Western Trails & Beyond (For DarkWarrioress and myself)

Jackson wasn't sure how he would explain it to Sara, but he'd laid with plenty of women since he'd arrived in Western Trails, and granted, it hadn't been any easier; being skilled at most things in this reality was pretty helpful at impressing people. On the frontier, women were no less lonely than men, and while there were supposedly higher moral standards, sex was still a lot of fun. Jackson didn't have anything to be ashamed of after Sara was literally in another world, and they weren't in a relationship. He'd be discreet about it, and he was sure she'd expect he hadn't been alone the whole time waiting for her to show up.

Now that she was here, though, he wanted to see if they could make a relationship work. Being stranded in a pretend digital world that was shockingly real, though, made figuring out which coast to live on and working from home seem much easier to have relationship issues. There were some familiar feelings that, despite him being a stranger in some respects, there was a closeness he knew they could build on.

With the very warm bedding, Jackson, at least when he had a roof over his head, favored the Native breechcloth to wear to bed, and with his chest bare along with most of his body in the dim firelight, Sara got to see his scared and battered body. Arrows, bullets, and blades had pierced his body more times than he cared to count, along with tattoos from Chinese arts and Native Americans as a sign of brotherhood or friendship. It's one thing to watch your character survive hits in the game, but it's another to experience it repeatedly. He was also very muscular, and he thought Sara approved even if she didn't say so. However, she slept with her head on his chest, and her hand gently caressed him as they slept.

It was a warm, wonderful feeling for the whole night, but they weren't leaving in a romance novel either. Dawn had arrived, and Sara's rooster was waking everyone. Sara stirred, sat up, grabbed the blanket, and sleepily smiled at him. Jackson sat up, kissed her on the forehead, and hugged her. He whispered into her ear, "I need to take care of Taff. I'll see to things, and you sleep in a little. It will be a good change."

Sara protested a little as he dressed but eventually said something like thank you. As she cuddled up again, he got the fire going. With Taff following him outside, he took care of the morning chores and last night gave him a pretty good outline about what needed to be done. Unsurprisingly, Sara organized everything, including an efficient routine, just like she played the game. Soon, everything like eggs was collected, the animals were fed, and the horses, hers and his were out in the coral.

Before he got back to the house with some additional packs he'd left out in the barn, he saw Sara up and out chopping more wood for the fireplace, though she had a good-sized stack on the porch. He walked over and gave her a peck on the cheek. "If you don't mind me using some of your eggs, I'd like to make us breakfast."

With that, he headed inside and got to work with her large skillet over the fighter, adding eggs and tomatoes from one of the jars he brought in and also managing to toast a few slices of the sizeable sorrower dough loaf he'd brought with him. These were the last good food supplies he had that he didn't trade with along the trail. He still had plenty of emergency rations and even feed for his horses. The positive of traveling alone was that he could carry plenty, and the low temperatures kept it all fresh. The last item was coffee from South America, and the smell cut through the cabin's air with a warming and enticing taste. He set up two plates at the kitchen table, and though he was spoiling the sheepdog, Taff happily snacked on a slice of toast with an egg.

Jackson sat down across from Sara and smiled. "We can take turns if you like. We'll need to talk about supplies and what we're doing. I hope you like breakfast. Have you had any partners on the trail? I mean, people you worked with for goals or anything like prospecting or hunting?"
 
That damn rooster! As usual, it woke her at dawn but it wasn’t the only one. Jackson sat up, giving her a kiss on her forehead. The gesture was sweet and it made her feel warm and fuzzy inside. Then his voice was in her ear and it made her shiver. Not his words, but the timber of his voice.

"I need to take care of Taff. I'll see to things, and you sleep in a little. It will be a good change."

She wanted to argue, murmured in objection even. However, Jackson wasn’t taking no for an answer. She watched sleepily as he donned his jacket, calling to Taff and out they went, gently closing the door behind them. Sara felt bad that they were headed out in this weather and staying out long enough to see to the animals, but the warmth of the sleeping bag and the fire made her snuggle down for a little longer.

Eventually, she got up, donned her clothes and winter coat, going out to the side of the house and was chopping wood for the wood burning stove. It was her pride and joy. She had saved for a few years to afford it, but it was so worth it. She paused as Jackson approached, leaning on the axe handle where it rested on a stump.

"If you don't mind me using some of your eggs, I'd like to make us breakfast."

Sara shook her head.

“Go right ahead. There are eggs in a basket on the counter by the sink. I’m chopping up some small wood for the wood stove so I can make some biscuits. She watched as he and Taff went inside.

Sara had just finished up the wood chopping and was loading up her arms with smaller pieces of wood that would fit in the stove when the aroma of brewing coffee filled her nostrils. She got the door open and stepped inside.

