boarded up quite heavily, through the cracks she saw the furniture flipped and misplaced from last they time she was here. This place wasn't ransacked, just smashed objects, this place was abandoned but why? where was he?

"Where is John?"

With this strange situation, Eliza got up and began to ride into the nearest town, the town being Blackwater, it wasn't as famous as Saint Denis it was the most major settlement in this region. John nor his wife Abigail had not sent letters in a while, there was no information about moving. This was strange, even for the Marstons.

Arriving in the brick town of Blackwater with a pocket watch in hand, it read "10:48am", every person would be in the streets. The town was filled with nasty but well-dressed citizens, all prowling the roads alongside horses and carriages. She wasn't as posh as these people and times are still old they all turned head when they see a lady in a cowboy's hat, a woman in a man's boots. Eliza was a rare breed, women were beginning to wear trousers, even if it's mens gear. Attentions was not among Eliza's desires. But that made her be taken seriously, entering the saloon was going to be entertaining.

A fair skin brunette-haired lady entered the saloon, the doors swinging open, thankfully the patrons were drinking despite the time of day. Drinking or being entertained by prostitutes that worked in the saloon so not much attention was drawn on her, she took a seat by the bar tipping her white broad-brimmed hat to the bartender.

"What can I get ya missy?"

The dirt-faced man spoke dressed in a tarp you call an 'apron'.

"Information about that farm near here, Beecher's Hope"

The man picked up a glass and a cloth and began scrubbing the bottom of it.

"That empty farm? folks round 'ere said they saw some of them 'government officials' taking a boy and his mama from there, dunno why they seemed pretty average folks. The lady came in a few times here in town, hardly see the boy"

The smell of alcohol was stronger here, some had spilled onto the counter, every man began to smell the same.

"I'm also looking for a particular man, tall average man, black hat with an eagle feather in the buckle and a large wolf scar on the right side of his face"

"He left not too long ago, your man left with some feller"

One man sspoke out from the other side of the bar raising a glass, coughing and laughin' before dropping his head to the bar.

Eliza stepped up from the bar, tossing some coin onto the counter infront of the bartender and even the drunken man who had now succumbed to sleep.

''A pleasure doin' business gentlemen, have yourself a fine day''

The woman said slipping her hands into her jean pockets before heading past the poker tables and the dancing ladies of the night always attemptinhg to lure men in. Not before a joyous man entered the saloon butting in past the woman shouting out to one of these women.

''Apologies my flower! that mister was a reeeeal strange and quiet one''

The feller was quite old, 30 or 40 years older than Eliza, she still being a spring flower, but again she was a weed, she will always find a way to survive even in this dry side of the world. She glanced at bartender to see him subtly pointing towards the elderly man who now had his wrinkled hands all along the small waist of this red tight corset. Eliza adjusted her hat, lifting the front of it upwards before approaching the man.

''Pardon me for the entrusion, did you perhaps talk to a man by the name of John Marston?''

The fellow groaned before turning to face a tight-faced female, Eliza was a beautiful woman despite how much her skin was used to the bitter cold up in South America, her nose and red rose cheeks prevailed even dryer in this hot weather. The man turned towards Eliza while still having a tight possessive grip on this middle-aged woman who dressed up in a tight crimson corset along with her legs on show in bloomers.

''That I did, I was hired to take him to Fort Mercer, he was very eager to get there but wouldn't say why, very secretive he wa-''

''Where is this Fort Mercer? im an old friend of Mr Marston''

Eliza quickly interupted, after being given direction to this bandit infested camp with little knowledge she didnt waste any time to on the back of her caramel-coloured steed, the fort was seemingly quiet. Not wishing to notify the group behind these walls she didnt dare call or shout or make any sort of demands. All she knew was this group was dangerous, a gruesome set of men, not the kind to rob wagons and let victims walk free, the worst kind of men that shouldnt walk these lands. Glancing at the sandy grounds beneath her boot revealed a set of footprints which stopped outsude the gate, not showing the prints go into the fortress or even going back. Quietly searching she found tracks of a wagon and two sets of footprints, from this she saw this suspious, Eliza got on her horse again before following these tracks for a long time before arriving when the sky began to fade into a vibrant orange colour, the tracks had led to a ranch of sorts.

