Taken By The Bull

The blonde woman stared at her for what seemed like forever; and then, slowly, she said, “I think I did already. The moment you came into town.”

Staci didn’t know what to say to that; she faltered, and stood, uncertain. But Dawn wasn’t finished yet. “I didn’t mean for my cousin’s friends to hurt you. Hell, I was the one who was hurting. They shouldn’t have gone chasing you. They’re damn idiots, and I should’ve known better. But don’t be thinking – don’t-”

Dawn had to stop, and take a deep breath. “Don’t be thinking we’re best friends, or anything. Just – stay out of my way, and I’ll stay out of yours. And-” she paused again, biting her lip. “Don’t be letting him eat too much sweet stuff. He likes to, but – his mom had diabetes, you know. And don’t let him watch any movies where a dog gets killed or hurt; it makes him awful upset.”

Sometimes, Staci knew, it was the things that people didn’t say were the things that mattered: And what Dawn really meant was, take care of him.

*****

She heard Steve’s voice, deep and smooth, carrying her way before she turned the corner and saw them waiting by the open doors of the van. “You be sure and bring your girl up here to see the sights sometime, y’hear?”

“Well…” Mikey’s back was towards her as he swayed back and forth on his heels for a moment, looking uncharacteristically coy. “I don’t have a girl but…. My man would probably love it…”

Steve didn’t skip a beat. “Well, anytime you got the time, you’re always both welcome at the Double Thunders.”

“You should try the mechanical bull sometime,” Staci said as she poked Mikey in the arm, startling him. She cast a glance towards Steve, smirking a little. “It’s a blast.”

“Jesus!” Mikey’s first reaction upon seeing her return was to glare and roll his eyes. “Where the hell have you been, Stace?”

“Shopping,” she replied, as casually as she could; her eyes still on Steve’s. “Girly things.”

“Good to hear.” Mikey grumbled as he moved around the side of the van, and climbed into the driver’s side. “Wonderful. You can tell me all about it once we’re on the goddamned road.”

“Did you get what you needed?” Steve asked her quietly.

Staci nodded her head, before stepping closer, reaching up and wrapping her arms around his neck. “I think, she’ll be okay,” she whispered in his ear. “I think we’ll all be okay.”

He responded by putting his good arm around her, and resting his head on her shoulder; and her breath caught in her throat, because it wasn’t until now that she realized just how much she was going to miss him. Until the weekend, she told herself. That’s all.

Neither of them said a word as she pulled away, and stepped up into the cab of the van; Steve closed the door behind her, and waved her off as Mikey started the engine and took them away. She found herself hanging out of the open window like a teenage girl, just to keep Steve in sight for as long as she possibly could; and as his big form shrunk and faded away into the distance, she felt a sense of loss that was only slightly eased by the knowledge that it wasn’t going to be forever.

“Oh, hey.” She felt something light land on her lap. “I found this in the back of the van. I’m guessing, you’ll be wanting it.”

She looked down, and saw a cowboy hat resting on her knees. She touched the brim, and remembered the first time she met Steve, when he took the hat from his own head and rested it on hers.

A real life cowboy, she thought. In every way. And as gentle as summer rain, as mom would say.

Reaching up, she unpinned her hair, letting it loose to cover her shoulders; and pulled the hat on over the top, letting it shade her eyes.

“Wanna stop on the way back, and get some food?” Mikey turned off from Main Street, and headed towards the road back to Jackson. “Burger and fries, my treat.”

“That’d be great, but…” Staci paused, a small, secret kind of smile curving her lips upwards. “Hold the burger. I think I’ll have the salad.”

The end.