Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Red Dead Redemption 2, only the OC's.

Chapter Two

Fuck, she hated funerals.

As Maggie stood in front of the full length mirror in her childhood bedroom, she smoothed her hands over the skirt of the modest, black dress that she had found shoved into the back of her closet. Once she was convinced that there were no wrinkles that needed to be ironed out, her eyes traveled up the length of the mirror until she met her own gaze in the reflection. Maggie frowned at the sight she presented – dark bags beneath her eyes, paler than usual skin, stress lines in her forehead that she was certain were on the verge of becoming permanent. Even with the makeup she had put on and her futile attempt to make her hair look decent, Maggie still thought she looked like a zombie.

It had been exactly four, horrible days since she had watched her grandfather take his final breath, and she felt she could honestly say that they had been some of the worst days of her life. As old as her grandfather had been, she had never really allowed herself to imagine what life might be like without him. Having lost so many people she loved in her lifetime, she had clung to Ernie as fiercely as possible, convincing herself that she would keep him healthy and that she would make sure he was one of the one's that lived into his hundreds. She had preferred to believe that he was invincible, that he would always be there, no matter what.

But that wasn't true, and honestly, she of all people should have known better.

There was really no describing the pain that had come with losing Ernie. He had been the last family member she had left, the person she had loved most in the entire world. It had been just the two of them these past ten years, and now that he was gone, she felt…lost. There would be no more dancing in the kitchen while they sang Elvis Presley songs. No more late nights watching John Wayne movies. No more working on the ranch together until their backs hurt. No more laughing over meals at the diner. No more birthdays to celebrate or Christmases to enjoy. No more. It was all gone, because he was gone.

And Maggie had never felt so alone in her entire life.

There had been a lot to take care of in the wake of his death, seeing as she was Ernie MacManus's only living relative, and, therefore, had been the one left to settle all of his affairs. She had met with lawyers and bankers and had to pay multiple trips to the funeral home to make sure everything was taken care of. It had been hard to keep her head on straight with her own grief determined to consume her, but Maggie had, by some miracle, managed to hold it together enough to see to all of the business that needed to be tended to.

Now, the day of his funeral was upon her, and she had been absolutely dreading it. Having attended far too many funerals for people that she loved already, she despised them by now. She did not want to go and be stuck with a bunch of crying people, did not want to see the looks of pity she would receive, did not want to hear everyone tell her how sorry they were or how great her grandfather had been. She already knew how great Ernie had been, thank you very much, and all she wanted was to be left alone to deal with her grief in peace and quiet.

But that wasn't allowed. Ernie had been a man with many friends, who had all insisted on smothering her these past four days. Maggie had lost count of how many times someone had shown up on her doorstep uninvited, bringing with them casseroles and condolences and insisting on trying to get her to talk about how she was feeling. It was ungrateful of her to complain about the support that the people of her hometown had been showing her – she knew that her grandfather's friends meant well, and that they were only trying to help. But it was all just getting to be too much.

Maybe the funeral would be a good thing, she tried to convince herself. Maybe once Ernie had been buried, maybe once all of this was over, people would finally leave her alone. Maybe then she would finally get the peace and quiet she had been desperately needing to mourn her grandfather's passing properly.

A knock on the bedroom door drew her attention. She turned just as Elena opened the door, a small smile tugging at her friend's lips as she caught sight of Maggie.

"You look nice, Mags," she said, stepping further into the room.

Maggie sighed and looked at herself in the mirror again. "I look like I've aged ten years."

Elena appeared in the mirror next to her. Maggie felt and saw the arm that her friend slid around her shoulders, before Elena hugged her into her side. "You're stressed. It's understandable," she said with a nod. "But all of this is almost over. Then you can finally get some rest."

Maggie mustered a smile at Elena's understanding words, then leaned into the comforting embrace that she was offering.

Elena had been a Godsend these past few days. She had taken off from work and had been staying with her in the ranch house, helping her organize the funeral, making sure she was eating and taking care of herself, being there for a shoulder to cry on whenever she needed it, but also giving her space whenever she needed that, too. If not for her, Maggie was positive she would have lost her mind by now. And as they stood there together, she realized something – she wasn't alone. Ernie was gone, yes, but as long as she had Elena, she would never be truly alone.

"Thank you, El," Maggie said. "You've been my lifeline these past few days, you know?"

Elena smiled gently. "No need to thank me. This is what family does for each other."

Maggie managed a wisp of a smile, which was the closest she'd come to smiling in days. "Still…thank you."

Elena finally nodded. "You're welcome." They stood there for another moment, then Elena patted her shoulder. "We should get going. You ready?"

Maggie looked at herself once more. The funeral was going to happen whether she was ready for it or not, so there was no use delaying the inevitable. "Ready," she confirmed.

They went downstairs, where Jack was waiting. He was dressed in a nice, dark suit and gave an encouraging smile when he saw her. Together they headed outside and got into Jack's car, then they were off to the church that the service was going to be held at. Much too soon, they arrived, and as Jack pulled into a parking spot and Maggie was able to see just how many people were filing into the church, she gulped.

"There's so many people," she muttered.

"Ernie had a lot of friends," Elena reminded her.

Maggie nodded absentmindedly. She was suddenly afraid to get out of the car, but knew she didn't have much say in the matter. After Elena and Jack got out, she closed her eyes and sucked in a deep, steadying breath. Finally, she opened the car door and got out.

Elena was by her side in the blink of an eye, looping an arm through hers and offering up her silent support. As the three of them went into the church, Maggie's eyes widened. There were even more people inside, so many that almost every pew was completely filled. It looked as though the entire town had come for the service, and to know that so many people had cared about her grandfather was enough to have her fighting down a surge of emotion.

She made her way slowly through the church, shaking hands and forcing on grateful smiles for those she didn't know as well, but stopping to hug those she was closer to. Eventually she reached the front of the church, where her grandfather lay in his casket flanked by large flower arrangements of multiple colors on either side. Maggie clutched Elena's hand tighter as they stepped up to the casket, and as soon as she saw Ernie there, dressed in his finest suit, somehow looking like himself and yet so unlike himself at the same time, it felt like someone had grabbed her heart and squeezed it with all their might.

She had been sure she didn't have anymore tears left to cry.

She had been wrong.

