Chapter 15: Return To Valentine
Jack and his gang rode through the forests, avoiding the main roads in case of the law. Jane rode on the back of The Kid's horse, Jessica and Blanco rode flank, keeping a lookout for any riders. Jack stopped his horse, he looked at his map and compass. "We're close, Horseshoe Overlook should just be in this clearing." Jack told them. They continued riding, they eventually reached the clearing where Horseshoe Overlook was. To their surprise, there was a camp full of bounty hunters waiting for them. The head bounty hunter stood up and aimed his rifle, he aimed at Jack and started to speak. "Hold up, Marston. Get off the horse, and put your hands up. The rest of you follow suit." The bounty hunter told them. Jack reached for his pistol, before being shot in the side by the man. "Ahh!" Jack screamed. Jessica grabbed her revolver and shot the bounty hunter, Blanco shot the remaining hunters.
Beecher's Hope 1911
Jack and John rode onto the ranch, John had the bear's pelt on his horse and Jack had some meat from their kill. They approached the barn, John looked over at Jack. "Go hitch your horse. Take the meat into the house." John told Jack. "Yes sir." Jack replied. He did as he was told, after he hitched his horse he grabbed the sacks of meat off the back and walked towards the house. "I'll be back, I'm going to the trading post to sell this pelt." John told Jack. "Okay, pa." Jack replied. Jack turned around to walk towards the house, John looked at the cross around his neck. He then looked at Jack. "Hey, son. Put those sacks down and come here a second." John told Jack. Jack did as he was told and walked towards John. John got off his horse and took the necklace off. "Son, this is the Obscuridad Del Santo Andreas. It was given to me by a nun in Mexico. They say only the bravest and most honest of men are worthy of it's power." John tol Jack. He put the cross around Jack's neck, who looked at it's beauty and grace. "When you're wearing it, God is protecting you. You proved yourself to me today, and I think it's time for you to have it." John told Jack. "Thank you, sir." Jack responded in a humble manner. "You're welcome son. You're a man now. Now go take that meat in to your mother." John said before mounting his horse. "I'll be back." John told Jack before riding off.
Horseshoe Overlook, Present Day
Jack looked at the blood coming out of him, he got off his horse and almost fell down. He grabbed the cross from around his neck, before saying a prayer and putting the cross on his wound. Suddenly the wound miraculously healed, The gang was too busy looting the bodies to notice, except for Jane, who looked in amazement. Jack noticed her, he looked at her and put his index finger to his lips. Jane nodded, before walking over to a tent. Jack walked over to the fire, he knelt down and lit a smoke. He took a few draws, before throwing the cigarette on the ground. Blanco approached Jack, he noticed Jack seemed unfazed. "Boss, you okay?" Blanco asked Jack. Jack raised up his shirt revealing an unscathed spot where the wound should be. "They missed." Jack replied. "Good, so what do we do now?" Blanco asked Jack. "We remove these bodies, and camp here for the night. Tomorrow we hit the bank in Valentine, then we move on."Jack replied. "Where do you think we should go?" Jessica asked Jack. Jack looked at the kids, he rethought his plan to run a gang of outlaws. But he knew he was a dead man in the US. "Tomorrow we ride south, we're going to Mexico. We ride all day, camp at night." Jack replied.
The gang looked at him in confusion, they didn't know the angle Jackwas playing. "Why did you have us ride north if we're just gonna go back south?" Jessica asked Jack. "Money, we almost have enough. The bank in Valentine always carry a huge take. Then we go to Mexico and kick back." Jack replied. "I know Mexico pretty well, I was part of the Del Lobo gang in Nuevo Pariso. But senor, with Reyes in power it'll be hard to ramble down there. He has men everywhere." Blanco told Jack. "When we get to Mexico, we're not going to continue crime. We can go our separate ways, we can stick together. But the thieving stops when we get there. Everyone was in agreement, but with mixed feelings. "Mexico would be a pretty great place to lay low, no US Government, no army. I mean it could work." Jessica added in. "I'm in." The Kid told them. "Me too." Tiffany told them. Blanco took a swig of whiskey. "It's settled, we're going to Mexico." Blanco said with a smile. "Okay, we don't have time to unpack. So we're going to use this site with the gear they already put out. Tomorrow morning we'll take the bank." Jack told them. The gang agreed, and settled in for the night.