Western Trails & Beyond (For DarkWarrioress and myself)

[DarkWarrioress]

Sara sat her small kitchen table, looking out of the window at the snow falling while she drank her morning coffee. Life was full of surprises. Thanks to Chase, she had found a pleasure and a joy in sex. True to his word, he had made her forget about what had happened to her. Chase had turned out to be strong and attuned to a woman’s needs as well as her desires. She fondly thought about the days she and Chase had spent together until the day came when he was moving on. He had an itch, he claimed. Couldn’t stay in one spot for too long. On that day, after they rolled around in the sheets, they got dressed and Chase drew her into a tight embrace, kissing the top of her head. Sara smiled against his shirt. When she lifted her head to look into his eyes, his hands came around to frame her face.

“You stay strong, Sara Williams.”

“You know I will, Chase. You be safe out there. Remember where we are and come back to visit us sometime.”

“Oh, you know me, Sara,” he drawled out in his deep and rough voice as his fingers raked through her hair, “The world is such a big place. I seldom make it back to anywhere.”

She stood on tiptoe and kissed his chin.

“Well, it has been a pleasure to know you, Chase.”

He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her again, squeezing her gently.

“Oh, it’s been my pleasure to know you, Sara.”

“You all packed up and ready to get going?”

“I am.”

His voice sounded reluctant, but he released her, reaching over her shoulder for his saddlebags, tossing them over one shoulder.

“I’ll walk you out then and head on home myself.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

What else can you say to someone who came into your life for only an instant and was gone again? Together, they walked downstairs and out of the saloon. Sara glanced up at the skies.

“You best be on your way, Chase. There’s a storm brewing and it smells like snow.”

“Mmm, you get on home as well then, Sara. Be safe.”

He slung his saddlebags over the back of the saddle and cinched them down before turning toward her again. He drew her into his arms one last time and they shared one last kiss to remember each other by before he swung up into the saddle and with a tip of his hat, he set his horse headed East. He stopped just out of town and Sara was beginning to wonder if he forgot something when she saw him turn his horse and tip his hat to her before wheeling back around and galloping out of sight. She was glad he was gone so he didn’t see the tears that came to her eyes at his gesture. Whoever or even whatever, Chase was, didn’t matter to her. She was grateful for their time together. With a sigh she had swung up into her own saddle and turned her horse toward home.

When Sara awoke the next morning, she hurriedly got dressed and went to see to her animals. Stopping at her front door, she saw the skies were covered with gray. She wasn’t wrong in what she told Chase, it smelt like snow was coming and sudden drop in temperature gave credence to that fact. A quick glance at her garden and she was thankful she had gotten her crops in the past few days that had gone by. Her root cellar will packed with not only vegetables for the winter but meat hung from the rafters as well. After seeing to her own animals, she rode over to George’s and Kiwi’s to check on their place. To her consternation, someone had broken one of their home’s windows. Sara dismounted and went to find some wood to board it up with, something that would hold until Spring and while she nailed the wood over the broken window, she wondered when George and Kiwi would be back. That issue seen to, Sara set about taking care of whatever stock they had left. She gathered the eggs and would take them home with her. Fresh eggs and pan friend potatoes sounded good for supper.

Getting back to her place, she could feel a chill permeating the atmosphere around her, making her shiver. Sara took the eggs inside and then went back out to her porch where she started to gather up some wood from the stockpile that she had laid in some days before, prepping for the winter to come. Stacking the logs by the cast iron stove, she started up a fire inside of it to heat the house with and just in time. Sara could hear the wind start to howl outside. She certainly hoped Chase found a warm, safe place to lay his head by now. Fixing herself a cup of hot coffee, she went to sit at her kitchen table and gaze outside. It didn’t take long before she saw snowflakes start to drift down. It wasn’t much as yet, but it was coming. Finishing her coffee, Sara rose and went to clean her breakfast dishes. By the time she done with those and had made her bed, a quick look out of her window showed the snow falling even faster than before and more abundantly. So much for summer. Winter was quickly incoming.

 

[JackHemingway]

The small settlement of Widecross was preparing to celebrate Christmas as best it could, considering the harsh winter conditions and lack of a hall. The Great Antlers Saloon would host a party on Christmas Eve, where the residents would enjoy turkey, among several other local delicacies. Lin Shui and her parents were among those preparing dishes, but even with so much to do, there was room for some time off to enjoy the company of others.

Jackson's friend and host Lonnie had made his way up the hills to locate a prospector friend working a small deposit. Hopefully, Kattie Menke was near her cabin, and they'd be back safely to spend the holidays in the settlement. Lonnie entrusted his friend to mind the house, and Jackson did his best to get organized in the first few days. Of course, he cared for the dogs, but he also cleaned, slit more firewood, and inventoried all the supplies. They had enough to last until spring if needed, but Jackson hoped to be back in Southpass soon.

The cabin was one long open space, but everything had a place. In one corner, the men had erected a large set of bunk beds with extra timber. More extensive than a king-size bed, with space underneath for storage and access to the afters, there was plenty of room to stretch out and sleep. The dogs also discovered they were a warm place to sleep near their favorite humans. Today, though, Jackson was enjoying a much more lovely company.

Hot and sweaty, Jackson moved from behind her to caress Lin's lovely skin. He felt her athletic farm girl's body push back against him, and he took her doggy style on top of the pad and collection of colorful Indian blankets. Her long, lovely raven hair, generally in a practical braid, swung around wildly as she moaned out in her native. Jackson caressed her sides as his hands moved from her hips to her firm, young, perky breasts. He gently squeezed them and felt her tremble from yet another orgasm. While she was hardy pioneer stock, she was also delicate and youthful with soft brown eyes. Behind the kindness, though, was also an expression of desire that let him know she didn't just want to share books by the fire when she came calling.

So wet with desire, he slid in and out, enjoying the sound and feelings of passion as he took her for the second time that afternoon. Lin had come to return a book and stayed for lunch. They ate, talked, and shared for hours, and eventually, she got around to love and desires. While she wouldn't mind meeting a Chinese boy her parents picked, she didn't want to limit herself. Lin wasn't a virgin but was lacking in opportunities to explore her sexual side.

It started off with kissing and caressing, and then they moved by the beds. They hung up two sheets to give them some privacy from the dogs and undressed, hanging their clothes on hooks. Also, they had no idea when Lonnie would return, giving the moment a thrill. So the foreplay and kissing happened on the bottom bunk and only continued. Lin's soft hands on his cock were delightful, and she responded so passionately to him, caressing her clit she blushed when she cried out so loudly.

Getting close to cuming, Jackson slid his cock out of Lin's warm vagina, to her dismay, but he quickly rolled her on her back, kissed her passionately, and slid back into her as he pushed off the ground. His cock almost came out each time, only to slide back in again as she moaned with delight. As he felt he was about to let go, he slid out of her and, this time, exploded with seed on her thigh as he pushed his cock against her. Jackson moaned with pleasure several times before he kissed her.

They both cleaned themselves as best they could with water in a nearby bucket and rags before sliding back under the blankets, Lin laying her head on his chest. Jackson caressed her long mane, and after a few long minutes of savoring the experience, Lin spoke up and said, "Merry Christmas, Jackson, early."

Jackson laughed, kissed her forehead, and replied, " ll, it's probably the best Christmas gift I've gotten in a while, d r. I'm glad you came to visit. I hope you stay the night, but will your parents be looking for you, honey?"