Maggie leaned against Elena, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. Elena held her tighter, moving one hand to rub her back, sniffling quietly as she grieved herself. Nobody approached them and stayed a respectable distance away, and for that Maggie was grateful.

Maggie didn't know how long she stood there for, but eventually it was time to get the service underway. Elena guided her to sit on a hard, squeaky pew in the front row, and as the town preacher moved to the altar to speak, the rest of the attendees found their chairs as well. There had been somber music playing while the attendees arrived, but as the preacher opened his bible, the music cut out.

"Thank you, friends, for gathering here today as we say goodbye a most beloved individual," he started. "It a sad day indeed, whenever we say goodbye to one of our own. But I think I speak for everyone when I say that it brings great comfort to know that we have each other to lean on for support in these somber times."

From there, the preacher launched into the usual funeral proceedings. He recited bible verses and led them in a few prayers. He spoke fondly of her grandfather, recounting heartwarming memories that people had shared with him and telling of all the good things he had done to contribute to both his family and the community. Maggie only half listened to him as he spoke. It was hard to focus on what he was saying with her grandfather's casket right in front of her. Hard to pay attention as her heart felt closer and closer to shattering with every passing moment. All she could do was stare at the casket, acutely aware of the fact that she would never see Ernie again after today.

But then it was time for Maggie to speak, and as she stood from her seat on shaky legs and made her way up to the altar, she had to suck in a deep breath to try to center herself again. She shared a look with the preacher, who smiled kindly as he moved out of her way, then looked to the sea of mourning people staring back at her as she stepped up to the podium. The sadness in the room was so thick, it was almost suffocating.

She had to clear her throat to be able to talk. "I want to first thank y'all for being here today. I'm happy to know so many care so much for my grandfather, and the outpouring of support that I've felt since he passed has been extraordinary."

Maggie pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and unfolded it, laying it out flat on the podium. She cleared her throat again and paused to glance down at what she had written. "As I'm sure many of you know, I was raised by my Nana and Papa. After my parents left this earth, they took me in without hesitation and loved me as fiercely as if I had been their own. I couldn't have asked for better people to raise me, and I certainly couldn't have asked for a better grandfather. Ernie MacManus was an extraordinary man. He served honorably in World War II. He was a dedicated husband for over sixty years. He was an exceptional father to my mother, and to me. He was a hardworking man, the sort of man who would break his back and work his hands to the very bone to provide for his family. And he did all of this with a smile on his face and warmth in his heart, because that's just who my grandfather was. A happy man, leading the exact sort of life that he cherished and loved."

"My grandfather was a rare gem in this world," she continued. "He always went out of his way to help people, whether it was to change a tire for someone, fix a broken sink, or help put food on the table for someone less fortunate. He was the sort of man that would give you the shirt off his own back, no questions asked. He cared about people and always looked for the best in everyone. He was a dedicated member of this community, and he loved everyone in it. You were all his friends. You were all his family."

Maggie could hear people sniffling now as she glanced at her paper again. "My grandfather was everything to me," she said, trying to keep her voice from shaking now. "Through the good times, through the worst times, he was always by my side, supporting me and encouraging me. I can't possibly begin to talk about my fondest memories of him, because there are far too many to count. But know that I will cherish each and every one of those memories, and I will carry them with me for the rest of my life."

She was almost to the end of her speech now. "As hard as it is to say goodbye, that is what we all must do now. But while he may be gone physically, that does not mean he is gone for good. He will always be in my heart, just as I am certain he will be in your hearts as well. But I hope we can all take comfort in the fact that he has moved on to a better place now. He has gone to be with God, where he will live in eternal beauty and happiness with my Nana and my parents by his side." Maggie looked up to the ceiling, rather than to the casket beside her. "I miss you already, Papa, and I will miss you every day. But we will see each other again someday. Until then, know that I love you very much, and I always will."

The church went quiet again now that she had finished speaking, save for a few sniffles she could hear from various people in the crowd. Maggie folded her paper back up, smiled sadly at the preacher, then went back down to her seat, where Elena immediately grabbed and squeezed her hand.

"That was nice, Mags," she whispered, her voice thicker than usual with emotion.

Maggie just nodded in response.

The preacher talked for a few minutes longer, and then it was time to transport her grandfather to his final resting place. The casket was closed, and then six pallbearers – Jack and Wyatt were among them – carefully lifted his casket and began to carry it down the aisle. Maggie and Elena followed, and then everyone else shuffled out of the pews to trail after them. The entire congregation walked outside, then followed the pallbearers as they carried the casket to the small cemetery only yards away from the church.

The casket was placed on the machinery that would lower it into the grave. Maggie, only half aware of the people filling in behind her, stared at the casket for another moment, before looking to the familiar headstone marking the grave next to her grandfather's.

In loving memory, Susan MacManus. 1943 – 2009.

Though she had visited her grandmother's grave a hundred times before, seeing it now and knowing her grandfather would soon be joining her there had Maggie's heart twisting with grief all over again. She barely noticed when the preacher started speaking again, reciting a few more bible passages and leading them in one last prayer. At least they're together again, she told herself. At least they have each other.

Maggie finally came back to the present when it was time to lower the casket into the grave. Everyone watched, some crying into handkerchiefs, others sniffling loudly as they fought back tears of their own, as she accepted a flower from the preacher and moved forward to place it on top of his casket. With a tight feeling in her chest and tears springing to her eyes yet again, Maggie leaned forward to kiss the casket one last time.

"Goodbye, Papa," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You'll always be in my heart."

Finally, she stepped back, rejoining Elena and Jack. Then Ernie's casket was slowly lowered into the ground, and, finally, the funeral was over.

One hour later, Maggie stood in front of the kitchen table, eyeing the dozen or so casseroles that had been brought to the house as the post-funeral gathering commenced. It was damn near enough food to feed a small country, and even though everyone had helped themselves to a plate of food already, there was still a ridiculous amount left over. She certainly hoped people would come back for seconds, because she certainly wouldn't be able to finish all of it off by herself, nor was there enough room in the fridge to store everything.

With a sigh, Maggie grabbed the one casserole dish that had been wiped clean and took it to the sink for washing. As she turned on the water and gave it a moment to warm up, her eyes lifted to the window above the sink, taking in the landscape outside.

