(AN: Hello Fellow readers. SirRedFox here posting a new installment of "The Good, The Bad, and The Wilde." First off, if you're reading this, YOU'RE AWESOME! And, thank you.
I try to answer questions at the end of every story. A few people have an interesting questions about the story, and I try to answer all of them as much as I can. I try to answer them at the very end of this installment. I also try to give new story followers a treat into the next installment
In the Previous Installment: The last we left the Hopps, Stu was rescued after a robbery attack. With no money the Welson's Banking Co. threatened to foreclose on their farm.
So enjoy this new chapter of "The Good, The Bad, and The Wilde." And please, fill free to leave a review or comment. Thank you.
- Sir_RedFox)
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The Proposition:
I came to this forsaken land and the God in me just evaporated.
- The Proposition, 2005
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Judy woke up early before the morning sun's rays pierced through the clouds. Hearing her father moan and groan in pain made sleeping hard to do. She would toss and turn in great worry, hearing the sounds of her father. She wished for some kind of power to fix her father, but the doctor told them that they did everything they could and all is now left in God's hands. Judy had even started praying to God, Aslan, and any other holy figures to help heal her father. Though, most of the time felt like she spoke words to the emptiness of the world.
No point in staying in bed, she was wide awake. She tossed the quilted blanket off to the side and sat up in the bed. She had to get up, she had to get going. Today, a brand-new day and with things that had to be done. Even more so now with her father ill in bed. She dressed in her light blue dress. She went to each of the rooms and gave them a hard knock, signifying that morning has come and there is work to be done.
When she arrived in front of her father's room, she did not knock or bang on the door. Instead, she simply turned the knob and peaked into the room. From the crack in the door way she first noticed the Henry rifle hanging on the wall in its usual spot. Next, scanning the room, all seem well but hears her father wince in pain every time he would readjust himself on the bed. Beside the bed her mother slept in a hard wooden chair. She looked exhausted with ruffled up fur and stains on her dress, tending to father's needs. She had to have the little ones up and ready for their chores and work on the farm, including making them breakfast.
Working on the farm had made her hands rough with calluses. So when it came to cooking, not her area of specialty. Never big into working in the kitchen area and more of the little ones forte. One meal she knew how to cook, simple and easy, and that was porridge. Whipping up a batch for all her siblings to have a bowl, before they got started on their chores. Besides, it happen to be the only thing they were able to make. Supplies were low due to their funding being robbed. The storage shed outside nearly empty. Still, she will make due. They will make due, they always will, somehow.
Judy poured a bowl for each of her siblings. In the end, there was none left to make herself a bowl. This did not bother her. She was not hungry anyway. She fed off the worry and panic of losing the farm.
Judy grabbed her brick hat and stepped outside. Perhaps she can run some errands in town before it got any later in the day.
She went to the stables were Luna stayed. She did her routine with Luna. Cleaning out dirt under her hoofs and filing them smooth. Hoof rot is what she feared, where the hoof is over grown and can crack or start to rot in places. She checked all four hoofs and picked out any lose dirt. The work already got her sweaty and her dress caked with mud.
Luna was the one normalcy in Judy's life. She wanted to hold on to that normalcy; cleaning her hoofs, brushing her coat, or combing out the knots in her mane. With all that happened, her father and the foreclosing on the farm, Luna had become an anchor for Judy, to make things seem not so bad.
The only other anchor for Judy to grasp on to, was the Henry rifle. Not been touched since her father returned to the farm battered and bloody.
That's not true.
After healing her father as best they can, she remembers taking the rifle. She oiled it up and gave it a nice polish, removing any dirt or mud that clenched to the butt, hilt, and barrel. Once done she cocked the lever several times and listened as good as she can with her bunny ears. Listening for any imperfections. When all good, Judy hung the gun back up on the wall. There it stayed.
Judy first tossed the brown leather saddle on to Luna's back. Next she buckled on the saddle bags to store any supplies she might acquire. Strapping on the reins onto Luna and making sure the rest of the saddle was securely fitted, Judy jumped up on to Luna's back. With a tug on the reigns and a soft, but swift, kick to the behind and Luna trotted out of the stables and soon galloping down the road to the ranch.
Rounding out the corner onto the main road to Bunnyburrow. Before kicking off and speeding down to her destination, an interloper stood in her way. It was Andrew, and he rode one of the many show horses the Waslon's owned. This time he dressed in his Sundays best. He wore slick black boots that shined and a black trousers and jacket to match with his shoes. His bunny ears pinned back behind him with a golden pin and the fur on his head combed back. He wore a dark maroon vest with gold stitching over a white button up shirt. He had a pink flower pinned to his lapel. He wore a black derby hat, which he immediately took off once seeing Judy.
"Good a-a-afternoon, Judy," Andrew trying to stay calm and not let his voice crack or stutter. He tried not to blush, but Judy saw his cheeks under his fur glow red.
"Hello Andrew," Judy said, trying to not sound too condescending. "What brings the youngest of the Waslon family to the Hopp Ranch?"
"Oh well, business, mostly, I'm afraid."
"And what business is that?" Judy already guessed what type of business he was there for. The foreclosing on the property.
