The night is humid, more so since the sun has set. I’ve just gotten off work, from wrangling cattle to busting in the new ranch hands. Now all I want to do is drive into town and get myself some beer.

I drove the dirt roads till I hit pavement in town. This small town always attracts tourists or new likes that want to move in. Ruining how it should be, unchanged in nature and land. I drive past the new high-end stores and the busy uptight bars. I have to drive a little to get to my liquor store, and I have to park out down the street because of the people around.

With parking finally found, I'll walk the rest of the way. As I walk, the neon lights are more in view than the stars in the sky on this humid night. I always cut through this alley to bypass a few crossings; it's also behind one of the few bars in town that still has some normalcy left. As I walk through, two men in the shadows are acting suspiciously. Come to find out, as I passed by, the two were canoodling with one another. However, I made eye contact with one of the men, and he pushed the other in a rather harsh rush to the ground. I turned away and kept walking, but out of kindness, I could not leave a fellow on the ground. I walk back and ask,” You alright there?” As I reach out my hand. He grabs my hand with a sly smirk,” Thanks for the help, cowboy, my name's Mark.” We’re still holding hands at this point, so I let go and introduce myself,” Jordan's is mine, but if you're all well, I'll be off now.” 

Mark grabs Jordan's shoulder as he walks away," What's the rush? Come enjoy the night, or it can just be the two of us?”Jordan's head tilts and his eyes squint slightly,” And what makes you think I'll follow you like a hound following a fox?” Mark turns and says,” Isn’t the point for the hound to chase the fox swiftly before the hound loses the scent for good?”

Reluctantly, I follow, intrigued. We enter from the back of the old bar and sit on some stools at the bar top. I nod at the bartender, signaling for the usual. Mark speaks,” So, what’s a cowboy like you doing walking through alleys?” Jordan replies with a soft chuckle,” I could ask you the same, but you clearly weren't walking.” Mark smirks,” Well, buy me another drink first, and see if I can still walk in a few hours, Cow-Boy.” Jordan turns his head and blushes as he grabs the drink the bartender has placed in front of him. Mark leans in and puts his hand on Jordan's lap, whispering into his ear,” So, do you have any plans for the rest of the night?” I look at him,” I did, but they were changed due to my lending a hand.” Mark replies with a soft smile,” I wouldn’t mind you lending me a hand in another way.” Jordan grabbed his hand, and they walked out of the bar.