Western Trails & Beyond (For DarkWarrioress and myself)

[JackHemingway]

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?"

 

[DarkWarrioress]

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.

 

[JackHemingway]

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."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

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.

 

[JackHemingway]

Jackson, Sara's long-distance friend, and would-be boyfriend in the old world, turned around, faced her, gently caressing her face, and smiled, looking into her eyes and nodding. "Well, when we go into town, I'll look into buying the property. I have a tent, but it's still pretty cold. I hope you don't mind having a house guest for a bit. I'll sleep out here. That's not a problem, but Taff might sleep in your bed."

Jackson laughed and walked around, his excitement palpable. "How often did we talk about this game and do this same thing? Build a farm, herd some cattle, and go hunting so we would have meat and hides to sell. This has been a trip. We've done this all before, but now we're doing it for real. We can be partners in a cattle company and see how it goes from there. I've had my share of ups and downs in the business world, and I can tell you the best part is the people."

"Oh, we can go to town whenever you want, but there is one more thing." With that, Jackson pulled Sara to him, his feelings for her finally overcoming his shyness, and gave her a passionate kiss on the lips, a silent confession of his love, and held it for a long moment before stepping back.

"I realized I waited too long to do that the first time. I won't make that mistake again. No matter what happens, this won't end because of hesitation."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"Well, when we go into town, I'll look into buying the property. I have a tent, but it's still pretty cold. I hope you don't mind having a house guest for a bit. I'll sleep out here. That's not a problem, but Taff might sleep in your bed."

Sarah laughed and gently ruffled Taff’s fur affectionately.

“Oh, I think I can handle that, couldn’t I, Taff?”

She glanced at Jackson, laughter in her eyes.

"How often did we talk about this game and do this same thing? Build a farm, herd some cattle, and go hunting so we would have meat and hides to sell. This has been a trip. We've done this all before, but now we're doing it for real. We can be partners in a cattle company and see how it goes from there. I've had my share of ups and downs in the business world, and I can tell you the best part is the people."

“I know! I remember! We had so much fun back then. I can’t wait, Jackson.”

"Oh, we can go to town whenever you want, but there is one more thing."

She looked at him curiously just before her breath whooshed from her body. As soon as his lips touched hers, nothing else mattered for the moment. There was simply Jackson and her. It was kind of weird how it felt after all this time, but not uncomfortably so. She stepped into him for what seemed like forever. She could feel his heart beating against her chest as she kissed him back. The world kind of spun and tipped slightly for her so she clung to him. Before she knew it and before she wanted it to end, Jackson stepped back, making Sarah sway slightly and blink a few times. She stared up at him, wide-eyed.

"I realized I waited too long to do that the first time. I won't make that mistake again. No matter what happens, this won't end because of hesitation."

Her fingertips touched her still warm lips and a soft smile played along her lips.

“I certainly hope not, Jackson. I certainly hope not.”

Everything he had just laid out for her, they had done in game and now, they were doing it for real. Unbelievable.

 

[JackHemingway]

One of the things you learn quickly in the world of Western Trails is there is plenty to do all the time. It's part of living because you have to provide your food heat, and even when you buy things like food or clothing, you have to work plenty of hours. It seemed Jackson, and he was sure Sara knew some good hacks to make all this efficient. Even with all the chores, there were moments to be enjoyed, and this was one of those times.

Jackson laid out various photos across the kitchen table in a rectangle, showing how his life had unfolded over the years. In the old West, photos were a thing, but it wasn't like people were taking selfies or getting quick action shots. Still, Western Trails had plenty of ways to capture moments, and along with the bundle of photos, there were some sketches and art from different publications. Some were fantastic.

Some photos showed Jackson from when he first arrived looking like a greenhorn, but as time progressed, other photos depicted him as a gunfighter, trapper, prospector, and wagon train scout. More than a few showed him with Indians and legends of the frontier. Several showed him in one version of a military uniform. Some were of exotic locations like Jackson and a group of cowboys and Indians out front of the New York City public library. There were several pictures of Jackson on the Amazon, one with the Native warriors trading, another paddling down the river, and a group picture of him and the expedition in front of ruins.

