Page 52 of Tusks & Saddles

Boone

“ Jacobus, quit fuckin’ around!” Boone laughed as Jacobus hung from one of the temple pillars.

The goofball was winking at some bright-eyed, young initiates near the front door.

His current flirting targets giggled and shuffled away as Boone threw a rock at his best friend.

Jacobus squawked like a clumsy flamingo as he came tumbling down to the dusty earth.

SunBringer smiled down at them, her golden rays lighting up all of Irongarde.

Her touch warmed Boone’s back as he hoisted Jacobus off the ground.

“We got paid, let’s get back to the ranch, huh? Without tempting the new initiates?”

“Whaaaat?” Jacobus grinned, shimmying his shoulders suggestively. “Not my fault clerics find a rough and dirty man exciting.”

Boone snorted, rolling his eyes. With a quick slap upside Jacobus’ head, he chuckled under his breath as the goober sauntered away.

Hands up, yoking it up, Jacobus had been a blessing the whole journey to the stronghold then to Gloomsdale.

While the High Cleric Endman was truly a wise man…

he was also chatty. Very. Chatty. Boone spent the entire time chin on his fist, thanking the SunBringer for Jacobus who could keep up the yapping for ages.

Endman and Jacobus yapped from the moment they awoke till late in the evening.

He even watched them both fall asleep separately, mid conversation.

“Oi! Watch it!”

Boone barely scruffed Jacobus seconds before a giant beam was carted in front of them, followed by several stacks of wood being delivered from the general store.

It wouldn’t be odd, as there was always something being built in Irongarde.

Only…they took the wood down the road toward the well.

The well that, as far as Boone knew, was unoccupied.

He furrowed his brows, following the wood down the dusty path.

“What’s down there?” he blurted out.

“Oh! Oh! That I do know. Heard about it when I came in town to buy some kibble for the dogs. There’s a new All Seer temple.

Apparently the High Cleric or who-ever-da-fuck got lost and one of the clerics hired a gunslinger from in town.

You know, the spooky lady that wears all black and that big ass hat?

The one with the massive fuck-off gun always on her hip?

Her! And they were lost in the Searing Wastelands for a while.

But yeah, they’re building themselves a temple. ”

All Seer? Gunslinger…Welborn! Boone rushed past Jacobus, his boots thudding with each heavy step as he flew through the hot air. Jacobus kept hot on his heel, asking the silliest question, “Where we going?”

But Boone’s only thought was in checking out the story Jacobus told.

When his father stopped taking his gold, he wrote back a small letter.

‘Welborn’s gone to join the All Seer’s church’.

At first, Boone thought that his brother took after him in that aspect.

Became a paladin, sought out coin and purpose .

However, he learned along the way his little brother became a cleric.

Which is not to say clerics don’t get coin or purpose or power.

But, if he were honest, there was a little selfish disappointment his brother didn’t take after him.

The dust began to settle as the pair slowed to a trot a few feet from the edge of the road.

Calling it a road is a stretch. There weren’t really roads in Irongarde.

There were spaces that were flattened by carriages, horses, and boots in between buildings.

As the sun broke through the cloud of rust-colored silt floating around them, he found the foundation of a temple being put up.

And Welborn at the front, holding up some sort of schematic while a woman all in black loomed just over his shoulder. He was clearly trying to explain something to one of the workers, who was stood there with a dumb look on their face and fingernails scratching at their scalp.

“It’s not that, uh, I don’t…no, it is that I don’t get it,” the poor human man with a scraggly beard grunted as he sat back on his boots.

“That’s cause you’re as dense as a boulder, Herman!

” Jacobus chortled, brushing past Boone.

The three at the front of the construction site twisted, staring at the pair who’d seemingly come out of nowhere.

Boone was struck solid, his feet nothing but stone buried in the sand beneath him, as his gaze met Welborn’s.

“Oi! Jacobus, my man!” Herman cackled, twisting to clap Jacobus on the back. He hugged him close. “What you doing out here? Lose a heifer or something?”

“Nah, Boone…well…Boone? ”

Boone wasn’t sure why his body moved on its own.

