˚ ۪ ୨୧⊹. What is love?
Jack Marston, a lonely cowboy, walks into a bar...only to meet the saloon's new girl who is just as lonely as he is, maybe it's love at first sight or maybe he's had too much to drink.
Jack Marston (1914) x f!reader
warning: mentions of prostitution, drinking, death/loss, comfort and fluff, tension and kissing, kind of like raunchy like whimpering and stuff, absolutely painfully lovesick Jack.
a/n: fluffy and sad but kinda raunchy bcos I just love Jack, baffles me that this poor boy is my age just want to give him a big kiss and make him some dinner 🫶
-> part 2 to this idea is now up!! x
Jack Marston. A troubled, nineteen year old boy with a death wish. His mother and father were both gone, uncle too. Now he was alone, which he hated, he was rendered completely alone.
Yet, he was still an awkward young man who just wanted company, he probably needed it after all the suffering he had endured.
So there he was, wandering the streets of Blackwater. The lonesome cowboy. He gave awkward, toothy smiles to passers by which contradicted the outlawish exterior he adorned.
His boots clicked along the street, his steps scraped across the ground. The evening breeze was cool, it sent a chill down his spine. His beige, worn jacket hung lazily over his shoulders and his jeans were loose around his waist, but held up by his father's gun belt.
His callous fingers ran over his hair as he slipped his hat off upon entering the saloon, aiming the drink for the evening and enjoy a warm meal. The nights were tough at Beechers Hope, left to fix himself dinner due to the loss of his mother's home cooking. The loneliness crept in through the cracks and crevices.
He dragged himself through the small crowd to the bar, attempting to find an empty stool when his eyes met hers. Wide and full of wonder, yet tainted by so much hurt.
She must have been his age, both young and out of place in such a worn and timely saloon. Her skin looked so soft, so different to his own, so scarred and marred. Freckled adorned her skin like stars in the night sky.
Her hair hung over her shoulders in such a beautiful manner he felt his heart rate increase. He hadn't had a girlfriend before, sure he had kissed a girl before but never anything more. But he was so alone, and all he wanted was to be like his mother and father.
Little did he know she was just as alone as he was. She had lost her parents, a tragic accident and illness took them from her, and she was completely alone. It was her first night working the saloon, she wore an old dress another woman had leant her, a ridiculously tight corset that felt as if it was holding her together yet it was probably snapping her ribs. He noticed the way she sat awkwardly trying to cover her cleavage with her hair, it sparked a wave of sympathy through him, she was anxious and didn't want a single soul to notice her.
He thought she was beautiful, like an angel, the prettiest girl he had ever seen. He felt his jaw go slack as he watched her fiddle with her hair and the lace of her corset. A simple, silver locket hung around her neck, lying gracefully on her collar bones.
After a moment of contemplation, he sat down beside her and awkwardly cleared his throat. The barman automatically poured his usual beverage, but she kept her eyes on the window behind the bar.
"I...ah, evenin' lady." He mumbled shyly as he felt his cheeks flush beneath his facial hair. He was desperate for her attention, to be closer to her, not in a strange way just in a way that he felt as if she would understand him. She wouldn't find his need to closeness odd.
"Evenin' Mister," She replied quietly, reluctantly turning her gaze to him, "You're looking for some company?"
His fingers gently found the rim of his glass as he nodded awkwardly, "Mhm...if yer offering?"
He couldn't bring himself to look at her yet, he wanted to steal another glance but he felt foolish. She probably spent her evenings with the older, better looking ranchers who frequented to saloon. She probably had no interest in an awkward, lonely outlaw who had never been with a girl before.
She nodded wordlessly, "I...I suppose I am offering-" Her words were shy, timid and almost strained. She seemed bothered by something, but the man behind the bar cut her off.
"This is our latest girl, Marston...look at her ain't she just as sweet as pie..." His words were sweet yet laced with something so sickening, Jack could feel it in the back of his throat.
"I...I...follow me then," She mumbled quietly before adding, "My rooms upstairs with the other girls..."
He nodded wordlessly and gently reached for her hand and murmured, "I'm Jack..." as he let her lead him upstairs.
She mumbled her name quietly to him and laced her fingers with his. She seemed genuinely scared or overly timid, it made him even more nervous. All he wanted was to feel loved, he wanted someone to care for him.
"Just up here, Jack..." She mumbled quietly as she unlocked the door to the small room and pulled him inside.
Once inside, his hands found her hips clumisly and he lean closer to press his lips to hers. They were chapped, from biting at them due to nerves, and he tasted like whiskey. His lips moved against her in a tender, yet shy way but a slight hint of desperation. His callous hands glided up to hers jaw to hold her in place as he kisses her.
Her plump and soft lips glided over his and gently parted to welcome his tongue, she tasted of sweet wine and toothpaste. Her kiss was gentle and shy, it lacked confidence or self assurance. He let his tongue explore her mouth as he quietly whimpered into her mouth with slight shame.
He pulled away slightly and whispered, "...'m sorry..." as he blushed deeply over his needy and breathless state, his voice resembling his gentle whimper from before.
"It's okay...I...well your doing okay, I think?" She mumbled quietly as she gently petted his hair in a tender manner, a sensation he hadn't felt for a long time. It earned her a faint whimper as he gently snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her into him.
