Get Along Little Dogies (Arkady)

[Dusty Fae]

Caden were such a gentleman and that were hard ta come by these days. Men just weren’t gentlemen the way they used ta be and she truly appreciated that Caden was. She were used to the rough and tumble, often rowdy cowboys that came into the Saloon. She weren’t used to shy gentlemen like Caden, but she could get used to it in a matter o’ time.

She thought for a moment ‘bout where ta go since it was her choice. “Well other’n the town yah came from, I ain’t sure how close the next one is. It’s mostly ranches out this way. There’s a ghost town ‘bout fifty miles from here. I’d say the next town would probably be closer to the California state line and that’s quite a ways from here. But we can head out that way and see what we can find.”

She nudged Blue and he started walkin’ through the center o’ town. She leaned forward and patted Blue’s neck. “It’s our first adventure Blue,” she whispered to the horse, feelin’ awful excited. Her first time away from home, runnin’ away with a man she hardly even knew. And it were worth every moment.

[Deleted]

Caden frowned throughtfully at Dusty’s reply. No other towns nearby? Well, that was no good. If the sun came up right hot today he’d be sure missing his hat, but it wasn’t like he could wait around here for the shops to open, and going back to the last town he’d been in... if he was gonna do that, he might as well just stay here. They’d both end with him strung up somewhere or with a bullet through his belly.

The ghost town sounded interesting for a poor farmboy that had never seen one, but he’d been told there weren’t actual ghosts there, just an empty town. Caden wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing.

“Alright, we’ll just head on out and see what we come across,” he finally said. Getting his own horse moving, he set a bit of a brisk pace until they got clear of this town. Time was a’wasting! “Let’s follow the trail... that we blaze!”

[Dusty Fae]

(time jump)

It’d been a long day and the sun would set soon. They’d stopped briefly fer a midday meal, but then they were right back in the saddle, ridin’ on. And Dusty were tired. She’d barely gotten any sleep the night before, plus she were sore from sittin’ in the saddle all day long. She were plum tuckered out. “We’d best find a place ta camp out for the night,” she told Caden, scanning the surroundin’ area. It were a pretty open area and then didn’t wanna be too much in the open when night fell.

Then she saw a couple o’ rocks not far away that looked like they might give some shelter and it were better’n settlin’ down by a cactus. She pointed towards the rocks. “We can camp down over there.” Then she nudged Blue in that direction. She didn’t know how anyone could sit in the saddle all day like this. It were mighty uncomfortable and even Blue were tired, but he didn’t get ridden as much as she’d like. It were a shame, but now that she’d run away from home he’d get much more exercise than he were used to.

Dusty pulled Blue up short, stoppin’ ‘im with a soft “Woah.” Then she slipped one foot outta the stirrup and over the horse, and hopped to the ground. She regretted that the instant her feet touched the ground though, because she were real sore and that hadn’t helped much. Pulling the reigns over Blue’s head she lead him over to where there was some wild grass growin’ and slipped the reigns off. He wouldn’t run ‘less he were startled by somethin’, but there didn’t look like there were any rattlesnakes ‘round. Turnin’ back ta Caden she put ‘er hands on ‘er hips. “I think this’ll do nicely.”

[Deleted]

Caden was used to hard work and hard riding, and as he and Dusty travelled along chatting amicably, he had lost all sense of time, completely forgetting that a saloon girl wouldn’t be used to it as he was. When she suggested they camp for the night, though, he was struck with this thought and felt down right ashamed that he hadn’t thought of it earlier.

“I’m real sorry, Miss Dusty. We shoulda stopped a while back,” he apologised, agreeing swiftly with her when she pointed out a decent place to spend the night. Following her over, he would have helped her down from her saddle but she was just too quick for him. Independent woman, this one, never seemed to want his help for anything. In fact, she seemed to help him more than he could ever dream of helping her.

Dismounting, he carefully set her belongings on the ground followed by his own. “Sure will,” he agreed. “Ya wanna work on settin’ up camp while I get these saddles off and water tha horses?”

Realising that this could be construed as him trying to boss her around like a lot of men thought was okay to do to women, he quickly stumbled through an amendment. “I mean, if you want. You been ridin’ awful long, so why don’t ya just sit down and relax instead? I been doin’ this for weeks now, I can take care of it all, don’t you worry.”

[Dusty Fae]

She hadn’t minded the ridin’ really. It weren’t so bad. They’d been talkin’ and she hadn’t been payin’ attention to how tired she’d been. It was just nice ta get out in the air and not have ta worry ‘bout which men she’d have to sidle up to at the bar while she pourin’ drinks. It was just nice ta not have anythin’ ta do and just one man ta please. And he were easy ta please. Easier’n most men and she didn’t even have ta trick ‘im inta likin’ ‘er. “No, it’s alright. It don’t matter.”

