Page 65 of Rust and Stardust

I raised an eyebrow, waiting for Logan to finish. “But what?”

Logan ran a hand through his hair, a nervous habit I'd noticed over the years. “But she said we’d have to help her around the farm until we get work. I guess our newest ranch hand just quit, and they need help with the fall cattle drive.”

“Cattle drive?” I asked. “What the hell does that mean?”

“Uh… it’s a lot of horseback riding basically for like days and days on end.”

I slumped onto my bed. “I really don’t like horses that much,” I sighed. “But I’ll do it. Anything for a roof over my head I guess.”

“I hope you like camping too.”

“Nope.”

Logan let out a small laugh. “Sorry, buddy.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m just glad I’ll have someplace to live.” I looked up at him. “Tell her thank you for me.”

“No problem,” he smiled. “Alright. Get back to packing. We’ll take a plane out tomorrow morning. That way we can break the lease over the phone. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to face our landlord in person.”

“Me either. That lady is scary as fuck.”

Logan just laughed, pulling my door closed. I turned back to my suitcase, my mind racing. A cattle drive. Days on horseback. Camping under the stars. It was so far removed from my life in New York, it might as well have been on another planet. But then again, that’s the sort of thing I was craving. I wanted that wide open Texas sky again. I just hoped it would still retain its lure without my cowboy at my side.

I resumed packing, this time with more purpose. Each item I folded and tucked away felt like another step towards... something. I wasn't sure what yet, but it felt like my only choice.

However, I’d barely finished my first suitcase when I heard another knock at the door, this one softer than the last. I pushed myself up with a sigh, shaking my head.

“What now, Logan?” I called. “Do we have to castrate pigs or something while we’re there too?” I grabbed the handle and pulled the door open. “What’s…”

My words trailed away and my heart nearly stopped beating.

Chapter 27

Beau

Ihated planes. I didn’t know I hated them until I was on one. But the moment that giant metal monstrosity started to take off, I knew I hated them. People, as it turned out, were not meant to fly and as far as I could tell, I was the only person on the plane that seemed to understand that.

“Can I get you anything to drink, sir?” the cute twink of a flight attendant asked me, his eyes darting from my cowboy hat all the way down to my dusty boots.

“W-Whiskey,” I stammered. “Christ, anything that will make me forget how high up we are.”

“First time flyer?” the man smiled, his gaze still roving as he pulled a small bottle from his cart.

“Uh-huh. Is it that obvious?”

“Don’t worry,” he said, pouring my whiskey into a small plastic cup. “The weather between here and New York is clear, and our pilot has been flying for over twenty years. You’re in good hands.” He handed me my cup. “But if you need anything else, anything at all, just let me know.”

I took the cup, trying not to meet his gaze. “R-Right. Thank you very much.”

“No problem, cowboy,” he said, pushing his cart to the next row of seats.

That nickname made my heart sing, reminding me of Lucas. But at the same time, I felt myself squirm a little. Hearing it in that man’s voice, no matter how cute he was, didn’t feel right. That was something only Lucas got to call me. From anyone else it just felt… well, wrong.

I took a sip of the whiskey, wincing at the burn. It wasn't nearly as smooth as the stuff we had back home, but it would have to do. I closed my eyes, trying to conjure up memories of our night under the stars together to distract myself from the nauseating altitude.

Lucas's strong arms around me, his breath hot on my neck as we rocked together with nothing but open sky above us. The way his green eyes sparkled in the starlight, looking as if they were made from stardust themselves. I’d never let anyone as close as he was that night. I gave him everything, and I desperately wanted him to do it again despite everything that had happened between us.

A sudden jolt of turbulence snapped me back to reality. My knuckles turned white as I gripped the armrests, my heart racing. The boner that I’d started to form disappeared immediately. I gulped down the rest of my whiskey, wishing I could transport myself back to the safety of Sagebrush. But that wasn’t going to happen. Not yet. I had to go to New York and get my city boy back. I didn’t care if he’d lied. Not anymore. All I knew was that I loved him something fierce and if he’d have me, I was gonna get him back.

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