"You think?" He mumbled softly, "Surely yer usual men ain't whimpering like a hurt dog..." as he buried his nose in her hair and held her tightly, so softly and gently like he wanted to keep her close and safe.
"You're my first, Jack..." She whispered softly as she gently nestled into his chest and sniffled softly, hot tears pouring down her cheeks. She was so scared, so shy, but he made her feel safer than most of the other men in the saloon ever would.
"Wait...er, me?" He mumbled before pulling away slightly to just stare awkwardly as he held her shoulders, "I'm yer first client...no sugar, I'll go...I don't think...I mean, I ain't ever touched a girl...I shouldn't be the one to take yer innocence..."
She nodded quietly and pulled away sniffling and pushing tears away, "I'm sorry...should have told you."
He shook his head and whispered, "C'mere..." as he tried to coax her closer, "Let me help yer wipe those tears, sugar."
She nodded wordlessly and sat down on the bed and let him perch next to her, one arm around her waist and the other hand rested on her cheek go brush away her tears.
"Yer really pretty...prettiest girl I've ever seen." He murmured quietly as he pushed away her tears, his eyes were full of awe.
"Thank you, Jack..." She mumbled softly as she leant into his caring hand, "'m sorry I got upset...my parents passed away, that's why I'm here...just got scared, I should have told you I haven't ever been with a boy before..."
"It's okay, sugar...like I said, I've never neither...I'll help tidy you up and I'll go..." He mumbled softly as he leant closer to gently stroke her hair.
She shook her head softly and whispered, "Please stay...I'd like it if you did, you don't have to pay a single dollar...just, keep me company?" Her voice wavered slightly as she looked at him with desperate eyes.
"I...I...as long as yer sure," He mumbled softly as he gently wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
"Mhm...you're very kind, sweet even," She mumbled softly as she gently nestled her nose against his neck, "Are you a rancher?"
He chucked softly and nodded, "Taken over my Pa's ranch...Beecher's Hope...him and my Ma passed a while ago..." His voice was a soft whisper as his tone trembled slightly at the mention of his parents.
"Oh...I'm sorry for your loss," She murmured softly, her arms snaking around his neck as she drew him close. Her head nestled against his shoulder and her fingers gently toying with his hair.
"Thank you sugar...guess we have that in common," He mumbled gently against her hair before gently kissing the crown of her hair.
She sniffled softly and gently nuzzles her nose against his jaw, her fingers gently tugging on his hair softly. He whined softly and whispered, "That's nice, sugar...feels nice when you do that..." His cheeks still burning a deep crimson.
She gently iched his scalp and toyed with his locks to hear his soft noises and feel the way he urged her closer, unable to understand why he needed her impossibly close.
"Don't go..." He whispered as his voice trembled, as if he was finally letting someone in to comfort him.
"As long as you don't go..." She whispered back as she pressed a kiss to his scruffy jaw, her lips were like gentle angel kisses to his skin to fix the pasts scars and wounds.
"I...I don't want to leave you here," He murmured softly as he sniffled, "yer all I've ever dreamed of, please don't go...come with me, I'll look after yer I promise, good and proper...please darlin'..."
He rested his head in the crook of her neck and gently planted kisses there as if to persuade her to come back to Beechers Hope, he knew it was sudden and pathetic but christ did he want to keep her. She was like a stray kitten, and she was so similar to him. She had lost everything and everyone and needed loving, and so did he. He sure as shit wanted to love her, protect her, be a good man and hold her close and promise her the damn world.
"Jack...I'm awkward and homely...you'd tire of me so quickly...I've never had anything like this before...not sure what to do...I could barely kiss you without crying," She murmured softly as she sniffled and held back hiccups and tears.
"Shhh...yer shouldn't be selling yerself...yer so pretty and sweet...please even if it's until yer back on her feet, let me look after you..." He whispered as he pressed a kiss to her cheek, a desperate kiss that was clumsy and sloppy but loving and sweet. It felt as if looking after her and loving on her would heal him.
"Jack..." She mumbled softly as she turned to kiss him properly, messy yet tender. Their lips moved together and their tongues gently joined the dance, a tender moment between two hurting people.
Jack needed to care for someone, to pass on his parent's legacy and to feel loved. She needed to be cared for, to feel appreciated and to have a kind heart in her life.
His lips remained on hers as he pulled her to lay under him on the bed, no ill intentions on his part but just a need to be closer. She lay down without any complaints and pulled him closer as she kept her mouth locked onto his and her tongue against his, her fingers were slowly caressing his scruffy hair.
He slowly kissed down her jaw to her neck and whispered, "Just say yes...please, sugar...we'll get to know each other...I'll make sure yer safe...I'll feel so guilty if I leave yer here..."
She sobbed softly and whispered, "I want to...I want you to look after me, Jack..." He stopped kissing her neck and held her close and practically lay on top of her as she cried and he held her.
"Shhh...it's okay, just us yeah?" He whispered into her ear as he held her, "I’ll look after yer, get some sleep and we’ll pack yer up in the morning..”
He gently peppered her face in kisses and whispers, "Yer like an angel..." as he cuddles her gently, the poor boy was finally realising love and how overwhelming it was to feel so many emotions.
"You're like my knight in shining amour..." She murmured softly as she sniffled and clung to him tightly. He held her a little tighter and pressed his nose to her cheek.
"G'night, sugar..." He murmured softly as he pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek. He gently sniffled against her cheek and squeezed her gently as he felt sleep creeping in.