The chickens were roaming out by the barn, and the trees were swaying in the distance with the wind. It looked quiet and peaceful outside, which was the exact opposite of what was taking place in her living room. At least thirty people were on the other side of the kitchen door, talking amongst themselves as they ate their lunch and moved around her house. She looked to the barn, where the horses were resting in their stables, and suddenly yearned to jump on the back of one of them and ride away.

Just keep a brave face on for a little while longer, she told herself. It's almost over.

She started to look back to the sink in front of her, but a flash of blue out of the corner of her eye suddenly caught her attention and made her look to the forest instead. Maggie frowned with uncertainty, her eyes narrowing as she leaned closer to the window, eyeing a certain thicket of trees with scrutiny. What had she just seen? What in the forest could be blue?

Unbidden, the image of the ghost cowboy came to mind. He had been dressed in blue. Maggie immediately heaved and shook her head, feeling annoyed with herself for her train of thought. She had just buried her grandfather, for Christ's sake. Now wasn't really the time to start thinking about ghosts.

The door suddenly opened, bringing with it a blast of noise and chatter from the other room. Maggie glanced over her shoulder to see Wyatt standing there, holding a glass of whiskey in either hand and giving her a knowing look. It was still a surprise to see him dressed in such a nice suit, since she'd never seen him in anything but boots and working clothes.

"Hiding?" he asked.

"No," Maggie immediately denied. When he quirked a brow, she sighed with resignation, knowing he'd caught her in her lie. "I just needed a minute to get away from all the noise."

"Understandable," Wyatt said with a nod. He came to stand next to her and offered a glass of whiskey. "Here. You look like ya need this," he said.

Maggie nodded and took the glass. She meant to take only a sip, but ended up tossing back all of it instead. To Wyatt's credit, he didn't even flinch. He just took her empty glass without a word and then passed her the one he had poured for himself instead. She resisted the urge to throw that one back, too.

"How you holdin' up, Maggie?" he asked.

Maggie lifted a shoulder. "I've had better days."

Wyatt nodded in understanding. "Yeah, me too. It's been real strange these past few days, not seein' Ern or havin' him talk my ear off. Gonna take a long time to get used to not havin' him around anymore, I reckon." When Maggie just nodded silently in agreement, Wyatt reached out to place a hand on her shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. "You been real strong through all this, Maggie. You're as strong a lady as they come. Ern would be proud of you. Real proud."

Maggie managed a flicker of a smile. "Thanks, Wyatt."

"You're welcome." Wyatt glanced to the door for a moment, then looked at her again, his brows lifting upward. "How long ya plannin' to hide out in here for, anyway?"

Maggie shrugged. "If I had it my way, I'd hide until everyone left. Can't do that though, can I?"

Wyatt shook his head. "Fraid not." Maggie sighed with defeat. "It ain't so bad out there," Wyatt said with encouragement. "Why don't you come on back with me an' talk to some people? It might make ya feel better."

Maggie highly doubted it. "Alright," she agreed anyway. She knocked back the rest of the whiskey Wyatt had brought, then set both the empty cups in the sink. "Let's get this over with."

In the end, the mingling wasn't actually that bad. She wandered from person to person, allowing her guests to rope her into conversation and being sure to express her gratitude to everyone who had taken the time to show up that day. There were lots of tears, of course, and more hugs than she could count, but some people were more keen to share happier memories, which she was glad for. Some of the stories she heard were pretty funny and actually made her laugh, which was a miracle in and of itself. She was glad to experience some humor again – it was certainly a welcome break from all the sadness and gloom that had been swamping her since Ernie had passed.

All in all, the lunch went pretty well. She wasn't feeling as suffocated as she had thought she would, and time was actually going by pretty quickly. Before she knew it, it was well into the afternoon and people were slowly starting to filter out. Maggie was finally able to take a break from all the conversing and snuck out on the porch with Elena and Jack to get away for a bit. She was glad when she spied the bottle of whiskey that Jack had brought with him.

"You look drained," Jack commented as Maggie plopped ungracefully into her grandfather's favorite rocking chair.

"I am drained," she confirmed. She took the bottle of whiskey he offered and lifted it straight to her lips, taking a few hearty gulps. "Once this is all over with, I think I'm going into hibernation for the rest of the year."

Maggie took one more drink, then passed the bottle over to Elena, who was sitting in the rocking chair next to her. "I don't blame you," she said with sympathy.

Elena took a swig of the drink herself, then handed the bottle to Jack, who was leaning against the porch bannister across from them. "Have you made any decisions about work yet?" he asked.

Maggie really had to hand it to her boss and co-workers – they had been wonderful throughout all of this. Her co-workers had made sure her shifts at the hospital were covered, no questions asked, and her boss had told her to take as much time as she needed. At first, Maggie had thought she would go back right after the funeral. She didn't think that going back to work would make things feel normal again, but she had hoped it would at least distract her from how much her heart was hurting. But now, after having several days to think about it, going to work was the last thing she wanted to do. She had lost the motivation completely, and she was worried that if she went back too soon that she would perform poorly, which wouldn't be fair to any of the patients she would potentially work with.

"I'm gonna take a break for a while," Maggie answered. "I already sent an email to my boss letting her know that I'm taking an extended leave of absence."

Jack made a sound of understanding. "What are you gonna do while you're not working then?"

Maggie glanced around at all the familiar land around them. "Stay here, take care of the animals…just enjoy the quiet life for a while."

Jack smiled and nodded in encouragement. "That sounds like a good plan. We'll miss the hell out of you, but…you gotta do what you gotta do." Then he raised the bottle of whiskey to her and took a long drink.

Their conversation was momentarily interrupted as the front door opened and an older couple stepped out onto the porch. Since it was obvious they were leaving, Maggie stood from her chair and went to say her goodbye's, thanking them profusely for coming to pay their respects and sharing warm hugs with them.

She was so distracted by the departing couple that she didn't really notice the sound of a car parking out on the side of the road just in front of the house. Maggie shared a few last words with the couple, then, as they left, she went to rejoin Jack and Elena. She stopped, however, and frowned with uncertainty when she saw that both were looking to the road with wide, disbelieving eyes.

"Guys? What is it?" she asked.

