Page 56 of Rust and Stardust

Beau's words hung in the air, and for a moment, the crowd was silent. Then, as if a dam had broken, cheers erupted louder than before. I stood there, stunned, my heart racing. This wasn't just a win for Beau; it was a declaration of his future, of his commitment to Sagebrush.

As Beau made his way off the stage, people swarmed him, offering congratulations and asking questions about his plans. I hung back, my mind reeling. The guilt that had been gnawing at me all evening now threatened to consume me entirely.

Eventually, Beau managed to break free from the crowd and made his way to me, his blue eyes shining with excitement. “Lucas,” he said, his voice breathless. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

Before I could say anything, Beau took me by the hand in front of all those people and pulled me away from the crowd. People stared as we went, and I couldn’t help but realize how much Beau was risking in front of them all.

However, we only made it to the edge of the crowd before a high-heeled figure stepped in front of us, her arms crossed over her chest.

It was Amber May.

Chapter 23

Beau

“Congratulations Beau,” Amber May said, staring me and Lucas down with a look that I knew could only mean trouble. “I knew you could do it.”

“Thank you, Amber May,” I replied, trying to keep my cool. “I’m sorry to rush off but Lucas and I?—”

“I have an offer for you, Beau,” she said, reaching a hand into her pocket. A moment later she withdrew a black velvet box and held it out to Beau. “One I’d like you to think real long and hard about before you answer.” She flipped the box open, revealing a simple gold band inside. “I hear you’ve got a lot of dreams for that ranch of yours. I can make all those come true if you give me a chance.”

Lucas’s grip on my hand tightened and I could see his face turn red out of the corner of my eye.

“The answer is the same as last time Amber May,” I said without missing a beat. “No.”

“And why’s that? This city slicker gonna pay for it all? Even though he’s drowning in student loans and makes garbage wages at that firm he works for?”

Clearly, Amber May had done some diggingabout Lucas.

“You b?—”

I put a hand over Lucas’s mouth before he could finish the word.

“No,” I replied politely. “I’m gonna pay for it myself.”

She chuckled lightly. “With what money? Your family ranch is so far in debt you’ll be lucky to pay it off before you die even if you live to be a hundred.” She glanced at Lucas with a scoff. “And he’s never gonna get ahead with that pathetic job of his. I bet he can’t even afford a ticket to fly out and see you again.”

I glanced around at the crowd pressing in from all sides. Amber May could spill personal information about me as much as she wanted. I didn’t care. But I didn’t appreciate her dragging Lucas into it as well. In fact, it was really starting to piss me off.

“Amber May,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I have been good, and kind, and patient with you. But I will not tolerate you speakin’ badly about my… my friend.”

“Friend?!” she laughed. “Please! You can’t even admit what you are!” Her eyes darkened as she looked my way. “And if you marry me, you’ll never have to.”

I looked over at Lucas, feeling the fear well up inside me. She was right of course, I’d never been able to say it out loud. Even the thought of doing it made my blood run cold. And now there were hundreds of eyes and ears on me, watching and waiting for my response. If I turned Amber May down again, I’d give myself away and those consequences would chase me for the rest of my life. But if I accepted her offer, I’d be miserable until the day I died.

“I…” I began. “I am?—”

“Amber May Johnson!” a voice bellowed over the crowd.

I turned to look with everyone else and saw the same man who’d presented me with the award pushing his way through the crowd toward us. I’d known Mr. Johnson my whole life of course, him and Pa were good friends. And he was also Amber May’s father.

“Daddy,” she said, looking a bit worried. “I was just?—”

“I know exactly what you were doin’,” he shot back, cutting her off. “You were tellin’ this boy and everyone listenin’ his family’spersonal financial information. The same information that is protected by law and has to remain private.” He stopped in front of her, both hands on his hips and a stern look on his face. “Are you tryin’ to put me out of business?”

Amber May’s demeanor shifted in an instant. “No Daddy. I just?—”

“Just wanted to badger this boy a bit more when he already done told you no to begin with.” Mr. Johnson turned to me, his handlebar mustache twitching. “Do you wanna marry my daughter?”

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