Page 5 of Rust and Stardust

As we ate, the conversation flowed easily around the table. Pa and Frank discussed the upcoming cattle sale, while Mabel chimed in with town gossip she'd picked up at the general store. I stayed quiet, focusing on my food and trying to ignore the knot of anxiety that had taken up residence in my stomach since Pa had found me in the pasture earlier.

“So, Beau,” Mabel said suddenly, turning her attention to me. “Your Pa tells me you're thinkin' about entering the barbecue contest at the fair this year.”

I nearly choked on my steak. Apparently, I had good reason to be anxious. Seems there was a lot of talk happening in the house without my knowledge. Shooting a glare at Pa, I cleared my throat. “I, uh... I haven't decided yet.”

Mabel's eyes softened. “You know, honey, folks have been askin' about you. They miss seein' you around town.”

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “I've been busy with the ranch and there’s more yet to do.”

Mabel tsked from her seat. “Now, don't you go hemming and hawing, Beau Turner. That recipe of yours is too good to keep to yourself. Why, I remember the first time you won that contest. Never been so damn proud in my life.” It wasn’t like Mabel to curse, not unless she really meant it. “Nothing like watching your own kin do somethin’ special.”

Mabel and Frank had been around my entire life, but we weren’t related. However, they were just as much family to me as Pa. Frank had been hired on before I was born to help with the ranch and Mabel came with him as a package deal. They had a small house out behind the main one where they still lived. However, when my mother died just a few weeks after I was born, they pretty much spent all their time at the house, helping Pa raise me. Mabel was the only mother figure I’d ever known, so it made my heart sing to hear her claim me as her own.

“Oh, I almost forgot. Amber May's mama was asking after you at the market today, too.”

I nearly choked on my mouthful of steak. “What?” I managed to sputter out.

Mabel nodded, her eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. “Said Amber's been wonderin' if you'll be at the fair this year. Seems she's still sweet on you, despite... well, you know.”

I felt the heat rising in my cheeks. “I... I don't think...”

“Now, Mabel,” Frank said, pointing a piece of steak at his wife. “Leave the boy alone. He didn’t want her then, and he probably doesn’t want her now.”

“I didn’t want you when I first met you either, Frank McQuinn.”

“Yeah, but I won you over.”

“You nearly drove me to drink is what you did.”

“Forty years later,” he smiled. “Happy as can be.”

“That’s all I’m tryin’ to say,” she continued, looking back at me. “Some things that don’t feel right at first… well, they can grow on you. And despite everything this old fool says,” she said, shooting a glare at her husband. “It all turned out for the best.”

I knew what she wanted me to say, that I was going to become barbecue champion, take Amber May on a date, and marry her all in one night. Mabel meant well, but she could be a first-class meddler when she wanted to be.

“So maybe,” Mabel adding, pushing her point even further. “You should… I don’t know… call her or something.”

Her eyes were so full of hope as she stared at me that I couldn’t find the will to puncture her dreams completely. Too bad my stomach was so twisted up and knotted that I felt like I was going to be sick.

“I will think about it,” I said at last, not lifting my gaze from my plate.

“That’s all I can ask for, darlin’.”

Suddenly, the food no longer held my attention. Instead, I was far too wrapped up in my own thoughts and anxieties. There were things that I felt I needed to say, that needed to come out so everyone would finally understand why Amber May and I couldn’t be together. But I wasn’t brave enough to say them and so they remained unsaid.

Chapter 3

Lucas

The sun beat down mercilessly on the dusty streets of Sagebrush, Texas as I stepped out of my now dusty rental car. I squinted against the glare, feeling decidedly out of place in my crisp button-down and designer jeans. Logan and I had made the trip in just over three days. After he’d nearly passed out driving on the second day, I figured it was better to stop for the night than risk our lives any further. The motel in the middle of nowhere was surprisingly expensive. Our only saving grace was that Logan’s family agreed to put us up for free during our stay. I’d left him there to get caught up while I headed into town for some reconnaissance.

As I made my way down the main street, boots crunching on gravel, I caught sight of a tall figure emerging from the general store. The man moved with a gait that spoke of a lifetime spent in the saddle. Sun-bleached hair peeked out from under a well-worn Stetson, and startling blue eyes met my gaze for a moment before quickly looking away.

I felt my breath catch in my throat. But just as soon as the stranger appeared, he hopped into a rusted out red pickup and was gone, dust trailing behind him despite the paved road.

I stood there for a moment, frozen in place, watching the truck disappear down the road. Something about that brief encounter had stirred something within me, a feeling I couldn't quite name. Well, I could name it, but that’s not what I’d come to Sagebrush for. Shaking my head, I gave myself a quick mental reprimand. Clearly, I’d been watching far too much cowboy themed porn lately. Besides, what was I gonna do? Fall in love with the first half attractive cowboy in town? That was pathetic. I didn’t even know if he was a decent person. Then again, in most of those fantasies, I didn’t really care… Besides, after this month, I wouldn’t be a decent person anymore anyway.

Scoffing at my own ridiculousness, I tried to refocus on the task at hand. I had a job to do, after all. And as much as I’d love to get a piece of country ass while I was in town, I didn’t want to end up the victim of a hate crime, either. Best to just wait until I was back in familiar territory to scratch that itch. Stealing was enough crime for me right now, anyway.

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