When neither answered her, Maggie finally turned to see what had caught their attention. Upon seeing who was currently making their way up to the house, her jaw dropped and she suddenly felt like someone had ripped her lungs right out of her chest.

It was Paul.

Maggie blinked once, twice, three times, but the face didn't change. It was definitely him, not just some figment of her imagination. She hadn't seen him in person since their divorce had been finalized, but quickly saw that he hadn't changed a bit. His dark hair was still cut short and neat. His face was as handsome as she remembered, with his straight nose and sharp jawline and high cheekbones. He was tall and well built, which his tailored suit accentuated, and she was almost disappointed to see that he was still in such good shape. She had hoped that having a baby to take care of would have made him at least gain a couple pounds around the middle, but that didn't seem to be case.

The only difference now was that instead of his usual, confident swagger, he looked completely awkward as he approached, perhaps even a touch nervous. Maggie glanced at Elena and Jack, who were still looking at Paul as if seeing a ghost for the first time, before she looked at Paul again. Finally, with her arms crossed tightly over her chest for some semblance of protection, she stepped to the edge of the porch. Paul stopped just before the bottom step. He nodded to Jack and Elena in acknowledgement, then turned his attention back to her. It was only then that she realized he was holding a bouquet of flowers in his hands.

Maggie didn't know what to say at first, and Paul didn't seem to, either. "Hey, Maggie," he finally said to break the uncomfortable silence.

"What are you doing here, Paul?" she asked tensely.

Paul shifted on his feet. "I heard what happened. I came to pay my respects to Ernie," he answered. "And…I wanted to make sure you were alright."

A feeling of bitterness came on suddenly, flooding through her like a river breaking through a dam. "Since when do you care if I'm alright or not?" she asked before she could stop herself.

Paul looked taken aback at first, then frowned deeply. "Come on, Mags," he said, and the fact that he had used her nickname irked her even more. It felt too personal, too intimate. He wasn't allowed to use that name anymore. He'd given up that privilege. "I know we didn't leave things on a great note, but that doesn't change the fact that I still worry about you. Still care about you."

Maggie snorted with disbelief. "Oh, that's right. You cared so much that you walked out on me and decided to start over with a new, better woman. The ultimate romantic gesture," she said with sarcasm.

Paul sighed and looked down at his feet for a moment, his shoulders sagging a little. "I didn't come here to fight, Maggie," he said, his tone weary.

"You shouldn't have come here at all," she countered swiftly. "If you wanted to pay your respects, you could have just sent a pretty flower arrangement like everyone else. Or you could have at least called to ask if you were even welcome here before you came rolling into town."

Paul looked up at her sharply. "Would you have answered if I had?" he asked, his tone heavily implying that they both knew she wouldn't have.

"Of course not," Maggie answered with remorse. "We have no reason to talk to each other anymore. And you certainly have no reason to be here when you made it pretty damn clear how little this family meant to you." She laughed bitterly and shook her head. "Things are fucking hard enough already, now I have to deal with you barging in uninvited?"

Paul was starting to look mad now. "I know how hard things are, because I know how much you loved Ernie. I know how important he was to you. That's why I came, to try to offer some support. Excuse me for trying to be nice."

Maggie shook her head. "I don't need you to be nice. I need you to go away. That's what you're good at, right? Leaving?" she couldn't help but add with venom.

Paul took a step backward, as if he'd been physically struck. "I never wanted to hurt you, Maggie," he said, his tone losing some of its edge. "I never wanted things to be this way."

"Well, you did. And things are this way now, and there's nothing you, or anyone, can do to change that," she cut in. "So why don't you go on back home to your wife and kid," she suggested. "And don't bother worrying about me anymore. I don't need, or want, your concern."

A thick, awkward silence fell over them. Maggie stared down at Paul with her chin jutted into the air and her expression unyielding, while Paul looked back up at her with what she could have sworn was sadness in his eyes. He glanced at Elena and Jack again, who had watched the exchange in complete silence, then finally looked up at her and nodded.

"Alright," he said, his tone defeated. He leaned forward to place the bouquet he had brought on the floorboards next to her feet, then straightened back up. "I'm sorry I intruded. And I'm sorry about Ernie."

And with that, he turned to head back to his car. Maggie watched him go, her heart beating so loudly in her ears that she could hear little else. She didn't finally relax her stiff posture until Paul had started his engine and driven away.

Maggie sighed heavily and looked at Elena and Jack, who were both staring at her like she was a stick of dynamite that might blow at any minute. Paul's unexpected visit had shaken her to the core and made an already horrible day one thousand times worse. Maggie quickly came to the decision that she wasn't in the mood to entertain anyone anymore.

"Party's over," she said dryly, before turning on her heel to head back inside without another word.

It was easy enough to make everyone else leave. She announced as politely as she could that the lunch was over and that it was time to go home, and though some of the people in attendance seemed a bit scandalized that they were being dismissed, Maggie ignored their disapproving looks. She merely promised to return everyone's casserole dishes at the earliest convenience, then showed them to the door.

After everyone but Jack and Elena was gone, Maggie kicked off her shoes and put up her hair, then retreated into the kitchen to start cleaning up. She tried very hard not to think about Paul as she packed away leftovers and scrubbed dishes clean, but it was a feat that proved impossible.

She couldn't believe he had shown up the way that he had. The man really did have some nerve. First he had left her, then he had replaced her, and he had somehow gotten it in his head that he could just come waltzing back into her life and that she would be okay with that? Honestly, what had he expected when he had come to see her? That she would greet him like they were old friends? That she would be happy? Of course she wouldn't be happy to see him after everything that had happened. He had been a damned fool to think otherwise.

But then Maggie started thinking about how gutsy it had been for him to come and see her, and just how far he had gone out of his way to come pay his respects. He had driven hours to come to the house and really put himself out there, and what had she done? Thrown it back in his face and practically kicked him off the property. With a cringe, she had to acknowledge that it had been pretty cold hearted of her to behave the way she had. The more she thought about it, the more she almost felt…guilty.

Maggie frowned and shook her head firmly at that train of thought. Fuck that, she thought to herself, resolutely shoving away any feelings of guilt. He had broken her heart and broken his vows to her. She had every right to be pissed off at him for as long as she wanted, and that was that.

"You're gonna break that dish if you scrub any harder," Elena suddenly commented, making Maggie jump with surprise and nearly drop said dish.