"A lot of cattle drives, wagon trains, hunting trips, and a few journeys around the country and the world. It's not bad for a kid who went to work, got takeout, and went to college. I'm glad you and the others kept modding the game. Gave me plenty to do and survive."

Jackson placed his hand on a news clipping showing him and others fighting a giant buffalo as it plowed through buildings of a town. "Wasn't always fun, but it gave me something to do, " he said with a laugh.

"People can dream many things, and I've seen plenty of them. I won't say it's a blessing to come here, but I had a hell of a life. Now I can say it's better, though," he touched her hand and smiled.

"You like Chicken and Dumplings? We might buy some supplies and make some comfort food together. Ask me anything you want, Sara. I want to get to know you again."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

The black and white grainy photos she knew were still a new thing to the western frontier, still, she devoured the images of Jackson and his life before they had learned they were here, in this time and space, together.

"A lot of cattle drives, wagon trains, hunting trips, and a few journeys around the country and the world. It's not bad for a kid who went to work, got takeout, and went to college. I'm glad you and the others kept modding the game. Gave me plenty to do and survive."

Sarah glanced over at him, smiling.

“We aimed to please,” she teased, “Seriously though, I spent more time modding than I did actually playing the game. I just never realized that Jackson was you. It still feels a bit weird to me.”

"You like Chicken and Dumplings? We might buy some supplies and make some comfort food together. Ask me anything you want, Sara. I want to get to know you again."

“Chicken and dumplings, oh my word. I haven’t had that dish in forever. Yes! I’d love some and I’d love making it with you. Let me go out and kill one of the chickens and hang it. What other supplies will we need, Jackson? I still have a great deal of flour and I think I can scrounge up a few carrots and onions from the root cellar.”

She headed for her coat and boots by the door with the intent of going to chicken coop and selecting a chicken for their supper tonight.

 

[JackHemingway]

"Well, trust me, it felt a little weird for me, too, but I'm glad you did all those mods. It created a lot of variety, and I made some friends because of it, but eventually, I wasn't sure if it was you or someone else. I always liked it when you came up with something new, and we'd brainstorm about it online. You'd come up with something great, and after you released it, you'd call me, and we'd talk for about an hour about it and other stuff," He smiled at her and reached down and squeezed her hand.

"I loved those conversations. You're the reason why there are Ramen places all over San Fransico. There is one great place where you can get a hot bath, they'll do your laundry, and you get a meal afterward. Also, thanks for populating the trails with so many nice people because plenty of others made some bad hombres."

"Chicken and dumplings, oh my word. I haven't had that dish in forever. Yes! I'd love some, and I'd love to make it with you. Let me go out and kill one of the chickens and hang it. What other supplies will we need, Jackson? I still have a great deal of flour and can scrounge up a few carrots and onions from the root cellar."

"Well, I like cooking for other people, and you do it enough, so yeah, let's enjoy a meal together."

Jackson checked out Sara's pantry, which was in good order, and soon had everything laid out on the kitchen table. They'd need more supplies, and this wouldn't be a big batch, but it would be possible for two people and a dog who would pester you until you shared. So he put on his winter gear along with his rifle and joined Sara outside. She had the situation well in hand, and he let Taff run to visit his new horse friends at the barn. He smiled at Sara as she looked over at him and laughed.

"Back in the old life, date night might be making a meal together, but here it includes chores, slaughtering the main course, and working over a hot stove. Reminds me of the critical part. You know the company."

With that, Jackson went over to help Sara with a smile. Yeah, did you toil in Western Trails? Yeah, from changing wagon wheels to caring for livestock, and even hunting wasn't a leisure activity. The thing was, it was about spending time with good people, and Jackson had that in spades now.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Oh! Those mods. She had forgotten about those. His words made her smile.

“You know how much I enjoyed creating things, Jackson. I even went back and made those changes you’d recommend. It’s still unbelievable that you actually ran into those and made use of them.”

He went over to her pantry and checked out the supplies while she donned her boots, coat and anything else she needed to stay warm.

