Chapter Four

From Blood To Ashes

Jack Marston had entered the town of Thieves Landing, only to get himself involved in a gang war between two rival families. On the verge of a mental breakdown, Jack destroyed the two families, which ended him up with a bulled I his rib cage. Now wounded, he makes a last run up towards Beecher's Hope to desperately save his life and his soul.

The storm headed for east of the country, battering West Elizabeth with it's torrential rain and mighty wind speeds. Fork lightning riddled the skies, striking the Great Plains in many patches. Small bush fires surrounded the dusty roads that lead towards Tall Trees and Blackwater. Another strike hit's the Manzanita Trading Post, then a third strike hits the small plain of Broken Tree. It was the worst storm that the country had faced in many years.

Caught in the chaos of it all, Jack Marston rode on as he tried to reach the plains of Beecher's Hope. He was losing more blood by the minute, causing the injured man to lose energy and consciousness at a steady pace. Using all of his might, Jack pushed on, fighting the pain and the exhaustion as kept up the speed that he was at. He had just passed The Old Wreck Of Serendipity, which usually provided a landmark on the map. It also meant that Beecher's Hope was just over the next pass.

Jack appeared to have slipped back into reality again as he displayed a smile when he saw hill.

"I'm gonna make it." he murmured. "I'm gonna make it! Come on horse! Stop dillydallying and work!"

His horse heaved heavily as it struggled to get up the hill. The continuous rainfall had caused the ground to become think and muddy. As he climbed half way up the hill, another lighting strike appeared in the distance. Jack's grin began to fade. The lighting had come from the position of his home. Finally reaching the top of the hill, Jack made it to his home, but his fears were instantly confirmed. The lighting had struck his house and it was now burning out of control. The fire was wild. There was no way that he could put it out with water.

In exhaustion, Jack fell off his horse and landed in a heap on the wet ground. His heart sank, his lips began to quiver, his fists were shaking. He could no longer feel the pain of his pullet wound. The real pain was in his heart. He sat there and watched as his family legacy burnt away infront of him. He had finally reached breaking point. He had let his father down.

"NOOO!" he screamed into the air, slamming his fists violently into the mud. "This cant be happening! Why me, Lord! If I have sinned then strike me down! I don't want to live anymore!"

And that, Jack began to cry. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he buried his head in the mud. It had finally happened. He had finally suffered a breakdown. With his mind in tatters, Jack was unaware that he was being carried towards a near by barn which wasn't struck by the lightning.

"We got to get you out of the rain." Came a soft, familiar voice. "And then I'll remove that bullet from your body."

Jack looked up to see a drenched Bonnie MacFarlane star over him. she was wrapping a small piece of cloth around his wound and sealed it tightly, stopping the blood. Jack gazed at her with despair in his eyes. His face streaked with dirt at tears. For once, he felt completely helpless and useless. He felt ashamed to be John Marston's son.

"There you are." Bonnie said as she finished fixing him up. "Lucky for us, this barn's still standing."

"It's gone." Jack spluttered. "It's all gone. My mind, my home, my name. Everything."

"I knew I shouldn't of let you go on your own." Bonnie replied worryingly. "I saw that look on your face when you left Warthington Ranch. You were confused, angry and scared all at once. Luckily I was only a day behind you."

"Why are doing this for me?" Jack said as he began to wipe his eyes. "Don't you see that I deserve all this? I've become a killer. My Father's killing streak is my killing streak now. I never wanted to turn out like him when he was working with those government agents. I wanted to be a rancher, and I failed him."

Bonnie leant towards Jack, and rested his head in her shoulder. As the rain continued, Bonnie held Jack in her arms in the shelter of the barn. She had to look after him. He had no home, no family and hardly any friends. She cared about him.

"It's Okay Jack. It's going to be okay from now on." Bonnie assured him as Jack sobbed away. "I'm going to take care of you from now on. You can still be a good rancher and live the rest of your life the way you want it to be."

"How?" Jack asked as he looked up at her. "My home is burning away out there?"

"You're going to come and live with me on my ranch." Bonnie replied. "I'm going to make my self responsible for helping you get your life back"

"Why would you do this for me?" Jack asked as the shock began to lift from his body.

"Because I care about you." Bonnie explained. "The same way your Father cared about me, my father and my home. He may of wasted his life with those Government pigs, but I'm sure not going to let you waste yours. You're a great guy, Jack. Your father would be proud of you."

Jack nodded in response as he stared at the floor. He then looked up a Bonnie and displayed a smile of relief.

"Thank you." he said as he leant himself up against the wall of the barn.

Bonnie sat next to him, and put her arm around his shoulder. She watched as Jack began to drift off out of consciousness. He was tired but he had also lost a lot of blood which meant that he could be out for days. Using her body for heat, Bonnie held Jack and tried to keep him warm. She wasn't going to let him die. To her, he was the spitting image of man she had once admired.

The began continued until 4am when it had finally ceased. The sun began to rise over the Flat Iron Lake as dawn finally arrived. Bonnie emerged from the barn and inhaled the fresh morning breeze. She the began to smell smoke as the charcoal remains of the ranch sat to the left of her. It was indeed, as sad, heart breaking site and she hoped that Jack would never be awake to see it.

A few moments later, she re-emerged from the barn, with Jack, who was barely conscious enough to even walk. She sat him down at the back of her wagon and placed his black duster coat over him his cold pale body.

"Don't worry, Mister Marston." She said as she climbed up onto the wagon stall. "I know a shortcut."

Clapping the reigns, they headed off for the main road towards the Pacific Union Camp. There, there was a small river crossing that would take them into Hennigan's Stead. It would be a bumpy ride cross the countryside, but if meant that they could avoid the hell hole that was Thieves Landing, then there was no other way. Jack seemed to be fading within every minute. Time was running out.

After five hours of ploughing through the rocky terrain, they had finally arrived at MacFarlane's Ranch. Bonnie pulled into town and stopped the wagon outside of the house. Fellow farmers arrived to assist Bonnie in moving Jack into the house. He wasn't heavy, but he began to bleed again.

"Get him upstairs, quickly!" Bonnie shouted. "I'll go and get the doctor over here."

Another hour passed by as the doctor appeared from one of the bedrooms. Bonnie paced up and down the landing as she waited for the doctors verdict on Jack's condition.

"Well Doctor?" Bonnie asked, fearing the worst.

"Jack will live, Miss MacFarlane." The doctor replied. "He has lost a lot of blood, but you were lucky to get him here as fast as you could. Any longer, and he would've died from loss of blood."

"Oh thank you doctor." Bonnie smiled with relief. "When will he be up on his feet?"

"Not for a few days, I'm afraid." The doctor replied. "He is severely exhausted and de-hydrated. Also, I have discovered that he has suffered from a minor breakdown. His mind is not all that it seems at the moment. Take care of him won't you?"

"I will." Bonnie replied as she escorted the doctor out of the house. "Thanks again."

Bonnie stepped into Jack's room. She couldn't help but feel tearful as she saw him lying there peacefully in his bed. He was covered in bandages with blood patches and stitches. Some colour had returned to his skin but he was still very pale. Bonnie took a seat beside him and held his hand.

"You did, Jack." She whispered into his ear. "You beat the blood, the pain, the pressure. You're a Marston alright."

And with that, she leant over him and kissed him on the forehead, before leaving him to rest. She had work to attend to on the ranch and she couldn't wait to see Jack live his dream once more.