“Jackson, what’s that smell? I know it’s coffee but from where?”

She dumped her armload of wood next to the stove in an open wooden box she had fashioned for that purpose. Kneeling down by the stove, she opened the small metal door and put several pieces of wood that she had brought in with her. All of a sudden, she let out a screech and turned to stare at Taff who had snuck up behind her and put his wet nose on a patch of exposed skin on her back.

“TAFF!”

She laughed.

“Your nose is cold! Come here you.”

Sara reached for him and ruffled his fur while Taff laid on the floor and gave her his belly to rub.

“You shameless dog, you.”

Sara was smiling, however. Eventually, she got to her feet and started pulling out what she needed to make biscuits. When all was said and done, Taff was at their feet enjoying a piece of toast and an egg. Jackson and she sat at the table and were eating their own breakfast. Jackson looked over at Sara and smiled.

"We can take turns if you like. We'll need to talk about supplies and what we're doing. I hope you like breakfast. Have you had any partners on the trail? I mean, people you worked with for goals or anything like prospecting or hunting?"

Sara shook her head.

“No, not really. When I lived among the Lakota, the women shared--- well, I imagine you know what life was like among them. I’ve pretty much hunted for myself and I’ve never thought about prospecting although I’ve wanted to learn.

“Breakfast was wonderful. Thank you for cooking it. I’m going to need supplies soon. I’m glad the weather is getting warmer. Flour and such we can get at the fort. Of course, I have chickens for meat and eggs but it’s about time to do some fishing and maybe some hunting as well.

Jackson, if you have plans to leave, please don’t let me stop you. I’ll be here when you get back. I mean, I’ll miss you, but I don’t want to hold you back from exploring. You’ve led such a colorful life. While you’re here, we’ll share everything. We can even hunt together. You’ll have to teach me how to prospect though.”

While Sara had been behind many changes of Western Trails, there were some things she never explored learning about and prospecting was one of them.
 
Spending time with Sara and enjoying a simple but hardy breakfast in the rustic charm of the countryside was a joy. The sun was above the horizon, casting a warm glow over the cabin. Watching her play with Taff was so sweet, and while Taff was a friendly dog, she also displayed her gentle soul. A warm kitchen, the pleasant smells of food, and a conversation he'd long to share with someone special made it a perfect start for the day. Jackson learned a little more about her and her life here. Sara hadn't been in Western Trails as long as he had been, and she was growing. No doubt, in time, her name would be famous.

Cleaning up after the meal, Jackson listened and nodded. He put the coffee on the counter. "This is a treat. I got it from a source in Texas who works at one of the ports and gets it from South America. We weren't the only ones dreaming of this world, but we certainly put our mark on it. I'll be glad to go shopping with you at the fort. I didn't get too good of a look around when I came to town. I looked like a mountain man."

Jackson chuckled, leaned against the table, and gazed out the window. "You've found a beautiful spot here, Sara. I'd be more than happy to stay and assist you in making it even more wonderful. I've relished exploring and experiencing this world, and I believe you might too, but for now, I'd like to spend some time getting to know you here."

After over a decade of experience and various relationships with women, Jackson thought things had become more straightforward, but Sara was different. They had a shared history, a past that was filled with laughter, tears, and moments of understanding. "I'm not assuming anything, Sara. I was even thinking of building my own can across from yours, but I want to spend some quality time together sharing and getting to know you again. I'm glad you're in my world again."
 
Sara stood up and went to refill her coffee mug. She looked hopefully over at Jackson.

“Can you get more? This coffee, I mean. It is just divine.”

She smiled as she listened to Jackson, sipping her hot coffee.

"You've found a beautiful spot here, Sara. I'd be more than happy to stay and assist you in making it even more wonderful. I've relished exploring and experiencing this world, and I believe you might too, but for now, I'd like to spend some time getting to know you here."

“Thank you. I got really lucky when I bought this homestead. It comes with the land as far as the eye can see. I like the idea of you sticking around, Jackson. I want to expand my fencing this Spring so I can add more cattle.”

"I'm not assuming anything, Sara. I was even thinking of building my own can across from yours, but I want to spend some quality time together sharing and getting to know you again. I'm glad you're in my world again."

She smiled. “I’m glad I found you again, Jackson.”

She moved to stand beside him, shoulder to shoulder. “That land across the way is up for sale. I had thought about buying it but I have more than enough land for myself. I wouldn’t mind helping you get established if you decide to settle over there.”

For all the time they had spent together, maybe not physically, but definitely in every other way, she had felt a connection to him until he had just abruptly disappeared. It was still a mystery how they had ended up in the very game they had spent so much time in and on. Perhaps the Fates had been smiling on both of them. Time would tell.
 
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