Running With An Outlaw

1

A man stood beside a dark brown mare, working on brushing her down. From behind the male didn't look like much more than a bean-pole, but anyone who knew him could tell you that there was more to him than meets the eye. He had slightly wavy hair the color of tar, eyes as the color of warm chocolate, and skin tanned by being in the sun. He was clean shaven with a softer jawline and high cheekbones that gave him a look of innocence. Sam was made up of lean muscle that left him looking thin like a sapling, but strong enough to fight in the situations that called for it. He was a kind soul; soft spoken at times and more than willing to help others if they asked, often for little in return. 
A soft sigh escaped him as he finished up with the horse's coat and moved to clean her hooves, there would be no use for a lame horse because of a stone and he was rather fond of this one. The mare easily lifted her foot for the trained horseman and Sam held the foot between his knees as he cleaned the hoof. The whole while he would glance up occasionally to make sure nothing was coming that would spook the animal and to make sure nobody was attempting to speak with him.
"Anyone 'round?" The deep voice caught Samuel off guard, but he knew exactly who is was. The town terror and the man that Sam's father wanted more than anything hanging from a rope.
"Yeah, in the back!" He called back coldly as he straightened up, dropping the horses hoof back onto the ground with a soft sigh. He knew better than to ignore the man, because he would just do what he wanted anyway.
But what the hell could the outlaw want?
The sheriff's son unwrapped the mare's lead rope from the pole and lead her to an empty stall, listening as spurs clicked across the flooring that signaled that the man was growing closer.
"You owe me," the man stated in a semi-deep tone. Samuel turned to look at him with a soft sigh, his brown eyes glancing over him for a moment.
He was dark haired, a brunette you might say and the straight brown locks hung just above his shoulders and had simple blue-grey eyes but they were enough to get sucked in if someone stared at them long enough. His face was scruffy like he hadn't bothered to shave in a few days. His figure was naturally built and looked like he had worked around a farm at some point and earned the muscle from his labors.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Sam growled in a cold tone, one that he rarely used except with a select few people. It was a lie though, the outlaw had gotten him out of a spot of trouble a few weeks before.
The outlaw narrowed his eyes and spit a bit of chew onto the ground and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, pinning him against the wall. "Like hell ya don't. Don't make me beat the debt out of you. I'm not that patient of a person, boy."
"First off, you aren't that much older than me so don't call me 'boy'." Sam looked at him with a glare and a cold tone, pissed that he had the audacity to approach him while he was working.
"You got some balls, don't you? Don't you know my reputation, boy? Don't think I won't take your tongue."
"What do you want?" Samuel asked in a tone that said that he didn't care about the threat.
"Hmmm.... really do have some balls on you... I want one of your finest horses," the outlaw scoffed with a smirk playing on his face as he released the sheriff's son.
"Why do you need another horse? Yours can't be over the age of seven," he growled as he moved to one of the stalls and hooked a lead rope to a grey gelding, leading him out and not arguing with him. Debts needed to be paid, and even Sam knew that.
"If you must know, mine took a bullet to the lung and died, so now I need a new one," the brunette growled as he accepted the horses lead flipping it over its neck and tying it so that it resembled a bridle.
The outlaw spat a bit more of his chew onto the floor of the barn, earning another look of disgust from the dark haired man.  "You're disgusting, you know that?" Sam growled as he moved to stroke another horse's nose lightly.
"Do you know who you are insulting, boy?"
"Yes, I am fully aware of who you are, outlaw. And, frankly, I'm not scared of you. You're nothing more than a Casanova with authority issues," the dark haired man stated in a cold tone without even looking at the brunette.
"A Casanova with authority issues? You don't even know the half of it, I'll be back," he smirked before swinging up onto the gelding bareback and riding out of the barn.
Sam watched him leave before rolling his eyes and heading to the brown mare once again. He lead her out, tacked her, and lead her out of the barn. He closed the doors to the building to show that no one was in and swung up onto his horse.
What had the outlaw meant by he'd be back? His debt was paid now and the man had no need to come back around. He growled quietly and ran his hand through his short black hair. He needed a stiff drink at this point and he kicked his horse into a trot toward town.
Sam had full intentions of going to the tavern and having a few drinks before heading home, figuring that was what he needed after the run in with the outlaw. Samuel realized that he didn't even know the man's name, and he realized that he really want to know. While he didn't like the man, he couldn't help but be attracted to him. The man was nice to look at, and Sam had often admired him from a safe distance, but he had a bad temper and a horrible attitude.