"Back in the old life, date night might be making a meal together, but here it includes chores, slaughtering the main course, and working over a hot stove. Reminds me of the critical part. You know the company."

She laughed merrily.

Hugging his arm briefly, she gave it a squeeze.

“You’re right, of course. Besides, work divided and shared, makes it all easy.”

Sarah waited for Jackson to bundle up before she opened the door and let Taff out. Stepping out the door herself, she waited for Jackson to join her. Then they headed for the chicken coop. Sarah already had her eyes on a certain trouble making chicken that was destined to become part of their supper.

Catching the chicken had Sarah laughing, making the chore harder than it should have been. Eventually, after some swearing and more laughter she caught the dang blamed chicken, took the sharp axe she had first retrieved from the barn, laid its head on the chopping block and carried out the deed, letting the headless chicken run around in the yar so much, if not most, of the blood drained then as the lifeless body stilled, she grabbed it by the legs and headed for the barn. Now, it needed to be gutted and plucked of its feathers.

 

[JackHemingway]

“You’re right, of course. Besides, work divided and shared makes it all easy.”

"You are certainly right about that," Jackson responded as he watched Sara dispatch the troublesome chicken as he kept an eye on Taff. He was an intelligent dog, but he was delighted to try and make friends with anything, including mountain lions. Interestingly enough, they seemed amused by the dog and walked away. The horses were reasonably tolerant. While Sara hung the bird, he recalled the story before taking the axe, cleaning it up, and relaxing it. He gave her a peck on the cheek and said he couldn't have done better before walking over to pet one of his horses.

"In my old life, I ate a lot of pizza, which I do miss sometimes. I never went hunting, didn't have a garden, and I think I rode horses a few times as a kid. Almost two decades later, I think I've been on a horse almost every day except while at sea. I've hunted and butchered animals, but best of all, I'm spending time with that 'girl from the Internet," Jackson said with a laugh, recalling when he did mention Sara to his parents.

"I'm sure people missed me when I was just gone one day, but I always wondered what you thought. We would have had such fun at the gaming convention now, though all those hours of playing turned out to be practice. Have you explored all you know how to do Sara? It's unreal sometimes when you realize all you know thanks to playing the game."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Sara, who had been setting up a pot with water and a fire to boil it, looked over her shoulder at Jackson and wrinkled her nose.

“Would you mind terribly gutting and plucking the chicken when the water boils? I did it when I had to but I hate the smell of wet feathers and I hate the smell of gutting an animal even more. I have never gotten used to it. “

She piled wood under the pot and started a fire. Standing, she turned to watch Jackson as she leaned against a timber support of the barn.

“When you disappeared Jackson, my first reaction was panic. Had something bad happened to you? I often wondered that. Then I felt guilt and responsibility. I should have called someone. I didn’t know who. The police maybe. I don’t know. I often thought I should let someone know I felt you were missing. Then I thought, if the police had been notified, they would have found out about us and they would have come calling, but strangely, no one did. I kind of found that odd.

“Pizza? Oh my god, Jackson,” she stared into space somewhere over his shoulder, “I haven’t had pizza in I don’t know how long. Then again, knowing what we do, why don’t we try our hand at it one night soon? As for exploring all I know how to do….” She shrugged, “I don’t know. I’ve done whatever I needed to do and my knowledge helped with that. I just never sat down and thought about it, really. My day-to-day life here has kept me busy from sunup to sunset. Wintertime is a bit slower but there’s always something that needs done.”

Her lips quirked into an amused smile as her eyes sought his.

“I think you’ve done more than enough for both of us.”

 

[JackHemingway]

"Yeah, you just give me the word when we're getting close, and I'll take care of it out there and the mess. I can do it now without much thought, but trust me, I had a learning curve when I first got there. I mean, I took to hunting alright. Well, you just point and shoot, but when you actually have to butcher a buffalo and carry the meat back to camp, that's something else. It became the new normal, and I even worked for a butcher one winter. He provided a good bunk bed and plenty to eat, keeping the shop warm. Oh, Taff will sleep anywhere but does like having a job. So would it be alright if I built him somewhere to sleep in the barn with the horses? I know he likes my horses and seems to be getting along with yours. If we wanted to get sheep, he'd love that."