But, he crossed the dusty earth with a few heavy steps before he threw his arms around Welborn and ripped him off his boots.

He hugged that boy as hard as he could without breaking his spine.

Curling his fingers around him, he wasn’t sure if he was trembling or if he was imagining it, but… he held his brother for a long time.

“Gods above, Welby,” he murmured, finally pulling back enough to look down at his face. Then he recalled what Jacobus said earlier. With a quick flick of his wrist, he slapped the back of his brother’s head…affectionately, of course. “What’s this I’m hearin’ you got lost in the Wastelands?”

“Oh! And attacked by a pod of Sand Slithers!” Jacobus added. Boone shot him a ‘don’t help’ glare at Jacobus, who grimaced back at him as a response. Jacobus returned his attention to Herman. “What cha’ building here?”

The pair waltzed a few feet away while Boone leveled his attention on his younger brother. He set Welborn back on his boots and took a step back. Just to look at him. Well, shit, he really is a full-grown guy now.

“Not so much ‘got lost’ as maybe wandered without a direction,” Welborn grimaced. “But the Sand Slither thing is a bit more accurate.”

Boone stared at him, only blinking once as if the information was taking a moment to digest. There was a flash of protective rage, then a sliver of reality checked him with a swift kick, and finally, acceptance.

You’re not his father, you’re not even close to him, you have no right. But he wanted to be…

“Well,” he sighed, putting his hands to his sides. “I’m sure glad you’re not dead. ”

"That makes two of us," the woman in black stated point blank. Welborn twisted to her, ears a little dark green at the embarrassment.

“Apologies, you must be the gunslinger I’ve heard only one thing about.” He nodded to the massive gun on her waist. “Jacobus called it a big ‘fuck-off’ gun.”

"I actually keep my 'fuck off' gun in a suitcase." Her tone was humorous as she settled up at Welborn’s side. Draping one of her arms over his brother’s shoulder, Boone watched his brother clam up.

Typical baby brother. Warming up to a forest-green around the edges, his eyes slightly widening, Welborn audibly let out a little, nervous laugh.

"I—um, so... I'm—I mean this—" Welborn frantically glanced between Boone and the gunslinger. Her gold eyes glanced at his brother, full of mirth. Ah, so she’s used to this. Boone was struck with just how much he missed his brother’s incessant babble.

Crossing his arms over his chest, hip cocked, Boone reveled in the familiar sound of his brother losing it exponentially.

Affectionally, of course . Boone raised an eyebrow, Welborn continued, "And this—what I mean is—"

"Hello, I'm Beatrix Eaves, pleasure," Beatrix, the purple-faced, gold-eyed, gunslinging, clearly sweet on his brother, woman struck a hand toward him. But before Boone could even shake it—

"We're getting married!" Welborn blurted, turning even greener.

Boone’s eyebrows went up into his hair, and even Jacobus wheeled away from Herman. Little gossiping chicken. Jacobus came waltzing back up to the group with a beaming smile, “Who’s gettin’ married?”

“It seems,” Boone rumbled, watching Welborn’s shoulders rise up toward his burning ears, “my baby brother is engaged to the gunslinger.”

“No way! Oh! You gotta have it at the ranch!” Jacobus jumped up in the air just to tap his boot heels together with a goofy yell. “Wait till I tell Will, she’s gonna lose it. She loves weddings.”

That’s when Jacobus elbowed Boone in the ribcage as hard as he could.

Boone grunted before quickly shoving the little shit into the dirt.

Fucker, tryin’ to tell me like I don’t know.

But he had to approach it carefully, much like everything else with his favorite firecracker, she needed a gentle lead up to change.

“So,” Boone smiled as warmly as he could at the couple before him, ignoring the mad cackle from Jacobus by his boots.

“What’s y’all’s plan for dinner? Mrs. Jones is whipping up a mean rattlesnake chili for dinner with corn muffins and more.

Plus…since you’ve introduced me to the woman you intend to marry. I’d like to introduce you to mine—”

“Boone—”

“This is Jacobus by the way,” Boone scruffed his best friend once more and hoisted him out of the dust. “Willamina’s brother and my best friend. He’ll likely be up in your hair from now on, so feel free to grab him by the collar.”

