Disclaimer: I do not own Red Dead Redemption or any of its characters, except for my OC's

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Chapter 2

It was currently evening as the sun began to set and fade away in the orange colored sky, which slowly darkened as night time approached and the moon illuminated brightly over the married couple driving the stagecoach and the young man riding Jack's Kentucky Saddler through the desert as they traveled on the road leading towards/past Armadillo and continued eastward towards Hennigan's Stead. After they drove through the desert shrublands and navigated the passes for what felt an hour, they married couple and their son reached their main destination: the cattle ranch that originally belonged to the MacFarlane family. Once they made it safely home, the man released his hold of the reins to the four horses, which were buckskin colored Highland Chestnuts as he and his wife climbed off the stagecoach whist their son dismounted Jack's horse and ran beside his father as they and his mother opened the back doors to the coach, where they laid Jack out on the floor with his head resting comfortably against a full sack of horse feed during the entire ride with his chest lightly moving up as he breathed through his mouth.

"David, how's he doing?" The man's wife asked as she and their teenage watch him climb into the back of the coach while carefully stepping over Jack's unconscious body.

"He's still breathing...but barely." The older man, David answered truthfully as he informed his wife that the mysterious young man that they found and rescued was still clinging to life by a thread; due to his ragged breathing.

"Andy, help your father carry our guest into the house." The woman stated softly as she turned their son and ordered him to assist David in carrying Jack into the house.

"But Ma, what are you going to do?" The young man, Andy asked while turning to his mother.

"I'm going to run upstairs and get my medical kit." She answered, stating how she was going to fetch her medical bag to help patch up Jack's wounds and hopefully save his life before turning towards the house.

"You heard your mother Andy. Give me a hand with our friend here." David softly ordered as they watched his wife run into the house and leaving the front door open for them as he lifted Jack up by his shoulders.

"Right Pa." Andy replied as he lifted the unconscious cowboy up by his legs as he and his father carefully carried him out of the stagecoach and towards their house.

As soon as they stepped inside, David and Andy carried Jack into the living room where they laid him on one of their couches; which was a three seater and after they made sure he was comfortable, they turned back to the main staircase to see his wife/Andy's mother coming down the stairs with a medical bag in her right hand and instinctively gave her the room she needed to work. After she placed the bag on the floor, David's wife removed the ammo belt around Jack's neck, followed by his bloodstained jacket, bandana and shirt...and she, her husband and Andy couldn't help but gasp in surprise the moment they saw the two gunshot wounds to his shoulder and chest, along with the deep bruises to the left side of his stomach.

"My God..." Andy softly muttered as he and his folks saw the blood covering and flowing down the mysterious young man's chest and shoulder.

"Hannah, do you have everything you need to save this young man's life?" David stated as he asked wife, Hannah if she had everything she needed to patch up Jack's wounds as she went through the contents of her medical bag.

"...Well, seeing as how there are no exit wounds, I'd probably wager the bullets are lodged in his body. So...I'm going to have to dig them out." Hannah answered truthfully as she thoroughly examined the bullet wounds to Jack's body and fairly surmised on how the bullets from Wyatt's and Roper's guns were still in him; due to not seeing any bullet holes through the front of his shoulder or back of his chest.

"And then what?" Andy asked while softly wincing in discomfort after hearing his mother say she would have to dig the bullets out of Jack's body.

"Then I'll have to sew him up." Hannah answered as she pulled out what she had been searching for in her bag: surgical tweezers, along with suture threads, a needle, scissors and a towel before pausing as she, her husband and son turned back to Jack as he coughed weakly.

"...No...don't..." He softly wheezed while coughing weakly.

"Hon' what did you say?" Hannah asked as she leaned forward as she barely heard what Jack said...and would be deeply taken back by the answer, alongside David and Andy.

"...cough...cough...Let me...go. I want...to be...with...with my...family." Jack answered as he coughed and wheezed weakly while begging Hannah to let him die...as he wished to join his mother and father in the afterlife, much to hers, David's and their son's shock.

"...I'm sorry hon', but...I can't do that." Hannah softly replied, claiming that she couldn't morally let him die; as he was too young and fairly surmised that he wasn't thinking rationally due to his current state.

"David, could you help sit him straight?" She softly asked.

"Of course, dear." David answered with a soft nod as he walked up to Jack and assisted him in sitting up straight; due to the entrance wound being in the back of his shoulder.

"Umm. I'll...I'll be outside making my rounds along the property line." Andy softly stated as he informed his parents that he would be taking one of their horses to patrol around the ranch with a squeamish look on his face.

"Alright Andy. Just remember what I told you and make sure to take your gun in case of any rabbits or coyotes." David said softly as he approved his son's request while reminding him to be careful as he rode around the ranch and to take one of their guns with him in case he spotted any rabbits or coyotes on the property.

"Right Pa." Andy replied as he reassured his father that he would be alright; due to patrolling around the family ranch by himself plenty of times before exiting the house.

After he stepped outside, Andy walked over to the back of the stagecoach; where he climbed in and grabbed the Winchester 1866 'Yellow Boy' lever action rifle that he and his father kept underneath the left side seat and performed a standard brass check before slinging it over his right shoulder and climbing on top of Sapphire as he rode her around the property.

~Meanwhile back in the ranch house~

Shortly after their son stepped outside, David had given his wife the room she needed to work as she moved behind Jack and slid the tweezers in the bullet hole in the back of his shoulder...and couldn't help but glance away while fighting the urge to vomit: especially after hearing the light 'squishing' noises as Hannah slid and gently twisted the tweezers as she dug/felt around for the bullet. Although, as Hannah attempted to locate the bullet...both she and David couldn't help but look at Jack in sympathy: as they heard the soft whimpers and groans slipping past his lips and turning his head in discomfort as he felt the thin and cold pieces of metal digging inside his shoulder. But luckily for the young Marston, the mind throbbing pain he felt was soon over as Hannah eventually found and pulled the .44-40 caliber bullet, that was fortunately still intact...but soaked/covered in the young man's blood.

"Got it." Hannah softly stated with a light grin as she was pleased that she hadn't lost her touch with her medical skills before she placed the blood soaked bullet on the floor next to her and reached for the suture threads and needle.

