Landmine - Post Malone

10

It's so dark she can't see anything except the bush in front of them which is lit up by Austin's headlights. But she can hear rushing water in the distance so that's a good sign. "We going to do a group wash? Your boys going to line up and we wash each other's backs while we stand in the river," Dillon asks as Austin opens her door. "You think you are funny, but you ain't, darlin'," he says, taking the towels, coat and pyjamas from her, then taking hold of her hand when she steps out. "Well, thank goodness it's dark, so no one can see me in the river," Dillon says while Austin guides her blindly through very thick bush. "The river stretches right across the ranch. We could jump in and still never run into each other; besides where I am taking you is not a well-known spot. No one will be up here," he says catching her as she trips over a root. "You good?" he asks. "Yeah, it's so dam dark out here. Why is it so dark? I can't even see my hand in front of my face," she says holding her hand up to try and see it. She sees nothing.

"Country, darlin', ain't no city lights to give off a glow. Ain't no moon or stars out tonight either," he says, stopping them and then lifting her over what she thinks is a massive boulder, which could be a small hill or a fallen tree. She has no idea and right now has no choice but to place every ounce of trust she has into Austin. Either the man can see in the dark or he knows this place like the back of his hand. "Do you come out here often?" Dillon asks when they start walking again, Austin's hand firmly in hers.

"I did. I spent a lot of time hunting and fishing up here as a teen."

"Not anymore?"

"Been busy, darlin'," he says then slows down as Dillon feels the heavy bush fall away. They are in a clearing now and the sound of the rushing water is louder. They must be on the river bank, but it's still so dark she can't make anything out. "Stay here, do not move or I won't be able to find ya again," Austin says. She would freak out at that, but he has a chuckle in his tone; the man thinks he is funny. She stands quietly, listening to the sounds Austin makes as he moves around. She is not sure what he is doing, but then she sees a spark, and Austin's face appears behind a little lighter flame. He smiles at her and lowers the flame lighting a small pile of wood he had stacked up. It takes a bit of work to get the wood to take to the flame, but soon enough, Austin has managed to get a small fire going. It's a warm evening, so she is not desperate for the heat, but the light the fire offers is comforting, and so she moves a little closer.

She frowns when she sees a metal box near the fire. "Where did that come from?" she asks pointing at it. "Told ya, I spent a lot of time up here as a kid. It was easier to leave my camping shit up here," he says opening it. There are blankets and a few plates and cups in it. "You were a prepared teen. I couldn't even get my bag packed for school without forgetting something," Dillon says. Austin laughs and stands then walks closer to her. "Prepare to succeed, for one only fails when they are unprepared. My grandmother's words," he says, his fingers curling around the hem of her shirt. "Your grandmother sounds like a wise woman," Dillon says, lifting her arms and letting Austin pull off her shirt; her muscles are sore from her busy day.

"She was. She taught me everything I know...she was kind and loving too," he whispers, undoing the buttons on her jeans and pushing them down along with her underwear before he takes his Stetson off and places it carefully on top of her discarded shirt, then pulls his shirt off as she removes her bra. "You speak so softly about her. You loved her very much," Dillon says, watching him remove his pants. "Aye. I did," he says taking her hand and leading her away from the fire toward where she thinks is the edge of the river. Without the light from the fire, she is once again blind and completely reliant on Austin. She can feel her feet grow wet as they get closer to the river, and then she squeaks when her foot dips into ankle-deep water. "Oh! Fuck Austin, that's cold. I don't know if I can get in there," she hisses, her teeth starting to chatter.