"No, I'm a grown woman. I can do what I like. Besides, they're visiting friends. I am so happy to spend my day off with you, Jackson."

"Me too, honey, the whole day. It's been good, and it isn't over yet."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

School was out for the rest of the year. Trudging through hip deep snow was not her idea of fun. It was too cold for the children as well, no matter how warmly they bundled up. Besides, Christmas was fast approaching and the children’s minds were not on their education, but rather on what they might get for Christmas. She had bid the children farewell just yesterday and watched them trudge off to their homes. She closed up the schoolhouse and made her own way home. Later that afternoon, Sara went out to chop down a Christmas tree for herself and here she was, pulling it home behind her horse. Now she just had to get it indoors. Untying the rope from her horse, she led the horse back into the barn, rubbed him down, fed him and threw a blanket over his back. Trekking back to the hose she untied the trunk and started hauling the tree into the house. Sara drug it across the floor to a corner of her cabin, setting it upright and leaning it into a corner for now. A cup of hot coffee sounded good right about now. Shedding her jacket, Sara went to her stove and poured herself a cup. Sitting at her small kitchen table Sara stared out of the window, sipping coffee. It had started to snow again. Christmas was only a few days away and because she had no one to share it with, she volunteered to work at the Blue Moon for the holiday. Glancing at her tree leaning in the corner she had to wonder why she had bothered to chop down a tree. The answer was simple, because she wanted one. Tomorrow she would trek out to the barn and rig up something to allow the tree to stand on its own and hopefully, she could go to the forest and gather some things to make decorations for the tree as well. For now, it was time to get her supper going and then head out to take care of her livestock.

Sara tossed some hay in the stall for her horse. She really needed to purchase another one, just to be on the safe side. Chickens and ducks had been fed. Her cattle had been fed earlier in the morning. Cows had been milked. She set aside her pitchfork and headed back inside her house, rubbing her hands together. It was going to be a long, cold night. Opening the front door, her nose was assailed by the smell of beef stew. Hanging up her coat, Sara whipped up some biscuits and set them in the oven to bake. She took the stew off the stove, setting it on the table. Plate, a fork and a glass came next. She checked on her biscuits and they needed just a bit more time to cook. The best investment she had made, albeit an expensive one, was to get one of those new iron stoves. It had taken her a while to figure out how much wood she needed to use to be able to cook efficiently, but she learned. She had eaten a lot of burnt food in the beginning.

The stew was on a back burner with the lid on the pot. The leftover biscuits were on a plate, covered with a cloth for tomorrow morning. Sara sat in her chair, her feet up, resting on her other chair as she sipped another cup of coffee while staring out of the window, watching the snow drift down from the sky. Some of the snowflakes looked like small feathers, fuzzy and delicate as they rocked slightly to and fro, falling slowly to join their brethren on the ground. On the table before her were small pinecones, round, bright red cranberries in a bowl. She was stringing the cranberries for her tree and as for the pinecones, she tied them with thread so they can hang as well. her whole cabin smelled like a pine forest. A fire crackled and popped in her fireplace as it warmed the interior. Sara was content.

Why he came to mind, she didn’t know. Jack Jasek. She missed him and again, she wondered what had happened to him. Granted, men had come into her life as her lovers but Jack….. she often wondered what they could have been together had they, well, before he had so mysteriously disappeared. As she sat there stringing cranberries together, she once more sent up a silent prayer that wherever he was, he was okay. Life for her had changed so drastically. She wasn’t even sure Jack would recognize her as she was today. She wondered if he would even be attracted to her. Sara sighed at herself. Her thinking was pointless. She was never ever going to meet Jack now.

Corporal Steven Hanks. A sweet man but not for her. He had come back from patrol and she had a sit down talk with him at length. It had been a painful meeting. She had to hand it to him. Steven had been a gentleman about it. She watched him as he rode off, out of her life and back to the fort. Sara had no regrets. As for Chase, well, she had not met up with him again. He had come into her life when she had need of him and then was gone. Life now for Sara was solitary and she didn’t mind it.

 

[JackHemingway]

A few days before Christmas, Jackson Graham sat across the table from Silas Everett Thatcher, a man of imposing presence despite his lean frame. His sharp, angular features are accentuated by a meticulously trimmed mustache that curves upwards at the ends, giving him a perpetual air of confidence and charm. His piercing blue eyes reflect the wisdom of his many years spent navigating the tumultuous waters of commerce and the untamed wilderness. His hair is a dark brown, peppered with gray at the temples. His attire is a curious blend of urban sophistication and frontier practicality: a well-tailored suit made from the finest fabrics available in Boston, worn with a leather duster and sturdy boots.

As many called, Everett and his devoted wife, Abigail, packed their lives into a covered wagon and set off westward, leaving the comfort of Boston behind. In the frontier town of Widecross, where they first established themselves with the Pony Express office, which many in the small town said he did to receive his mail. A general store and bank soon followed, opening just two weeks before the holiday. Despite the flurry of activity, Everett had made time for a lunchtime Chess game with Jackson, and the few ate and drank between moves with the board laid out between them on the small side table in the Great Antlers Saloon.

Everett moved his white knight down the board, knocking out a paw. He smiled at Jackson, picked up his fresh Irish coffee, and took a long, satisfying sip. "So you'll be joining everyone here for Christmas dinner? You know you're welcome to join me, Abby, and the boys at the house."

Jackson nodded and contemplated several moves before moving his rook into the range of a checkmate. "Yeah, I'll be here for Christmas turkey and pie, but I'd love to have a drink with you later in the evening if that works. Oh, thanks for giving Lin a job."

"That was no trouble. She knows how to keep books, handles a rifle well enough, and works hard. Never mind, the boys love it when she comes to babysit. She tells wonderful stories."

The Thatcher family had come to town with plenty of supplies and money, wanting to establish themselves in business. They traded along the way. They had so much stock that they purchased a row of three cabins, using two for storage and the slightly larger of the three as their home. All lined up on the same street, Everett and Abby set up the boys in the middle so they could have a bit of privacy and teach them responsibility.

Jackson was well known, and Evertt, who always valued getting to know everyone and had been talking to everyone for the past five months, finally visited him and Lonnie one night at their cabin with a few bottles of whiskey. They all made fast friends, and soon, he and Lonnie were working out trade deals for hides, and Jackson helped in several other ventures. The funny thing was that none of this would have been more than some text on a screen in his old life.

Lonnie was the kind of random character who would give you advice as you played through Western Trails, and Evertt would have just been another typical character making the journey. A wive and kids just background information, but they were real people and good friends here and now. This time of the year, he always thinks about his old life and how much he loves Christmas.

It's funny. Jackson's parents were never tremendously into the holidays, but he always found friends or people to spend the holiday with. There was always a church that needed helpers or even stayed over at college; people who couldn't travel home because of the distance would enjoy celebrating together. For the last few years, before coming over to this side of the looking glass, he had always wanted his time with Sarah leading up to Christmas.