"I'm sorry if this hurts hon'." She softly added as she immediately apologized to Jack for the additional pain he would soon feel before she went straight to work in sewing up the entrance wound and pausing every few seconds while trading a sad look with her husband as they heard the light sobs Jack emitted as he felt Hannah stitching the skin behind his shoulder close together before she was finished.

"David, lay him back." Hannah softly ordered as she cut the thread to the final stitch she had sewn onto the back of Jack's shoulder and grabbed the bullet she placed on the floor, which she placed on the coffee table.

"Right." David replied as he laid Jack back on the couch like his wife asked.

Once her husband had laid the young cowboy down on the three seater couch, Hannah went straight to work in searching for the bullet that was in Jack's chest...and deeply hoped/prayed that it hadn't hit or punctured his left lung: especially since she suspected that was the cause of his labored breathing and shortness of breathe. Thankfully for Jack, the second half of the operation didn't last long: as he only felt the tweezers twisting around the inside on his chest for only two minutes before Hannah pulled them out...along with the .45 round that was also coated/drenched in his blood that she placed on the coffee table beside the previous bullet. After she dug out and removed the 2nd bullet, Hannah instinctively sewed up the bullet hole and gently wrapped and taped surgical cloth around his upper chest and left shoulder.

"Han, are you finished?" David asked as he watched his wife patch up Jack's wounds with his right hand balled up near his face.

"Yes dear, I'm all don..." Hannah attempted to say before she stopped in mid-sentence...as Jack started to shiver and cough hard while moaning in discomfort.

"What's wrong now?" David asked as he and his wife stared in surprise from the young man's unexpected coughing fit before she placed the back of her right hand against Jack's forehead and immediately knew the answer.

"He's got a fever. Go the kitchen, fetch a towel and soak it in the sink." Hannah answered as she informed her husband how Jack had a fever and asked him to bring her a towel from their kitchen.

"Of course dear." David replied with a soft nod as he walked into the kitchen, grabbed a clean white towel from a drawer, placed it in the sink and turned the valves halfway with the cold and hot water running at the same time. Once the towel was soaked, he turned the faucets off and returned to the living room with the towel in hand.

"Here you go Hannah." David stated as he handed his wife the towel like she asked for.

"Thank you darling." Hannah replied as she gladly accepted the towel and folded it in half before placing it over Jack's forehead, which thankfully seemed to help soothe his coughing fit.

"So...what now?" David softly asked.

"Now we wait...and pray that he makes it through the night." Hannah replied in all honesty as she wiped her forearm against her forehead as they watched over the unconscious cowboy before they turned back to the door and witnessed Andy walking back into the house with the Winchester Model 1866 lever action rifle still slung over his shoulder.

"Ohh Andy, you're back. How was it outside?" David stated casually while Hannah gave a soft sigh of relief and asked their son on how his patrol around the property went.

"It was completely quiet. I didn't see a single rabbit in the garden or coyotes near the chicken coops." Andy answered truthfully as he informed his parents that his patrol around the ranch was uneventful: as he hadn't seen any rabbits snacking on their crops or coyotes going after their chickens.

"How's he doing?" He asked while gesturing to Jack and noticing the medical bandages wrapped and taped around his chest and shoulder.

"Your mother was able to remove the bullets out of our mystery guest. He's going to be alright." David answered as he informed Andy that Hannah was able to find and dig the bullets out from Jack's shoulder and chest.

"That's good. If its okay with you and Ma, I'm gonna hit the hay." Andy replied as he was glad to hear that Jack was going to make it while informing his parents that he would be turning in for bed.

"It's alright with us. We're going to bed ourselves." Hannah replied, stating that she and David were also planning on turning in for the night as well.

"By the way Andy, did you put the horses away?" David swiftly added as he asked his son if he had put the horses where they belonged after he finished patrolling the property.

"Yes Pop. I put the horses in the corral, along with our friend's here. I'm not an idiot." Andy answered while sighing softly in irritation as he informed his father that he had put the Highland Chestnuts in their pen, along with Sapphire; where she'd be safe and comfortable with the other horses they kept on the ranch.

"Your father is just asking Andy. No one said you're you an idiot." Hannah softly countered, stating on how David was simply asking their son if he remembered to put the horses away while turning to her husband; as they were slightly surprised by his attitude and thinking they thought he was stupid.

"...I know Ma. It's just...(tsk) forget it. I'm going to bed." Andy started off, showing he knew that his parents never called or thought of him as an idiot before handing his father the 'Yellow Boy' lever action rifle and marching up the stars to the upper floor as he walked into his bedroom and closed/shut the door behind him.

"What's with him?" David asked as he and his wife turned to each other, baffled to their son's unexpected burst of annoyance.

"What do you think darlin'? Andy's a teenager now, not a little boy and you know how boys at his age get when they hit puberty." Hannah answered casually as she pointed out to her husband on how Andy was no longer a toddler; as he was currently in his mid to late teens and reminded him on how all boys went through some sort of 'phase' then they became teenagers.

"...Tsk, yeah don't I l know it." David muttered underneath his breathe while unloading the Winchester lever action rifle and placing it in a cabinet that rested near the back wall of the living room: which also held another Winchester Model 1866 'Yellow Boy', two Henry 1860 repeating rifles, two Winchester Model 1897 pump-action shotguns, two Colt SAA, two Colt New Service and two S Schofield Model 3 revolvers, along Jack's Colt revolver that he placed in the left drawer compartment.

As David put the Winchester 'Yellow Boy' and Jack's Single Action Army revolver in the gun cabinet where they belonged, Hannah had placed a clean pillow behind Jack's head, so he would sleep comfortably and a light bed sheet over him to keep him warm throughout the night before they went upstairs to their bedroom, where they changed into their nighttime clothes, shared a sweet good night kiss and slowly fell asleep in their bed.