She glanced at her friend over her shoulder. Elena had entered the kitchen without her hearing it, and she was currently standing just inside the doorway. Maggie wasn't sure what to make of the expression on her face, so she turned her attention back to the dishes to avoid it altogether.

"Did you see anymore dishes anywhere?" Maggie asked, her tone neutral.

"No, I think we got them all," Elena said, stepping closer. She came to stand next to her by the sink, and for a moment, Elena just stared at her, as if studying her. Finally, she sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. "You okay?"

Maggie frowned and scrubbed the dish harder. "Well, I just buried my grandfather, who I already miss so much it's hard to fucking breathe when I think about it, and my asshole ex-husband, who I can't stand the sight of, decided to show up out of the blue after three years of absolutely zero contact. Why wouldn't I be okay?" she said with sarcasm.

Elena sighed. "I know you're pissed that Paul showed up," she said gently. "But you can't let it get to you like this."

"How did he even know?" Maggie asked sharply, giving her friend a look. "Did you or Jack say something to him?"

Elena almost looked offended at the question. "Of course not," she denied at once. "Me and Jack are on your side, Mags, not his." Maggie knew Elena was telling the truth. "You and Paul do still know a lot of the same people, though, and news about Ernie's passing spread pretty quickly. If I had to guess, he probably just heard through the grapevine," she reasoned.

Elena was probably right. Maggie sighed heavily and shook her head. "I just wish he hadn't come. That was the last thing I needed."

"I know. But…believe it or not, I think he came with good intentions," Elena said in a careful tone, as if she was afraid to say the wrong thing and set Maggie off again. "He wasn't trying to pull anything. He was just trying to offer his condolences."

Maggie frowned deeper, that guilty feeling from a few minutes ago creeping back. "I know."

She finally stopped scrubbing the dish to brace her hands on the sink. She closed her eyes for a second and let out a long exhale, all the things she had said to Paul earlier rushing back and just twisting that knife of guilt even further. Maggie finally opened her eyes again and stared straight ahead at the window. The sun was starting to descend now, turning the sky pretty shades of orange and pink.

"I was a real bitch to him, wasn't I?" she asked quietly.

Elena shrugged. "I don't blame you for it. I probably would have been the same way," she said.

Maggie looked at Elena, letting all of the weariness she felt inside appear on her face. "I didn't mean to fly off the handle like that. I just…" Maggie shook her head. "I'm so tired, El," she admitted. "I'm tired of lawyers and bankers and people. I'm tired of keeping on a brave face when really I feel like I'm drowning inside. This has been probably the worst week of my life, and now, on top of that, I feel guilty for how I treated Paul. It just makes me feel even worse." Maggie sighed again. "I'm just done. All I want is to hole up somewhere and forget all of this even happened."

Elena frowned with sympathy and moved closer to put an arm around her shoulders. "I get it, Mags. Things are hard right now, but it'll get better over time. You'll see. And Paul probably understands why you lashed out, so don't beat yourself up over it too much. It's not like you have to see him again anyway."

Maggie frowned. "I still feel like an asshole."

Elena shrugged, then gave her a small smile. "You could always send him a fruit basket or something to apologize," she said, her tone slightly joking.

Maggie snorted and rolled her eyes. "I'm sure his wife would just love that," she muttered sarcastically.

Elena just pulled her closer and squeezed her. "Look, it's been a tough day. Give it a couple days to…reset yourself. Then, if you still feel bad, you can send Paul an email or something. You know, to clear your conscious."

Maggie thought about it, then nodded. "Okay."

Elena smiled encouragingly, then patted her on the back. "Why don't you go and relax?" she suggested, gently nudging Maggie away from the sink and the dishes that remained there. "I'll finish up here."

"You sure?" Maggie asked.

Elena nodded. "Positive."

Maggie didn't need to be told again. With a quick thanks and a small, grateful smile, she left Elena in the kitchen and went back to the living room, which seemed eerily quiet and empty now that everyone was gone. There was no sign of Jack anywhere, but when she heard the floorboards upstairs creaking, she determined he must have gone upstairs to change or wind down. Maggie glanced around the living room for a moment, her eyes lingering on the recliner Ernie had always loved sitting in, before she turned and made her way out onto the porch instead.

The fresh air was nice and the view was even better. Maggie went to brace her hands on the bannister, her eyes turning up to the sky as the sun continued to set. The breeze picked up, making the trees around the house sway harder, bringing the smell of nature to her nose. Maggie closed her eyes and inhaled, the familiar scent soothing her frazzled nerves.

An odd crinkling sound reached her ears, making her open her eyes again. She searched for the source of the noise until she finally looked down at the steps of the porch, and when she realized what was still there, she stiffened.

The flowers from Paul were still on the steps where she had left them, the decorative paper wrapped around them for protection rustling with the wind.

Maggie stepped over to the flowers and picked them up. She stared at them, resisting the urge to press her nose to them, and felt another pang of guilt as she remembered how Paul had looked when he had left. He really had seemed genuinely hurt. Maggie reckoned she might have been too, if the roles had been reversed. Going completely out of your way to try to be there for the person you had once loved during a difficult time, when you had absolutely no obligation to, only to get the vocal equivalent of a swift kick to the ass and shown to the door? Yeah, she understood why he had looked the way he had when he had left.

Maggie stared at the flowers for a few moments longer, then sighed heavily.

Maybe she would reach out to him after all, apologize for being so callous. Maybe. But right now, all she wanted to do was put him out of her mind. She didn't want to think about Paul anymore. Now that she was alone, now that the funeral was over, it was time to mourn for her grandfather in peace, as she had been yearning to do all week. It would be a lot easier not to think about Paul if she didn't have any reminders of him lying around, though, that was for sure.

With that thought in mind, Maggie stepped down from the porch and turned right to head to the garage, where a few trashcans were lined up close to the door. Maggie walked up to the nearest one, took off the lid, then threw the flowers into the trash.

"Are you sure you're gonna be alright here by yourself?" Elena asked for what had to be the hundredth time that morning.