Jackson paused for a moment and looked at Sara. "Sorry, I'm getting a little ahead of myself. Do you want a dog?"

Jackson listened to Sara talk about life and nodded in recognition. "Yeah, I can relate to that. I know I must have been missed, but once I realized there was no going back or, well, I didn't know how, at any rate, you settle into a routine. There were always cattle to drive and wagons to guide, and chopping wood and making food filled the hours. Do you know how the game had those minor quests to find a lost child or chase away a pack of wolves? I've done a million of those. I'm not even sure what people are talking about when they bring up 'remember when," I know it was a big day for them, and they're grateful, but it runs together."

He walked over to Sara, hugged her, leaned in, and nuzzled her gently. "Let's make some new memories, including figuring out how to make frontier pizza."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

"Sorry, I'm getting a little ahead of myself. Do you want a dog?"

Sara laughed and went to check on the hanging chicken.

“Jackson!” She glanced at Taff, “I love Taff. Of course, you can build him something in the barn and you know, I never thought about sheep but I think it’s an excellent idea.”

She watched as he came over and hugged her and it took her a second before she hugged him back. She felt as if her world was a whirlwind since Jackson stepped in but she didn’t really mind. Glancing up at him, she smiled.

“Memories with you sound wonderful and so does making frontier pizza. If we get it right, maybe we can even open a pizza place in town. I grow tomatoes and all kinds of herbs but what do we do for cheese?”

Slowly she released him.

“Well, this chicken is bled dry. Your turn. I’ll go make you a bucket of hot water.”

 

[JackHemingway]

Jackson laughed after she mentioned the chicken. "You say the most romantic things. I'll try not to make much of a mess in the barn. As to cheese, I think we won't be enjoying anything from Italy, but I'm sure there is some good local stuff. We'll have to grate it. I think people will like something different. It probably comes out like the cheesy bread the pizza place used to make back home. You know I ate it plenty of times."

He smiled and walked out, and at the doorway, Taff looked a little confused about which human he wanted to go with. Jackson laughed and looked down. "You can stay with her, you furry little traitor. It's warm, and she is very nice," he said, looking over at Sara and smiling.

"We'll be around for a while, I think, "he scratched Taff behind the ear and continued to smile at Sara as he knelt, petting the dog.

"You let me know when the water's ready. I'll bring the bird back to the house. Hopefully, our timing will work just fine."

Taft walked over and found a comfortable spot under the kitchen table as his owner headed back outside into the ever-colder late afternoon. Anyone around would think things were moving rather quickly between them, even by frontier standards, where a widow might be looking for a new husband and father for her children within weeks of his death, but they had a history. Now, they were together after all that, but at a very different place. Back in the old world, they were supposed to meet at a convention and have a fun weekend. He'd be lying to himself if Jackson hadn't thought they might hook up and have a romantic encounter after talking for so long, but nothing was certain. They had to find out if they had chemistry in person, and they never got to that part of the process, but now they were here after a huge change and a long pause. Well, they would make the best of things, and if he didn't overthink things and followed the trail, things would work out just fine. He'd done that enough in the last decade of life, and he was sure it would happen if they were meant to connect. Fate had to have something to do with it, though. That had to mean something, so Jackson went to work preparing the chicken and listened for Sara's cry from the house. Life had changed yet again, cowboy.

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Sarah had set a huge pot of water on to boil and while she waited on that, she made herself a cup of coffee and sat down in her rocking chair to rock and think about her future. Jackson was right, there was a whole world out there that she had never experienced before. Did she know of it? Of course she did, she came from another time after all. So far, it had been fascinating to watch the world unfold and knowing she had had a hand in designing it. It felt weird to say that but now, there were others designing their futures. Sarah wondered, with a bit of humor, how she and Jackson looked to those people now. How much free choice did she really have? A great deal, she would think. There was no one to play her character but her. A sip of coffee then she got up to check on the water. It was boiling. Sarah headed for the front door, grabbing her coat and Taff was right beside her.

“Let’s go find him, boy. The water is piping hot now.”