~The next morning~

It was a bright and beautiful morning as the sun shined and beamed brightly over the ranch that formerly belonged to the MacFarlane family. Meanwhile, inside the main house, Jack had moaned and whimpered softly as he turned on the coach he was currently laying on as he was reliving a rather terrible nightmare: the unpleasant and senseless beating that the band of savage outlaws he unfortunately encountered had given him after they had chased and shot him off his horse and left him to die after their leader shot him point blank in his chest. As he continued to twist and squirm in discomfort, Jack eventually opened his eyes and stared in deep confusion: as he had woken up in a house that he didn't recognize, lying in a sofa with a clean and soft bedsheet over him and gasped/stared in genuine surprise as he eventually noticed his shirt and jacket were gone and his left shoulder/chest were all bandaged up. As he panted softly in bewilderment, the young Marston glanced to his right as he heard the floor boards creak and light footsteps approaching to see Hannah stepping inside the living room...whom stared just as surprised with a soft smile forming on her face.

"Oh, thank goodness. You're awake." Hannah stated after seeing the young mysterious man she, David and Andy rescued was now awake.

"David! Andy, come down here please." She called out while glancing over her shoulder as Jack heard two separate footsteps rambling upstairs before David and Andy came walking down the steps and entered the living room.

"What's going on M..." Andy began ask before stopping in mid-sentence as he and his father saw their mysterious guest wide awake and glancing at them and Hannah with wary eyes.

"Oh, good. You're awake." David stated with a gentle smile as he and his wife were relieved to see the young man they found and rescued made it through the night.

"Augh...Augh...Wha...How are you people?" Jack softly asked as he was slightly disoriented from the beating he had received from the bandits who attacked him.

"I'm David Westley. This is my wife, Hannah and our son, Andrew." David answered softly as he introduced himself and his family to Jack, whom grunted and groaned softly in discomfort as he attempted to sit up straight on the coach.

"How...How did I get here?" Jack softly asked again as he was curious to how he ended up in the Westley's house while glancing around the living room and noted the various portraits of David, Hannah and Andy hanging on the walls.

"We found you in the outskirts of Armadillo...beaten half to death and barely clinging onto life." Hannah answered for her husband as she explained to Jack on how they found him in the desert a few miles from Armadillo.

"Ohh...Ohh, you're the folks on the stagecoach." Jack replied with a soft smile as he recognized the Westleys as they people he saw riding/walking up towards him after Wyatt and his fellow outlaws attacked him and left him for dead.

"Yep, that's right. Pa and I carried you into the back of the stagecoach and then we brought you here." Andy replied with a nod while revealing to Jack how he and his father loaded him into the back of their stagecoach before they and Hannah brought him back to the ranch.

"And...where exactly is 'here'?" The young Marston asked.

"Our ranch is in Hennigan's Stead." David answered as he revealed to their mysterious young guest that he and his family resided in Hennigan's Stead...much to his genuine surprise.

"Hennigan's Stead? I...Wait a second. I...I know this house." Jack asked as he was deeply stunned upon hearing the name of the region the Westley's resided in before pausing in mid-sentence as he slowly recognized the house he was in.

"What are you talking about?" Andy asked as he and his parents turned to each other with puzzled looks on their faces after hearing Jack say that he somehow knew their house.

"...My father told me about this house and ranch. How it belonged to a nice family: the MacFarlane's." Jack answered as he revealed to the Westleys how he knew their house: due to his father telling him about his brief stay and visits while hunting Bill Williamson and how both the house and ranch originally belonged to the MacFarlane family.

"That's right. This ranch did belong to the MacFarlanes." David replied with a soft nod, confirming that the ranch and house did previously belong to the MacFarlane's.

"Did?" Jack asked with raised eyebrows.

"Yes, that's right. You see, the MacFarlanes had made a fortune in selling off their cattle and they eventually decided to sell the ranch. My husband, son and I had relocated to New Austin from Pennsylvania twelve years ago and were looking for any available houses that were for sell. Luckily for us, we had the fortune of bumping into Mr. MacFarlane's daughter, Bonnie as she was loading groceries into her stagecoach in Armadillo and overheard us asking the townspeople if they knew of any available lodgings in the area. As soon as she finished loading her groceries, Ms. MacFarlane introduced herself and told us on how she and her family were planning on selling their ranch and was even kind enough to give us a ride in her wagon to Hennigan's Stead. After we arrived at her family ranch, Ms. MacFarlane introduced us to her father, who welcomed us and offered us tea/coffee before we went over the necessary paperwork and he signed ownership of the property over to me and my husband." Hannah answered as she explained to Jack on how she and her family became the new owners of the MacFarlane family ranch.

"...Well, where are the...(cough cough) MacFarlane's now?" Jack softly asked while coughing hard as he was deeply curious to where the MacFarlanes currently were.

"The last we heard, Ms. MacFarlane and her father are now living in Blackwater. They own a butcher shop together." David answered modestly as he revealed to Jack on how Bonnie and her father now resided in Blackwater and ran a butcher shop.

"So are you kind folks ranchers yourselves?" Jack asked once again as he was curious to what the Westleys did for a living.

"Well...not exactly. We're more farmers, than ranchers." Andy answered for his father as he revealed to Jack that he and his parents were farmers instead of ranchers.

"You're farmers?" Jack asked with arched eyebrows.

"Indeed. We owned our own farm back in Pennsylvania before we moved to New Austin." David answered, stating on how he and his family had owned and ran their own farm back in Pennsylvania before they decided to move out West.

"Well, what made you and your family leave..." Jack began to ask before pausing in mid-sentence and staring in suprise...as he finally noticed the two blood covered bullets sitting on the coffee table which David and his family noted.

"Are...Are those...?" Jack attempted to say as he was genuinely stunned to seeing the bullets from Wyatt's and his fellow outlaw's guns were no longer inside him.

"Yes. It wasn't easy, especially since they were in deep...but we were able to dig them out." Hannah answered with a soft nod as she revealed to Jack on how she and her husband had surgically removed the bullets out of him last night.

"You and your husband did this?" Jack asked as he was deeply stunned/touched on how David and his wife dug the bullets out of his shoulder and chest.

"No, son. It was all Hannah." David replied honestly as he revealed to the young cowboy that it was his wife who dug the bullets out of his body and patched him up.

