Page 76 of Whiskey and Wildfire

Dustin’s face softened into a small smile. “That woman is trying her damnedest to force me to buy a whole new wardrobe.” He leaned forward, inhaling the scent of country fried steak deeply. “And she’s gonna succeed.”

Dustin stepped back, opening the door wider. “Well, don’t just stand there in the cold. Come on in for a minute.”

Logan and I exchanged a quick glance before stepping inside. The interior of Dustin’s cabin was cozy, with a fire crackling in the small stone fireplace. Books and papers were scattered across a worn desk in the corner, and a laptop sat open, its screen glowing softly.

“Sorry for the mess,” Dustin said, hastily stacking some papers. “Wasn’t exactly prepared for visitors.”

“No worries,” I said, setting the basket down on a small table. “We won’t stay long. Just wanted to make sure you’re doing alright out here.”

Dustin nodded, running a hand through his hair again. “I’m doing just fine. It’s peaceful out here. Gives me time to think, to write.”

“That’s good to hear,” Logan said, his eyes scanning the room. “You’ve made it pretty cozy in here.”

Dustin shrugged, a hint of a smile on his face. “It’s not much, but it’s home. For now, at least.”

I noticed a framed photo on the mantle, partially hidden behind a stack of books. It showed a younger Dustin, his armaround a pretty blonde woman. They were both smiling, looking carefree and happy.

“Who is this?” I asked before I could stop myself. “Sister?”

Dustin’s expression darkened for a moment, and I immediately regretted my question. But then he sighed, moving to pick up the photo.

“Ex-wife,” he said softly, running a thumb over the glass. “Tessa. We split up about a year ago. That’s when she found out I was…” He trailed off, leaving the part we already knew unspoken. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to marry a woman only to realize that men were your preferred company.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I… I didn’t mean to pry.”

“No. It’s alright. I forgot I still had this.” He walked over to the woodstove, reaching out like he was going to toss the picture in, frame and all. But then he stopped. “But I’m… I’m not sure I’m ready to let go of it just yet.”

I suddenly felt like I had a lot more context for his sudden move to the middle of nowhere and that I was intruding on a very private moment. “Well, uh… we’re gonna head back to the house. Glad to see everything is going alright out here. If you need anything, just let us know.”

Dustin gave us a small, sad smile. “Thanks guys. I appreciate it.”

As Logan and I stepped back out into the crisp night air, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness for Dustin. The loneliness in his eyes was palpable, and I found myself wondering about the story behind that photograph.

“Poor guy,” Logan murmured as we started down the path back to the main house. “Can’t imagine how tough that must’ve been.”

I nodded, squeezing his hand. “Yeah, coming to terms with yourself is hard enough without hurting someone you care about in the process.”

We walked in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the only sounds were the crunch of gravel beneath our boots and the distant lowing of cattle. The stars seemed even brighter now, a vast blanket of twinkling lights stretching as far as the eye could see.

“You know,” Logan said suddenly, breaking the silence, “I’m real glad I didn’t have to go through all that. Coming out to my family, I mean. They’ve always been so accepting.”

I nodded, feeling a pang of guilt. My own coming out hadn’t been nearly as smooth. “You’re lucky,” I said softly. “Not everyone has it so easy.”

Logan stopped walking and turned to face me, his green eyes serious in the starlight. “I know, Kota. And I’m sorry you had to go through what you did with your family back on the reservation. But you’ve got us now. You’ve got me.”

I felt a lump form in my throat, overwhelmed by the sincerity in his voice. “I know,” I managed to say. “And I’m grateful for that every day.”

Logan pulled me close, wrapping his arms around me. I leaned into Logan’s embrace, feeling the warmth of his body against the chill night air. We stood there for a long moment, just holding each other under the vast expanse of stars.

“You know,” I said softly, my face pressed against his shoulder, “sometimes I still can’t believe this is real. That I get to be here, with you, living this life.”

Logan pulled back slightly, cupping my face in his hands. His green eyes sparkled in the starlight. “It’s real, Kota. And it’s only going to get better from here.”

He leaned in and kissed me softly, his lips warm against mine. I melted into the kiss, savoring the moment.

When we finally broke apart, Logan grinned and took my hand again. “So how about we make it even better right now?” Isaw that mischievous glint in his eye, and I knew exactly what it meant. “Race you back to the cabin!”

I laughed as Logan took off running down the path, kicking up gravel behind him. “Oh, it’s on!” I called out, sprinting after him.

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