A large sign hung on along two posts stating 'McFarlanes's Ranch', the area was flooded with meek men, usually middle-aged all wearing similar messy attire, upon entering its grounds Eliza was quickly stopped. A man exclaimed with a straw in his mouth carrying a bucket, water probably, the lady switched to glance at the bucket and the male who was suspious. Her mouth began to water after realising how much she craved for a cold drink, she had avoided taking any travel breaks after finding John's jome barricaded and something didnt feel right.

''I aint seen another woman in these parts, who are you to be here?''

Eliza was quickly aware, furrowing her brows.

''Im searching for a friend of mine, his tracks stopped at a wagon that led 'ere''

The woman explained while peering around them in hopes to see the wagon in hopes to see John somewher.

''Look lady you'll talk to have to talk to the nice folk in charge if you want information''

Suddenly a blond haired woman appeared from behind wearing large baggy trousers, a white blouse and brown ranch boots. Her head stared up and down at Eliza with a hand on  her hip, the blond-haired woman appeared as the only woman she had seen that were not of higher class or a lady of the night as she was not over or under-dressed.

''Howdy, what brings you here?''

The woman inquired, she had a New Austin accent, she appeared to be from around these parts, Eliza may have even rode past this ranch 11 years ago.

''Im looking for my friend who was last seen at Fort Mercer, his footprints disappeared when a wagon showed up and that wagon led here.''

The lady explained how she and a farmhand had discovered a man after picking up ranch supplies unconsious just outside the gates of Fort Mercer not too long ago, she explains the man was given medicine however the man had been shot and currently bullets were being taken out of him by their doctor.

Eliza's gut began to churn, she feared the worst, what if this was John? his tracks lead here and the timing is right but how did this happen, what did John do to almost end up dead. Her skin must've went pale because suddenly the woman spoke.

''Our doctor is taking good care of him, after he is done you can visit your friend-''

The woman stopped to think before raising her arm, motioning Eliza elsewhere.

''We sound him unconsious so we never got a name and it ain't fair on you waiting around to see him wake up to only find out he ain't your man. The names Bonnie Mcfarlane by the way, daddy built this ranch 12 years ago back when I was just a little girl''

She continued to talk about the ranch obvisiously not wishing to worry her guest.

Bonnie approached a small cabin, opening the door to see an old man with small round glasses and thin strands of grey and white hair ontop of his head.  He had gloves on and a pair of tongs while sitting by a bedside table, he peeked over his shoulder but his body hid the face of the patient, leaving Eliza clenching her knuckles with aggitation.

''This lady is searching for her friend who was supposedly in the area of Fort Mercer, shes here to see if this man is hers''

Eliza moved passed Bonnie to move closer to the body to see the unconsious man, her heart began to thump continously unsure of her friend's fate and feared the worst. With her eyes blurring a bit she finally saw the mans face.

It was John.

A bare chest unconsious man sat laid on his back, his jacket was removed, his shirt was unbuttoned to see bulletholes and a fair amount of blood along his abdomen area.

''John...''

Eliza mumbled removing her hand to hold it against her chest, she was relieved she had found John but she couldn't help but think of why John was at this well-known bandit county and this had to have meant more than a simple accidental shooting. Where was Abigail or Jack, why did they get taken by these Government officials, John did his best to avoid the law given our history with some old friends.

''This is your friend?''

The doctor questioned, lifting the tong over his wound to begin pulling out another bullet that seemed lodged in his chest before making a clanking sound when dropping the bullet shell into a small bowl.

''It would seem so, I have some questions to ask Miss Mcfarlane if she does not mind''

Eliza continued to stare at John's still body, she couldn't help but see that John has barely changed, he aged surprisingly well these last few years. She wouldn't be surprised if some women were interested in him, he was alot of thing, hopefully at this age John wont react this strongly to her sudden appearance.

''I do not, we better let the doctor do his job''

Bonnie leads Eliza towards the door and the doctor was quick to remind Miss Mcfarlane that she now owes him money for the medicine.

''How much is the medicine, I will work to pay it off for him, its the least I can do for what you've done''

Eliza continued to insist, eventually Bonnie gave in including stating John would have to also make up which is fair.

''I have to ask, what is at Fort Mercer?''

Asked Eliza while still holding her hat in her hand.

''Fort Mercer holds one of the worst bandit fellers in the county, Bill Williamson's gang causes trouble for the decent folk that still live here''

Bonnie stopped talking when she saw Eliza's face, it was still pale, her skin was like snow, nothing could hide the surprise she felt, her voice cracked.

''Bill... Williamson..?''