"You?" Jack asked while turning to back to Mrs. Westley, whom smiled softly at her husband giving her the credit.

"It's true. I'm really glad those four years at medical school and ten years as a doctor came in handy." Hannah replied as she confirmed what David said was true: how she was the one who removed the bullets out of him.

"You're a doctor?" He softly asked again with arched eyebrows after hearing how Mrs. Westley was in fact a doctor!

"Indeed, I was. You see, my mother was one of the first civilian volunteer's that was drafted into the war to help treat the Union Army soldiers that were gravely wounded on the battlefield. I always wanted to follow in her footsteps, so I studied to become a doctor." Hannah answered with a soft nod as she revealed to Jack how her mother had served as a civilian medic in the Union Army during the Civil War and how she attended medical school to become a doctor to honor her mother's memory.

"...Thank you...for saving me Mrs. Westley." Jack stated with a soft grin as he thanked Hannah for operating and taking the bullets out of him.

"Heh heh, you're quite welcome Mr...?" Hannah started off before pausing, due to not even knowing the young man's name.

"...Marston. Jack Marston." Jack answered as he revealed his name to the people who saved his life.

"Well, it's a pleasure to make your acquittance Jack." Hannah stated with a soft smile, along with David and Andy who nodded in agreement; especially since they knew their mysterious guest's name.

"So...um, Jack...are you from around here?" Andy softly asked, wondering if the young cowboy he and his folks rescued was from around New Austin

"...Yeah. I'm a local." Jack hesitantly answered with a soft nod, stating that he was a native of New Austin.

"Where are you from, young man?" David softly asked as he, Hannah and Andy were curious to which part of New Austin Jack was originally from.

"Beecher's Hope." Jack answered truthfully as he revealed to the Westleys that he was from Beecher's Hope in West Elizabeth.

"Do you have any family?" Hannah softly asked...which caused Jack to pause in silence.

"...I did. But, um...they're dead. My father...he died three years ago, along with my uncle and my mother...she, um...she passed away two weeks ago from natural causes." Jack answered somberly as he painfully revealed to the Westleys on how his family was gone: as his father and uncle had 'died' three years ago and that his mother passed away due to her health, much to their deep surprise and shock.

"Oh, dear. We are so sorry..." Hannah stated while glancing down in sadness, along with Andy after learning from Jack that both his parents and uncle were dead; which left him with no remaining family.

"Jack...what happened out there in the desert?" David softly asked as he and his family were curious to what happened to the young cowboy in the outskirts of Armadillo before they found him.

"I was...visiting an old family friend in Mexico. During the ride back to Cholla Springs, I was attacked by a gang of outlaws who saw me as easy prey; someone to rob. Only...they weren't exactly happy when I told them I had nothing of value to steal...and..." Jack answered truthfully as he revealed to David, Hannah and Andy on how he was simply riding back to New Austin after visiting an 'old friend' in Mexico...and halfway during the trek, he was blindsided by a group of bandits whom attempted to rob him.

"Wyatt." He softly added with a glare slowly forming on his face as he instantly remembered the face and name of the bastard who shot him.

"Huh?" Andy softly asked as he and his mother turned to each other in confusion as soon as Jack said the name 'Wyatt'.

"...The bastard who shot me. That's his name." Jack answered softly and plainly as he explained to David's teenage son that Wyatt was the name of the outlaw who shot him.

"...Wyatt? No. No, it couldn't be..." David softly muttered in disbelief while turning to his wife, whom was just as shocked/horrified after hearing the name Jack just spoke of.

"...Wait, Mr. Westley? Do you know this man?" Jack softly asked as he noticed how spooked David and Hannah had become as soon as he mentioned Wyatt's name; like they had encountered him and his gang themselves.

"Unfortunately son, my family and I do know him. His name is Wyatt Logan and he's the leader of a gang of outlaws that go by his last name." David answered with a soft nod, confirming that he and his wife indeed knew Wyatt and his gang.

"...Jack. Are you by any chance familiar with a man by the name of Bill Williamson?" Hannah softly added as she asked their young guest if he was familiar with an outlaw named Bill Williamson...which caused him to pause in silence.

"...Yeah. I've heard of him." Jack answered while gulping softly...as he was indeed familiar with that name: due to his family's past history and how he was the first man that the Feds sent his father to either capture/kill on their orders.

"Well, apparently two years ago after Williamson was killed and his gang went their separate ways...another gang took their place." David stated as he revealed to Jack that after Bill was killed in Mexico and his gang disbanded shortly afterwards...Wyatt and his gang showed up two years later.

"And those sons of bitches are twice as vicious as Williamson's gang." Andy added after his father, stating on how the Logan Gang were just as worse than Bill Williamson and his gang.

"How do you mean?" Jack softly asked.

"The Logans are nothing but a bunch of thugs. They muscle hard working folks around town for 'protection fees': promising to 'protect' the people of Armadillo and Blackwater from other outlaw gangs and bandits for a price. And those who refuse to pay...will, I'd rather not say." David answered as he explained to Jack on how the Logans were nothing more than common crooks: as they extorted 'protection money' from the citizens of Armadillo and Blackwater...and roughed up the few people who refused.

"Tsk...If you want an example, here's one: three months back, two members of the Logan Gang were in town collecting 'donations' and the only person brave enough to stand up to them was Clive Dawson, the owner of the local hardware store. One Logan fella attempted to 'persuade' Mr. Dawson to change his mind...and ol' Clive stood his ground. He knocked the bastard on his ass and threatened him and his partner with a sturdy piece of lumber: saying that he'd split their heads wide open if they didn't get out of his shop." Andy stated as he revealed to Jack about an incident that happened a few months ago: how two members of the Logan gang had arrived to Armadillo to collect their monthly 'fees' and the only man who had the courage to refuse to pay and stand up the the thugs was the owner of a the local hardware; Clive Dawson; whom threatened the thugs with a 2x4.

"Wow, sounds like a brave man." Jack stated with a soft grin and strong sense of respect for Mr. Dawson for standing up to the Logans with nothing but a strong plank of wood.