Sure, they were on different sides of the country, but they created mods and designs for Western Trails together. They texted often, exchanged gifts through Amazon, and wished each other Merry Christmas and Happy New Year at midnight. Jackson drank another Irish Coffee and smiled momentarily as he glanced out the saloon window. "I hope you're safe, Sarah, and maybe think of me for a moment during your wonderful Christmas." She was one of the few reasons he dreamed of going back anymore after all those years.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

The winter holiday was fast approaching. Sarah’s Christmas tree was standing upright and decorated. Sitting at her small kitchen table, sipping coffee on a cold winter’s morning, Sarah looked at her tree and was pleased. It was pretty, she thought. Snow gently fell from the heavens outside. Soon enough she would have to brave the cold weather and go out to tend to her animals. For the moment though, she sat inside where it was warm, sipping coffee. In a corner of her cabin, soft clucking could be heard. She had brought her chickens into the warmth. They wouldn’t lay eggs when it was cold and Sarah needed more eggs for Christmas. She had built them a small area in the corner of the cabin, close enough to the stove to stay warm. Every morning she got up, swept out the hay and laid down fresh. She was often rewarded by finding several eggs.

With a soft sigh, Sara drained her coffee mug, got up to rinse it out before donning her thick coat, hat and scarf. She drew on her boots and trudged out into the morning to see to her horses and cattle. With the chickens indoors, it hadn’t taken long to see to the other critters. Once back at the cabin, she opened and closed the door behind her. The fire in her fireplace was low so she stoked it up again then drug her bathing tub in front of it. Grabbing a couple of buckets, Sara let herself back outside and filled them with clean freshly fallen snow then dumped them into her bathing tub. It took a couple more trips before she was satisfied and waited for the snow to melt. In the meantime, she went for a couple more bucketfuls of snow, which she placed close to the fire so the snow would melt and the water would heat up. With her modern knowledge, Sarah decided that next Spring, she was going to install running water in her cabin and a way to heat it. Not, that she didn’t find this current method quaint, but really, with her knowledge, she could do better for herself.

Her mind returned to Jack again. She wished he was here. However, in truth, she had only known him from online. Though she felt they were honest and open with each other back then, she couldn’t be absolutely sure. Theirs was a fledging relationship despite the number of years they had communicated with each other and she felt robbed of his presence.

“You know, Santa,” she spoke softly to the empty room, “if I could have one wish, it would be to finally meet Jack. Wherever he is.”

She laughed softly at her own folly. It was true enough that stranger things have happened, but not to her. Certainly, not to her. Getting up from the table, Sarah moved into her kitchen proper and began to fix her afternoon meal. There wasn’t anyone to invite to Christmas dinner so her meal for that day would be simple enough.

 

[JackHemingway]

The Great Antlers Saloon was one of Jackson's worst places to spend Christmas. While it was a frontier saloon that was usually the home to grizzly mountain men and dirty prospectors with a large evergreen Christmas tree in the center of the room, the place basked in the spirit of the holiday. With the community's children running around and playing, most people were respectful while they moved between the bar on one side of the room and the buffet setup on the other. One of the more grizzled pony express riders promised the children they'd do what they could to help Santa later that night.

Amidst the variety of dishes on the table, including game meats and a tasty smoked turkey, Jackson searched the tree for an empty branch. He found one and, from his pocket, retrieved a white dove he'd carved, carrying a ribbon banner with Sara's name written on it in gold. The dove was one of the many crafts Jackson learned during the winter months, a way to keep his mind and hands busy. His dedication to making toys for the children was unwavering, and this year, he'd been able to make some good ones. For a fleeting moment, he was transported back to his old life before the trails.

One of the happiest Christmas's he'd spend was talking to Sara throughout the day. They talked, texted, and communicated online while handling last-minute things for the holiday. Of course, they broke things off to go to family, but he didn't have the heart to tell her he begged off going to his parent's house because of the weather. They'd just be doing another stress-filled dinner, so he enjoyed the Christmas cookies he'd made using her recipe and ramen. He'd meet up with friends later in the week, but he so enjoyed her company, even if it was distant. She always decorated her houses in the game so beautifully, her touch turning the virtual space into a cozy Christmas haven.

Jackson was sure that back in her world, she had a husband, a wonderful family, and a house covered in beautiful lights and decorations. Of the things he'd do if he ever got back to the old world, one would be to visit her and wish her well. He couldn't expect that she waited for him, but he wanted to let her know she mattered. Jackson's longing for Sara was palpable. His thoughts often drifted to her, wondering if she ever thought of him.

The sounds of the party brought him back to the moment. He smiled, collected his plate piled high with food, and navigated the crowded room back to the table by the window. Jackson was sharing the holiday feast with the Applegate, a typical family for the trail. Charles Applegate was a clerk at a shipping office who came west with his wife and children. Tragedy struck when one of the children and their wife, Agatha, became ill and died. Death, while heartwrenching, was shared on the trail, so he pushed on and met Ruby at one of the forts.

Ruby was a prostitute trying to survive on the frontier like most women, but she could cook and sew and was loving to his three children, so they made an arrangement. While Charles never thought he'd marry again, he found a kinship with the tattooed red-haired woman, and they married in a simple ceremony some months back. Charles said he knew Agatha would have approved, and they also adopted two Indian children they'd found who'd escaped a raid that destroyed their village.

The Applegates were like many families on the trail, a mix of various characters that populated it. They all held hands and said grace as he sat down with them. This year, he smiled and asked that he might make that same kind of connection again in this world.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Christmas came and went. It was quiet. Just her and the animals. She hadn’t minded at all. She had a warm fire, good food in her belly and the softly falling snow. Sara felt blessed. Why Jack kept intruding in her thoughts, she didn’t know. Did she really miss someone so much? Someone she hadn’t even met? It was the time and the effort. They had spent so much time either talking on the phone or texting each other. They had collaborated together many times on the computer game, Western Trails. She supposed, as she stared out at the drifting snow, that they knew each other pretty well. As well as anyone could with such a distance between them. She missed his laugh. She missed making him laugh. They had been there for each other time and time again, through good and bad. That had to account for something. Well, life had given her a turn. A big one. She could adapt or suffer. Once the shock wore off, she chose to adapt and leave everything that had been behind to embrace what was or rather what is. Maybe, it was that she missed that former life and because Jack had been such a big part of it, it was causing her to miss him as well. Sara gave a shrug. It was getting on in time and the animals would get restless if she didn’t hurry out to the barn and see to them.

​

Winter had taken its sweet time in its cycle, but signs of spring were popping up. Sara noticed and she was excited for winter to be over. The animals were too. They wanted to get out and about. craving the new shoots of grass that were popping up between the patches of snow that stubbornly hung around. Sara saw to the animals and then took her fishing pole down to the creek to see if she could entice any fish to bite. She had a hankering for some freshly fried fish and potatoes. Bait was a problem as the worms were not ready yet to emerge from their slumber, but Sara found something that would do in a pinch from her stores. Spring was definitely making herself known. The trees were budding. The weather itself was warming up. There was still a slight chill in the air, reminding Sara that winter still had a stranglehold on them. It didn’t ruin Sara’s mood, however. Whistling as she went, fishing pole over one shoulder, nothing could ruin her day or her plans. If fishing didn’t work out, Sarah was going to start her seeds so they had a bit of a head start before going into the ground. The advent of Spring also brought school back into her thoughts. Many of the boys would be absent as they had to help their families with planting, but the ground hadn’t quite thawed enough just yet.

Sara wasn’t sure she was ready to teach school just yet. The children would be restless from being cooped up all winter and it would be hard put to get them settled down enough to begin learning again. Luckily for Sara her teaching days were numbered. The fort had found a young lady who actually was a schoolteacher and had landed herself a home there in the fort. Sarah was more than ready to turn over her school duties to the new school marm. Oh, she’d missed the children for sure, but it was never meant for her to permanently become a schoolteacher.

