Just To Feel Alive Again

A Red Dead Redemption Fanfiction

Jack Marston/Amealia McFarlane(OC)

Chapter 8:

Jack's POV:

"I'm in a lot of trouble and I need your expertise."

"What on earth could you need me for? What did you do?" Marvin questioned.

"I'm in trouble with Andrew."

"Your time is now up." Marvin got up and headed towards the stairs of the second floor of the saloon.

"Marvin, please! This is serious!" I exclaimed as I followed him up the stairs.

"I am not going through this again Jacky." He turned to me as we entered his room. I shut the door behind us for privacy.

"There is no way you could bring me down to this again. There is not enough money in the world for me to journey back to the past and go after them again. You know the Launder brothers and their gang are too dangerous." He continued.

"Launder brother…" I corrected hesitantly.

"Brother? As in singular?" He raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"I killed James. Andrew found out and came after me…"

"So you pissed off his brother and now you have an entire gang coming after you." He began to shout. "How could I possibly help you?! Haven't we endangered enough people with this mess before?"

"It's not me who they are after. They took Amealia…"

"Who is Amealia?!" He interrupted. "Lord…" He put his hands over his face and then through his hair as he paced.

"Get out…" he spoke as calmly as he could.

"Marvin… I can't do this on my own. I need your help to track her before…"

"Get out!" He shouted at me.

I stayed silent and looked down to the ground. I had lost my chance. I headed toward the door.

"I'm sorry you lost Emily. I travelled to the end of the world with you to save her. You know I did everything I could to protect you and protect her. I have to find Amealia before she receives the same fate as Emily. I can't let her down the way I let you both down. I'm sorry I wasted your time." I closed the door behind me and left the saloon.

I jumped onto Guardian and headed back for MacFarlane's Ranch. This wasn't going to stop me. I refused to take this as defeat. Amealia needed me. Guardian's hooves sounded like thunder as they hit the ground. We travelled at such speed they seemed impossible. I couldn't waste any more time. They could be anywhere with her at this point.

By the end of the week, I had reached the ranch. I walked to the house after handing Guardian to a stable hand.

"Miss MacFarlane?" I spoke as I opened the front door.

"Jack! Is everything okay? Did you meet with your contact?" Questions came flying from her all at once.

"He is in a tough spot, unfortunately he isn't willing to help." I spoke softly. I watched as the hope quickly drained from her face. "I will find her with or without him. Guardian has a perfect nose to track. He led me to her to begin with."

She gave a half smile, but I knew her hope was fading. She was scared and I was too.

"Well, you should have some dinner and get some rest. Leave in the morning so you can better search. I hate to waste another night, but I don't need you coming back here all tore up." I nodded knowing what she said was true.

That night was the hardest to sleep. I laid there in my bed, staring at the ceiling, worried sick about Amealia. Exhausted finally pulled me into a short sleep, but sleep none the less.

I woke up in my family's ranch. I looked around in confusion. How did I end up here?

"Wake up, son!" My eyes widened as I looked at my father in the doorway.

"Pa?" I asked confused.

"You said you wanted to ride out and hunt today! We're losing daylight! Let's go!" He responded.

I rode out with my father into the woods. "I know why you're doing this, son."

I looked up at him confused by this whole situation. "For love. I understand, but I never wanted this life for you."

"I don't want to disappoint you pa." I looked back down at the horses mane.

"You didn't disappoint me, but you need to make me a promise." I looked up at him and suddenly it was Amealia riding next to me.

"When you find me, you have to promise you'll never do another bounty again. You're father wanted better for you. I… want better for you."

"I will find you. I promise you and when I find you, I'll never put you in danger again."

She smiled at me. "I know. Wake up now, Jack."

"What?" I asked confused.

"Wake up, Jack." The voice didn't match her anymore.

I woke up to one of the ranch helpers trying to wake me. "Wake up Jack."

"I'm up." I said groggily.

"Good, Miss MacFarlane needs you." I nodded, quickly got dressed, and headed straight to her home. I headed inside and went to the living room.

Marvin and Bonnie both looked up at me as I entered the room. "Marvin, how did you find me?"

"Master tracker remember?" He smirked.

"Have you reconsidered?" I asked.

"Under two conditions."

"Anything." I quickly replied.

"First, I want half of the reward for the death of the brothers."

"Done."

"Second, I kill Andrew."

As much as I wanted to kill Andrew for everything he had put Amealia through, I knew it was a sacrifice I needed to make in order to bring her home safely.

"Do we have a deal?" Marvin asked and put out his hand.

I took his hand in my own. "We have a deal."

"We better hit the road then. We have already lost valuable time. I'm going to need you to show me where the last encounter took place and we will go from there. Any clues we can find from that campsite will help." He spoke and stood up. "Thank you for your hospitality Miss."

"Thank you for your help." He kissed the top of her hand and headed outside.

"Jack." Miss MacFarlane spoke and I turned toward her. "Bring her home."

"I will." I said and smiled. I tipped my hat to her and followed Marvin out.

I led Marvin back to the campsite where the duel had taken place. He scanned the entire area. I stood back with the horses to make sure not to mess up any tracks or any form of hints of what could have happened.

"Jack. I've got something!" He called to me.

I ran to him as fast my feet could carry me. He held a thin piece of paper in his hand covered with dirt and blood.

"A note?! Is it from Amealia?" I questioned and he handed it over to me. I quickly but gently opened the note to not tear it.

"My dearest Jack,

I really hope you find this. I have not lost hope that you will come for me. I know that you will find me. You will take me from these awful men. I am okay. I'm hurt, but not badly. I don't know why they have spared me for so long or why they took me to begin with. I have been fighting them every step of the way. You and Bonnie have lit a fire in me. I will fight until you find me. I won't give up on you, just please don't give up on me.

Amealia"

I folded the paper back up and placed it in my pocket.

"I won't give up on you Amealia. I promise…" I whispered.

"They have a week ahead of us Jack… We can reach them quickly if there is a good track to trail, but I don't want you to get your hopes up to high. It can kill a man… I know firsthand."

"I know we will find her." I spoke confidently refusing to let my doubts come through.

"I remember those words all too well…" Marvin said faintly and hopped onto his horse. "Let's go. We have a lot of ground to cover before nightfall."