"...He is. And he ended up paying the price for it. For you see Jack, later that night...Mr. Dawson was dropped off at the doctor's office in a very terrible state: as his left shoulder was dislocated and he had been through a very horrible beating...as the right side of his face was swollen and his jaw was slightly fractured." Hannah replied, confirming that Mr. Dawson was indeed a brave man...before sadly revealing to Jack on how Clive paid a terrible price due to his courage: as the two Logan gang members he threatened paid him a 'visit' later that night...and gave him a rather brutal beating; as they broke his left shoulder and nearly beaten him to death before coldly dumping him at the local doctor's office!

"...Dear Lord..." Jack softly muttered as he stared in deep shock after learning of the horrible state the Logans had left Mr. Dawson in after he refused to give in to their demands.

"...Yeah. And ever since that day, Clive started paying the Logans for their 'protection'." David softly muttered while folding his arms across his chest, stating that ever since that night Mr. Dawson caved in to the Logan Gang and began paying their 'fee'.

"Did the sheriff ever get involved?" Jack softly asked, wondering if the sheriff of Armadillo and his deputies ever looked into Mr. Dawson's assault.

"Well, yes. The sheriff did investigate...but he wasn't able to do anything afterwards: as Clive refused to name his assailants to Sheriff Walker...for obvious reasons." David answered with a soft shrug, stating that the local sheriff and his deputies indeed looked into Clive's assault...but were unable to make an arrest: due to Dawson refusing the names of the men who savagely beat him up.

"...(sigh) Let me guess. Those bastards threatened his family, didn't they?" Jack softly asked as he instantly understood the reason why Mr. Dawson refused to name his attackers: as the Logans threatened him into his silence by threatening his family.

"...Why, yes. That's right." David softly answered with a surprised look on his face as he was slightly astonished to how Jack knew the reason why Mr. Dawson refused to name his attackers.

"Um, anyway...Who wants some breakfast?" Hannah weakly started off as she attempted to change the subject and asked her husband, Andy and Jack if they were hungry.

"Sure Ma. Breakfast sounds good." Andy replied while licking his lips, showing that he was famished and looking forward to whatever she planned to make for breakfast.

"Yeah, breakfast sounds good to me. I'll get the water boiling for coffee." David softly added with a light chuckle, showing he was hungry as well and stated that he would prepare the water in the kitchen for a cup of coffee before heading towards the kitchen, followed by Andy.

"...Jack, would you like something?" Hannah softly asked, wondering if their young guest was hungry as well.

"Well, I...I don't want to impose on you and your family Ms. Westley, but..." Jack softly stated, showing that he deeply appreciated the Westleys saving his life and didn't want to take advantage of their hospitality before he was cut off.

"Nonsense, it's no trouble at all. Also, we have plenty of rooms and you're more than welcome to stay as long as you like." Hannah countered, stating that she and her family didn't mind the inconvenience and informed Jack that he was more than welcome to stay at the ranch and they had plenty of vacant rooms!

"That's...That's very considerate. But my father always told me to never stay in one place for too long." Jack softly replied...as he was greatly touched by Hannah's words and unexpected invitation to stay with her and family whist stating on how his father, John always told him before his death to never stay in the same place for too long: as it would bring unwanted attention.

"Look Jack, you're in no condition to be moving at the moment. Even though I was able to remove the bullets and sew up your injuries; you'll need strong medication around the clock to keep them from getting infected. Also...there's the issue with your shoulder." Hannah replied with a soft sigh as she explained to Jack that even though she was successful in digging the bullets out of him, he'd need to rest in order for his wounds to heal and antibiotics to help fight any infections.

"...What about my shoulder?" Jack softly asked as he dreaded the answer about the injury to his shoulder.

"There's a 50/50% percent chance that you might have some nerve damage...so you won't be moving that arm for a while." Hannah answered truthfully as she painfully revealed to Jack that even though she was able to dig the bullet lodged in his shoulder out, there was a slight possibility of nerve damage to his entire left arm.

"...Goddamn it." Jack softly muttered underneath his breath while leaning back on the coach in disbelief after learning about how bad the damage to his shoulder was.

"Jack, would you like some water or something?" Hannah softly asked, wondering if the young cowboy was thirsty or not.

"Yes...Thank you." Jack answered with a soft nod.

"Okay. I'll bring you a glass along with a plate so you can eat." Hannah replied, stating that she would bring him a glass of water along with a plate of whatever food she planned on cooking for herself, David and Andy.

"...Ms. Westley...Hannah..." Jack softly called out, which immediately earned Hannah's attention.

"Anybody else would've left me to die in the desert...but you and your family chose to save me. Why did you?" He softly continued as he pointed out on how any other traveler passing through the stretch of desert where he was attacked by the Logans would've simply kept on going and left him to his fate...and was curious to why she, David and Andy chose to save him; a complete stranger they didn't even know.

"...It wasn't your time Jack. And I couldn't bare to lose another..." Hannah answered solemnly, stating that it simply wasn't his time to leave their world...and how she didn't want to lose him like she had lost someone else in a saddened tone, which Jack noticed.

"...Another what?" The young Marston softly asked as Hannah pulled up a chair and sat down next to Jack.

"...(sigh) After the end of the war and David and I moved to Pennsylvania to start our family, there was an...incident before Andy was ever born. While David was going over inventory in the barn, to make sure we had the necessary items we needed to get out farm running...he stumbled upon a young boy hiding in the hay. The boy...was a Negro. David had called me for me and by the time I got to the barn, I found him holding the boy in his arms...and we were both shocked by the state he was in: his stomach was so shriveled up and his throat was dry; that we could barely hear him when he tried to speak. But the one thing that shocked us were the deep cuts to his wrists and ankles...and by the way the boy pushed away from us when we tried to touch him, we just knew...that he was a slave...and he had also been shot: due to the gunshot wound to his stomach. I tried my best to help him...but it was far too late: as he was hardly breathing and I just knew that by the pool of blood underneath the boy...that whatever happened to him happened hours ago. While David and I were trying to decide on what to do...the little boy simply cried and begged us not to leave him...and we promised him that we wouldn't. And ten minutes later...he was gone. The boy died right there in front on us. There was nothing either of us could do." Hannah stated while sighing softly as she shared a rather unpleasant memory with Jack: shortly after she and David moved to Pennsylvania so they could settle down and run their own farm, they found a young boy, an African American slave whom had been hiding in the barn...and were deeply horrified by the state he was in; as he had been starved and dehydrated for what they guessed might've been days and was bleeding badly, as he had a bullet wound in his stomach...and both she and David were heartbroken: as neither of them could do anything to help the boy except for staying with him and holding his hands so he wouldn't die alone before he slowly passed away in front of them.

