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Ned sat across the table from Dusty, a spoonful of cheerios halfway to his mouth when Lucky Day pushed the door open, sauntering smugly into the room. They both looked at him expectantly and Ned’s eyes fell to a piece of paper in his hand.
“Hiya, Lucky,” Dusty greeted with a grin, “whatcha got there, pal?”
Lucky snickered, flashing the paper with a snap at his two friends.
“This is my one way ticket back into stardom. Yours truly got offered a lead part in a snuff film. Isn’t that great?”
Dusty blinked owlishly with a smile still plastered on his face, not a thought behind those eyes. Ned let the cheerios in his spoon fall into his bowl.
“What do you mean?”
Lucky scoffs with a laugh. “I mean the director called me! Said they were looking for some leading man vibes and I’ve got the chops. I’m getting back into showbiz, baby!”
A weird feeling began to settle in Ned’s gut. “Why?”
Lucky pulled a chair up and clapped Ned on the shoulder. “This is my big break! Aren’t you happy for me?”
Ned bit his lip. He wanted to be, but he was honestly confused. “I thought you got it already. Y’know, in Santa Poco?” His heart swelled with fondness of their escapades.
Lucky laughed, weighing the air with a so-and-so gesture. “That was something, wasn’t it? The stunts look great on my resume. Tell ya what, I’ll give him a call and see if I can get you two on the docket somehow.”
Ned copied the way Dusty nodded half heartedly and then stared down at his bowl of cheerios. Two lone loops bobbed around the milk before they floated away to each side of the bowl. He swallowed a lump in his throat.
“Congratulations, Lucky.”
Later that night, Ned stared up at the ceiling while Dusty and Lucky slumbered on, seeming unbothered by the recent change in events. He fiddled with the blanket, unable to sleep with the news of Lucky’s offer. He felt betrayed, like the man had forgotten their death defying adventure to find themselves. How could he possibly crawl back into the lion’s den? How could he leave him behind?
When tears started to prickle at the corners of his eyes, Ned peeled the covers off of himself and staggered to his feet, shuffling over to his shoes. When he reached the bedroom door, he turned to look at his friends, serene and comfy. He was jealous, but his heart ached, a part of him wanting them to stay like that forever. He couldn’t understand why any of them would ever want to go. At least when they were asleep they weren’t blurting any stupid ideas about leaving.
He closed the door behind him, a dejected sigh leaving his lungs as he trampled down the stairs, breathing in the cold night air. He looked up into the night sky, the glittering stars shining down on him. He walked until he met a familiar patch of land and settled himself against a familiar rock, taking in the scenery. The fire pit they had made was still here, all charred and dried up. He felt similarly.
“Hi, Ned!”
Ned turned to look behind him at the mention of his name, but all he saw was a small tortoise standing by his head. He waved as he turned back around.
“Oh hi. Don’t mind me, I just needed some outdoor time.”
The tortoise blinked. “All alone in the desert? Where are your friends?”
Ned shook his head, holding himself with his arms. “Lucky’s leaving tomorrow. I’ll never see him again. Who knows what Dusty’ll want with me after that.” He shifted so he could look at the tortoise, pillowing his head on a rock. “I dunno, I guess I thought what we had was special.”
Ned liked to think that the tortoise was pondering his words, but it made no intention to move.
“You do have something special.” It said back. “When you get together, all your dreams come true.”
Ned sighed again. “Yeah, I know that, but Lucky wants to tear us apart. How can I follow my heart when he’s not around?”
The tortoise was silent before speaking up again. “Whatever is really meant for you won’t pass you by.”
Ned didn’t like that. It sounded like the tortoise wanted Ned to let Lucky go. And he knew Lucky. It was hard to change his mind. He just didn’t like the odds.
But the tortoise was right. If Ned expected to lead a happy life, he would have to let people come and go as they pleased. And that included Lucky Day.
Ned kept one hand around his midsection and rested one on the tortoise's nails. He wanted things to go back to the way they were. He sniffled, tapping the tortoise.
“Hey, Mr Tortoise?”
“Yes?”
“Do you think you could sing me a song? For old times sake?”
The tortoise laughed, much to Ned’s disappointment. “Oh, Ned. The desert only answers to voices in harmony. I’m afraid the music comes from within you.”
Ned wiped his face. He missed his friends. “I don’t really feel like singing right now.” He settled down against the rock, pulling his hands to his chest.
The next morning, Lucky sat up in bed with a groan after a night plagued with nightmares. Either he didn’t feel good about his new Hollywood offer, or it had been something he ate. He frowned as he tried to collect his thoughts, plans about packing and goodbyes swirling around his head, when he noticed that he was all alone in the room. Before he could ponder his friends' whereabouts, the doorknob turned and in walked Dusty with a bowl of cereal.
“Mornin,” he said around a mouthful. “Beautiful day, isn’t it?”
Lucky squinted, rubbing his face. He gestured to the empty beds. “Dusty, where’s Ned?”
Dusty seemed to ponder this for a minute before he jumped, spilling milk onto the floor. “Oh Jimini, I was supposed to be looking for him! I haven’t seen the kid all morning! I thought maybe you might’ve.”
Lucky grimaced as he pulled his pants onto his legs, standing up to shove his revolver in his belt. “Well that’s just great, he could be lying face down in the dirt for all I know.”
Dusty tilted his head, still holding the cereal bowl. “Why would he be doing that?”
