Busted Gulch vol 7

Makeup and Breakup (baileygaines)

Makeup and Breakup

"Let me go." Lou spoke quietly,

and Buck stepped away.

What if Lou had chosen Shamus or Brody?

"You say it's not possible, that it's not real;

But you don't know how I feel.

If you think it won't work and that there's no way,

Well...I guess this is good day."

Lou shook her head. "No, Buck, it's not you...

I'm so shaken up I don't know what to do."

"Can I walk you home?" He asked gently,

Hoping silently that she'd agree.

Lou smiled a bit. "Brody's out looking for Shamus,

So I'm not going home."

"Do you want me to come with you,

or do you want to go alone?"

Lou shrugged. "That's up to you.

I'd understand if you wanted to stay with Bruce..."

Buck looked back at Bruce and Annie.

"He's in good hands, so...if you'll have me?"

Lou smiled for real. "Good. That suits me."

And they walked down the street looking for Brody.

Back at the Doc's, Annie was patching Bruce back together

With a touch that was light as a feather.

Bruce opened his eyes and Annie touched his face.

"Bruce? Honey, it's me."

"Annie? What are you doing in this place?

And what's that god-awful smell?"

Between the berries and the sulfur, it smelled like hell.

Annie tried to explain, but her words wouldn't come out.

"Oh, Bruce, I've missed you!" She said in a shout.

He frowned. "Annie...I left you, remember?

You think I ever thought of you since that December?"

She blinked and wilted a bit. "No...guess not.

I'm goin' outside...it's too darn hot."

She stepped out on the back porch with a look of despair

and sank to her knees, the breeze lifting her hair.

"Everything Lou said was true! It was all a pack of lies.

He didn't care about me at all...what a surprise."

She clenched her fists and then in a sudden fit

Grabbed a bottle of blueberry whiskey and threw it.

It shattered satisfyingly against the wall but nearly

Hit the heads of the returning Shamus and Brody.

They stared at the blue liquor dripping down,

then looked back at Annie with a frown.

She stood there speechless, mesmerized

by the look of shock in Brody's baby-blue eyes.