Sam had known since he was a young boy that he wasn't attracted to girls. He had never had that drive and by the time he was a teenager he had realized that he was gay. No one else knew this dark secret however, it was a dangerous one and one that could end up with you being dragged behind a horse if you weren't careful. He was nearing his twenty-fourth birthday in a few months, and had never been with anyone, not even a woman to hide his secret. His parents had given up on him ever finding a wife and decided that he was better off with the horses anyway. So they had finally stopped pestering him about a wife and grandchildren, and Samuel was more than happy about that.
The outlaw still swam on his memory as he rode into town, people waved as he slowed down into walk. People tended to be kind to the sheriff's son, but not because of the position that he held. He often did favors for others, and people knew that the second you were rude the dark haired man would stop doing things for you.
Brown eyes widened when he neared the tavern, recognizing the grey gelding that he had just been forced to give away; causing the sheriff's son to pause his horse and debate going home. No, the man didn't scare him and he wasn't about to go and run away back home because he happened to be there. Closing the distance to the tavern, Samuel dismounted from his horse, tied her to the post, and walked inside.
"Samuel! Haven't seen you in a few weeks!" An older man behind the counter grinned as Sam neared the bar.
"Been busy with a couple new foals, how's your wife?"
"Cranky and old. So same as usual," the man laughed, catching the eye of the outlaw who was at the other end of the bar. His blue eyes widened in surprise and Sam could feel them on him as he sat down on one of the stools. The man was obviously already several drinks in, but didn't look anywhere near being drunk yet.
"What can I get you, Sam?" The older man asked as he wiped out a already pristine shot glass.
The question dragged his eyes away from the outlaw and back onto the bartender who was patiently waiting. "Oh, uh.... just whiskey is fine for now."
"Hitting it hard today?"
"Yeah, it's been a.... interesting day."
The bartender simply laughed quietly in return and sat a double shot glass down in front of Sam and filled it with the liquor, which Samuel instantly necked down and signaled for another. He talked with the older man as he quickly got a buzz going with the strong alcohol, having downed three and was working on a fourth. His eyes dancing to the outlaw on occasion, watching as he drank somewhat heavily.
Sam was almost finished with his fourth double when the outlaw stood up, put on his hat, and paid the bartender. While the man was busy with counting the payment, the brunette walked over to Sam and laid a hand on his shoulder.
He was obviously pretty buzzed and Sam could smell the alcohol on his breath as he leaned in close to his ear.
"How much would it cost for you to walk out that door with me tonight?" He softly whispered in Sam's ear before straightening up, patting his back, and walking away like nothing had happened.
Sam watched him go in surprise, debating on what he would do. Slowly he stood up and, wavering a little bit because of the alcohol in his system, paid for the booze with a thank you. He followed the man outside to find him putting tack on the gelding that he obviously had stored near the back of the tavern.
Sam took a deep breath and widened his stance slightly so that he wouldn't waving around unbalanced as bad. "A name."
The brunette looked up in surprise and locked his eyes on Samuel, surprise evident in expression and body language.
"Now why in the hell would I give the son of the sheriff... my name?" He asked as he crossed his arms  over his chest with a raised eyebrow. "Well?"
"You asked what it would cost and that is my price. A name."
A soft chuckle came from the outlaw as he stepped forward and grabbed Sam's collar in one powerful hand, pulling him closer to him. Sam stiffened when he was dragged forward and when the outlaw leaned in close to his ear once again. His heart leapt into his throat as he felt the man's warm breath on his skin.
"My name's Clinton. Clint for short."
Obviously pleased with Sam's reaction to being that close the man pressed a kiss onto his ear and pulled away with a smirk. Samuel's eyes widened and his face turned slightly red as he watched the man mount up onto the gelding. Sam looked up at him as the smirk on the outlaw's face crept back onto it.
"Well, we have a deal?"
Sam nodded slightly and moved to his horse unsteadily and pulled the rope from the post and swung up onto his mare. He chewed his lip harshly as the man looked him over again. "Lead the way."
"You got some balls, kid.... I like that," Clinton smiled before turning his horse and started to walk away, leaving the black haired man hesitantly looking back toward the tavern nervously," You coming?"
Sam nodded before kicking his horse slightly so that he was riding a little behind him, wondering what the hell he had just gotten himself into with the outlaw. Truth was... He didn't know.

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Hey guys, Dakota here. I hope that you liked the first chapter, even though it was a bit short. Be expecting a lot gay smut in the next one ;)
The chapters after this one should also be a good bit longer as well :)