Lucky stopped in his tracks before he went back to grab Dusty by the back of his shirt collar, pulling him out the door with him. “Because he could be dead!”
Meanwhile, the sun was beaming down from above, cooking everything that thrived on the desert to a crisp. Bugsong rang out like an omen, of more death yet to come. How anything could thrive in this heat was a mystery.
Ned shifted a little with a whine, visions of horses trotting through his head. He saw dancing bushes and singing Mexicans, all dressed in his movie star outfits. He saw Lucky and Dusty spinning in a circle together, singing a nonsensical song before kissing each other on the lips. He wanted to speak but his throat was on fire, and he collapsed in someone’s arms. A lightning bolt of fear shot through him when he recognized him as the infamous El Guapo. He squirmed in his grasp, his skin burning in protest.
“No…no! Ack!”
“Ned! Calm down before you hurt yourself! It’s me!”
Ned’s breath came rapid and shallow as he fell back onto the earth, two strong arms still clutching his coat. His head throbbed against the heat, making him feel dizzy even though he hadn’t been on his feet for more than 2 seconds. He cracked open his bleary eyes to see a concerned face shielding him from the sun.
“Lucky?” He croaked.
Lucky stared down at his red face glistening with sweat. Ned looked totally out of it, his head lolling this way and that as he tried to stay conscious. His face was tight as if he were in pain. Lucky looked at Dusty desperately and the taller man just shrugged back, so Lucky looked back down to Ned.
“You're an idiot, you know that? Can't go one night without keeping an eye on you.”
Ned wanted to enjoy being in Lucky’s arms, but his face was boiling. His skin rubbed tenderly against his clothes and he winced.
“Hurts,” he cried and he wanted to but he was all dried up, no tears coming. Lucky hoisted him up in his arms, not missing the way he gasped in surprise. Ned squeezed his eyes shut against his growing nausea.
“We gotta get him out of the sun, you could fry an egg on his cheek.” Dusty continued to pat him down, against his vocal complaints. Lucky nodded as Dusty led the way back to where they were staying.
When Lucky lay Ned down on the bed, he was caught in place by his hand around his wrist. Lucky waved Dusty on to go grab some medicine and he turned back to Ned.
“Ned, let me go. I’m not going anywhere.”
Ned grunted but released him with regret, avoiding his eyes. “But you are, aren’t you?” he said sadly.
Lucky raised his eyebrows. “Is that what this is about?” Ned was angry to think that Lucky was still oblivious to him and he pouted. Lucky clicked his tongue.
“You gonna tell me what you were doing back in the desert?” He passed Ned a glass of water, who downed it in one go. He eyed Lucky shyly over it.
“It’s stupid, okay, I just want things to go back to the way they were. It’s not a big deal.”
Dusty raised his hand as he re entered the room. “It’s a big deal to me.”
The other two men looked at him. “Really?”
Dusty shrugged, sitting down next to the bed. He scooped some of the aloe cream out of the tub he retrieved. “Well yeah it’s not very good for the brand. What’ll we be then? Dos Compadres? Twin Blancos? Feels weird on the tongue.”
Lucky shrugged, looking down. “Guess I didn’t realize you’d be keeping the name.”
Ned’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Dusty. He felt a little less alone now. Dusty motioned for him to lift his chin up and he obliged.
“Of course we will. Lucky, give me a hand will you? This stuff’s gross.”
Lucky pulled a chair up as Ned looked away. He could swear he could see his eyes getting wet. “C’mon Ned don’t be like that.”
Ned sniffled, grimacing as the burnt skin around his nose crinkled up. “Well what do you want me to do? I was supposed to stay in the desert until you left. But now you’re gonna leave and I have this crazy sunburn, ow…” he hissed.
Lucky pitied him, smoothing a little bit of the cream over his chin. Ned flinched at the cool texture but sighed in immediate relief. A tear fell down his face.
“I know it’s crazy, I know,” he sobbed. “But I don’t want to do it without you. I’m not a child star anymore. I need you guys.”
Lucky’s heart broke. He smoothed Ned’s hair back gently as he applied cream to his forehead. He really was terribly red. He knew he wouldn't be able to leave him alone, lest something like this happen again. A fondness twisted his heart.
“Well you’re in luck, kid,” he smiled, sheepishly. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Ned’s eyes widened. He feared a hallucination, but when Lucky’s face didn’t morphe into a horse before him, a giggle bubbled in his chest. “What did you say?” He exchanged a look of surprised delight with Dusty.
“I said I’m staying. It didn’t sit right with me, leaving you guys. Yeah, the offer was great, but who am I kidding?”
Ned laughed, more tears falling down his face. “Oh, Lucky. You’ve made me the happiest man alive.” He curled a sunburnt finger around one of Lucky’s and reached for Dusty with his other hand. Lucky rolled his eyes to try to downplay a blush.
“Yeah yeah, just next time would you tell us before you plan a camping trip? So we can try to avoid any and all toasting accidents?”
Ned nodded slowly, his neck squishing with the jelly. He inhaled an easy breath, his nerves relaxing finally. His skin seemed to calm a little now.
“You want to go camping with me?”
Lucky smiled. “For old times sake?”
Dusty grinned too. “I’ll bring the marshmallows!”
Ned looked at his friends, having felt a lot better about things now. He squeezed his friends hands fondly.
“I’d really. Really like that.”