"...That child's death affected both of us. We never even learned his name." She softly continued with tears slowly building in the corner of eyes, as she never forgot about that truly awful and tragic day...whilst revealing on how she and her husband never learned the boy's name.

"...Ms. Westley...What happened to that boy...it wasn't your fault." Jack softly stated as he reminded Hannah that the young boy's death wasn't her fault.

"I know...I know that Jack. It's just...he was so young, innocent. And it made me and David sick to our stomachs that someone could do something like that to a child." Hannah replied, showing she knew that what happened to the boy wasn't on her while revealing on how she and David were disgusted and horrified that any human could torture and abuse an innocent child like that little boy.

"Anyway...I'll bring you your plate and glass of water." She softly stated before she pulled away and placed the chair back where it was before walking out of the living room and towards the kitchen to begin cooking for her husband, son and their guest.

As soon as Hannah stepped out, Jack had simply laid back on the coach, resting as comfortably as he could and sighed softly with a gentle grin slowly forming on his face: as he strongly felt he would enjoy every moment and every day at his temporary new home.

~Meanwhile in the territory of Spiral Lake~

It was a quiet and lazy afternoon in the small growing town of Norman, as the towns people were going about their daily routines: as small crowds of people were browsing around the local clothing shops/fruit stands and some were enjoying themselves at the House of Spades Saloon, either talking and sharing a laugh over mugs of beer or playing a friendly game of poker at the poker tables. However, the peace and happiness sadly ended: as a strong force knocked and broke the right swinging door off its hinges, followed by the left which caused the employees and patrons to gasp and turn in utter shock and horror...as the man who kicked in and broke the doors was the leader of the bandits who attacked Jack; Wyatt Logan! Standing behind Wyatt were two members of his gang: a Caucasian man in his mid 30's with short light brown hair and coal grey eyes and another Caucasian man, also in his mid 30's with reddish brown hair and light green eyes; whom smiled darkly as they slowly entered the saloon.

"Where's Jones?" Wyatt asked plain and simple, demanding to know where the owner of the saloon, Arlo Jones was as he stepped inside the saloon, followed by his fellow gang members whom casually leaned back against the walls and was met with silence: as none of the patrons or waitresses answered...much to his annoyance.

"I said where's Jones?!" He demanded once again while kicking a vacant chair across the room, which caused the patrons and waitresses to back away and cower in fear; due to the ire in his voice while his two fellow gang members simply smirked and snickered in amusement.

"H-He's not here!" One of the waitresses cried out while cowering, claiming that Mr. Jones wasn't even in the saloon!

"Wrong answer." Wyatt stated bluntly while turning to his two fellow lackeys, whom gave a silent nod before they drew out their own sidearms: with the 1st gunman drawing out a single Colt Dragoon and the 2nd gunman drawing out two Colt Walkers whilst their leader drew out his Colt 1851 Navy revolver!

The second the patrons and saloon employees saw the guns, they screamed in complete terror before dropping to the floor as the Logans opened fire; shooting multiple times while shifting aim with the bullets from their revolvers striking the walls, tables, wine cabinet, poker tables and shattering numerous liquor bottles and drinking glasses! As they continued to the shoot, Wyatt simply smirked while glancing to his two fellow gang members, whom had whooped out excitedly while the patrons and waitresses laid on the floor, cowering in fear with most of them covering their ears. After they continued to shoot wildly for two whole minutes, the Logans had ceased firing with the patrons and waitresses glancing up nervously and with fear in their eyes.

"...Lucky for you folks, we gotta reload." Wyatt stated bluntly and sarcastically with his two gang members chuckling at their leader's choice of words as they casually reloaded their revolvers.

"Hey boss, guess who." The 1st Logan gang member stated sarcastically while gesturing to one of the tables: as they spotted a feeble old man in his 60's, Caucasian with white hair covering a nearly bald head and light brown eyes, wearing an expensive suit and glasses timidly crawling out from cover.

"Ohh, there you are you mangy spineless weasel." Wyatt stated plainly and dryly as he walked up to the cowardly saloon owner and grabbed him by his throat while his two lackeys aimed their revolvers at the patrons to keep them from interfering in their business.

"We got a message from Jeremy Quinn. He wants his gambling and protection fee by midnight tonight or otherwise, my associates and I are gonna come back and, uh..." Wyatt added, stating on how he and his fellow gang members had a message from a man known as Jeremy Quinn: how Jones only had till midnight to pay Mr. Quinn his protection and gambling fee before pausing in mid-sentence...as he coldly broke the lens to Mr. Jones glasses by flickering his fingers against the glass.

"...get rough." He concluded, claiming on how he and his two gang members would return to 'finish the job' while darkly forcing Mr. Jones to sit down on the wooden floor.

"I-I-I don't want any trouble with M-M-Mr. Quinn. T-T-T-Take the whole place! I-I-I'll take the next train b-b-back to Cal-Cal-Cal-California." Mr. Jones stuttered while cowering in fear, stating how he didn't want any further trouble with Mr. Quinn and willingly gave him ownership of the House of Spades whilst claiming that he would leave New Austin and return to California.

"Now you're getting smart." Wyatt stated bluntly with a wicked grin as he coldly smacked Mr. Jones with the back on his left hand, which earned a small laugh from his fellow gang members after they witnessed their boss slap the defenseless old man.

"Samuel, Lucas. Lets go." He ordered plainly as he turned to his fellow outlaws, whom nodded in agreement.

"Right boss. Let's leave this dump." The gunman armed with the Colt Dragoon, known by Wyatt and the rest of their gang as Samuel replied as the 2nd gunman, Lucas simply nodded with a dark grin on his face which their boss mirrored as they exited the House of Spades.