Taff didn’t need to be told again. He barked and waited by the closed door as Sarah bundled up. Opening the door, she was hit by a blast of cold air from the outside. It was almost enough to send her scurrying back to the fireplace. Taff dashed out, barking the whole way to the barn. Sarah waded along. As she got closer to the barn she could hear the dog’s enthusiastic barking and chuckled to herself. Whatever adventures they had shared in the past, the dog seemed quite content to be here.

“JACKSON! The water’s hot.”

She didn’t even wait for a reply, she simply turned and hurried back inside, shivering. Spring. She wanted Spring. Sarah was tired of being cold. She wanted sunshine, warmth and planting time. Her fingers were itching to dig into the soil and plant things. Stomping her feet on the porch, Sarah opened the front door and scurried inside, removing her coat and other accessories. She checked on the water and took it off the fire. Her cup of coffee was still hot, thank goodness and took a large sip before resettling in her chair. It was nice having someone else around, she had to admit.

 

[JackHemingway]

Before even hearing, Sarah Jackson was ready to bring in the bird and had just made a round checking on the horses when Taff came into the barn overjoyed at the simplest of reconnections with his owner. That was a wonderful thing about dogs. They were always happy to see you; fortunately, that hadn't changed in Western Trails. He'd owned a few over the years and had kept company with many more, whether with Indians or frontier adventures. The only downside was the wonderful creatures didn't live any longer in Western Trails than the old world, but they were still beloved. Taff followed after him eagerly, wondering what the fate of the freshly slaughtered bird might be. He was sure it would involve him getting a bit of a snack. He nodded to Sarah, closed the door, and headed straight to the pot to toss the chicken into the boiling water. He then headed to the door, pulling off a few layers and his boots. Heading over to his gear pile with Taff scampering about, he retrieved his coffee cup, filled his tin cup, walked over to Sarah, clinked cups, and smiled.

As he found a place to sit down, he nodded. "Cheers, we should have some good chicken soon. The muffins will warm in the oven, and then we'll get it all together in one pot and cook it all up. I was stuck in the snow for a few months in West Texas for some winter months with a few nice families, some cowboys, and a Mexican guitar player. One of the biggest favorites for the group was chicken and dumplings. We had a lot of the basic supplies, so I got good at making it all. I had three pots going more than once. It was a cold winter, I can tell you."

Jackson laughed and looked into her eyes and smiled. "You know how hard it is to not share yourself entirely with people? I mean, they'd think I was crazy. I never drank coffee back in the old world. I drank a lot of energy drinks; it is not the best thing I know. I never cooked or split wood, but I don't think there has been one day that hasn't gone by that I haven't. I never thought I'd have to kill someone either, but then you find yourself in uniform or a gunfight, or you're on the trail, and you realize they're raiders, and it doesn't matter how nice you are, or even if you're willing to give them what you have."

He turned away and glanced at the stove, then looked into the fire for a long minute and looked back. "I did miss you, but I tried to have a life here as best I could, so I don't know how you'll handle this, and I know it's not light conversation before dinner, but I need to have it sometime. I've had relationships, and I'm not with anyone right now, and that's the truth, but I have had ones in the past. Even think it might have been love, but I was only married once I lost her, Constance or as I called her Connie was a good woman. We had two kids, but they all died of the fervor one winter. It was a tough time. I lost track of the next years. I'm not sure what I did, really, but I didn't behave very well. Down and out and broke and drunk a lot one day, I found myself face down in a creek. And that woke me up, and I decided to clean up. After that, I spent a bunch of years working as a trail guide. I wanted to help people, and I did that for a while. I don't think of her as often as I used to, but she holds a special place in my heart, whether this place is real or not."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

The front door opened bringing Jackson with bird in hand. He went right to sticking the dead chicken into the pot of hot water before he went back and started removing the layers of his outdoor winter wear.

"Cheers, we should have some good chicken soon. The muffins will warm in the oven, and then we'll get it all together in one pot and cook it all up. I was stuck in the snow for a few months in West Texas for some winter months with a few nice families, some cowboys, and a Mexican guitar player. One of the biggest favorites for the group was chicken and dumplings. We had a lot of the basic supplies, so I got good at making it all. I had three pots going more than once. It was a cold winter, I can tell you."

