Page 33 of Rust and Stardust

We lay there in comfortable silence for a while, our breathing slowly returning to normal. The night air felt cool against our sweat-dampened skin, but I didn't mind. I was too content, too blissed out to care about anything else.

Lucas shifted closer, resting his head on my chest. I wrapped an arm around him, marveling at how natural it felt to hold him like this.

I glanced down at him again, lying there in my arms. “Your eyes really are full of stardust,” I said softly, watching the Texas sky reflecting back in his gaze. “You’re so beautiful.”

Lucas blushed hard, his entire body warming against me. However, the next moment his smile was fading, and he was pulling away from me. “You can’t say things like that,” he said, sitting up and staring out over the endless prairie. “Not when I have to go home in a week.”

I sat up, my heart sinking at Lucas's words. The blissful afterglow faded as reality crept back in. “I'm sorry,” I said softly, reaching out to touch his shoulder. “I didn't mean to make things weird.”

Lucas turned to me, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “It's not your fault,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I just... I didn't expect to feel this way. About you, about this place.” He gestured to the vast expanse of starlit prairie around us.

I nodded, understanding all too well. “It has a way of getting under your skin, doesn't it?” I said, looking out at the rolling hills of Sagebrush. “The open space, the quiet... the stars.”

“And the handsome cowboys,” Lucas added with a sad smile.

I chuckled softly, but I couldn’t ignore the truth in his words. Despite whatever either of us might feel, Lucas was going home after the fair and I was staying in Sagebrush. Our lives were only entwined for this moment. Once it was over, we’d probably never see one another again. I wished it could be different, but I couldn’t tell people who I really was, and Lucas couldn’t lose his job.

Our paths, despite our feelings, would diverge. And that would be the end of it.

Chapter 14

Lucas

“You gotta tell me your secret, Dolly,” I said, helping myself to a second slice of pecan pie. “What do you put in this that makes it taste so incredible?”

Dolly's eyes twinkled as she leaned in close, her weathered hands clasped around her mug of coffee. “Well now, darlin', if I told you that, it wouldn't be a secret anymore, would it?” She winked and nodded towards the kitchen door. “But I'll tell you what - why don't you come by tomorrow evening and I'll show you how it's done?”

“Really?” I asked, looking up from my plate. I couldn’t believe my luck. “I’m not much of a cook, but I’d love to see how you make it!”

“I’m more than happy to teach a few tricks to a curious stranger.” She gave me a saucy wink. “Speaking of strangers, where’s that cowboy of yours? He not eatin’ lunch with you today?”

“He’s preparing for the competition,” I nodded. “You know, the one he’s gonna win again?”

She laughed. “I have no doubt about that. But he does seem awfully distracted this year.”

Her gaze was piercing, and I turned my eyes back to my pie. “I… I don’t know what you mean.”

Dolly drummed her acrylics on the countertop, like a rattlesnake. “Oh, I think you do, sugar,” she grinned. “I heard about your runaway horse and your night together at the fair.”

“Who told you about that?!”

“Small town,” she nodded. “People talk. And while they might not see what’s going on, ol’ Dolly isn’t blind to love.” She leaned down closer, lowering her voice. “Have ya kissed him yet?”

I felt my cheeks flush hot as a branding iron. “Dolly!” I hissed, glancing around the diner nervously. “Keep your voice down!”

She cackled, clearly delighting in my discomfort. “Oh honey, there ain't nobody here but us chickens. Now spill!”

I stabbed at my pie, unable to meet her knowing gaze. However, I felt my face flush bright red.

“Oh,” she smiled. “You’ve done a bit more than that I see. I hope y’all remembered to wear your rubbers.”

“Dolly!”

She just laughed, patting the back of my hand. “Don’t worry, sugar. I won’t tell nobody. I imagine Beau isn’t ready for that kind of thing, anyway. Poor boy keeps to himself somethin’ fierce.”

I felt my heart racing, torn between embarrassment and a strange relief at finally being able to talk to someone about Beau. “You're right,” I admitted softly. “He's... he's not ready for anyone to know. Hell, I don't think he's even ready to admit it to himself.”

Dolly nodded knowingly. “That boy's been carryin' a heavy burden for a long time. Folks 'round here can be mighty set in their ways.”

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