Dusty could set up camp, she supposed. She weren’t really sure how ta do that and what involved, but she were sure she could do it. She smiled as Caden stumbled over his words, tryin’ ta make it right. She loved that about him. She moved to him and kissed his cheek. “That’s real sweet. Thank you.” Then she folded ‘er hands in front of ‘er. “I ain’t never made camp ‘fore. What should I do while you take care o’ the horses?”

[Deleted]

Caden smiled crookedly and stopped rambling when Dusty kissed his cheek. That was a dangerous weapon, that was. If they ever got into an argument on this little journey he was about done for if she used that not so secret weapon. And that was only a kiss on the cheek; she had much more in her arsenal than that.

“Well, if ya really want to, you can gather up some rocks and make a circle outta them to build tha fire in,” he suggested. Then they’d have to gather wood and twigs and bark to actually burn, but he wasn’t about to send her off on her own to do that. “Or just dig through our packs for a bite to eat, and I’ll worry ‘bout tha fire when I’m done here.”

He was making quick work of the saddle, then he’d just have to get Blue’s off and get them both some water.

[Dusty Fae]

Dusty loved the effect she had on Caden and it surprised her every time. For once she weren’t hangin’ around men who were grabby. Instead she were with a man who didn’t mind the attention she gave ‘im, but he weren’t demandin’ it either. It were quite the contrast from the Saloon, but this were nicer. She weren’t dealin’ with men that she had ta pretend to like anymore. She were just with one that she really genuinely liked and she didn’t have to pretend.

And bein’ real sweet he gave ‘er two options. One option to actually help set up camp and the other to let him do all the work. And as temptin’ as it were to just sit a while, she did want ta help. “I can collect some rocks then.”

She moseyed on over to the rock formation, lookin’ for loose rocks or even rocks that had fallen off onto the ground. Really, she were lookin’ for anythin’ that would work. Pickin’ up some rocks that seemed a decent size, she carried ‘em over to where she deemed a good place for a fire might be and she set ‘em around in a circle. “D’you think this’ll work?” she called over to Caden. She weren’t real sure, seein’ as she’d never built a fire before.

[Deleted]

While Dusty gathered up her rocks and set them around in a circle, Caden finished up with the horses, making sure they had everything they needed for the night. Brushing his hands together, he stuffed them in his pockets before moseying on over to the beginnings of their little makeshift camp.

“I think that’ll work just fine,” he replied, smiling at her. Growing up on a farm with a fairly small family, all of them had to do their fair share around the place, including the women. There was just something about a woman who wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, not to mention one that wasn’t willing to just sit back and make her man do all the work. Sure they were pretty and enticing, but when it came right down to it, once the polish wore off, Caden wasn’t sure he could ever be with a woman like that; someone like that wouldn’t understand the life he led, and it was hard to respect someone who wanted everyone else to do everything for them.

“Now we just need ta gather ourselves up some wood and we should be about ready ta put our feet up and relax for tha night,” he continued. He was already feeling more relaxed himself. Sure, she still made him a bit nervous, but out here he was more in his element than he’d ever be in a saloon. The fresh air and the open plain did wonders.

[Dusty Fae]

Dusty hadn’t been too sure o’ her fire ring. It looked alright to her, but she’d never done this before so she weren’t real sure. But to hear Caden say that it would work, gave ‘er the reassurance that she’d wanted and she returned the smile. He more seemed so much more comfortable out here in the middle of nowhere. He knew what he were doin’. It were strange because for once, Dusty had no idea what she were doin’, but she didn’t mind. For prob’ly the first time in ‘er life, Dusty were relyin’ on someone else ta help ‘er along.

Dusty stood and brushed ‘er hands off on ‘er skirt. “Well then, we’d best get some wood for our fire. And then I’ll set about makin’ supper.”

(time jump)

Dusty was real tired now that she were sittin’. All that ridin’ and gettin’ up real early this mornin’ were finally getting’ to ‘er. And now that she were sittin’ and the sun had gone down and they were sittin’ by the fire. She yawned, so tired, but she didn’t want to sleep just yet. She just needed somethin’ ta focus on for a while.

Dusty looked over at Caden. “Will you tell me about your family? Or about the farm?” she asked. She was awful curious ‘bout him and where he came from. What his family was like. She wanted to know more ‘bout the man she’d just run off with.

[Deleted]

This was the life; this was what it was all about. When Caden had first left home, he’d gone off in search of his fortune, to find a way to make a better life for himself and for his family. It was a dream, and to make it a reality the quickest and easiest way looked to be gambling. Sure, he could throw in with some outlaws and spend his days robbing people to get ahead, but what good was having a fortune if he had to steal it from others? Now gambling sure put other people out of money, but it was money they were throwing away so he didn’t feel bad about that none. The only problem was that he wasn’t all that good, and he couldn’t seem to stop himself.

All that said, despite all the excitement, the thrill of the game and all the running and hiding, he had been surprised to find that the parts of his journey that he’d enjoyed most so far had been the nights like these, the quiet nights by the campfire and under the starry sky. Tonight, though, was even exceptionally better than all the rest.