Lady Luck must have sat on her shoulder. Much to Sara’s surprise, she caught two trout. The smell of frying fish filled her little cabin as she sat peeling potatoes and slicing them thin to fry alongside the fish. Could Sara’s day get any better? In this day and age, not really. As she peeled her potatoes Sara wondered if she was here in this time, did that mean she didn’t exist in the timeline she had come from? By heavens, if only Jack was around, they could get into that debate. Sara half smiled and started cutting up her potatoes. Jack would have loved that debate. Sara sighed as she gathered up her potatoes and slipped them into a frying pan. Giving them a flip, she set a lid on the pan and went to clean up the peels. She hoped, once again, that Jack was alive and well. After cleaning up, Sara went to sit down in her rocking chair by the fire to read the latest edition of the newest penny novel. It was about a dashing outdoorsman named Jackson Graham.

 

[JackHemingway]

Cyril Emmett Reinamer, a man of action and change, was always moving, chasing down the next big deal. He had long departed Sara's adopted hometown before Christmas, a well-dressed figure with captivating tales and valuable goods. His fondness for the cuisine at the Blue Moon, situated opposite the Last Chance Saloon, where he had set up his temporary base, was well known. A deal was struck, allowing Sara to trade for a four-volume book set, a rare and precious collection chronicling the adventures of Aaron 'Ranger' Gray Jackson Graham, a legendary figure in the region. The value of these books, both in terms of their rarity and the adventures they chronicled, was immeasurable.

Although Sara was not particularly impressed by the signed copies, she found solace in the books being of exceptional quality. He was confident she would appreciate the illustrations at the end of the fourth book. The promise of such high-quality reading material was comforting as the long winter loomed ahead. Her initial trade of several food items led to other trades, culminating in acquiring two sturdy horses and all the necessary gear. Cyril, enjoying his final breakfast at the Blue Moon, was ready to embark on a new adventure, heading towards a mining community that was said to require just about everything.

Winter travel was not for the faint-hearted, but Cyril had always been one for taking chances. A few days from the outpost, he encountered Black Fox, a seasoned Indian trail guide, and California Joe, a former soldier and prospector. The three became fast friends and hammered out a partnership over a campfire. These partnerships were joint in Western Trails, but Jackson Graham headed out on his own this spring.

After the holidays and the worst of the winter, Jackson outfitted a smaller wagon and packed it with supplies, and with a few extra horses and a sheepdog named Taff, he left Widecross. Everett and Abigail Thatcher were busy establishing the town, and things were in good hands. Jackson first returned to South Pass and spent over a month visiting with friends. There were nights spent in the saloons, days riding, home-cooked meals, and children to play with.

The environment could be harsh, there was no doubt about that, and Jackson visited more than a few friends at the local cemetery before moving on, but it was also a good life. He'd seen unique sites in nature and made friends, and while he missed his old life at times, the only real sticking point was Sara. He wondered if he could have had a life with her apart from their online adventures, a series of shared experiences and challenges they had undertaken together. Well, now, he was in the online adventure, but not Sara. If he was honest with himself, though, he'd had a lot of fun trying to find someone like her.

Today though he was heading south off the Oregon Trail going no where special. Half his wagon was filled with trade goods besides the essentials, including a few extras like whiskey and coffee. Jackson hoped to bag a few hides along the way but didn't want to waste meat like some settlers. He was happy to share, though, and there were always Indians and others willing to trade. He'd also heard rumors of a giant rattlesnake in the area, which was worth looking into. After all, he had a reputation to maintain.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Winter was taking its own sweet time in allowing the Spring thaw to come about. Sara sighed. She heartily sick of winter. As always, their winter was as harsh as the past ones. Strong, cold winds that bit your face off or at least felt like it. Blowing snow that set a chill in your bones that was hard to get rid of. Sara had spent a couple of months sick. It was all she could do to bring in wood to feed her fire for warmth. She had pushed her bed close to the fireplace and had stayed bundled up in her blankets with only her penny novels to entertain her, when the need for such arose. Mostly, she huddled in the blankets, staring into the dancing flames of the fire and slept. She would periodically manage to get up and brew herself some hot tea and heat some soup. As much as she had no appetite, she knew she needed to eat. When the time came to feed her animals, it was all she could do to layer on the clothing and struggle outdoors to the barn where she found them huddled together for warmth. Bloody hell, even with all the clothes she had on, the chill from the winds seeped into her bones and refused to leave her. Sara developed a terrible cough. She made poultices for her chest and a special tea infusion to drink. Somehow, she managed to recover just as Spring decided to make itself known.

The melting snow left huge puddles of water. The animals were getting restless and wanted out of the barn. She could hardly blame them, but the outside pen still had a lot of snow despite the water puddling around as well. She told them, when she went to feed them, just a little while longer. The very first chance, she would turn them loose, even as muddy as it would become. Even her chickens, which she had kept indoors, were wanting to be set loose.

Sara’s fingers were itching to start planting. She had to tell herself to slow down. Everything in its own good time. Glancing through her window, she noted the snow was disappearing. They had maybe another month before Spring really started to show its face. With a sigh, she turned away and went to fix her supper. Her supplies were getting low, but she thought she could make it another month and then she would have to ride to the fort for some supplies and seeds. She also wanted to stop in at the Blue Moon and see how they were faring. Maybe even stop in at the Last Chance for a friendly drink or two.

 

[JackHemingway]

After two months on the frontier, wandering trails and making his way across the plains, Spring or not as the song said, Jackson was dirty, mean, and mighty unclean. The only difference was he wasn't wanted by the law, and anyone he'd run into had at least one good thing to say about him. He'd killed the Ravaging Preying Serpent as the press and called the massive killer rattlesnake that had been plaguing farmers and settlers in the region. Ever since Cara had been killed by one, Jackson was less than tolerant of these so-called fantastic beasts.

Like most people not directly affected by the beast, Jackson had read the incredible story he'd traded for from a passing traveler in the newspaper. After watching it kill a great wolf in a dramatic battle, Frontier reporter Carl Woodward named the beast. He didn't have camera equipment, so he took some creative license with his sketch before vacating the scene as fast as possible. While the reporter might have exaggerated the situation a tad, local farmers had been losing livestock regularly, and it was believed the snake was responsible for over a dozen missing people.

By the time Jackson had made his way to the creatures' hunting grounds, he'd sold off his wagon and was down to only three horses and his dog, Taff. He'd sold plenty of hides, traded, and consolidated his funds into gold coins and the basics. Also, by now, the clean-cut cowboy and frontiersman looked like a dirty mountain man with long hair and a beard sporting a long buffalo coat and other hide clothing. He was ready for the beast with a custom-made buffalo gun that didn't just look top-of-the-line but was deadly functional.

With Taff's help, Jackson tracked the beast and waited all night by a large hole surrounded by skeletal remains, including the remains of a few humans. He took the beast from his concealed position with a perfectly aimed shot to the left, blasting out its brain before it could react. Jackson harvested as much of the beast as he could, taking the fangs, skull, and plenty of skin to prove he'd gotten the beast. He wasn't as familiar with the area, so Jackson wandered the trail with no particular plans.

Along the way, he met George Washington Brown and his wife, Kiwidinok, who was heavily pregnant but explained that she still liked traveling with her husband. They exchanged pleasantries and some pipe tobacco and told him he was only a short way from River Gulch Fort Collins, where a reward had been posted for the Ravaging Preying Serpent. Reporter Carl Woodward was patiently waiting and drinking, hoping to finish the story. The experience rattled the report, and no pun was intended.

