Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Wedmesday Briefs: The Sheriff #59 (Epilogue 1)

Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.

Well, it looks like our journey with Roy and Dustin is almost done, also Marshall and Lee. So let's visit them for a little bit before we have to say good-bye. Not this week, though. This week the four guys are hanging out, so go catch up with them while you can. Then visit the other Briefers and see what they've been up to. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

The Sheriff #59 (Epilogue 1)


“You ready for another beer?” Roy asked.

Dustin consulted the bottle in his hand. It was about a third full yet. “Almost. Give me another ten minutes,” he calculated. “Want me to get you one? Wouldn’t want you to tucker yourself out too soon.” He gave Roy a decidedly evil grin, while Marshall laughed loudly.

“I think somebody’s trying to tell you you’re old, Roy,” Lee joked.

“As if.” Roy snorted. “I don’t remember hearing any complaints about my age last night, do you?”

“That’s what I mean,” Dustin said without missing a beat. “I figured maybe I wore you out so much you should save your strength for later. You wouldn’t want to fall asleep early and miss the fireworks, would you?”

“That’ll be the day when I can’t outdrink you and stay up late enough to set off fireworks. I’d be more worried about you and Marshall, Sonny Jim.”

“Hey, how’d I get dragged into this?” Marshall protested laughingly. “This is between you two. Leave me out of it.”

“I guess you’re getting tarred by the same young’un brush I am.” Dustin couldn’t help but laugh. He was too happy not to. He couldn’t remember a better Fourth of July than this one. He’d been living with Roy for several months now, as well as being his deputy, and everything was perfect. Just perfect. He never thought things could work out as well as they had, and he wouldn’t change a thing.

“Well,” Marshall drawled, “I guess that’s what happens when you hook up with old men.”  He laughed and ducked as Lee took a fake swing at him, then gave in when Lee snagged him and drew him in for long kiss.

Before Roy could even act, Dustin had climbed into his lap and meshed their mouths in utter harmony. All was still until the two couples came up for air.  Dustin polished off what was left of his beer. “Anyone want another one while I’m up?”

They were sitting in Marshall and Lee’s backyard. Lee had barbecued some of the best steaks Dustin had ever had, and now they were just shooting the shit until it was time to shoot off fireworks. Lee had invited all their friends from Partners, but they were all busy. Including Dustin’s cousin Denver, who was seeing the new cashier at the computer store, the one who had taken Dustin’s place when he left.

Dustin got up and brought back the beers, handing them out before resuming his next beside Roy, so close that their legs touch. Nice and cozy, just how they liked it. Dustin was surprised at how demonstrative Roy had turned out to be. He never would have thought that of the sheriff, especially not with another man. He figured part of that was the influence of Marshall and Lee, seeing them together as long as he had.

Roy leaned in and kissed Dustin’s cheek softly. “You sure you’re okay with not going to Tucker Falls to watch the big show there?”

“Very sure,” Dustin assured him. “I’m right where I want to be. And I’m with the person I want to be with.”

That produced a smile from Roy and they kissed again, before settling back in their chairs.

“How’s work coming on the new office?” Lee asked. He had one arm slung about Marshall, who leaned against him rather cozily.

“Pretty good,” Roy said. “We spend as much time there as we can. Plumbing’s all good, and the electrician brought everything up to code, added a few outlets for anything we might need. Melvyn authorized some new computer stuff for us. It’s going to be pretty cool, I think.”

Dustin was still just working part-time as Roy’s deputy, but he often ended up working extra just to be with Roy. He was happy with that. Burnham wasn’t a high crime place. Most of the trouble came from people passing through town on their way to somewhere else.

“You like being a deputy?” Marshall asked, as he raised his bottle to his lips.

“Hell yeah,” Dustin said enthusiastically. “Best job I’ve ever had.”

“Whatever happened to that guy who tried to rob the store you used to work at?” Marshall said.

They’d been all set to go to Tucker Falls just the week before to testify against Jordan, but at the last minute, they’d received a call from the prosecutor, telling them that wouldn’t be necessary. Jordan had copped a guilty plea, part of a plea bargain. He wouldn’t be getting out of jail anytime soon.

“He’s where he belongs,” Roy replied. “In prison.”

“Good to know. Things worked out pretty good, didn’t they?”

“Things have been better than good, they’re great,” Dustin said. “I sure appreciate you guys, and how nice you’ve been to me and everything. And Roy is the best…” A wave of emotion surged through Dustin, choking him up so he couldn’t speak. He’d never felt this strongly about anyone before, not in his entire life, the way he felt about Roy.

“Roy is the best,” Lee concurred. “And we think you’re pretty fine yourself, Dustin.” He raised his bottle of beer. “To two of the best guys I know, and to many more years of friendship.”

“To friendship,” Marshall echoed, lifting his own bottle.

Dustin and Roy repeated their sentiments, and all four men solemnly clinked their glasses together.

to be continued

Now go see what the other Briefers are up to!






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