Red Dead Revisited/Growing where You're Planted

Red Dead Revisited/Growing Where You’re Planted

Jack Marston in Equestria

Chapter 4: Unconventional Lawman

Jake’s Pa had taught him that bounty hunting was just like any other kind of hunting. A man had to know the game he was after, know where they were likely to roost, and when they would be less likely to be guarded. In that respect Bounty Hunting was very similar to hunting deer, or maybe cougar would be a better example. But his Pa had never taught him what it was like to be any kind of real part of the law. Looking at the Mayor, and then at the sheriff, he was stuck with the offer of becoming an officer of the law.

“What you did to save those two ponies was exactly the kind of bravery that an official of the law would need.”

He shook his head, “I’m not a lawman,” he looked at them and hoped that they would understand, but instead both of them were simply looking at him, “Look, I appreciate it, I really do, but I’m not a lawman.”

Maybe it was foolish, and he believed that there was a part of it that was, but after what had happened to his Pa at the hands of a lawman had been more than enough for him to not want to be one. He’d work with them, bringing in bounties, but actually becoming one felt like it would have been a slap in the face to his Pa, and he didn’t want to be the one that did that. Instead he looked at the two of them and just shook his head.

“I’ll be glad to hunt bounties for you, but I can’t be a lawman,” he said firmly, “Please don’t keep askin.”

The Mayor looked at him and nodded, “Very well, but know that should you change your mind the position will remain open.”

He gave a nod, turned, and walked out of the city hall. Stepping outside he saw the town’s folks going about their business. He followed the current of ponies heading toward the marketplace. Part of the reason to follow was simple enough. He had some goods to sale to the gryphon hen, if she was here, but more than that he had found some wild feverfew, desert sage, and night howlers in the forest. There was also another blue flower, but Zecora had said to stay away from it. She said it was poison joke, and while he didn’t know what that was he did know what poison sumac was. He’d seen what had happened to one of his bounties that got tangled up in a bunch of poison sumac and ended up nearly dying from it.

So, on the off chance it was the same he decided to stay clear of it. The rest he knew could be used in medicines, salves, and even used to brew tea. Not to mention most of them were beautiful enough just for a bouquet of flowers to themselves. He’d seen a few of the flower stands, and decided that it would be a good idea to see if they wanted to purchase some of them. Walking forward he stopped first at the gryphon’s stand.

“Welcome back Jake!” she said offering a claw. He took it and shook it, giving her a smile.

“Thanks Starfeather,” he said as he pulled out a few packages.

She took them and looked at the pelts and meat he had collected, “Huh, so I see that you’ve managed to get a cragadile and a roc. Naturally I’m going to buy both from you, but I really didn’t expect to see the cragadile. Those things even give the most experienced hunters pause.”

He smiled, “Well, the key is to be patient and have some decent bait. I also managed to catch some fish as well,” he said as he handed over a small stringer full of the fish.

She nodded, “Well, all of it is worth about three hundred bits,” she said as she counted it out.

He smiled, accepted it, and watched as she put it into a chest that seemed to be remaining cool. He then looked at the flower stand. After saying goodbye to Starfeather he walked toward it. The mare standing there was one that he had saved from the manticore that he had ended up selling to Starfeather some time ago. She greeted him and he pulled out a small collection of the wild feverfew, desert sage, and night howlers. The pony looked at the collection.

“Lilly, take a look at this,” she said.

The blond headed light purple pony moved over and studied the flowers, “My, they seem fairly exotic,” she looked at Jake, “Umm, where did you find them?”

He pointed out toward the Everfree, “Out in the forest, and around the place where I stay. I noticed that I didn’t see much of ‘em at your stall, and I thought that you might be interested. Although, from my personal experience those Night Howlers tend to cause hallucinations, so I maybe wouldn’t make tea out of ‘em.”

Rose studied the dark blue flowers, smelled them, and then looked at her sisters. She then looked back at him, “We’ll take the other two kinds of flowers, but those are dangerous, and we can’t have them here,” she said.

She then brought out their bit bag, “We’ll pay you a bit per flower, is that fair?”

He nodded counted out about forty flowers, took his bits, and then then walked with the night howlers. Daisy ran toward him and stopped him, “Umm, just because we won’t take them doesn’t mean that nopony will. You can sell those to the hospital. I’m sure that they would want some specimens available in case anyone accidentally eats them.”