Brown also told Jackson where he could find a place to clean up, stable his horses, and find lodging if he wanted it, and of course, he told him about the Blue Moon. After months of camp food, frontier coffee, and the occasional trade for a meal or a treat, a good meal sounded excellent. He wished the couple well and headed right towards Fort Collins. He checked in at the military post first and received cheers for eliminating the monster, and soon, word was spreading before Jackson made it to the town proper.

Jackson spent almost the whole day getting his situation in order. His horses needed to be taken care of, and the stable owner gladly let Taff share a stall with one of his equestrian friends. After being cleaned up, the dog was happy to fall asleep on a pile of straw. He purchased a fresh cowboy outfit and then paid generously to have everything else laundered, and he enjoyed what could only be described as a heavenly bath. The Chinese girl tried to conceal her reactions to his smell, but eventually, after several bars of soap and two tubs of hot water, he was clean.

Then, with a crowd of onlookers asking questions, he went to the barber's shop. Jackson was peppered with questions as the barber skillfully removed his beard and made him look human again. While he decided to keep his hair longer than usual, the barber gave him a good trim. Eventually, Carl Woodward got over to the shop. With the promise to pay for his meal at the Blue Moon, the reporter secured an interview with the hero of the hour, who already had an impressive reputation.

Jackson plunked himself down at a corner table at the Blue Moon, ordered half the menu along with a bottle of whiskey and a pot of coffee, and tried to relax. Woodward ordered a cup of tea and toast and began asking questions. Jackson had been interviewed numerous times, so he broke down the situation as best he could and told of his past exploits without overdoing it. All he wanted to do was to eat his fill and find a warm, comfortable bed to lay in for a couple of days. Judging by the crowd in the restaurant, though, it didn't look like that was going to happen.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Sara stomped her feet when she got back to her porch, knocking the snow from her boots. By the stars, would Spring ever come again? There were signs of the thaw, but Winter wasn’t quite ready to let go of its hold just yet. She needed a change of scenery, Sara thought as she opened the cabin door and went inside. With a weary glance out of one of her windows, she made a quick decision. She would ride into the fort later today and go visit everyone at the Blue Moon. It had been awhile since she had been in town. She suddenly had a hankering for Betsy’s homemade biscuits and gravy.

Sara’s morning flew by and after completing all her household chores, she changed into clean clothes, bundled up and trudged out to the barn to saddle her horse and ride off in the direction of the fort. It was an uneventful trip and before you knew it, she was tying her horse to the hitching post outside of the Blue Moon. Smoke spiraled from a chimney top at the Blue Moon and delicious, mouthwatering aromas filled the air and assailed her nostrils as she entered, lightly stomping her feet just inside the door. A small bell tinkled as Sara opened and closed the door. Betsy herself came from the kitchen.

“Good Afternoon, what can I do---”

Betsy looked up from wiping her hands on her apron front and spied her newest visitor.

“SARA! My lands, it’s been a while since you graced this place. Come in. Come in. Sit over here, by the window.”

Betsy hustled her to a window table. As Sara paused to remove her coat and drape it over the back of her chair, she paused before sitting down, long enough to give Betsy a warm hug.

“I had a hankering for your biscuits and gravy, Betsy. How have you been?”

Sara sat down and gazed up the older woman, who smiled down at Sara.

“I’ve been fine, I suppose. Busier than a frog jumping around in a hot skillet.”

That made Sara laugh.

“Coffee while you wait, Sara?

At Sara’s nod, Betsy squeezed the younger woman’s shoulder.

“I’ll go get those biscuits and gravy started too. Be back in a bit with your coffee, Sara.”

Sara had reached up to squeeze the hand on her shoulder as well before she watched Betsy bustle off to the kitchen. Looking out the window Sara watched the town folk as they hustled about their daily lives. Then again, the fort was always so busy between visitors, (although there tended not to be too many of those this time of year), the soldiers and those that actually lived inside Ft. Collins. The Indians tended to wander in as well, especially in the wintertime. It was the Commander’s policy to allow the Indians to reside inside the fort, if they wanted to. Some took him up on the offer and others didn’t. However, they did come to trade at Fort Collins. The grounds inside the fort were muddy as hell, due to the daily traffic. She watched the women struggle to get across the street in their long dresses and their boots with those little heels. Hardly practical but definitely fashionable. Luckily for Sara, she could give two twigs about being fashionable. She lived on the outskirts of Fort Collins and on a working farm. She had no time for fashions.

Betsy came hurrying back with not only Sara’s coffee but also her plate of biscuits and gravy.

“Oh my god, Betsy. This smells heavenly. Thank you.”

Sara wasted little time in digging into her food and ate with gusto. In between bites, she sipped the hardly, hot cup of coffee. Maybe it was partly because she was sick of her own cooking but mainly, she knew that Betsy cooked like a dream. Pushing aside her empty, cleaned plate, Sara cupped her coffee mug in both hands and watched the people outside.

 

[JackHemingway]

The calendar said Spring, but Mother Nature had other ideas, and the winter was very present even if it was sunny. For Jackson Graham, who'd been on a wagon in the wilderness, it felt good to return to civilization again. People to talk to, hot water for a bath, and trimming his hair felt heavenly. The Blue Moon was another aspect he thoroughly enjoyed, and he'd devoured two-thirds of the food on the table and plenty of coffee and whiskey. He reclined in his chair at the corner table as the reporter asked questions.

Carl Woodward, like most reporters, had a knack for embellishing the truth to craft a compelling narrative. Jackson had corrected him numerous times on the details of his adventures, but eventually, he learned to let it slide. He knew that when the story was printed, the Ravaging Preying Serpent would likely sound more like Saint George and the Dragon. But Jackson was content to let the story be, enjoying the free meal and the warm company of Betsy, who was always ready to check on him.

Betsy nodded, smiled, collected some empty plates, and said, "Well, sir, you weren't kidding when you said you were hungry. Ah, you want some more time with the rest? More coffee? Anything else?"

Jackson smiled and shook his head. "I think some more coffee would be nice, and well, I already made a pig of myself, so you have anyone down on their luck who could use a good meal?"

"Oh honey, sorry to say there is always someone like that. Why are you asking?"

"Give them the leftovers when I'm done. Don't throw them out, please."

Betsy nodded and smiled and continued to collect the plates when Jackson inquired who had come in just moments before. As Betsy was about to carry away the plates, she replied, "Oh, that's Sara. She's an old friend. She even works here sometimes. A good frontier woman who isn't married, in case you're interested," she said with a naughty smile.

Carl Woodward turned down a refill of his coffee when Betsy returned. After making sure he paid the bill in full, he wished Jackson well and told him he'd let him own it when the story was ready to print. Jackson was sure it would be another creative work of fiction, but it was flattering. What mattered was that he helped some farmers with a severe problem, and now he was warm and dry in a new town. He just had to find a place to stay while he figured out his next move.

The woman Betsy identified as Sara was sitting with her back to him, enjoying some of the fine coffee Betsy served. Jackson sighed to himself and figured he might as well get it over with. Since Jackson found himself in Western Trails, he hoped to run into someone from the old world he'd left behind. He'd talk to many people, but they were always products of the game world and, at most, someone's creation with no knowledge beyond their place in this world. Nothing wrong with that, but it leads to a lot of disappointment.

Just like every Sara or some variation of the name, he took a moment to see if they were more than part of the frontier cast of thousands. The best way was to say Sara's old screen name, which had no place in this world and definitely wouldn't just be a random name. So, for the thousandth time, Jackson would ask.

