#dallas garrett

The doctor and the judge hadn’t sugar coated their words to me. I was the product of a traumatic childhood; parents murdered right in front of me by a gunslinger with a devilish gaze. Disturbed, they said. No good for society. I wanted to laugh at their diagnosis, I wasn’t a threat to anyone but myself. That was all I’d tell them. They didn’t need to know anything about Dallas.

——

He started showing up when I returned to my childhood home, where my messy life began. I rode up on my horse, sighing with a heavy breath as my gaze fell apon the aged oak planks and broken steps that led to the door. In the dusty front yard were two head stones, and I felt a knot of emotion in my throat at the sight of them. I dismounted and trudged over to the familiar graves, kneeling before them with the care of an animal tamer. As I blinked away the moisture from my eyes, I felt a chill run up my back before I heard the click of a hammer.

“I don’t take kindly to trespassin’.” A low, gravely voice from behind me said. I gulped, turning my head to meet the aged eyes of a weathered man. His furry brow was set in a lethal scowl, his lips pulled into a frown of distrust and annoyance. I let my gaze scan his features, noticing the milky film on his right eye. His hair and scruffy chin were a matching dirty silver, giving me a quick estimate as to his age. I cleared my throat, slowing rising to my feet with my hands raised in surrender.

“I didn’t mean any trouble, sir…it’s just that this place is my family home-“

“I ain’t worried about that. Of course you’d come back here. I figured you would.” He cut me off, his voice taking on a blunt, matter-of-fact tone. “I ain’t stupid, kid. I count two graves, I knew someone would come by to grieve eventually.”

“…Oh. Right…” I mumbled, a rush of heat flooding my face as I looked at the dusty ground, kicking up some red dirt with the heel of my boot.

“Quit that…c’mon inside, you might as well.” Dallas urged gruffly over his shoulder as he headed for my…his house. I nodded dumbly and followed him inside.

——

I didn’t notice anything odd at first. An old man, retired outlaw apparently, had purchased my childhood home fair and square a few years back. I was touched, he’d kept everything maintained like I remembered. Granted, my memories of this place were faint and frankly not worth keeping so how could I have been so sure.

I brushed my hand against the wooden railing that connected to the stairs, which only creaked in certain places, and winced as I felt a thick layer of dust rub off onto my hand. I chose to ignore it, the man was partially blind, I didn’t expect him to keep everything nice. And for a while that’s all I noticed.

But then after a couple of weeks, I started coming by for different reasons. The more I visited Dallas, the less I cared about the past connected to his home and the more I cared about him. I didn’t acknowledge my parents’ headstones anymore, the swirling butterflies in my stomach kept my focus on the old man.

“You’re starin’. Do I look that bad?” He asked me one day, cigarette pinched between his teeth as he leaned against the fence to his horses. I shook my head, blushing softly as I let my vision drift away to the horizon. Dallas chuckled softly, the sound a gravely rumbling in his chest as he puffed a cloud of tobacco smoke through his nose.

Before I could react, I felt his hand wrap around my wrist and pull me closer to him. His breath fanned across my neck like a summer breeze.

“Quit bein’ so shy, darlin’…”

I shivered, brows furrowed. His touch was good, but his hand was cold. Ice cold. Too cold for out here. I gasped softly as I felt his cold lips press to my neck, his hand running up my side and nudging me back against him.

“A-Are you…?” In my head,? I wanted to ask. Dead? Or a figment of my broken mind?

I groaned weakly as a cold hand dipped under my shirt and slid down the front of my pants,

He pressed his chilled lips to my ear, “I’m whatever you need me to be, honey.”

I pulled him closer, kissing him carefully as he began to tease me, eliciting purrs of arousal from my lips. I nudged him against the fence, eyes locked on his as I slid my hand down to his belt. A satisfied grunt escaped his throat as I returned the favor he was giving me. He spun me around and pressed my front against the old wooden posts, facing the house as I felt him grind against my behind. He was a few feet taller, his chin on my shoulder as he rocked his hips, grunting in my ear.

“You wanna let mommy and daddy watch~?” He growled slowly, inferring to the mini graveyard that was within view. A question that should have disgusted me sent heat to my belly that surprised both of us. I whined softly, suddenly aching for that forbidden touch…

——

When I came down from my orgasmic high, I felt the heavy chill on my back dissipate as the sun took over my skin. I sucked in a breath, feeling horrified as I turned around to see open air behind me. No Dallas, no touch, no…

I felt the remaining ache of release between my thighs, and suddenly I wasn’t sure myself. I trudged back into the empty house, sighing softly as I sat down by the mirror near one of the bedrooms.I tentatively reached out to brush the dust off, gasping at my reflection underneath. On my neck, near my jawline, was a bruising bite mark. I leaned in, awed as I traced the fresh wound. I couldn’t have given that to myself…

In the corner of my eye I caught a mark within the dust, and when I finally saw what it was I nearly fainted. From fear or relief I wasn’t sure….

Written in the dust, “Come visit me again soon, darlin’.”

I could’ve sworn I felt a ghost of a kiss on my neck as I gawked at the message.

——