He joined her by the fire, sitting down in her other chair.

"You know how hard it is to not share yourself entirely with people? I mean, they'd think I was crazy. I never drank coffee back in the old world. I drank a lot of energy drinks; it is not the best thing I know. I never cooked or split wood, but I don't think there has been one day that hasn't gone by that I haven't. I never thought I'd have to kill someone either, but then you find yourself in uniform or a gunfight, or you're on the trail, and you realize they're raiders, and it doesn't matter how nice you are, or even if you're willing to give them what you have."

Sara shook her head and laughed.

“My goodness, Jackson. You had to adapt to a lot when you got here, didn’t you? It couldn’t have been easy for you.”

She stared thoughtfully into the fire that was crackling and popping in front of them before she asked him.

“How did you first find yourself here, Jackson?”

Sara could well remember how she first became aware that she wasn’t in her own room back home, wherever that was.

 

[JackHemingway]

After bringing in the bird, Jackson cleaned up and watched it sink into the boiling water. Taff's paws could be heard on the wood floor scampering over to get by the fire again, and he soon followed after to join Sara as well. Without much thought, Jackson reached down and gently pulled off Sara's boots, began massaging her stocking feet, and listened to her ask about his life when he first arrived. He smiled and nodded, thinking back to well over ten years ago. He cleared his throat, glanced at the fire, and looked into her eyes.

"Well, we have a little time before the chicken is ready, and it isn't that long of a boring story," he said with a laugh as he kept rubbing her feet.

"I found myself waking up in the grass near Fort Kearny. I thought it was a dream, but as the hours passed and I wandered around, I realized it was all too real. It was a warm spring, and I can tell you the animals were very real. I made my way to the Fort, I think just instinctually and told them I was lost. I couldn't tell them what happened, but it began to sink in how real this all was. I spent a few months doing odd jobs, sleeping where I could. I discovered I had all these skills thanks to playing the game. I could help the blacksmith with projects, I knew how to cook, and I did all kinds of chores. I slept in the storeroom of someone's shop, I slept in more than a few barns, and people were willing to trade labor for a meal and a bed for the night. Little by little, I built up funds. Eventually, I could go hunting and trade the hides and meat for needed things. Oh, and I did think about you and all the things you added to this world."

While watching for the meal and looking at Sara, Jackson recounted buying his first horse and rounding up wild horses for sale. Like many loved horses and breeds, Sara was added to the game thanks to players. He traded with the Natives like other frontiersmen and soon had a booming small business. Jackson had plenty of skills, and there was plenty of work for someone willing. The first two years went by in the blink of an eye as he did every job imaginable on the frontier. That got him hired on as a wagon train guide, and that's when he became one of the many characters that populated the setting. He never set out to be a name, just survive, but when you found a lost child, killed a local bully in a gunfight, or helped people settle the frontier, you got popular. He rattled off a dozen places Sara had created or helped inspire and told her about the friends he had made along the way. He didn't go too much into his romantic life, but he didn't hide it either. They'd been apart for the better part of a decade. There were a lot of lonely women on the frontier, and he could have been part of many marriages of convenience, but he preferred to help without obligation. It made some families very grateful. Still, there were cold nights where you didn't have to pay a saloon girl much to have a meal with you and share a warm bed.

Jackson glanced back over at the pot and then back to Sara. "There is no good way to put this. I had my share of fun and relationships, but I always thought about you and wondered what you were doing. I never wished for you to be here but always wanted to see you again."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Sara smiled as she watched Jackson look after her. Had he always been so thoughtful?

“Jackson,” she put her hand softly on his shoulder, “You found yourself in a strange place and not in the world we came from. We each did and we had to make a life for ourselves. I don’t begrudge the life you’ve made for yourself. I’ve lived my life as well. I found myself in a wagon train, captured by the Indians, falling in love with one of them, married him and had a child…. One that didn’t survive, unfortunately. I’ve taken lovers since then. My life has been enriched by those experiences and it sounds like yours has too and now… miraculously, we have found each other.”

