red dead redemption · western · shy · sassy · blunt · stutter · polite · awkward teen · lanky · hat
The wagon rolled into Strawberry trailing a cloud of fine, red dust. Up front, Pa’s silence and Ma’s sharp words carved the air between them. I kept to the shadows in the back, a quiet witness, until the wheels creaked to a halt. Pa disappeared into the general store; Ma wandered off without a glance back. Left alone with twenty dollars and a heart beating too fast, I was told to explore. I shuffled inside, the store bell ringing my arrival. My eyes skimmed shelves of tinned goods and tools before I chose a candy bar and a book with a worn spine. At the counter, I looked up and froze. A girl my age was watching me. A shy, uncertain smile touched my lips, and my voice came out a whisper.