"Actually, Judy, I'd like to speak to your parents first about the matter."
This surprised Judy. Probably the first time he ever been stern with her. She hated to admit it, but she became impressed by this. Usually, when Andrew tries to talk to Judy he goes off on a sputtering-stuttering-spatter
"Well, alright, I'll let you to your business. Perhaps meet you on my way back from town?"
"Maybe," Andrew said. "Maybe."
Judy went about the rest of her day, not giving another thought about Andrew. She went to the trading post to buy some leather straps and some rope, and then to the market for flour and preserved peaches in a jar. Enough for today's run. She hops on top of Luna and gives a swift kick, riding her back home.
Arriving home, she sat on Luna and watched as Andrew exited out of the Hopp's residence accompanied by her mother. Watching, Andrew did a cure-sea bow to her mother in respect. He slapped his Derby hat on and mounted his stead. Like Judy had done to Luna, Andrew gave a swift kick to his stallion and galloped off. As he rode down the dirt road, he gave a quick glance to Judy as he rode past her.
She had a good guess what it was Andrew had come to talk to them about. Most likely, about how it's time for the Hopp's family to finally move off what is now the bank's land. No. No, not that. Andrew might be a Weslon, but he's better than the rest of his family.
Judy rode Luna into her stall. Swung her legs down and dismounted Luna. She gathered up the supplies she bought in town and headed to the house.
"Juuudddyyy!" Hearing her name being called out by her mother. She was being summoned. Grabbing all the supplies she bought in town and ran to the house, where her mother stood outside. "Judy, me and your father need to talk to you."
She didn't say anything back. She instead gave a slight nod of her head, showing she understands. Following her mother inside and dropping the supplies on the dining table, they made their way to her father's room. An empty chair next to her father's bed, which she sat in. Her mother taking the empty chair on the other side. Her father used all the strength he had to sit up straight. Judy sense sorrow in his eyes.
"Judy," he said, "you know that me and your mother would do almost anything to keep this ranch. Even if it meant having to sell the Henry rifle hanging up there." Judy turned to look at the rifle hanging in display. Probably the most expensive thing they owned. "But not even selling that will raise enough money to save this ranch," her father continued. "I'm sure you're aware that Andrew Welson stopped by to talk to us."
How could she forget? Him in one of his nifty little outfits. Galloping down the dirt road on one of his father's draft horses. Looking as if he had the world in his hands. That's what he looked like at least. Judy forgets that Andrew is some-what, tolerable.
"He came to us with a proposition on how to settle this farms debt. And that's-" Stu looked at Bonnie then back at Judy. The words had become too hard too say. "And that's-," stalling again. "If you take his hand in marriage."
The words echoed inside Judy's head. Marriage? Judy's heart sank deep into her stomach. She felt as if she all of a sudden can not breathe. Cold sweat ran down her body.
"If you take his hand in marriage, our debt will be completely be erased and we will keep the farm. And not just the farm, but medical expenses since my injury." He fell silent, easy to tell from Judy's face that this was all overwhelming.
"So that's it then?" Judy finally spoke up. "I become some token to be traded in? Nothing more than livestock to be traded and used?" Judy tried her hardest to hold back tears, not wanting to look weak right now.
"Judy," came Bonnie. "We can't force you into any kind of marriage."
"Good!" She spoke and stood up, almost knocking the chair back. "Because I'm not doing it."
"But we do want you to strongly consider it. We would be able to keep the farm as is, and the Welson's have money to help us with any need."
She didn't know what else to say. She could feel water starting to sting her eyes. Running out the room was her only option, and she took it. Outside she whistled for Luna. The Arabian cream horse galloped to her rescue. Her mother tried calling her back, but to no use. Once mounted Luna, Judy gave a swift kick, and they galloped away.
Judy didn't know where she was going. Just somewhere that wasn't here. She rode Luna to the farthest end of the Hopp's Ranch. Once bringing Luna to a halt, she slid down the horses back side. The sun was just setting on the western horizon, feelings its last rays of heat. Pacing back and forth. She finally let her emotions get to her, and she burst into tears.
Marrying Andrew Welson. Has life not already been cruel enough for her. Dropped to her hands and knees and cried. What was she to do? Marry a Welson to save the farm, or have the Welsons take their farm any way. She wiped tears away from her eyes. Only a miracle could save her from all of this.
To her left came the whine of a horse. Sucking up and wiping away her tears, she looked to see a light brown mustang. It feasted on what little vegetables grew this far on the property. A saddle was hitched to the back of the mustang, but with no rider. It took small steps. A long leather strap extended behind the horse. The leather strap was tided to the foot of a mammal. Running over to help the wounded mammal being dragged behind the horse, she discovers the mammal to be a wounded, unconscience, red fox.
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(AN: Thank you for reading, and Thank you for reading this. Again, YOU'RE AWESOME! I hope you enjoyed this new installment. How will the clash between Judy and Nick go now that they've finally met? What's happening in Zootopia? Can Nick be Judy's saving grace?
As I said before, please leave a commit on how you'd rather have future chapters come out. Thank you!
- Sir_RedFox)