“Hey!” Jacobus swatted at him before extending his palm to the pair. “Nice to meet you!”

The pair shook the daemon’s hand before Boone set him back down.

He motioned toward the road and Jacobus, doing what he did best, immediately struck up a conversation with Beatrix.

“So, what’s being a gunslinger like? You get a guy between the brows?

I heard your aim’s so good you caught a penny in the air with a bullet from a hundred yards away?

If I chucked this copper, could you get it? ”

Beatrix glanced back at the brothers taking up the flank of the group, blowing the cleric a kiss before returning to Jacobus’ incessant questions.

Boone stopped listening when they switch from familiar to aeternal.

While Willamina had started teaching him a few things, mostly curse words, he wasn’t one for languages.

Boone didn’t have the ear for it, but he picked up writing in languages pretty easily.

“Now,” Boone stated after a great big breath of air, hands tucked into his pockets. He glanced down at Welborn practically itching out of his skin. “What’s it that’s got you trapped up inside yer noggin’ like that.”

“I had sex!” Welborn’s hands flew up and covered his face.

Boone shouldn’t have laughed, but his brother said it so bluntly it felt like he’d slapped him with a wet fish. “Well, alright then…” Boone trailed off trying to figure out a nice way to say the next words on his tongue. “And you…are…okay? With that?”

Welborn made a mixed noise, somewhere between a groan and whine that was trapped behind his gloved hands. Boone waited for him to say anything else, but then Welborn nodded and Boone nodded back.

“Good, I guess.” He hummed to himself as he searched the dusty landscape before them.

People wove in and out of shops before them.

They’d passed his temple of the SunBringer, and the smell of roasted animals and beer floated nearby.

He could feel his goddess’ tender rays on his back as the pair walked in relative silence for a moment.

The two in front of them still chattering.

Well, Jacobus was chattering. Beatrix was humoring him.

“You know, when I saw you at the train station, I felt bad. Like I’d forgotten a responsibility.

Like I’d failed you. But you don’t need me like that, I don’t think you ever did, but it made me feel better.

I guess what I’m trying to ask is, Welborn, I want to be in your life but I never asked…

how you needed me in your life. If you need me at all? ”

"Boone, I know you've always felt responsible with what happened with me, but that was never your fault.

You can't fail at something you were never responsible for, that's why it's called an accident.

I've...I've held onto the guilt of what happened with Mom for so long, but I know she'd pull me by the ear if I continued to fall under the weight of it.

And I think she'd use her other hand to pull yours. You’re my brother, I want you to keep being my brother.

Not my guardian, not my benefactor—just Boone. "

Boone stared ahead, trying hard not to give into the hurt. The problem was, Welborn was right. He did feel responsible. He’d always been the one to keep Welborn out of trouble. Watch after your little brother, Boone. And he always intended to, but then it happened so fast.

"I also want you to come to the Chroma Coast with me so I can tell Dad I'm getting married to his face. I think he deserves that much, you know?"

Boone inhaled sharply through his nose. He’s right, we’ve been holding onto that feeling for far too long. He smiled down at Welborn. “Yeah, the old man deserves to know. Plus, who knows, maybe he’ll swing by, meet the missus and take a vacation from his retirement or something? ”

"Joke’s on you," Welborn said. "Dad's gotten even more stubborn over the years. It's gonna take a miracle to get him on a ship."

Boone threw his head back with a laugh. “Well, the old man will have to fight me, kicking and screaming. I’ll drag his ass onto that ship. And he knows he’s not as heavy as he used to be. I can actually hoist his ass now.”

It’s time we’re just brothers. Boone threw an arm around Welborn’s shoulders, pulling him in tight to his side.

He was going to give the kid a noogie, just like an older brother should…

but then Jacobus asked to see the gun and Boone roared, “Don’t you let him touch that thing, he’ll blow off a finger. ”

“You’re no fun!” Jacobus yowled back.

“You try telling Will why you lost a finger!” Boone charged forward, Welborn in tow, to go strangle his best friend in front of his soon-to-be sister-in-law. Family things, I guess.