Get Along Little Dogies (Arkady)

[Deleted]

When Dusty abruptly got up after one last peck on the cheek, Caden wasn’t sure whether to be disappointed or relieved. On one hand he could think a little clearer now without her so close, with all the kissing and the touching, and he could finally get up and out of here before he got himself killed. On the other hand... she’d been so warm and comforting and... he could finally get up and out of here and never see her again.

He really didn’t like how confused she made him.

“Right, yeah,” he said in reply to... whatever she’d said. Hesitating a moment he got up as well and hurriedly dressed in the clothes he’d thrown over the chair last night, not daring look at her until he was properly covered. “A what?” he asked, not really even sure what a button hook was. He just fastened his buttons with his fingers. “Nah, I don’t think I got one’a them.”

Sitting on the chair to pull on his boots, he grabbed his saddlebags and slung them over his shoulder before finally looking at Dusty again. “I pack light,” he offered as an explanation. What he was explaining he wasn’t sure, but it seemed the thing to say.

[Dusty Fae]

Dusty could tell Caden hadn’t been payin’ a word of attention to what she’d said and weren’t that just like a man ta not listen. And it seemed he were still nervous, the sweet man. She straightened ‘er skirt which had gotten twisted over night, afore lookin’ back up at ‘is question.

She chuckled. “A button hook,” she repeated. “It’s a ladie’s hook that fastens and unfastens the buttons on our shoes.” She hadn’t thought that Caden’d have one, but it didn’t hurt ta ask. She woulda at least thought he’d heard of it, but then again he’d grown up on a farm. The women on farms probably didn’t need a fancy hook to button their nice boots.

Dusty nodded. “I see that. It’s prob’ly best anyhow. Yer on the road, always movin’, yah cain’t have a lot ta bring. It’d weigh yah down.” And that were why she couldn’t go with ‘im. She’s slow ‘im down and then eventually he’d wonder why he’d brought ‘er in the first place, then send ‘er on ‘er way home. It were better if’n she stayed, she supposed.

She bent down and grabbed ‘er boots. She looked back up at Caden as she straightened. “Are you ready?”

[Deleted]

Caden looked from Dusty’s face to her bare feet to the shoes in her hand, not really looking any less confused by the explanation. He didn’t even know if his mother had any fancy boots, let alone if they had fancy buttons on them. It was never something he’d felt the need to pay attention to.

“Sounds kinda... inconvenient,” he said, feeling a bit proud of himself for pulling that word out of his vocabulary. It wasn’t that he was stupid, his mother had been pretty well learned, but people in this world seemed to have little use for someone with big words so it was just easier to keep it small.

“Yeah, and it weighs down my horse, and she got enough ta carry with me,” he tried a joke, just trying to lighten his own mood a bit. The more time that passed, the closer they got to being ready to leave the room, the closer he was to saying good bye to her.

Far too soon they were both ready. Holding the door open for her to pass through, he walked just slightly behind her until the reached the front porch of the hotel. “Why don’t ya wait here while I get my horse?” Caden said, looking down at Dusty’s bare feet again.

[Dusty Fae]

Caden were still lookin’ confused. But she could understand that. He prob’ly hadn’t come across too many women with fancy shoes that needed a hook to fasten ‘em. Farmin’ women needed ta have sensible shoes, not the kind with buttons.

“They ain’t s’pose ta be convenient. They’re s’pose ta look nice,” she told ‘im gently. All the fashionable ladies wore ‘em, even if they were a pain. They made their feet look small or somethin’ like that. They were real expensive too. That was why she had a pair she s’posed. The Saloon did real well.

Dusty smiled at the joke. It weren’t a real good one ta be honest, but he were tryin’ and that were real endearin’. He were tryin’ ta be lighthearted ‘bout the whole thing, even though he were leavin’ and she might never see ‘im again. She was tryin’ ta be lighthearted too, even if she weren’t exactly feelin’ it. She could fake it well enough fer now though. And then she could just go home and try ta feel better.

She walked outta the room and out to the front porch. She looked up at Caden and noticed he were lookin’ at ‘er feet. She thought that were a bit strange and crossed one foot behind the other a bit self consciously. “Alright, I’ll wait here. But you best come back. I expect a goodbye kiss from you.”

[Deleted]

‘Course they were ‘spose to look nice, and Caden figured they probably did, but he hadn’t actually paid any attention to her feet the night before so he couldn’t really say anything. “Seems a lot’a women’s clothes are like that,” he said instead, inwardly kicking himself after the words were out there. Insulting women’s fashion probably wasn’t going to help her image of him none, and he really did want to leave her with a good impression.

Out on the porch, he stepped down onto the street, scuffing one toe of his boot in the dirt a bit self consciously himself. “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dream’a leavin’ without that,” he said, his cheeks pinking slightly which he quickly turned away and headed to the stables to hide.