Using a stick to poke idly at the fire, Caden cast Dusty a surprised look when she asked about his family and his home. Ain’t nobody really cared to know about any of that before; ‘course, he’d never been close enough to nobody since leaving his home to warrant such a question.

“It ain’t a real excitin’ story,” he said a bit shyly. “We were just like any other hard workin’ farmers, nary a break from sunrise ta sunset.”

It wasn’t entirely true, depending on how deep she wanted to look. When it came to his own life, sure, not a whole lot had happened, but his parents? They’d had themselves quite a story before he came along.

[Dusty Fae]

Dusty smiled when Caden looked surprised. He must not get asked ‘bout his family very often and with the way he weren’t spendin’ much time in each town people weren’t gonna stop and get to know ‘im. But this were diff’rent. She’d run off with Caden. She wanted to know him.

She scooted closer to him. “Will you tell me anyhow?” she asked. “I grew up in the saloon. I don’t know a thing ‘bout farmin’ or what farmers do. I’d like ta hear about it if you’ll tell me.” She’d spent so much of ‘er life in and around the Saloon that she’d never really ventured anywhere outside o’ the town. Farmers came into town sometimes and they certainly came into the Saloon, but she’d never really asked about them before. Farmin’ was a lot o’ work, she knew, but she didn’t really know anythin’ else about farmin’. She were curious.

[Deleted]

The hand that held the stick stilled when Dusty shifted closer to him. Glancing over at her he knew there was no point even pretending; there was nothing he could refuse her. Now he’d never been a very good liar in the first place, and not really one much for secrets either, but he’d been trying a little harder to be mysterious and keep things to himself on this little journey of his. Still, there was no saying no to her.

Dragging his eyes away from her, Caden fixed them on the fire as he continued to stir the embers.

“We got ourselves a farm back in Sweetwater. I was born there, grew up there... hell, I ain’t never been nowhere else that I couldn’t get to and back b’fore sunset,” Caden started to tell his story. “Was me, my mamma, my papa and my little brother and sister. We had us some crops, a few milkin’ cows and a whole bunch’a chickens.”

I bit of a soft smile curved his lips as he spoke. Even though he’d left home didn’t mean he didn’t think of it, nor the family he’d left behind, fondly. “Was hard work, sun up ta sunset, but we made it work.”

[Dusty Fae]

Dusty didn’t realize quite the extent of the affect she had on Caden. She were pretty sure she could get her way if she wanted to, but she didn’t realize that he couldn’t tell her no. ’Course, she thought he might have a hard time tellin’ ‘er no, but she didn’t think it were impossible. She weren’t even tryin’ ta seduce ‘im. Well, not right now anyhow.

Dusty listened quietly when Caden started to talk. She’s heard o’ Sweetwater, though she’d never been there. She’d never really left the town in her whole life either, so this here were a real adventure for the both of ‘em.

The smile weren’t lost on Dusty either. Even though he were out here lookin’ ta find his own way in the world, Caden still cared about his family back home. She scooted closer and rested her head on his shoulder. “That sounds real nice,” she told ‘im softly and it really did. Her whole life had been centered around the Saloon and the excitement there that somethin’ ‘bout the quietness of farmin’, the less excitin’ life, seemed real appealin’ to ‘er.

[Deleted]

Stiffening just a moment when Dusty leaned into him, Caden soon relaxed again.

“It was. We never had much, but we always had each other,” he said, poking at the fire again. Now that he knew the truth he figured a lot of that had to do with his mother losing the rest of the family, so she and his dad made damn sure to keep their own together and close.

‘til I went and left.

It wasn’t like he’d just run off, though, and he’d left on good terms. If anyone understood about wanting to make his own way in the world it was his parents. They started with nothing, so everything they had they’d worked for.

“What about you?” Caden asked. Looking down at Dusty a moment he then rested his cheek against the top of her head when his eyes turned to the fire again. “Just you and your mama?”

[Dusty Fae]

A family that were real close and tight knit were somethin’ that’d Dusty’d really wanted when she were young. She’d wanted a daddy and lots o’ brothers and sisters, but that didn’t happen. And in a way she did have a real close family. She and ‘er momma’d always been close with the other Saloon girls. They were a family. They always looked out for one another. They had each other’s backs so ta speak. But it weren’t the same as havin’ a real family.

“Mmmhmm,” she murmured sleepily. “My momma were an orphan. Grew up in an orphanage, then went and worked in the Saloon. And then she had me, but she ain’t sure who my daddy is, so I ain’t got one. Sure woulda been nice ta have a daddy, but I don’t suppose I mind all that much. It’s just me and my momma. But sometimes it’s more like she’s my friend more’n my momma.” She were ramblin’ a bit on accounta bein’ awful tired. She couldn’t think quite straight.

Dusty snuggled a bit closer and closed ‘er eyes. “You’re warm,” she murmured.