He cleared his throat and yelled out. "Excuse me, miss. It's Sara, right? That wouldn't be short for PioneerSara1849 by any chance?"

The woman began turning around slowly, and Jackson was ready to be disappointed yet again, but something felt different this time.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

A man from behind her cleared his throat and then she heard a voice she thought she’d never, ever hear again. It was a voice she had heard over the phone many a night, long into the night. She’d know it anywhere, but how was it possible? Jack?! Her Jack? Yet, she knew it had to be. He would know her old login name for the game.

"Excuse me, miss. It's Sara, right? That wouldn't be short for PioneerSara1849 by any chance?"

Sara swallowed her coffee. Just barely. She didn’t hear that voice, did she? Was it possible? She would know that voice anywhere. Afterall, they had spent hours, days, talking with each other over the phone. Surely, she had imagined it. Gradually she got to her feet, turning slowly around to face him. They had never met in real life before, so she had not a clue what he looked like. Funny, considering the amount of time together, they hadn’t exchanged pictures. At the time, it just didn’t seem important and now, here he stood in front of her. Sara let her eyes wander over his form. Heavens, it was good to actually see him. Now she knew what had happened to him, why he had simply disappeared. How was this possible? For either of them?

“Hello Jacktrails272.”

Her eyes held surprise and a million questions. The fact that he was here didn’t really surprise her considering that she had found herself here as well. She wanted to know everything. How he got here. What he felt. There was some part of her that was surprised to see him. After all, what were the odds they’d end up in the same place. In all the time she had been here, she had never run into him. Oh, she had thought about him but to see him, just a few feet from her….

“I’m sorry, where are my manners? Won’t you join me?”

Sara pointed toward an empty chair at her table.

 

[JackHemingway]

It took long enough for Jack to learn how to be Jackson Graham in the world of Western Trails, and it wasn't easy despite having the skills and knowledge one needed to make it in the world. You were alone but surrounded by people, and it took time to get used to the idea that they weren't some computer-created cast of thousands but leaving breathing people in their world. He got over the idea that he had a past that nobody would understand, and after years of disappointment, he'd stopped looking for that connection. That all came to a crashing end after the briefest of exchanges.

Jackson Graham spoke to Betsy briefly and sat down after grabbing his coffee and whiskey, which he had combined. He needed it. This was Sara, or at the very least, a frontier version of his friend. Sitting across from her, he slowly reached out to her. What do you say to someone you love from a distance when you finally meet in another world?

"I'm sorry this took so long. There was a hell of a twist, but I won't say I'm not glad you're here. I don't know how I came to this place, but it's been real. I've traveled the Oregon Trail more times than I can count; I've built canoes, herded cattle, I've been in battles, and lived with the Indians," he paused for a moment, then let out a breath and finished, "I've done it all for real, but I never stopped missing you, Sara."

Jackson momentarily let go of her hand and meant to grab his coffee, but he just took the whiskey bottle and had a swig. "You're prettier than I imagined, Sara. I figured you moved on. I mean, I'm sure the whole world did. I pictured you with a husband and kids and a great career. I enjoyed all those games, and I don't know how long you've been here, but you created a world."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"I'm sorry this took so long. There was a hell of a twist, but I won't say I'm not glad you're here. I don't know how I came to this place, but it's been real. I've traveled the Oregon Trail more times than I can count; I've built canoes, herded cattle, I've been in battles, and lived with the Indians," he paused for a moment, then let out a breath and finished, "I've done it all for real, but I never stopped missing you, Sara."

Sara smiled, wrapping her hands around her mug.

“I’ve had a few twists and turns of my own, Jack.”

Her eyes eagerly took in their fill of the man across from her. This was Jack. Her Jack. Only he wasn’t. Not really. He had carved out a life for himself here in the Old West.

“Or do you go by Jack here?”

So many questions kept popping into her mind. So many things she wanted to ask him. She just didn’t know where to start.

Betsy came by and refilled their coffee mugs, so their coffee didn’t get cold. Sara smiled up at her and gave her hand a small squeeze. In return, though her eyes blazed with a million unspoken questions, Betsy gave Sara’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze before she moved on to her other customers.

“Jack--- I have so many questions for you. I don’t know where to start.”

She could keep him there all day and night, if she could. Seeing Jack and realizing they were in the same world together without really understanding or knowing how or why also made Sara ponder a lot of other things as well. Things she wanted to run by him and get his thoughts on.

He looked good. Really good. Of all the places she had hoped to finally meet him, it was hardly here. It also made her wonder if they were actually---- no, that couldn’t happen, could it? Was it possible? Were they both living in the very world they had helped to create?

 

[JackHemingway]

Jack nodded politely to Betsy as she came by. She clearly knew more was happening with her friend and a stranger in her establishment, a quaint restaurant in the heart of the Wild West game world. The whole situation was surreal, though, to be with a real person again. Well, that wasn't fair. The people here were beyond what they were programmed to be in the game. They didn't have simple preprogrammed responses, and they had feelings and likes and dislikes.

"Jack--- I have so many questions for you. I don't know where to start."

Jackson Graham took a deep breath. While he was tempted to reach over and pour a whiskey, he decided he had enough; there was a need for a serious conversation. He smiled and nodded, came across the table, took her hand, and said, "Sara, you can call me anything you want, and we'll grow old together talking if that's what it takes to answer your questions."

"Let me ask you a few things as I tell you a few things. I'm not sure how long I've been here, over twelve years, when I got a solid hand on things, but I'm still determining. You didn't just get here, did you? We played Western Trails a lot, and we did a lot of things. I loved creating with you, and it's all here!"

Jackson stood up, walked around the table, and sat down again as he tried to expel some nervous energy. "You don't know how long it's been since I could talk to someone about all this. Are you local, Sara? Have you traveled and done stuff? It's amazing. I mean, I wake up, and I'm Jackson Graham. I never fired a gun in my old life, and here I am a gunfighter. They've even written about me. I've been hunting, and I can fix a wagon. I'm even a carpenter," Jackson said as he laughed nervously, a hint of longing in his voice for the human connection he had been deprived of for so long.

When he looked across the table into Sara's eyes and saw the beautiful soul he knew in the body of a frontier woman, he smiled. "Do you have a place where we can sit and talk for a while? I mean, they'll think we're crazy, and I want to make up for lost time. Ah, are you married or anything?"

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"Do you have a place where we can sit and talk for a while? I mean, they'll think we're crazy, and I want to make up for lost time. Ah, are you married or anything?"

Sara nodded.

“I do, in fact. I have a little homestead between the fort and town. We can go there to talk. I should be getting back, in fact. Animals to see to.”

Sara polished off her coffee and got to her feet, leaving money at the table to pay for her meal and for Betsy to find.

“To answer your question,” Sara started up as they walked out the door of the Blue Moon. “No. I’m not married. A couple of years back I was married to one of the Dakota tribe but…” she paused and shrugged, getting up on her horse.

Explaining her earlier life here would have been difficult, but this was Jack. If anyone could understand it, surely, he could. They turned their horses in the direction of her homestead. For whatever reason, this seemed so right to her. The whole concept of their meeting seemed bizarre, but then again, everything about this timeline she found herself in was bizarre. They rode side by side, in silence, except for the sound of their horses’ hooves just clopping along.

“So, how did all this happen for you, Jack?”