He took his time saddling up ol’ Izolda, not wanting to keep Dusty waiting but wanting to put off the inevitable good bye. His gentlemanly nature won out, though, and he picked up his pace to finish up. Never keep a lady waiting, that’s what his mama said. Taking the horse by the reigns, he led her from the stables and back across the dust filled street to where Dusty stood waiting.

“Sun’s gettin’ pretty high. I should prob’ly get goin’,” he said a bit reluctantly.

[Dusty Fae]

Dusty were surprised. She’d never expected Caden ta say somethin’ like that, but she laughed. It were entirely true and it were the first time she’d ever heard a man say so. “You’re right,” she told ‘im, smiling. “Completely right.”

Dusty waited, tryin’ ta be patient. She knew that Caden wouldn’t let ‘er wait too long…would ‘e? She were growin’ more antsy the longer she waited and it hadn’t been that long. She’d only been out here a few minutes by ‘erself. She hadn’t been waitin’ fer too long. She needed ta be patient. She just didn’t want ta say goodbye. She didn’t wanna see ‘im ride off without ‘er.

No, this just wouldn’t do. No, she’d be strong. She were just another Saloon girl. She weren’t allowed ta care. She had ta be strong. Caden didn’t care for her. She had ta let ‘im go. Then she could go home and sleep fer a while. And try and forget about ‘im.

She turned at the sound of a horse, then stepped down from the porch. “Well then, yah best kiss me goodbye,” she said softly, steppin’ toward ‘im and closin’ the space between ‘em. She wouldn’t make the first move this time.

[Deleted]

Caden picked up his pace a bit when he saw Dusty stepping toward him but he wasn’t quick enough and she’d already stepped down into the dirty street to meet him. Not that the porch of the inn was free of dust, but it wasn’t the same thing.

“You’ll get your feet dirty,” he pointed out, but she didn’t seem to care one bit. Before he could do much else she was standing right in front of him, looking tired and sad, and asking for a kiss. Along with not keeping a lady waiting, he’d been taught by his papa to give her what she wanted if at all possible, and this was certainly something he could give. The reigns still wrapped around one hand, he hesitantly placed his other on her waist and leaned in to kiss her softly, sweetly.

[Dusty Fae]

Dusty didn't mind the dust. She'd run around barefoot as a child and never minded one bit. It were just spec o' dust. It weren't nothin' that she couldn't wash off. She weren't bothered, but it were sweet o' Caden ta worry 'bout it. One day he make some women real happy. She were ignorin' the slight pain in 'er chest when she said that.

Caden were hesitant to kiss 'er, but the kiss were perfect. It were sweet, just like him. It were perfect ta remember 'im by. She'd always have this moment and it would always be a special memory.

She pulled away rested 'er forehead against his for a moment. "Don't get yerself killed out there and don't do anythin' too stupid," she whispered. She'd hate ta hear anythin' bad had happened to 'im while she weren't there ta help 'im outta anythin'. "Stay safe."

[Deleted]

Even after the kiss ended, all too soon at that, Caden kept his eyes closed just relishing in their closeness. He didn’t want to let her go, didn’t want to leave, but what choice did he have? If he stayed here he’d be in danger and if he stayed with her wouldn’t that put her in danger? Oh, who was he kidding? He was no hero. He was leaving town to protect his own ass, it had nothing to do with protecting her. Clearly she could take care of herself just fine, better than he ever could.

Swallowing hard, he nodded once against her forehead at her words before finally pulling away. Once he’d started he had to keep going so he wasted no time in mounting his horse; he even made it a few steps before making the mistake of looking back.

He should have kept going, just rode off into the sunrise without another word, nor another look. He should have just kept going and left her behind, left her in the past. He never should have looked back at her, because once he did he was done for.

Just say goodbye and hightail it outta here.

That was the plan, to say farewell and tip his nonexistent hat before trotting away with his head held high. There were so many smooth good byes he could have offered, everything from light and joking to deep and meaningful, but what came out when he opened his mouth surprised him probably even more than her.

“Come with me.”

[Dusty Fae]

Dusty didn’t want Caden ta go. She wanted ‘im ta stay but that weren’t an option, they both new that. But when Caden pulled away, she wanted ta reach out and pull him back. She almost did, her arm reached ‘fore she realized what she were doin’. And when she realized what she were doin’ she pulled ‘er arm back and forced it ta stay by ‘er side.

She watched Caden leave, ‘er heart sinkin’ more with every step away from ‘er. She shouldn’ta been feelin’ this way. Caden were just another man and she’d seen lotsa men leave. She’d watched ‘em ride off and most of ‘em she’d never seen again. But she’d never cared before. She’d never once cared if a man came or left, so what was so special about Caden?

She knew the answer to that question, but if he were leavin’ she weren’t even gonna think about it.