As soon as Wyatt and his cohorts left, Mr. Jones simply sat up straight on the floor and picked up his broken glasses, which had fallen off the moment Wyatt back slapped him...and simply wept as he looked at the broken/cracked glass in the lens: as the Logans had humiliated him and took away his entirely livelihood; as he had came to New Austin from California to build a new life for himself by owning his own chain of bars/saloons...and now his life was stolen away.

~Meanwhile with Wyatt and his gang~

Shortly after they stepped out of the House of Spades, Wyatt, Lucas and Samuel mounted up on their own horses; a dark brown skinned Mustang and two chestnut skinned American Quarters and rode off into the desert while shouting out 'Heeyah, Heeyah!' As they sprinted across the hot desert and xeric shrublands for what felt like 45 minutes, Wyatt and his two fellow gang members eventually arrived at their main destination: an old abandoned army depot/fort that was known by the American government as Marco Polo Fortress that had been used by the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

Meanwhile, in the main staging area on the ground floor of the fort, a rather important meeting was taking place between a group of very powerful men, 8 whom were sitting respectfully behind the large round table in the center if the room while their leader: a man in his mid to late 50's, Caucasian with black hair in a Short Caesar hairstyle, light brown/gold eyes and horseshoe mustache wearing a dark black Derby cowboy hat, black wool jacket over a black brushed cotton vest and white linen button shirt, dark black wool business pants and leather shoes was standing in front and preparing a speech.

"I'd like to thank you gentlemen for finding the time in your busy schedules to attend this gathering and to also congratulate you for meeting your daily quotas. Our profits are raining in nicely." The leader of the group of men started with a deep sense of professionalism in his voice as he thanked his associates whom were seated behind the table for answering his summons and congratulating them on making them plenty of money of their own ends.

"Excuse me, Mr. Harper." A tall and rather intimidating man in his mid 40's, Caucasian with a bald head and dry facial scar running down the right corner over his top and bottom lip, wearing a brown cotton coat over a coal grey dress shirt, brown wool pants, black leather shoes and tan brown Tom Mix cowboy hat stated professionally as he entered the room.

"Yes? What is it?" The man giving his speech, known by the eight men gathered around the table and by the general public as Senator Francis Harper, asked with the same level of professionalism in his voice...despite the slight look of annoyance for being interrupted.

"I apologize for the interruption sir, but Wyatt, along with Mr. Knox and Mr. Nash have just arrived." The man wearing the Tom Mix cowboy replied as he humbly apologized to Senator Harper for entering the room without permission while informing him that Wyatt and the two members of his gang had just arrived to the abandoned fort.

"Excellent. Send him in right away." Harper stated with a pleased smile appearing on his face as he instructed for Wyatt to be let in the staging room immediately.

"Yes, sir." The man replied as he stepped out of the room and five seconds later, Wyatt entered with Samuel and Lucas waiting outside.

"Ahh Wyatt, you're back. Did you have any issues back in Norman." Sen. Harper stated as he greeted the leader of the Logan Gang and asked if he, Knox or Nash ran into any problems back in Norman.

"Not at all Mr. Harper. You'll be happy to know that Mr. Quinn will have full ownership of the House of Spades Saloon. Jones is quitting the business due to his...health." Wyatt answered professionally as he proudly informed Sen. Harper that his associate Mr. Quinn, whom was one of the the seated, would have complete ownership of the House of Spades...due to the previous owner, Mr. Jones 'retiring' from the saloon business due to his 'health issues'.

"Good. That is very good." Sen. Harper stated while chuckling and sharing a dark smile with Wyatt as he placed a proud hand on his shoulder before he turned back to his fellow associates.

"Anyway, like I was saying...our organization is still growing and we've barely scratched the surface. But I say the sky's the limit. Why in just under the past 3 years alone, the Syndicate has established full control of gambling and mining operations throughout New Austin without drawing any unwanted attention." Harper professionally stated as he pointed out to his fellow compatriots on how their secret criminal enterprise had been steadily growing the past three years when they first met and decided to form their organization: as they had influence over both the gambling and mining industry.

"Why we have Butch Campbell, whose in charge of our money laundering operations and our personal treasurer." Sen. Harper stated as he gestured to the man sitting in the 1st chair; whom was in his mid 40's, Caucasian, wearing a tan brown banker jacket underneath a coal grey Burford Tweed vest, a dark brown neck tie matching tan brown pants, black leather business shoes.

"Mr. Clay Ridley, whose in charge of our mining operations." Harper continued as he gestured to the 2nd man, whom was also in his mid 40's, Caucasian, wearing a burgundy Emerson Frock coat underneath a white Coulter striped shirt, grey Edgar Striped pants and brown leather business shoes.

"Emmett Wade, whose in charge of our train transportation operations." He continued while gesturing to the 3rd man, whom was in early to mid 40's, tan skinned, wearing a light brown Callahan frock coat, navy blue Abilene vest, a vintage blue rose bandana tied around his neck, light brown trousers and coal grey business shoes.

"Jeremy Quinn, whose in charge of our gambling operations." Harper added as he gestured to the 4th man, whom was also in his early 40's, tan skinned, wearing a dark navy Brewster town coat over a white high collar Viceroy tuxedo shirt, black Classic Canvas trousers and black leather dress shoes.

"Diego Buenaventura, our arms dealer from Mexico." He continued while gesturing to the 5th man, whom was a Mexican national in his 60's, dark black hair, eyes, a Van Dyke goatee and mustache and was wearing a traditional Mexican Army uniform while smoking a cigar. The one thing that made the 5th man stand out, was that he had a rather intimidating demeanor that made most of the other members of their organizations feel uneasy around him.

"Milo Slade, the honorable sheriff of Blackwater." Harper added as he gestured to the 6th man, whom was in his late 30's, Caucasian, Caucasian with golden brown hair, wearing a black leather suede snap front vest over a red buttoned work shirt, grey trousers, chocolate brown Mercer lace up boots, a light brown Sonora hat and a sheriff's badge on the left side of his shirt

"Rex Sawyer, the law and order of our very own small town of Norman." He continued while gesturing to the 7th man, whom was also in his late 30's, tan skinned with natural gray hair, wearing a dark blue leather suede snap front vest over a forest green work shirt, goldish brown trousers, black leather Mercer lace up boots, a stone grey slouch hat and sheriff's badge also pinned onto the left side of his shirt.