It was three days after the funeral, and though Jack had long since said his goodbye's and returned home, Elena had opted to stay an extra few days to help Maggie around the house and keep her company. It had been a quiet and uneventful three days, consisting mostly of them watching movies, going for long walks around the property to get fresh air, and devouring ice cream every night. As much as Maggie loved having Elena around, and as grateful as she was for her loyalty and support, she could no longer deny the fact that she was keeping her friend from her own life, which had selflessly been put on hold to help her out.

It was long past time for Elena to go home and get back to work, and as they stood in the foyer with all of Elena's things packed into a duffel and ready to go, Maggie was determined to make her go back to her normal life.

"I'll be completely fine," Maggie reassured. "I'll be plenty busy tending to the animals and taking care of things around here. And if you're worried about me being alone, don't be. Wyatt has already promised to keep working here, just as he always has, so I'll have him for company."

Elena gnawed on her lip with uncertainty. "I just hate that I'm gonna be so far away. If something happens, I won't be able to do much to help."

Maggie furrowed her brows questioningly. "And what, exactly, do you think is gonna happen?"

Elena threw her hands up with exasperation. "I don't know! I'm just…worried about you, is all."

Maggie smiled reassuringly. "This is a small town with a lot of really good people, El. The worst thing that happens here is the local kids tipping over cows or getting too rowdy in the diner parking lot," she reminded. "And if you're worried about me eating, I've still got about a dozen casseroles to get through in that fridge. Trust me. I'll be absolutely fine here."

Elena looked at her for a long moment, then finally sighed with defeat. "Alright, alright. But if anything happens, or if you need me for anything, just call. I'll get here as fast as I can."

"I will. I promise."

Satisfied with her answer, Elena nodded and then stepped forward to envelop her in a hug. Maggie squeezed her friend back tightly, trying to ignore the small lump that formed in her throat at the thought of saying goodbye, even though it was only temporary. Elena was an amazing friend, better than she could have ever dreamed or asked for. She was going to miss her while they were apart.

"Thank you for everything you've done for me," Maggie said, hugging her tighter. "I love you. You know that?"

"I know. And I love you, too," Elena said in return.

They hugged for a moment longer, then finally released one another. With a long sigh, Elena turned to grab her bags, and after Maggie opened the door for her, the two went outside. Once Elena had packed her things into the trunk of her car, she turned back to Maggie and smiled. "Try not to go too stir crazy, alright?"

Maggie nodded. "I'll do my best."

"And remember – if you need me, call. I'm serious. I'll be here as fast as I can get here," Elena said with a stern point of her finger.

Maggie smiled. "I will. I promise."

"Good."

They hugged once more, then Elena finally got into her car and started up the engine. "Say hi to Jack for me, okay?" Maggie said through the open car window.

"I will. Take care of yourself," Elena said.

"I will."

Finally, Elena put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway. Once she was on the street, she beeped the horn twice and waved, and then she was off, leaving Maggie to watch in silence as Elena drove down the road, before disappearing from sight altogether.

If she had thought it had been weird to be in the house without Ernie around before, once Elena was gone, it only got stranger. At least when Elena was around, there was someone else there to make noise or talk to or, if they didn't have anything to talk about, to just be with. But once Elena was gone, it was just Maggie all by herself in a big, empty house, and though she had insisted that she would be alright on her own, it still felt…strange.

The next week passed without much going on. It rained for two straight days after Elena left, which left Maggie with little else to do but sit around in the house and watch old shows on the very outdated television that Ernie had insisted on keeping. The weather cleared up eventually, but it was still overcast and muddy as hell all over the property for a few days after, which wasn't ideal for any outside adventures. On the bright side, however, Wyatt finally dropped in to pay her a visit and help her tend to some chores around the ranch, and having him around for company certainly lifted her spirits a little bit. They talked and worked like they always did, and then he did his very best to convince her to come over for dinner when it came time for him to leave. Maggie politely declined, but promised she would come over some other time.

By the end of the week, the skies were clear and beautiful, though once the sun came back it was hotter than the seventh layer of hell. Despite the heat, Maggie finally decided that the time had come to stretch her legs and get some fresh air, and she could think of no better way to do that than by taking one of the horses out for a ride around the property.

But first, there was a small bit of business to attend to.

She had given it some thought these past few days, and she had finally come to the conclusion that she owed Paul an apology. She still thought he had been crossing a line by showing up at her grandfather's funeral so unexpectedly, but she also knew that she had acted quite poorly by being so rude and sending him away so quickly. Did they have good history with one another? No. Did she think there was any chance for friendship between them? Hell no. But her grandparents had raised her with good manners, and if they had seen the way she had behaved, they would have been ashamed and appalled. For their sake, and in the hope that it would make that annoying feeling of guilt finally go away, she had decided to send him an email and be done with it.

The only problem was that Maggie had been sitting in front of her laptop for at least twenty minutes now, and still she had not written a word in the email message she was trying to compose. After their divorce, she had really, truly never thought she would talk to Paul again. She had been certain that was the end of all communication. What was she supposed to say to him after everything that had happened? How was she supposed to go about apologizing to someone that she both loved and hated at the same time?

Maggie sighed, then finally put her fingers to the keyboard.

Paul – The last thing I expected the day of the funeral was for you to show up and offer your support, especially considering everything that happened between us.

Maggie stopped, then shook her head and hit the backspace button until everything had been erased. Probably better not to mention their past, since they were both well aware of how and why things had gone so sour between them. She tapped her fingers against the desk as she took another moment to think, then tried again.

Paul – I was certain I would never see you again after the divorce, which is probably why I reacted so badly when you showed up at the funeral. You, of all people, were the last person I thought would come to support me, since you stopped supporting me the minute you decided I was an unfit wife.

Maggie stopped again and erased the words with a heave. That was way too confrontational for an apology.

After three more attempts, and three more erases, Maggie sighed and rubbed her eyes with frustration. This was proving to be much harder than she had thought it would be. Dropping her arms down to the desk, Maggie turned her eyes to the window so she wouldn't have to look at the blank screen any longer, her brows furrowed with concentration. Why was she making this into such a big deal anyway? She didn't need to write a fucking essay explaining exactly why she had behaved the way she had. It isn't as though she was trying to salvage a relationship here, since their relationship was already well and truly severed. Why was she thinking about this so hard?

With determination, Maggie looked back to the screen and placed her fingers on the keyboard again.

Paul – I'm sorry. Thank you for the condolences. Papa would have appreciated it.

