Page 55 of Rust and Stardust

I nodded. “You’re my best friend, Logan. And we’re in this ordeal together. I won’t give you another reason to hate Sagebrush or Beau.”

“And you won’t hate me for going through with this?”

I gave him a soft smile. “I could never hate you buddy. I might be sad for a little while, but I knew the deal before we started. So, get ready because you and I are gonna start apartment shopping as soon as we get back.”

“Thank you, Lucas.”

“Thank you, Logan,” I replied softly. “This was one of the best weeks of my life. I never would’ve come here without you.”

A crowd had gathered for the announcement of the grand champion of the barbecue competition. It was obvious from the size that more than just locals had shown up to see who won. From the looks of it, anyone within a hundred miles had driven to Sagebrush just to catch a glimpse of the next great barbecue master. I hadn’t expected such a turnout. And considering I had Beau’s recipe, I already knew I’d be a hit back in New York with the boss. That recipe alone would be enough to secure the promotion I so desperately needed.

I made my way through the throng of people, catching snippets of excited chatter and the tantalizing aroma of smoky barbecue lingering in the air. My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for Beau's familiar face. Finally, I spotted him near the front, his tall frame and sun-kissed blonde hair standing out among the sea of cowboy hats and denim.

As I approached, Beau turned and caught my gaze. His blue eyes lit up, a smile spreading across his rugged features. “Lucas! You made it,” he drawled, his Texas accent pulling at my heartstrings like it always did.

“Wouldn't miss it for the world,” I replied, trying to ignore the pang of guilt in my chest as I forced a smile. I reached out and gave his arm a gentle squeeze, savoring the feel of his muscular bicep beneath my fingers.

Beau leaned in close, his breath warm against my neck. “I'm glad you're here,” he murmured, his deep voice sending shivers down my spine. “Means a lot to me.”

I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to pull him into a kiss right then and there. “Of course,” I managed to reply. “I wouldn't be anywhere else.”

Just then, the crowd began to hush as the master of ceremonies stepped onto the makeshift stage. The older man, sporting an impressive handlebar mustache and a ten-gallon hat, tapped the microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he announced, his voice boomingacross the gathering, “it's time to announce the grand champion of this year's Sagebrush Fair Barbecue Bonanza!”

The crowd erupted in cheers and whistles. I felt Beau tense beside me, his strong hand reaching for mine. I intertwined our fingers, giving him a reassuring squeeze, surprised he’d risk such a thing in front of all those people.

“Now, we've had some mighty fine entries this year,” the announcer continued, building the suspense. “But one stood out above the rest. A recipe that's been passed down through generations, perfected over time, and executed with true Texas passion.”

My heart raced, knowing what was coming. I glanced at Beau, seeing the mix of hope and nervousness on his face.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the grand champion of this year's competition is…” There was a drumroll from somewhere in the back of the stands. “Beaufort Turner!”

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Beau's eyes widened in disbelief, a grin spreading across his face. Before I knew it, he had swept me up in a bear hug, lifting me off my feet.

“We did it, Lucas!” he exclaimed, his voice thick with emotion.

“We?” I laughed as he placed me back down on the ground. I reached up and straightened his hat. “You did it Beau. All by yourself. I didn’t do anything.”

Beau's eyes softened as he gazed down at me, his hands still resting on my waist. “You did more than you know, darlin',” he said softly. “You believed in me. That means everything.”

My heart clenched at his words, guilt washing over me anew. I forced a smile, trying to push away the nagging voice in my head reminding me of what I'd done. “Go on,” I urged, giving him a gentle push towards the stage. “They're waiting for you.”

With a quick squeeze of my hand, Beau made his way through the crowd, accepting handshakes and back slaps as he went. I watched him climb the steps to the stage, his broad shoulders straight and proud. As the announcer handed him the trophy, Beau'sface lit up with a joy I'd never seen before. It was pure, unfiltered happiness.

As Beau accepted the trophy, the crowd's cheers swelled. I felt a lump forming in my throat, a mix of pride and guilt threatening to overwhelm me. Beau's eyes scanned the crowd until they found mine, and he gave me a wink that made my heart skip a beat.

The announcer handed Beau the microphone, and a hush fell over the gathering. Beau cleared his throat, his deep voice resonating through the speakers.

“I... I don't rightly know what to say,” he began, his Texas drawl more pronounced than ever. “This recipe, it's been in my family for generations. My daddy taught it to me, just like his daddy taught him.” He paused, his eyes misting over. “I wish my ma could've been here to see this.”

A collective “aww” rippled through the crowd. I noticed Jack on the other side of the crowd reaching up and dabbing his eyes. The man wasn’t kidding when he said he was a crier. But it made me smile.

“And I want y’all to know that I won’t be competin’ again.”

The entire crowd went silent.

“Because I’m gonna do somethin’ with this recipe. The Turner Ranch is gonna start hostin’ barbecues for families in and around Sagebrush. And, once we get everythin’ up and runnin’, we might even start bringing some tourists to our dusty little town and show them how good Texas life can really be.”

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