"And lastly, the latest addition to our organization: Jackson Lloyd." Harper concluded as he gestured to the 8th and final man, whom was in his late 40's to early 50's, Caucasian with a bald head and light brown mustache, wearing a black classic rifle long coat, tan brown Coulter shirt, pitch black trousers, coal grey Western cowboy hat and black leather lace up boots.

"And organization will keep on growing, due to Mr. Lloyd's part." He continued, claiming on how their criminal enterprise would continue to grow, due to Mr. Lloyd's contribution to their plans.

"An' how do you reckon some outsider will help us make more money Francis?" The 4th man, Jeremy Quinn asked, demanding to know how Lloyd would be contributing to their plans.

"Yea. We're all wonderin' the same thing." The 2nd man, Clay Ridley automatically stated as he and the other members of their organization were wondering the same thing; due to them never seeing Mr. Lloyd before until today.

"It's rather simple Jeremy. Before Mr. Llyod ever arrived to New Austin, he was one of the very first slave traders that operated in the South during the war." Sen. Harper replied as he revealed to his associates a rather crucial part of Lloyd's past: how the newest addition to their syndicate had dealt in selling human slaves across the Confederate States during the Civil War!

"Really?" The 6th man, Milo Slade asked as he and the other members, except for Buenaventura turned to glance to Mr. Lloyd in fascination after learning that he was a slave trader!

"Yep. That's right gentlemen. My associates and I had hunted an' captured plenty of Negros back in Africa before sellin' them off at auctions to farmers or wealthy businessmen in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana." Lloyd replied while chuckling softly as he proudly confirmed what Sen. Harper just said was true and how he had sold a number of African Americans to anyone who agreed to pay his price.

"And with Mr. Lloyd's connections and Mr. Wade's railroad yard, we'll be able to revolutionize not only slave trading, but gun transporting as well. Just imagine it gentlemen: a number of railroads we control and transport not only human slaves, but weapons and any other contraband the government deems illegal. Why with our own railroads, we'll be taking trafficking to a whole new level and make even more money than we ever could through our gambling and extortion rackets." Harper stated as he explained to his compatriots on how to both Lloyd's connections in the slave trade and Emmett's railyard business, they would be able to corner a market in human/gun trafficking and smuggling with Campbell, Ridley, Wade, Quinn, Buenaventura, Slade and Sawyer glancing at one another and smiling while nodding in agreement at their leader's master plan.

"Emmett, have you gone over the blueprints I gave you at last month's meeting?" Harper asked while turning to Wade, demanding to know if he ever went over the blueprints he had given him.

"Yes, I've gone over the blueprints Francis. The details for the plans to the tracks crossing into Mexico from New Austin are a bit complex...but its doable. I'll have my boys begin work immediately." Wade answered, stating that he indeed went over the blueprints that Harper gave him and proudly informed his group's leader that he would have his employees begin construction of the railroad project right away.

"How long would you say it would take for the railroad from New Austin to Mexico to be ready?" Harper asked, demanding to know how long it would be for the railroad to be built.

"If I have enough manpower, I'd say...4-5 months, tops." Wade answered professionally as he fairly estimated that the railroad would be finished in 4 to five months.

"Is that reasonable for everyone?" Harper asked while turning to the other members of their syndicate, demanding to know if having to wait five months worked for them.

"Aye." Campbell, Ridley, Quinn, Buenaventura, Slade and Sawyer answered simultaneously, showing that five months worked for them.

"Diego, how are things proceeding on your side of the border?" Harper asked while turning to the Mexican military official, whom softly exhaled a small puff of smoke from his cigar.

"The fight against the guerillas is still waging on my friend. But the war will be over soon, especially since my armies have driven the rebels out of Ciudad Elisabetta and deep into the jungles; where the native beasts will have a delicious feast." Buenaventura answered plainly as he informed Harper on how things in Mexico had been going rather splendidly: as his armies had driven the local rebels out of the capital city and into the heart of the jungle...where they would fall prey to the wild animals dwelling inside.

"Excellent and you'll uphold your end of our deal. Correct?" Sen. Harper stated, as he was deeply pleased to hear that the civil war between Buenaventura's army and the local rebels would soon come to an end and asked Buenaventura if he intended to honor his end of the bargain they made.

"Of course my friend. Once the railroad crossing over to Mexico is built, I'll have my people deliver the first shipment of guns as promised." The Mexican military official replied respectfully, showing that he fully intended to honor their partnership and assured Harper and the rest of their compatriots that they would receive their first shipment of guns once the railyard was finished.

"Excellent. Well, that concludes our business for today gentlemen and we shall meet here back at the fort two weeks from now." Harper stated with a proud grin on his face after hearing that he and his associates would receive the first shipment of guns from Mexico as soon as the railroad was completed and professionally concluded the meeting while informing his compatriots that they were to meet again at the fort in two weeks with Campbell, Wade, Quinn and the others nodding in agreement.

"And remember gentlemen, we've come too far to let our plans falter. If anyone tries to get in our way...they're idiots. Dead idiots." He swiftly added as he reminded his associates on how they couldn't afford any mistakes and instructed them that if anyone were to stick their nose in their business or interfere in their schemes...they were to to be killed without hesitation, which earned a collective nod from Campbell, Quinn and the other Syndicate members.

A/N: That's it everyone, the ending to the 2nd chapter to my Red Dead Redemption. I'd like to apologize for the slight delay for this chapter: I had to really think outside the box for the descriptions for the main villain for the story and the members of his criminal organization. Also, I had to think of the perfect story for Hannah's background history as a nurse during the Civil War. The 3rd chapter should be posted sometime next month. Until next time, bye.

P.S. - I would also like to personally thank my good friend and fellow Fanfic author SreznoJIG; as he helped me think up of the general plot, locations and characters for this story.