There. It was quick and to the point. And before she could think twice about it, Maggie clicked send and closed her laptop with a snap.

With thoughts of Paul shoved way to the back of her mind, Maggie decided to get ride underway. A blast of heat hit her the second she stepped outside, making her groan and nearly rethink her decision to go riding. But she definitely wanted to get out of the house, and she was hopeful that a ride would clear her head, so she pressed on anyway. She walked into the barn and smiled at Duke and Jolene, who were both munching away on some hay in their stalls. Maggie went up to Duke first, who stepped forward to the front of the stall to greet her.

"Hey, boy. How ya doing?" she asked, patting him on his massive neck. Duke's answer was to nudge her shoulder with his nose and snort lightly through his nostrils. Maggie smiled and rubbed his nose, then smoothed down his mane. "You missing Papa, too?" Duke snorted again. "Yeah, me too."

After a few more affectionate pats, she moved on to Jolene, who seemed to have finally warmed up to her during the course of her extended stay on the ranch. Jolene approached a little more slowly, but approached nonetheless, and she did not shy away as Maggie rubbed her nose, too. "How about you, girl? Hanging in there?"

Jolene whinnied with enthusiasm, which had Maggie smiling a bit. She glanced at Duke, who seemed to be watching her, then looked at Jolene again. Originally, it had been her plan to take Duke out for a ride, simply because she was so used to him. But something about taking him out suddenly felt…wrong, in a way. He had been Ernie's for so long, and though she was sure Duke would appreciate the exercise, it felt weird to ride him in her grandfather's place. As much as she adored Duke, she preferred to take Jolene out instead. Plus, she hadn't had the chance to see what Jolene could really do yet. Now seemed like the perfect time to finally do so.

Maggie opened Jolene's stall and led her out, then made quick work of saddling her up. Once Jolene was ready to go, Maggie shed the button down shirt she had been wearing and hung it on the saddle rack, leaving her in a tank top, jeans, and her working boots. She then turned to reach for her worn, tan colored cowboy hat, which she usually left hanging up in the barn…and then she froze. Because there was a damn flash of blue in the corner of her eye again, this time out in the field just beyond the barn.

Maggie looked in that direction quickly, but nothing was there. After a second of flicking her eyes back and forth, she cursed and plopped the hat on her head. "Fuck off, ghost," she grumbled. "I don't have time for you today."

With that being said, she hauled herself up on Jolene's back and got situated. "See you in a bit, Duke," she said, smiling at the horse over her shoulder.

Duke just chewed his hay and stared back unblinkingly.

Maggie adjusted her grip on the reigns and patted Jolene on the neck. "C'mon, girl. Let's go."

With a click of her tongue and her heels digging into Jolene's flanks, they were off.

They started slow at first so that they could get used to each other. They trotted around the house a couple times, learning how to move together. When Maggie was more comfortable – and when Jolene seemed ready – she directed the horse toward the field and urged her on faster. Jolene responded to the encouragement immediately, and Maggie was taken by surprise as the mare took off like a rocket.

She had been told that Jolene was fast, but she hadn't realized just how fast. Maggie could handle the sudden burst of speed, but she had to hold onto her hat with one hand so that it wouldn't go flying off. It was as if Jolene had been chomping at the bit to stretch her legs, and now that she had been released into the world, she was ready to go. Maggie urged her on even faster, marveling at Jolene's speed as she galloped even harder and picked up the pace further, able to feel the power in the mare's body as the wind whistled in her ears.

It was amazing, and for the first time since her grandfather had died, Maggie let loose a genuine smile of joy.

They went to the very edge of the property, but because Jolene was showing no signs of slowing down, Maggie didn't try to stop her. They left the ranch well behind and continued on a trail that led into the forest, speeding through the trees. Maggie spotted a log lying in the path up ahead and momentarily worried that Jolene might not see it in her exuberant run, but the horse merely jumped clear over the log and landed with ease, never even breaking her stride as she kept on going. Maggie called out words of encouragement the entire way, laughing and smiling as they raced through the forest, feeling more carefree in that moment than she had in ages.

She couldn't really say how long they ran for – she was enjoying herself so much and so caught up in the ride that she wasn't paying much attention. But eventually Jolene slowed her pace, until she was down to just a trot, breathing heavily from the exertion of the run. Maggie smiled and patted the horse, finally releasing her hold on her hat since there wasn't a fear of losing it anymore.

"Good girl," she said soothingly. "Good girl."

Maggie finally glanced around as Jolene trotted along at a leisurely pace, then frowned a little as she realized that she didn't really recognize her surroundings. She liked to think she had a decent sense of direction, and she most definitely knew her grandfather's property down to every tree and blade of grass…but wherever they were now was unfamiliar, which meant they must have ridden very far.

"Where are we, Jolene?" she asked unsurely.

Jolene's answer was to snort and shake out her mane.

They continued down the path a little longer, until the trees thinned out a little and a stream came into view. Thinking that Jolene might need some refreshments after her run, Maggie pulled on the reigns to bring her to a halt, then jumped down and led her to the stream to get some water. While Jolene bent down to drink some water, Maggie stayed close and glanced around, trying to ascertain how far away they might be from the property.

Can't be too far, she reasoned. We'll just go back the way we came.

As Jolene drank her fill, Maggie kneeled down next to the stream and splashed some water on her face and neck to cool herself down a little. She readjusted her hat on her head and stood up, ready to mount Jolene again and head back to the ranch.

But that was when she saw a figure on the other side of the stream, which made every muscle in her body go tense.

The cowboy was there, sitting atop a horse this time, decked out in the same attire he had been wearing when she had seen him in the yard. She could see his face clearer now that he was closer. He looked a little older than her, with strong, masculine features, a few days' worth of stubble on his jaw, and blue eyes that peered back at her with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. His hat covered most of his hair, but she could see wisps of it peeking out from under the brim. It looked to be a sandy blonde color.

Maggie blinked, fully expecting he would disappear, but he didn't this time. He just sat there atop his horse, staring back at her as if trying to silently tell her something.

"Who are you?" she finally asked.

He didn't answer.

Maggie felt a sudden surge of frustration. Why did she keep seeing this apparition? Why was this happening? What did it all mean?

