Landmine - Post Malone

23

"You are so handsome like this," Dillon whispers as they lie tangled together under a blanket by the dying fire. Between the endless flowing whisky and sherry, Austin had banned anyone from driving so they had all eventually found a place to sleep. As always Austin was prepared and produced blankets. Dillon does not know where from but she has enough sherry in her to believe he did it with magic. Austin is magical after all.

"Only like this? Not any other time?" he mumbles with a soft chuckle while she runs her fingers through his beard.

"You fishing for compliments, rancher?"

"Only truths darlin'."

"You are handsome all the time. One look from you and my knees go weak. You consume my every thought, and my heart belongs to you. Indefinitely. Is that enough truth for you?" she whispers leaning closer and running her lips against his. She could could say that it's the sherry talking but that would be a lie. She feels what she feels and that's just how it is now. "Careful there, darlin', the way you speak lately has me thinking you intend on stayin'," he whispers. Dillon pulls back and looks at him, her eyes searching his face. She feels guilty about Isla, but she has not given up her search for her. She will find her one day and she knows Austin will help her. Perhaps she is reckless with her heart; she is still, after all, learning who Austin is, but she loves him hopelessly, and there is not much she can do about that.

"I would stay...if you asked..." she whispers. Austin's eyes search her face, he sits up and puts up his finger, then stands and trots off to his tuck. She watches him reach in and grab something then trot back and settle under the blanket with her once again. "Show me your wrist, darlin'," he whispers. Confused but intrigued, she lifts her arm out of the blanket and holds up her wrist, then he curls his fingers around her wrist. When he removes his hand, she sees he has placed his grandmother's bracelet around her wrist. "Stay," he whispers. "I will stay," Dillon hears herself say, there is no doubt, no hesitation, and no fear. Her place is at Austin's side, and so that is where she will remain, she feels it so strongly, and a determination erupts in her chest that's stronger than she has ever felt before.

"I will never leave."

"You will leave me a broken man if you do, baby," he whispers, and something flashes in his eyes. She thinks it's fear but is not sure because Austin is not a fearful man, and that is not an emotion she easily equates with him.

"Does this make me your girlfriend?"

"No. I do not care for such things."

"Oh...then what am I?"

"My wife."

"But...but we are not married."

"I do not need a piece of paper or a display to consider you my wife, Dillon. You are what you are now. You are my wife and shall be treated as such."

"I am tied to your side."

"You are."

"And I will never leave," she repeats then reaches out to him as his arms wrap around her and pull her close. She searches out his lips and kisses him till her lungs threaten to burst then she hids her face in his chest as her eyes grow heavy and sleep takes her.

~

She wakes to Austin lifting her gently and the sky above an early morning blue. "Morning," she mumbles and nuzzles into his chest as her eyes slip shut again. "Mornin', darlin'," he hums as he walks. He leans slightly and opens the truck door then deposits her gently in the passenger seat before tucking the blanket around her. "Where are we going?" she mumbles and then yawns when he climbs into the truck.

"I am headin' to work and you will be goin' back to the trailer to sleep."

"No."

"Yes."