She gently pulled her feet under her, unuse to the caring affection he was showing her but thankful for it. Jackson cared. They had some history together, having never been actually together until now. Glancing into the fire, she stared a few moments then giggled.

“Jackson…” she began hesitantly, “do you think it’s possible that someone from the game, has brought us together? I mean, look what we’ve helped with. It could be possible. Couldn’t it?”

She turned her head to study him. Anything, she had found, was possible. Look at them, in the very game they had played in and helped develop over the years.

 

[JackHemingway]

"It sounds like you have been through a lot. You see a lot on the frontier, which is breathtaking and fantastic, but you know a lot of violence and death. We'll work together and make things a little better for each other."

He looked into her eyes, gave her a supportive kiss, and caressed her lovely long hair after listening to her bring up another good point.

"Anything is possible, Sara. I don't know if there is some intelligence behind this, but I haven't encountered anyone like us. The thing is, how do you approach it with someone without them thinking you're crazy? Just because someone is a better gun fighter or came up with a great idea does that make them players? I don't know, but you might be on top of something. Is someone just watching us playing out our rolls? Let's not stop looking for a way back, but let's have a good life here in the meantime. We certainly built a lot of it, didn't we?"

He gave her another peck on the cheek and got up to check on the chicken. He looked back over her and asked, "What are some things you want to do? We've talked about expanding the farm or partnering up, but is anything else got you curious? Any questions about your creations? You never know. I might have run across some more of them. You certainly built a lot."

 

[DarkWarrioress]

When she gave it some thought, she realized just how much both of them had put into the game but she was pretty sure they had never thought they would find themselves actually in it. She gave some thought to his questions.

“When I built up all this,” she waved her hand around, “I never gave thought to much beyond this. I certainly never thought to find you here either but now that you are a reality… I would love to see even half of what you’ve seen, Jackson but there are the animals to care for. I can’t get away from here. I don’t want to sell either. I like the stability my current life offers. However….”

She let her voice fade away. She had a longing to see even just some of the things Jackson had experienced in his lifetime here but she couldn’t see her way to it.

“….Any questions about your creations? You never know. I might have run across some more of them. You certainly built a lot."

His voice broke into her thoughts.

“Maybe later,” she smiled, “at the moment I can’t think of anything but the hole that’s eating at my belly.”

 

[JackHemingway]

Jackson moved up close and pulled Sara to her feet, arm around her waist. Looking into her lovely eyes, he smiled and said, "Well, no big plans for the movement but for chicken and dumplings, my dear lady. You watch and relax."

With that, he slid her back down to her chair and set to work in the kitchen, preparing the hardy soup meal. He kept his eye on the chicken and put together the dumplings. One of the things with Frontier World was that everything, unlike real life, was measured out perfectly. Everything you did was exactly what you thought it would be. If you were building a shed, there was no extra lumber, or if you were making a pie, it would be right if you followed the recipe. Sure, you would put your flare to things, but there was a formula behind it all, so when he saw Sara's ingredients, he knew he could pull off what he wanted. It wouldn't be a big batch, but plenty for two people and a dog who liked to camp out under the table of any given meal. This was fun, Jackson thought to himself as he prepared the meal. Cooking for a girlfriend or whatever Sara was was enjoyable, and he hoped to keep doing it. The downside of being a frontier hero was that while you had a lot of people who wanted your company, whether it be intimately or to buy you a drink as you retell your story, heroes spend a lot of time alone. You often do it yourself when you head out to explore a new trail or deal with a wild beast.

Jackson had about two-thirds of the meal together, waiting for it to bubble up and be tasty. The pair had made small talk, and he'd talked about the different saloons and restaurants he'd been to and what tips and ideas he'd learned. They also shared the common frontier knowledge they'd both learned on the frontier. It seemed the population framed up by the game players had some common ideas, plenty to be sure, but not precisely boundless like back home. The place had some aspects, though, that were simply wonderful and that were worth sharing, too. So, as he leaned against the table and watched the stove, he looked at Sara.