She silently wondered if he still used the name he was born with or had he changed it to fit in better here. It sounded like he adjusted well enough. Built a life for himself here. She wanted to ask if he was married but she wasn’t sure she was quite ready to hear the answer. Instead, she leaned back in her saddle, enjoying the still crisp morning air. Her eyes roamed around the land, finding hints of the Spring thaw. The promise of renewal and rebirth. It seemed fitting somehow that she had finally met up with Jack after all this time. One thing they had in common here, in this place, she hadn’t forgotten about him either nor had she ever stopped missing him.

 

[JackHemingway]

Jackson was tempted to take Sara's hand as they walked to the liberty stables but thought better of it. They'd had an online relationship and talked daily, but that was over ten years ago, and much of living had happened. He decided, though, that he would be telling her the truth. He'd had sex plenty of times, he'd had relationships ranging from the casual to the series, and he'd even been married once. When his lovely wife died, he decided not to do that again. Seeing Sara again was the first time he thought of it being something he'd want to do, but they had a lot to sort out and discuss. At this point, they were only good friends getting reacquainted with a shared past.

The pair arrived at the Liberty stable, and with the tip of a silver coin, the hands had his horses saddled. Taff, his frontier sheepdog, warmed up to Sara quickly and was even friendly with her horse. They headed out to her homestead and rode and talked.

"No. I'm not married. A couple of years back, I was married to one of the Dakota tribe, but…" she trailed off.

Jackson looked at her supportively and nodded. They'd get into that and a lot more when they sat down. With so much death and loss, he could speculate what would happen, but she'd tell him when it was time. Sara was a good woman in the old life, and he was sure she was good now.

"We did a lot to develop the Native Americans, so the Indians were more a part of the game. I fought the Raiders more times than I could count, but I'm still glad we didn't let the Indians be the bad guys. The tribes have such rich cultures that I lived among them and traded with them. Even loved."

"So, how did all this happen for you, Jack?"

"How did Jack become Jackson? I've been trying to figure that out for a long time, Sara, but I will tell you this: I never forgot you for a second. I figured you'd moved on and had a marriage, kids, and a career. I never expected to see you here. Glad you remembered me, though."

Jackson moved his horse closer to Sara's, leaned over, moved a few loose hairs back behind her ear, and smiled at her. "Well, after the feelings of terror and loss and knowing I wouldn't be talking to you, I started to live. I really lived, Sara and this place is all we created and more."

Jackson talked as they rode until the homestead came into view. It looked like the ones Sara had designed years ago in another life. Along the way, he talked about the past and tried to share his many adventures.


He'd fought wars against Confederates, Raiders, and Mexican bandits. When they were playing, Jackson took a steamship to South America and explored the Amazon, a mod in Western Trails. Jackson returned to America to visit New York City and then journeyed to Canada to help negotiate a treaty between the Natives and the government. After spending some time gold prospecting, buffalo hunting, and guiding more immigrants, he did it all again and again with many paths taken, making his mark in this version of the West.

"Not bad for some college student who liked computers. You read about me?"

 

[DarkWarrioress]

They retrieved their horses and headed out of town. Jack’s dog, Taff was running along their horses. She and Taff seemed to hit it off right away. When he had asked her if she had married, she didn’t even think to lie or avoid the question. After all, she was sure that Jack had his own experiences once he found himself here in the western frontier. However, it was something that hit a sore spot with her, even today. Sara still had days when she missed her husband. She often wondered how he was or what he was doing. Did he ever miss her?

As Jack spoke, she nodded her head. He might know of her Indian husband. Eventually, she’d get around to asking him. Jack seemed to have gotten around quite a bit. Jackson Graham. That’s who he was now. In her mind, he would always be Jack, but she would adjust in due time. When he told her he had never forgotten her, that made her smile. She had never forgotten him either.

"How did Jack become Jackson? I've been trying to figure that out for a long time, Sara, but I will tell you this: I never forgot you for a second. I figured you'd moved on and had a marriage, kids, and a career. I never expected to see you here. Glad you remembered me, though."

“I never forgot you either, Jackson. I did move on, but not the way you thought. I found myself here just suddenly. I just upped and –and… poofed from my other life. I was captured by the Dakota and then I fell in love with their leader.”

It kind of startled her when he maneuvered his horse closer to hers, reached out and tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear.

“When I finally realized that I was no longer in the other world, I started to adjust to this one--- wait, what?!”

“----and this place is all we created and more."

She pulled up her horse and stared at him as his words sank in.

“This is--- no, no way. I mean, surely, I’d have----”

This was the world she and Jack had helped create? They were actually living in Western Trails? Her mind boggled as she thought about it. More and more of it, made sense, but how could she not know it to begin with? And yes, she had read about him. Jackson Graham. He had been her Jack all this time. She managed a nod of her head.

"Oh yes. I have read about Jackson Graham. I never realized it was you, Jack."

 

[JackHemingway]

"I hope you found some of it interesting, Sara. Sure, there were girls, gunfights, and a fair share of mischief, but that was the life I was living. No one talks about you when you're busy building houses for settlers or peacefully trading with the Indians. But what's truly remarkable is how much you've learned. We've played so much Western Trails that we're practically scholars in this world, " Jackson chuckled, reminiscing about their shared past.

As the horses paused, Jack drew closer to Sara, gently removing her hat and caressing her face. "You're so beautiful, and you're the only thing I truly missed while I was away. It's been a long time, but no matter how I lived, thoughts of you lingered, and there were constant reminders," he confessed, his longing for her evident.

"In Oregon, not far off the trail, there is Berroyal Farms. Those berries you find on the trail—well, they have acres of those bushes and turn them into wine, preserves, and other tasty treats. That was your idea. I remember you put a special jelly on your English muffin and told me about it, and then you created the mod. Stella Cruz, did you create her as a cowgirl? I met her in Utah. Hell of a rider and a damn good card player."

"Sara, I understand this is a lot to process, but I'm here to help you adjust. I regret not making more effort to see you last time. I should have been on a plane or driven out to see you countless times, but I was scared. I'm not scared anymore, and I don't want to let distance come between us again. I don't know how I ended up with a life here, but I want to share it with you. I want to prove it to you, if you'll give me the chance," Jackson expressed his longing to reconnect.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Jack or Jackson as he was known in this lifetime, didn’t have to explain himself to her. He had been living his life as he knew it. For that matter, so had she.

"You're so beautiful, and you're the only thing I truly missed while I was away. It's been a long time, but no matter how I lived, thoughts of you lingered, and there were constant reminders."

His touch created longing inside of her.

“I’ve missed talking to you, Jack. So much. Once here, like you, no matter where life took me, you were always in the back of my mind. You know, it just sounds strange. Someone I created and you actually ran into her here.”

Sara chuckled as she studied Jack’s face.

“Did she take you for much money, Jack? I wish you had been around when I first got here. Life would have been so different, I think, but then, I wouldn’t have had my baby gir---”

Sara’s voice broke off and she lowered her eyes to her saddle. She missed her daughter. So much. It had been a few years now since her loss but grief did not have a timeline. Sara drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out. She looked back up at Jack as he spoke.

"Sara, I understand this is a lot to process, but I'm here to help you adjust. I regret not making more effort to see you last time. I should have been on a plane or driven out to see you countless times, but I was scared. I'm not scared anymore, and I don't want to let distance come between us again. I don't know how I ended up with a life here, but I want to share it with you. I want to prove it to you, if you'll give me the chance.”

She shook her head.