Dusty watched Caden turn for one final glance back. She’d seen men do it lotsa times, but she never thought it’d be her wavin’ someone off. And then ‘er heart stopped. It musta stopped and she must be dead or dreamin’ ‘cause he had just asked her to come with ‘im. Her. Dusty Fae.

Could this be happenin’? She reached over and pinched ‘erself just ta make sure she were alive and not dreamin’ and sure enough she felt the pain. Rubbin’ ‘er arm where she’d pinched it she looked back up at Caden. “You’ll have ta wait while I pack then,” she told ‘im, a smile slowly creepin’ up on ‘er face now that she weren’t quite so dumbfounded. “I won’t pack much. Promise.”

[Deleted]

Why had he said that? He shouldn’t have said that! She was gonna laugh in his face, or give him that pitying look as she let him down easy. Only she didn’t do either of those things, and for the longest time she didn’t say anything, just acted real strange by hurting her own arm.

And then... and then... she was talking about packing and... did she just accept? She was... actually going with him?

“You really wanna...” Caden started to ask in disbelief, but managed to catch himself. “I mean of course I’ll pack. Or wait. I’ll wait while you pack. As much as you want. As long as you want.”

Forever.

[Dusty Fae]

Caden seemed a little confused and a bit taken back that she had accepted ‘is offer, but it only made ‘er grin even more. She’d made the right decision by sayin’ yes. The town were gonna talk, but she didn’t care. They’d always had somethin’ ta say ‘bout ‘er. One more thing wouldn’t hurt.

“I’ll be right back,” she told Caden. “I won’t be long.” And then she ran to the Saloon, ran through the Saloon and to the back living compartment where she lived with ‘er momma. Her momma was sleepin’ and Dusty tried ta be awful quiet as she packed ever’thin’ she needed and changed inta somethin’ a bit more proper (and with a lot more petticoats). Then she wrote a letter to ‘er momma explainin’ as best as she could. She had a feelin’ that ‘er momma’d understand.

Then she grabbed ‘er things, ‘er gun holstered at ‘er waist and met Arkady back outside. “Just gotta get my horse and we’ll be set. Do you mind an awful lot waitin’ a couple extra minutes?”

[Deleted]

She hadn’t even given it any thought, just answered. She hadn’t asked to think about it, or talk to her mother or nothing, she just said yes. She really wanted to go with him. Before Caden could really process this Dusty was off running down the street to the saloon, still in her bare feet, leaving him to just sit there and stare after her.

Was he crazy? He’d just met her last night, a saloon girl who was slicker at lying and cards than most men he’d met, and who’d had no problem just letting herself into his bed half clothed, and now he’d gone and asked her to leave town with him. What had he been thinking?

He really hadn’t, that was the answer. All he’d been thinking about was how pretty she was and sweet and how nice it was to kiss her and now they were running away together and... he was okay with this. Sure, he was scared as all hell, but it was a bit exciting too, so by the time she got back he was just sitting there, grinning back at her.

“‘course not. We’ll make up tha time havin’ two horses,” he said, reaching out to take her bags. He’d hopped down off his horse while he waited, though it hadn’t been that long. Hadn’t taken her that long to work it out with her momma, and Caden was grateful he hadn’t had to meet the woman and explain himself.

[Dusty Fae]

Dusty’d always wanted more outta life than just bein’ a Saloon girl. Sure, it’d pay the bills and she had a good job, but it weren’t enough. Men looked at ‘er as an object insteada as a person. She were just a means to an end. Spend a night with the pretty girl and ever’thin’ would be alright. And for the lonely cowboys ever’thin’ would be just fine and dandy. But it were’nt the same fer Dusty. She wanted more. And then, when more had come, she weren’t about ta turn it down. She’d been content livin’ here and just doin’ what she had ta do. But now she were gonna have ‘er own life and no one could stop ‘er.

Dusty grinned at Caden. “Alright, I’ll just get my horse then,” she said then headed off to the stables where her beautiful horse Blue was kept when she weren’t ridin’ ‘im. She quickly saddled ‘im up and then led him outta the stable and over to Caden.

“Where are we headed?” she asked, getting up on her horse and takin’ the reins firmly in ‘er hand. “We’d best head out. The town’ll be awake real soon I’d reckon. We wanna be gone by then.”

[Deleted]

Securing Dusty’s things over the back of his horse, Caden spent the next few minutes stroking Izolda’s nose and apologising for the extra weight, but promising that she would have a companion for a while that he hoped she would like.

He hoped it would be a very long while.

Smiling at Dusty when he saw her heading back over to him, he moved to help her into her saddle, but clearly she had it covered. This was no prissy little thing used to getting driven around in carriages, that was for sure. Putting his own boot in the stirrup, Caden swung himself up into his own saddle before looking over at her again.

“I figure tha nearest town in any direction but that one,” he said, pointing back over his shoulder in the direction he’d come in yesterday, “so I can get me a new hat. From there... ladies choice?”