"Well, setting up a farm with cows and expanding the land will be its own adventure partner, I promise you that. I've worked for plenty of people and helped a lot of settlers doing it, and you don't know where the hours go. You're so busy. Besides, having a safe place to return to after an adventure is best. Nothing is worse than coming back to a town and finding friends who have moved on, new businesses are set up, and you find yourself sitting at the bar by yourself, eating and drinking alone."

Shortly after, Jackson had it all together in two large bowls, but then he thought better of it and found a metal bowl Sara probably used on the trail. He filled it with Chicken and dumplings and put it under the table. Taff rushes over and begins licking at the warm bowl of food happily. He'd set up two place settings with two small jugs of healthy water and a unique mix of his, which made good lemonade. His friend's children told him that, and he waited for Sara to join him, but he finally asked the question he figured would take a bit to answer. "Where are we relationship-wise, Sara? I know that back in the old days, we would see how it went at the convention and go from there. We had a lot of time together communicating, but not physically. Now we're together physically, but it's in a whole new world, so things aren't simple, but we have history and feelings, and that's a lot. I'm not pressuring you or anything, but where do you see us in the whole relationship realm?"

 

[DarkWarrioress]

Her small cabin filled with a delicious smell of Jackson’s cooking and it made her mouth water and her stomach growl unrepentantly. She watched as he filled a bowl with some of chicken and dumplings for Taff and watched in amusement as he rushed over to bury his face in the bowl. The sight made her laugh.

“Well, he certainly is a testament to your cooking, Jackson.”

Jackson set the table with bowls and glasses. He dished up the chicken and dumplings and Sara joined him at the table. It was unusual for her to have someone else look after her.

"Where are we relationship-wise, Sara? I know that back in the old days, we would see how it went at the convention and go from there. We had a lot of time together communicating, but not physically. Now we're together physically, but it's in a whole new world, so things aren't simple, but we have history and feelings, and that's a lot. I'm not pressuring you or anything, but where do you see us in the whole relationship realm?"

Sara stopped with spoon in hand. Sitting back in her chair, she gave it a bit of thought.

“Well, back in our old world, we had spoken a lot about meeting and if all went well, we would move in together. Then, you vanished without a trace. You’re just as easy to talk to now as you were back then and now, we’ve finally accomplished what we couldn’t there.”

She bit her bottom lip in thought. Her spoon idly stirring the hot dish in front of her.

“There’s difference now then there would have been back there. In this world, you live in the moment. You can’t take one day for granted. Nothing moves slowly here. It can’t. I suppose, in a way, nothing could be taken for granted where we came from either. The world there is spinning out of control. I guess what I’m trying to say is…” she glanced over at him, “I still have feelings for you, Jackson. I’d love nothing more than to spend my days and my nights with you.”

 

[JackHemingway]

Despite over a decade of dwelling in the lands that made up Western Trails, Jackson never considered himself one of the characters that populated the land; he was a visitor, a creator, and an outsider. Give any label you want to it, but at that moment, Jackson felt very much like a cowboy and leaned in and gave Sara a passionate kiss. The kind of one with strength and confidence behind as he reached up and caressed her lovely mane of long country girl hair. After a long moment and a bit of a gasp, they broke the kiss, and he looked into her eyes. "Honey, I think we're going to do more than raise cattle together. We'll never stop trying to get back, but I think we can have a real good life here because we're together. We survived and maybe did a little better than that, but I think we're going to thrive together in this good country. We know all about it. Let's explore its depths together."

He reached out, smiled, and touched her hand. "Well, you've answered the big question, but for now, we can finish dinner and then go out and build a life. Eat and enjoy. Let me know if you like it, Sara. This is going to be special."

Jackson returned to his bowl, and he had to admit he did a pretty good job with the chicken dumplings, but he kept looking back at her, smiling. It was the same warmth he'd felt before sharing a meal with someone special, but this was different. She was the one, and it didn't matter what world he had not changed. That was a good feeling of comfort and love; this time, there was no holding back. They weren't thousands of miles apart. They were together in the same space, and those feelings would blossom. There were no sure things in life, but he knew this woman and felt a special bond. Now, all that remained was to go through the extraordinary motions of sharing in person.