Red Dead Redemption "Spare the Love, Spoil the Child" Mission Guide and Walkthrough

Red Dead Redemption "Spare the Love, Spoil the Child" Mission Guide and Walkthrough
Page content

John’s stories of grizzly hunting have inspired Jack to take a foolish solo trip into the wilderness.

When he doesn’t return, it’s up to John to find him and see him safely back home in the “Spare the Love, Spoil the Child” mission.

“Spare the Love, Spoil the Child”

Jack’s final mission begins just in front of the grain silo on the Marston Ranch. You can’t start until after 5pm, so keep an eye on the in-game clock and head out once it’s late enough.

Jack is nowhere to be found, and Uncle runs up while John is enjoying a cigarette. Uncle has seen him heading for the woods to take down a grizzly.

Hop on your horse and take off after him.

Rufus Leads the Way

Red Dead Redemption Horseplay

You’ll need to once again depend on Rufus’ nose to find your quarry, only this time it’s John’s son you’re hunting. Rufus will lead you down past the railroad tracks and into the woods, hot on Jack’s trail. As John climbs the trail up Nekoti Rock, he begins to call out for Jack.

At the top of the trail, a cutscene shows John dismounting and checking for signs of Jack. He spots an angry grizzly, then Jack hiding behind a boulder, injured. The grizzly bear charges, and you’ll need to take it down to save both Jack and John. A couple shots to the head ought to do the trick.

“You’re Just a Boy”

Jack Marston

John is understandably angry as Jack’s battered and bleeding head appears from behind the rock. Jack’s eager to prove his manhood, but John just wants to get him home safely. You can take a minute here to skin the grizzly if you want to make a bit of money, but you’ll once again have to listen to Jack’s whining should you choose to do so.

Jack will climb up on your horse, and you’ll need to head back to the ranch. John checks on Jack’s condition and admonishes him for leaving the ranch on his own. Jack explains the reasoning behind his actions, and John explains that Jack is going to find himself grounded for a long time.

The ride home is a sober one. John forces Jack to face the possible outcomes of his actions had John not

Red Dead Redemption

arrived in time, and Jack lets his teenage angst shine through once more.

Back at the ranch, your waypoint is just outside the grain silo, in the road. Once you hit it, Jack apologizes once more as he dismounts. He heads for the barn with his tail between his legs, and your mission with Jack is complete.

For more Red Dead Redemption goodness, including mission walkthroughs, weapon unlocks, and multiplayer guides, check out our Complete Guide to Red Dead Redemption.

This post is part of the series: Red Dead Redemption Mission Guides

A collection of some of the over 30 different mission guides for Red Dead Redemption here at Altered Gamer.

  1. Red Dead Redemption Mission Guide: “A Frenchman, an Irishman, and a Welshman”
  2. Red Dead Redemption Mission Guide: “Spare the Love, Spoil the Child”
  3. Red Dead Redemption Mission Guide: “Wolves, Dogs, and Sons”
  4. Red Dead Redemption Mission Guide: “The Outlaw’s Return”
  5. Red Dead Redemption Mission Guide: “Bear One Another’s Burdens”
  6. Red Dead Redemption Mission Guide: “For Purely Scientific Purposes”
  7. Red Dead Redemption Mission Guide: “Cowards Die Many Times”
  8. Red Dead Redemption Mission Guide: “Landon Ricketts Rides Again”
  9. Red Dead Redemption Mission Guide: “Mexican Caesar”
  10. Red Dead Redemption Mission Guide: “My Sister’s Keeper”
  11. Red Dead Redemption Mission Guide: “The Gunslinger’s Tragedy”
  12. Red Dead Redemption Mission Guide: “Let the Dead Bury Their Dead”
  13. Red Dead Redemption Mission Guide: “The Burning”
  14. Red Dead Redemption Mission Guide: “Can a Swindler Change His Spots?”
  15. Red Dead Redemption Mission Guide: “Justice in Pike’s Basin”
  16. Red Dead Redemption Mission Guide: “Political Realities in Armadillo”
  17. Red Dead Redemption Mission Guide: “A Tempest Looms”
  18. Red Dead Redemption Mission Guide: “New Friends, Old Problems”
  19. Red Dead Redemption Mission Guide: “Exodus in America”
  20. Guide to “The Gates of El Presidio”