Page 14 of Rust and Stardust

If I was being honest with myself, Logan was partially correct. I wanted to keep my job and get that promotion, that was true. But getting those recipes wasn’t my only motivation for spending time with Beau. The truth was, it had been a long time since I spent the night with another man. I was stressed out and horned up, which was a dangerous combination. But if Beau could fix all my problems with some simple conversation and a couple nights of animalistic fucking, then I could go home feeling a little better about everything. Still ashamed of course for doing my boss’s dirty work, but at least satisfied.

Now I just had to figure out where Beau lived. However,I had a feeling that would be nothing more than a simple stop at the diner. Dolly knew I was gay, and I had a feeling she suspected the same from Beau. Why else would she have forced us together for lunch?

The dusty road stretched out before me, the Texas sun beating down mercilessly on the rental car's windshield. As I drove, my mind wandered to Beau - those piercing blue eyes, that shy smile, the way his muscles rippled under his tight shirt. I shook my head, trying to focus. I was here on a mission, after all, not to find things I liked about him. He was a means to an end, that was all. But damn if that cowboy wasn't making it hard to concentrate.

As I pulled into the dusty parking lot of the diner, I took a deep breath to steady my nerves. The place was busier than yesterday, pickup trucks and old sedans filling most of the spots, all covered in a fine layer of dust. I smoothed down my shirt and checked my reflection in the rearview mirror before stepping out into the sweltering Texas heat.

The bell above the door jingled as I entered, and a few heads turned to look at the newcomer. I spotted Dolly behind the counter, her weathered, but pleasant face breaking into a warm smile as she recognized me.

“Well, if it ain't the city slicker,” she called out, waving me over. “What brings you back so soon, sugar?”

I sidled up to the counter, leaning in conspiratorially. “Actually, Dolly, I was hoping you could help me out with something.”

Her eyes twinkled mischievously. “Ooh. You’ve got my attention.”

I leaned in closer, lowering my voice. “I was wondering if you might know where I could find Beau Turner's place. He, uh, offered to give me some riding lessons yesterday, but I forgot to get his address.”

Dolly's eyes lit up, a knowing smile spreading across her face. “Did he now? Well, ain't that somethin'.” She winked at me, then grabbed a napkin and a pen from behind the counter. “I'd be morethan happy to help you out, sugar. Beau's place is just a few miles outside of town.”

As she scribbled down the directions, I couldn't help but notice the way her smile widened, as if she was in on some secret. When she handed me the napkin, her fingers lingered for a moment.

“Now, you be careful out there,” she said, her voice taking on a motherly tone. “And if Beau gives you any trouble, you just tell him Dolly sent ya.”

“I will do that,” I smiled, tipping my invisible hat. “Thank you, ma’am.”

“And Lucas,” she added, her red acrylic nails tightening around my forearm as she stopped me from leaving. “Don’t go breakin’ no hearts around here, ya hear?”

Her smile was wide and bright, but her words and nails came with a warning that made my blood run cold. I swallowed hard, giving her a nod. “I’ll do my best.”

“That’s all I can ask for.” She smiled again, her claws releasing their grip. “Have a good time!”

“Th-Thanks.”

I pulled out of the diner parking lot, Dolly's words echoing in my mind. Her warning had caught me off guard, reminding me that small towns had long memories and protective instincts, something I’d forgotten since leaving my own behind long ago. I glanced down at the napkin with Beau's address, then back up at the dusty road stretching out before me. Maybe my plan wasn’t such a good one after all…

But then I remembered why I was here. My job, my future in New York, it all depended on getting those recipes. I couldn’t give all that up just to spare a single man living in the middle of nowhere. Besides, men like him who denied their urges weren’t the type to settle down with other men like me. He’d get a thrill and then he’d never have to know what I took in exchange. I’d just be a good memory for him and that was it. It was the perfect plan with no hurt feelings or broken hearts left behind.

The drive to Beau's ranch took me through rolling hills of sun-scorched grass, dotted with the occasional cluster of trees or weathered fence. As I turned onto a long dirt driveway, I caught sight of a sprawling ranch house in the distance, nestled against a backdrop of scrubby woodland. It was breathtaking. Not to mention, the herd of cattle out in the pasture gave it a sort of pastoral feeling, like the kind you’d see in a painting at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It gave me a strange sense of nostalgia for a place I’d never been.

My heart began to race as I pulled up to the house. What if Beau wasn't home? What if he was, but didn't want to see me? What if he didn’t buy my lie about the riding lessons? I took a deep breath, steeling myself as I got out of the car.

But the moment I walked around the front of the car, I stopped dead in my tracks. There, hanging in the doorway of the open barn was a dead cow. Now, I knew it was dead not because its guts were laying on a tarp on the ground ready to be disposed of. But because as soon as I laid eyes on it, a man covered in blood nearly from head to toe turned around to look at me, a long knife clutched in one hand. It took a moment before I caught my breath and realized it was Beau. His blue eyes widened in surprise as he recognized me.

“Lucas?” he called out, wiping his brow with the back of his arm, leaving a smear of blood across his forehead. “What are you doin' here?”

I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. This wasn't exactly how I'd pictured our reunion. “I, uh... I came for those riding lessons you mentioned yesterday,” I managed to say, my eyes darting between Beau and the carcass behind him.

Beau's brow furrowed in confusion for a moment before realization dawned on his face. “Oh, right. The lessons,” he said, a slight flush creeping up his neck. “I didn't think you'd take me up on that offer so soon.”

I forced a smile, trying to appear casual despite the gruesome scene before me. “Well, I’ll be pretty busy with the fair, so I thought I’d do it now while I still had time.” I shook my head again, the sightof the cow corpse making my stomach turn slightly. Good thing I didn’t eat lunch. “But you’re obviously busy, so don’t worry about it.”

“No, no,” he said, stopping me before I could turn away. “I’m a man of my word.” He turned back, handing the knife over to two older men that I hadn’t even noticed until that moment. They nodded and began cutting as Beau headed toward me. “Come on in,” he said, gesturing toward the house. “I need a minute to get cleaned up, but Mabel will get you some coffee or somethin’.”

“You don’t have to do that?—”

He looked up at me with those piercing blue eyes, that hard jawline and cowboy hat going straight to my dick. “I won’t be known as the man who turned away a wannabe cowboy,” he said with a grin. “That just ain’t neighborly.”

I couldn’t help but smile back. “Well… thank you then I guess.”

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