"Why are you here?" she growled out, taking a step closer. "Why do you keep following me? What do you want from me?"

The cowboy still didn't say anything. He merely stared at her for another moment, then guided his horse around and started off in the opposite direction, leaving her behind. As much as she had wanted the ghost to go away, as confusing as this whole thing was, she suddenly didn't want him to go. There had to be a reason why he kept showing up, and she wanted answers. But she couldn't get them if he was gone, could she?

"Wait!" Maggie cried.

When he didn't stop, Maggie quickly scrambled back on top of Jolene and urged her forward, sending splashes of water up into the air as they galloped across the stream. As if he could sense she was following him, the cowboy sped up. Maggie dug her heels into Jolene's flanks to make her pick up the pace, but no matter how fast they went, the cowboy was faster.

Suddenly he wasn't on the path anymore. He was riding through the trees, leaving her to catch only glimpses of his blue shirt as he wove in and out of sight. Maggie directed Jolene off the path and into the trees, trying hard to keep sight of him, not understanding where he was going or what he was trying to accomplish.

"Where are you going?" she cried, even though she knew he wouldn't respond. Even though she knew she must have looked like a lunatic chasing after a fucking ghost.

Another glimpse of blue on her right had her directing Jolene that way. Maggie had to keep ducking to avoid low hanging branches, could feel twigs scraping against her skin and hitting her body as they wound deeper and deeper into the woods. The logical part of her brain knew she should stop and turn back, knew she would probably just get lost if she kept on the way that she was, but she had silenced that logical voice. Her only focus was the cowboy and wherever it was that he was leading her.

Maggie was starting to see the cowboy less now. With desperation, she urged Jolene on, her head swiveling back and forth to try to catch a glimpse of him within the trees. There! A flash of blue up ahead. With a call to Jolene, they hurried that way, picking up the pace again as the trees thinned a little, giving them more room to run. There he was. She was catching up to him.

Suddenly, they were in a clearing, and the moment they hit the open space, Jolene whinnied loudly and reared back on her hind legs so suddenly that Maggie had to scramble to hold on. When Jolene was back on all fours, Maggie glanced around quickly, searching for the cowboy. But he was gone. There was no sign of him anywhere.

"What the fuck?" she whispered to herself, breathing hard and feeling horribly confused.

She wasn't the only one out of sorts. Suddenly Jolene could not seem to stand still. She was pacing and tossing her head, letting out anxious sounds. Maggie looked down at the mare in confusion, unsure what had gotten into her or why she was behaving so strangely.

That was when she heard it. There was an odd buzzing sound in the air, like an angry swarm of bees circling around her. Maggie actually glanced upward, half expecting to see bees overhead, but nothing was there. Yet the buzzing continued, and as Maggie lowered her eyes again to search for the source of the noise, she realized the clearing they were in wasn't as empty as she had thought.

Some twenty yards in front of her was a circle of large standing stones, seven of them in total, each standing at least ten feet tall. Six made up the circle itself, while one was stuck right in the middle. Maggie stared at the stones, certain she had never seen anything like that in these parts before, and tried to get Jolene to move closer. The mare wouldn't budge, though.

Maggie climbed down from the saddle and tried to lead Jolene forward by the reigns so she could investigate the stones. The mare resisted at first, looking like she might bolt at any minute, but a few soothing words from Maggie finally had her stepping forward. As they slowly made their way closer to the stones, the buzzing sound intensified. The buzzing was coming from the stones, she realized, yet she couldn't for the life of her understand why.

The buzzing was almost overwhelming once they were actually standing within the circle. She felt like she could feel the buzzing all the way to her bones, making them rattle and shake underneath her skin. Jolene was starting to get anxious again, whinnying every so often, as if trying to warn Maggie that something was wrong. And the longer she stood there, the more anxious Maggie was starting to feel, too.

Something about this place felt different. Something about it felt off. The hair on the back of her neck was standing on end, and a chill kept going up and down her spine. Something in her gut was suddenly telling her to leave and never come back, but she couldn't seem to make her feet move. The stones were captivating in a scary way, reeling her in like a fish on the end of a line. And were her eyes playing tricks on her, or could she actually see them vibrating?

Maggie looked to the stone in the middle, and the buzzing, if possible, got even louder. She didn't remember telling her feet to move, but suddenly she was stepping forward, her eyes training unblinking on the large stone. She felt drawn to it like a magnet, and it was impossible to resist the tug. Vaguely she felt Jolene pull against the reigns, but Maggie ignored the horse. As she stepped up to the stone, she peered up to the very top. It was vibrating, she could see it clearly against the sky overhead.

She don't know why she did it. She don't know what compelled her to move. But Maggie suddenly had to touch the stone, needed to feel it and understand what it was. Holding tightly to Jolene's reigns in one hand, she reached the other toward the stone. Time seemed to slow down in that moment. Slowly her hand descended on the stone, the buzzing sound so loud it was deafening, Jolene's anxious pulling on the reigns not even registering in her head. The cowboy was forgotten. The world was forgotten. The only thing she could focus on was the stone before her.

Finally, her hand landed on the smooth, cold stone. The buzzing stopped, and a strange feeling overtook her body, like falling through the air and being turned inside out at the same time. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't think. She didn't know where she was, or who she was.

And then it stopped, and everything went black.

*Peeks around corner* *Looks around* *waves hesitantly*

Er, hello. Remember me? Yes, I'm still here, though I'm sure many of you forgot all about me. I'm not really sure what happened, or how it's been so long since I first started this story. Personal life took over in a big way and writing has been very difficult to accomplish, which is the main culprit for me not working on this story. Also, I didn't get a chance to play the game at all for a solid six months, and since that's where inspiration comes from (obviously) that made things even more difficult.

But hey, here I am. With basically the entire world on quarantine, and with me currently unemployed because of that, I've suddenly found myself with excessive amounts of free time. Video game playing commenced, which then brought about motivation, which led to this chapter finally happening. Yay!

Thank you to everyone who has added this story to their alert/favorite list, and thank you for all your kind reviews. For those of you that stuck around, you're awesome. For those of you who left, I totally get it. I hope you come back, though. I'll try to be better about updating, I promise.

Anywho, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! We'll finally be seeing Arthur in the next one, so hang on to your hats! Stay safe, stay healthy, and I'll see you soon!