CHILDHOOD (0-14)

Born into an incestuous family line on top of the arsenic poisoning in the water and food, Clay didn't really start out the best. He had a lot of struggles growing up; remaining mute until he was 9 or 10 and had only started learning to walk at 4. His family really didnt worry too much about his developmental delays either since most of the town had some sort of ailment or birth defect. This didn't make him a target for bullying though; He was in fact, even protected and sheltered from the developing world around him. He was not allowed to go outside his family's home, much less the border of Butcher Creek. He did get along quite well with one of his half brothers on his mother's side, Clifford. Who would often loiter around Clay's family home and talk to him through the dilapidated walls. Clifford would often leave trinkets and presents on his windowsill so that Clay could ,in a way, experience the outside world with him. Jenny, Both their mothers, saw this and encouraged their friendship. With Clifford's guidance, Clay was allowed out of the house under his supervision even though Clay was the older of the two. Clifford enjoyed the calm presence that Clay's demeanor dispersed, he wasn't shy or insecure like Clifford had initially thought someone who lived in a room for their whole life would be. His movements were diliberate, His words intentional. He never wasted his words. Clifford liked that about him, he enjoyed the calming silence between them. "People are always pretending." He told Clay one time. "Pretending to listen, or like you." In turn Clay benefitted from Clifford's confidence and courageous attitude. He could always rely on Clifford's ability to understand him without words and talk them out of trouble. Even though he had many pyschical and mental disabilities, Clay was very emotionally intelligent; This made him more of a father figure than a brother to Clifford. He really looked to Clay for approval and comfort.

He finally convinced his mother to let him go into Van Horn to work as a stablehand for income at around 13. This upset the whole town once it got out, as this was seen as betrayal and heresy since to them he was supporting industrialization which infringed on their rights to live the way they did. The agitation only grew as he continued working. One night, while Clay was asleep, most of the town had decided to take him and sacrifice him. They believed he was a test from god and in killing him, God would reward them by removing the sicknesses that pretty much the whole town was infected with. His parents tried to barricade the door but they flooded in from all sides, the screaming and noise snatched Clay from his sleep. Startled and scared, he managed to evade their grip and fled into the unknown wilds that surrounded him. Stumbling and sometimes even crawling on his hands and knees; he made it to the stables near Van Horn. He jumped the fence, creeped into the stables, stole one of the horses he grew quite affectionate with and high-tailed it in a random direction leaving Clifford behind..

EMERALD RANCH (14-16)

Emerald Ranch is the first town he reaches after what happened in Butcher Creek. Meeting two men, James Jacobbs and Roman Montoya, after being caught stealing stale bread from the back of the saloon late at night. The two decide not to punish Clay and instead invite him to work around the stables. Mr. Jacobbs was particularly shocked about how Clay knew basically nothing about the outside world beyond his hometown, or even how to use forks and spoons. Clay's religious ramblings didn't annoy them too much, and he spoke of it less and less as the ranch got busier and busier. These two or so years allowed Clay to refine his skills and learn new ones, even if it was pretty short-lived.

The townsfolk of Emerald Ranch got word about several savage attacks to towns/industrialized areas surrounding Butcher Creek. The attacks got more specific, kidnapping/killing men that looked similar to Clay in age and hair colour. Knowing of Clay's past, James tried to explain to him that he should flee further west and that he would send a letter to his family out in Valentine to get him work there. Clay initially refused, not wanting to believe his family would really behave that way. But, on one sunny morning, Clay was attacked by someone he never expected. Clifford. He was shoved to the ground and held there in the muddy paddock of the sheep pens. All he could do was watch in horror, stunned in shock, as Clifford took a dull serrated knife to the base of his forehead. Attempting to scalp Clay alive. Luckily it was bright and early in the morning, many ranchers/workers were around to help pry Clifford off the poor boy. James was the main hero, plucking Clifford off Clay and wrestled him around while shouting at Clay to run. All he could hear was the pounding in his ears and Clifford's hysterical screaming. "You left me!" and "I'll fucking kill you, Leslie!" kept replaying in his head as he rode off. Straight out to Valentine. Hoping James would make good with his offer on his letter.

VALENTINE (16-26)

To Be Continued..

MACFARLANE RANCH

...