“No, Jack. No regrets. Things happen the way they do for a reason. You’re here and so am I,” she smiled softly, ”let’s make the most of it. Between the two of us and our knowledge of this world, we shouldn’t do too poorly. So, in those penny novels I read about you, did you really do all those things? What a wonderful life you’ve led, Jack.”

 

[JackHemingway]

"Did she take you for much money, Jack? I wish you had been around when I first got here. Life would have been so different, I think, but then, I wouldn't have had my baby girl ---"

The end of that statement left a lot to unpack, but Sara wasn't ready to do that just yet. He'd experienced a devastating loss too early on, and the worst part was that he had to go on. But eventually, like all things, you heal. Not because you want to, but because you must live because those people want you to. They'd get to it, and he'd help, but Sara was the caring person he always knew.

"Stella Cruz was a solid cowgirl, and she took me for some money, but I broke even by the end of the night. Oh, she still likes lollipops. She had a whole jar full," Jackson said, giving Sara a supportive smile.

"She wasn't the only one I met. I also met Isabel, your Morman Mom and school teacher, on that trip. She now runs a Pony Express station that primarily employs her kids. Her husband passed away, but she rents a room to a cowboy she's very fond of, so that's like dating.

"No, Jack. No regrets. Things happen the way they do for a reason. You're here, and so am I," she smiled softly," let's make the most of it. Between the two of us and our knowledge of this world, we shouldn't do too poorly. So, in those penny novels I read about you, did you really do all those things? What a wonderful life you've led, Jack."

"Well, all that is a very long story, but there were plenty of exaggerations over the years, too."

Over the next few hours, Jackson told Sara more than a few stories that unfolded over the last decade. One of the numerous differences between the Wilderness Trail and the old world was that you only got to sit still for a short time. There was always some kind of work to be done. So, while they talked about his adventures from the Oregon Trail to the Amazon, they cared for their horses. Then, they tended to all Sara's other animals as Taff chased them chickens and barked playfully. To work off the hardy meal he'd eaten, Jackson and Sara slit would for a while and carried in a large pile inside to make a nice warm fire.

Jackson didn't want to presume anything, so when he brought in his prize saddle and the rest of his things, he stacked them all near the door and placed his bedrolls near the fire. These were your typical frontier bedrolls, but they had Indian blankets weaved into them, making them very warm. Another thing he created with Sara in their talks and introduced into the game. Taff found a good place by the fire and curled up to listen to the humans.

Over cigars and whiskey, the conversation continued into the evening. Loss and death were regular occurrences on the frontier, but Jackson also had his share of laughs and good times. He loved the mundane aspects of frontier life as well as the exhilarating moments.

Jackson looked across the table at Sara and smiled. "Yes, I've seen a White Buffalo a few times, but it's amazing and majestic, and I never felt the need to take its hide."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

They sat and told tales of their lives since coming here. She asked about things she had read about him and Jack or Jackson as he was now known as, set her straight. They laughed a good bit as the night fell. Sara got up to make them some supper and Jackson stood at her side, helping her. It was rather nice and cozy, she had to admit. From time to time she snuck a glance at him. After supper, they sat near the fire and had cigars and whiskey. Well, Jackson had a cigar. She had never cared for smoking.

"Yes, I've seen a White Buffalo a few times, but it's amazing and majestic, and I never felt the need to take its hide."

She started to tell him about the Great Wolf that had appeared to her one night, but something held her back. It wasn’t because she thought he wouldn’t believe her. No, it was deeper than that. So, for now, she refrained from mentioning it. They tore themselves away from the fire and donned their coats to go out and feed her animals. She told Jackson he didn’t have to come with her. She wouldn’t be long. However, he had hushed her and joined her anyway. The joint effort made the chores that much shorter and soon they were back in front of the fire getting toasty and warm.

“So, are you planning to stick around awhile, Jackson?”

Her curiosity got the better the better of her. As soon as the question left her lips, she silently cursed herself for asking it. She needed to know what his plans were. After all, he was use to traveling and moving about. Sara didn’t want to slow him down or stop him from experiencing life. This was a whole new world from the one they had left behind. She felt like they were starting over, kind of.

He had set up his bedroll by the fire and she was grateful that he didn’t take anything for granted. The night closed in around them and it felt like there was only Jackson and herself in the whole world. She poured them another drink from the bottle that sat on the floor between them. Cradling her glass in her hands, she stared into the fire. It was funny how things turned out. Jack had ended up here first and carved out something that was bigger than life for himself. Then, somehow, she had ended up here and started carving out her own life. The odds of them finding each other were high, she thought, but here they were. Two people, who in another life, had wanted to actually meet each other and now, finally had.

 

[JackHemingway]

Jackson's biggest problem as a frontier legend was that he didn't like talking about himself. The tales of his legend had grown so much in the West because he hadn't done much to promote actually what happened. People talked and made up stories, and even when he denied things, people thought he was being modest, and they took on a life of their own. He'd done plenty by anyone's standards, but he kept things modest when he talked to Sara, his long-time friend and confidante, as they prepared and ate dinner.

For Jackson, the simple joy of taking care of Sara's chores and being close to her was a source of warmth and contentment, even when Taff, their ever-enthusiastic companion, insisted on 'helping' her. The light in Sara's eyes, a reflection of her happiness, always drew him to her, just as it did when they connected over the Internet. Beyond the romantic and loving feelings, the night was growing cold, prompting them to return to the house and spend some quality time together.

"So, are you planning to stick around awhile, Jackson?"

While Taff was finding a good place to settle down by the fire, Jackson looked back at Sara and nodded. "Before I bumped into I was just wandering for a bit. People asked me about going on a steamship expedition to the Orient. I wanted to know what it was like in this world, but now that I know you're here, I want to get to know you in this life. In the last one, I hesitated too much. After that first night of us talking and playing together all night, I wanted to get on a plane and surprise you with coffee."

Jackson's embrace was warm and comforting as he held Sara close, kissed her forehead, and whispered his heartfelt desire, 'The plan is to see if we can make it work here, and if we can, I want us to grow old together.' His words carried a promise of a shared future, igniting a spark of hope in their hearts.

At this point, if it were some romantic movie, Jackson would have swept Sara off her feet and made love to her, but this was more complicated. Their relationship was a delicate balance of friendship, romance, and unspoken feelings, and they were starting fresh. His hands slide down her body, and he holds both hands and looks into her beautiful eyes. "Want to cuddle by the fire tonight and keep each other warm? I'm tired, but I don't want to be away from you either right now."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

“Want to cuddle by the fire tonight and keep each other warm? I'm tired, but I don't want to be away from you either right now."

“That sounds perfect.”

And it did. For now. Jack or rather Jackson, was still a stranger and yet he wasn’t. That was a strange place to be or so it felt like. There was so much she wanted to tell him, to share with him, that her mind was spinning like a top and she simply did not know where to start let alone begin.

Sara nestled into Jackson as they talked quietly together about many things. One day, she tell him about the child she had lost but tonight was not that night. Eventually, the fire burned low and Sara’s eyes grew heavy. Her voice trailed off as Jackson’s warmth lulled her into a peaceful sleep. Silence reigned in her tiny cabin, but it was a peaceful silence. A comfortable one, at least to her it was. Eventually, she was sure they’d find their way into being everything they wanted to be together. It was enough that he was going to hang around even though the back of her mind worried that her little existence here on the frontier was not going to be enough to hold a man like Jackson. A man use to exploration and new experiences. Her final thought before a deeper sleep claimed her was would she be willing to go with him if he wanted to leave or even more importantly, would he want her to?