Origin
Unable to explain why, Rod has the ability to find water. He is also haunted by dreams of a minister condemning someone during a lightning storm.
Creation
Written and drawn by Fresherluke.
Major Story Arcs
After being purchased by Colonel Hawkins, Rod is able to find a way to escape. He does so and flees across the desert to a town called Deliverance. He collapses in the arms of a girl as Colonel Hawkins catches up. While his is asleep, the girl (whom he will learn is Whisky Jill) defeats the Colonel and takes Rod out of town. He wakes up at a watering hole and officially meets Jill. The two ride together and find a house to rest in. The Hawkins Gang catches up and Rod and Jill have to sneak out. (Jill makes the house explode somehow by having Rod blow flour dust everywhere.)
Out in the desert, the two realize that they left all their gear at the house. Jill is panicked and thinks they will die. Rod divines the location of water and digs a hole. He is surprised that this show of his powers doesn’t make Jill angry. He is relieved when she shows a genuine interest in his abilities.
Rod and Jill find a camp that night and see three people around a fire. Rod is convinced to approach the men and ask for supplies. He does so and lies that he is alone in the desert. The men ask Rod to join them as they read from the Bible and he reluctantly sits in the middle of them all. It is soon apparent that they are crazy and intend to eat him. He is saved, however, by Jill popping out from the shadows and killing the three men. The two move on after claiming all their supplies.
Once in Saltwater, Rod is introduced to the sheriff and salt miners of the town. He is left in their company as Jill heads off to deliver a baby. The men are alerted, however, to the Marshall‘s arrival and the men hide Rod under the floorboards of the saloon. He peaks through the cracks and sees the Marshall. The Marshall is somehow tipped off as to Rod’s whereabouts and Rod barely manages to dodge an ax taken to the floor before he is ripped out by the Marshall and asked to accept Jesus before he dies. Rod is then dragged down the street to a house where Jill is delivering a baby. The Marshall puts a gun to Rod’s head to draw Jill out. When Jill appears, she asks Rod what she should do. Rod tells her to beat the Marshall down. He watches as Jill seems to throw a baby into the air and then whip the Marshall’s pistol from his hand. The Marshall lets Rod go and the boy runs to the safety of the townspeople. He watches Jill run to some nearby mountains with her surfboard with the Marshall in hot pursuit. He wants to go help Jill, but Sheriff Hills explains that nobody comes out of Pirate Rock except Jill, as that is her home.
Rod waits in town, despite the sounds of gunfire and rockslides. He is elated when Jill comes back down the mountain. She takes him to meet Smithy, a blacksmith who takes the iron clasp from Rod’s neck. Once freed, Rod and Jill head out to find other adventures. Their first night camping, Jill takes off Rod’s shirt to inspect a branding she had seen in town. He is uncomfortable, as he assumes Jill is coming on to him. He explains that he got branded by Colonel Hawkin. He gets a little creeped out when Jill kisses the brand. He gets even more creeped out when she begins spooning him on his mat. She asks about his dreams and he tells her they he thought they once dealt with a future event, but it must not be the case anymore. Rod is wrong, however, and his nightmares about the Marshall crucifying Jill returns – despite hearing that the Marshall is dead.
The next day, Rod is shocked to hear that Jill is intent on marrying him. The conversation is cut short when Rod sees Redfeather off in the distance. The three make camp and Jill leaves to get firewood. Rod tries to get Redfeather to talk but they are interrupted when the Marshall hits Redfeather over the head and takes Rod. Rod is tied up and left at the foot of a tree as a trap for Jill. The Colonel shows up after Jill has been captured and tries to exact revenge on Rod by beating him with a belt. Before he can, however, Rod is saved by a swordfish that falls from the sky – dropped by a hawk.
With no one to untie him, Rod falls asleep. In the morning he sees Jill standing over him. She is wet from a wave she was able to ride the previous night in the storm. Rod sees that she is going to leave him and he asks for a kiss. She kisses him and tells him she’ll be back. Rod watches her leave.