He grinned, “Much obliged,” he said as he continued. As he walked he saw Cheerilee again, and this time the school mum was walking in the marketplace as well.

“Ms, Cheerilee,” he said as he tipped his hat.

She smiled at him, “Jake,” she walked toward him and offered her hand which he took, “It’s a pleasure. How are you doing?”

He grinned, “Purty well. I’ve been busy, doing a few things here and there.”

She nodded, “I’ve heard. As I understand it you saved a stallion from going back to being a slave, and you saved the mare that freed him. That was very brave of you.”

He shook his head, “Not really. It was just the right thing to do. I couldn’t leave ‘em to get jumped like that.”

She grinned, “Do you mind if I walk with you?”

He shook his head, and the two of them walked toward the various vegetable stands. She watched as he moved toward Carrot Top’s stand.

“Well, if it isn’t our resident hooman,” she said, “Need some more carrots?”

He nodded, “Sure do,” he looked at Cheerilee, “I don’t know ‘bout you, but I could use some lunch,” he said.

She smiled, “Actually, that’s a wonderful idea,” she looked around the market, and then she looked back at Carrot Top, “Carrot, dear, do you still sell that wonderful vegetable stew?”

Carrot Top nodded, “Sure, two bowls?”

Jake nodded, “That’d be good, and maybe a couple of pieces of that cake,” he said as he pointed to the large cake she had behind her.

She nodded, filling up both bowls, and then she sliced them both a large wedge of cake and put them on wax paper. Jake took a drink of the stew, and he had to admit that he hadn’t tasted anything quite that good in a long time. The stew was perfectly flavored, although it was missing meat, but regardless there was a great blend of vegetables, salt, and some pepper that made it taste more homemade than something bought at a market. He finished it up, handing the bowl back, and then he looked at the cake. He didn’t often have sweets. After all chocolate and the like tended to be fairly expensive, but regardless he took a bite of the cake, and he realized that nothing he had before even came close.

It was moist, sweet, but not overly so. There was a wonderful hint of flavor that he didn’t expect, and he slowly began to enjoy the rest of the wedge of cake that she had sliced off for him. He looked over to see Cheerilee doing the same. She finished and smiled at him.

“Thanks for that,” she said.

He nodded, looked around, and realized that he had a couple of stands to visit before he was finished, but then he’d be heading back home. That didn’t bother him, but he didn’t mind spending time with Ms. Cheerilee. She was interesting, kind, and certainly worth getting to know better.

“Ms. Cheerilee, you got some shopping to do as well?”

She nodded, “Oh, I do. Mostly I just need to pick up a week’s worth of groceries, and then I’m heading back home.”

He nodded, “Same here, though I don’t mind to help you if you need it.”

She smiled, “That sounds wonderful.”

The two of them walked together, going to the various stands, including the Apple’s cart, and when they were finished he helped her carry her load while he also carried his. They walked back toward the edge of town, and there he saw a small home. He walked up to it with Cheerilee, and she she opened the door. He stepped inside with her, carrying her load toward the table. He sat it down for her, and she looked at him.

“Thank you for that,” she smiled as she neared him, “And thank you for today. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to spend time with some..someone that I really wanted to spend time with.”

He nodded, “I enjoyed spending time with you too,” he said with a smile, “We’ve got to do it again.”

She nodded, and then before he could say a word she stepped forward and kissed him. Jake wasn’t a foolish man. There’d been a few girls he’d been with before. None of them were working girls, because that didn’t feel right, but none of them were really wanting to be in a relationship either. He’d ended up looking on each one as a sort of lesson, and decided that when the time came to find the right person he would.

He never imagined that the right person would be a school mum, in a different world, or that she would know how to kiss so well. He returned the action, his hands wrapped around her, and even though she was shorter it felt right. He lifted her, and she allowed him. The two stood there, kissing, hugging, holding each other, and finally the need to breathe made them break the kiss.

“Wow,” she said, “Umm, I could say that I’m sorry, but I’d be lying.”

He nodded, “I know what you mean,” he looked into her green eyes, “But are you okay with this? I’m not exactly the same as you.”

She smiled, “It doesn’t matter,” she said before she kissed him again, “Because, I’ve seen who you are, and who you are is someone that I want to get to know. I want this to become something.”

She grinned, “I’ve had a couple of one night stands, and to be honest, I don’t want that anymore. I want someone that I can get to know, to have something with, and I hope that you feel the same.”

He nodded, “I do, and I’d like that as well.”