Jasmine took a last look round the room, added Mr Teddie to her suitcase and closed it up. She glanced at the small carved box that was the only thing that remained on her desk.
Two days ago, she had been so excited to leave Sandrock on her own for the first time. Aunt Heidi had arranged for her to spend the summer in Portia, studying under Mei who ran the Portia Times. Plan was, she'd get her head round how it worked and come back and take over the Tumbleweed Standard full time.
Two days ago, Andy had decided to open his stupid, big mouth and tell her how he really felt about her leaving town.
They’d grown up together, Jas and Andy. She was the mayor’s daughter, at least when her ma was in town. He was an orphan, who had been taken in by Logan when he was still on the run. Their differences had never seemed to matter, though.
Once the town had been saved, Jas’s ma settled back in town. Without the influence of Matilda hanging over her, Trudy was an excellent mayor who had helped the town go from strength to strength. Andy was formally adopted by Logan and Hunter, although that also meant Justice and Owen adopted him, too.
They’d hung around helping and getting into mischief in equal measures, until the school finally opened. Mostly on their own, occasionally with Pebbles, Rocky and Krystal’s kid, in tow. They were the only kids in Sandrock for the longest time, but as the town improved, families moved in, and more babies were born.
As they got older, everyone just assumed they were a couple, even them. There was never any great declaration, but one day climbing trees to drop cactus fruit on unsuspecting passersby turned into climbing them for privacy, cuddles turning into kisses.
When Andy turned eighteen, he shocked most of the town by turning down Logan’s offer to train him properly as a monster hunter, instead joining Justice in the Civil Corps.
This meant their time together was limited, Andy was always training, or working night shifts. Jas had hoped that once she finished school, they might have been able to figure something out.
Then the letter arrived, offering her the summer internship in Portia. It was a huge opportunity, but would guarantee her a job when she came home.
Andy had looked at her stony-faced when she told him.
“So, you’re just gonna up and leave for the summer? Not worry how I feel?”
“It’s too good an opportunity to pass up! Mei runs one of the best newspapers in the Free Cities, I can learn so much from her! Besides, how you feel? You never tell me how you feel, so how would I know?”
“Hmph. Well if you don’t know, there ain’t a lot I can tell you!”
“I’m taking this opportunity. I’ll be back at the end of the summer.”
“Fine, go. Don’t care anyway! Who says I’ll even still be here when you get back!.”
Andy stormed away from the square and into the house he still lived in with his family. That night at the Blue Moon, Jas overheard Hunter and Owen talking about the fact that he and Justice had headed out into the desert, something about training exercises.
Stupid boy couldn’t even say goodbye! Jas sulked to herself. She picked up the box from her desk, and opened it. Inside was the carved rose-stone Andy had given her last year for her eighteenth birthday. Half of her wanted to leave it behind, but she just couldn’t. She slipped it into her pocket, and headed downstairs.
Trudy was sitting at her desk catching up with paperwork. Sandrock had grown and prospered, but there was always something needing her attention.
"Hey, Ma!" Jasmine said, hugging her as she passed. "I'm all packed, thought I'd go for one last walk round town before I leave tomorrow."
"Enjoy!" Trudy replied, "just remember to be at the Blue Moon for seven, for your farewell dinner."
"Will do, Ma. But I'm only going for the summer, not forever!"
"I know, Jas, but it's not every day my daughter leaves town on her own!"
With a wave, Jasmine wandered out the door.
Once the battle with Duvos was over, and the town settled back down, Jas and her ma had moved to one of the apartments behind city hall. It was bigger than the mayoral apartment Trudy has been living in, which now served as accommodation for visiting dignitaries. Jasmine loved it, close enough to the centre of the action, but just far enough away to escape.
She pulled her camera out of her bag with a mind to take some pictures of the changes to the town - she thought she might suggest that as an article to Mei. The pathway was cool and quiet as she reached the stairs that stretched from Martle Square to the old temple. Here, the first sign of the changes to town became apparent. While the steps up to the temple had always been well maintained, it was only recently that the steps down to the square had been fixed, instead of shored up with planks. Now, they were all gleaming white limestone.
Reaching Martle Square, the street exploded with noise and exotic smells. Saturday, of course, that meant the Market at the Square. These days, traders came from all over the free cities, with a myriad of strange and wonderful wares. The Mysterious Man had tried to complain at first, but then realised that setting up a stall and letting people come to him was far easier. Arvio, on the other hand, had seen the benefit of increased footfall for By the Stairs straight away, and was one of the market’s biggest supporters. Now, there were stalls for clothes, jewellery, homewares, relics, you name it, you could probably find it, if not one week, then the next. Sandrock had developed a reputation for the quality of its arts and crafts, thanks in no small part to Amirah’s ceramics, along with the paintings and sculptures her partners, Manny and Blythe, produced. Their friend Dale, who had finally married Aunt Heidi last year, was responsible for stunning glasswork using the desert sands. The three men had arrived from Barnarock a few years previously to work on the new Temple and never left.
Even when the market wasn’t operating, Martle Square was the shopping hub of Sandrock. With water no longer being as tightly restricted, Arvio had taken over Water World from the church, although they still took a cut of his takings from it. He’d also bought Justice’s old place when Justice moved into Owen’s house. Originally it was to relocate Amirah’s ceramics shop. Now it functioned as a branch of the gallery the men ran in Barnarock, while Amirah kept the old place along from Jas’s home as a workshop, and occasionally taught lessons there, too.
Arvio had finally found a girl who wasn’t immune to his charms. Sonia had moved to Sandrock from Portia not long after the road was completed, and, to everyone’s shock, fell for Arvio. Today, she was sitting on the front porch of the shop, dealing with customers, and looking after their twin toddlers. In fact, over the last few years, there had been a positive baby boom, both in born and bred Sandrockers, and in new people flocking to the town with their families. Miz Jane was even talking about hiring a second teacher.
Uncle Owen even set up a stand selling the world famous Drool with Joy noodles. She glanced over and saw Alo manning the counter this afternoon. He’d arrived once his ma, Catori, finally managed to get her businesses running successfully. A couple of years older than Andy, there was an ongoing rivalry between the two lads, sometimes friendly, sometimes less so. Jas waved and walked on. For the longest time, she and Pebbles had been the only kids in town, at least until Andy arrived. Even then, it had just been the three of them for several years after that until Alo arrived. It still felt sometimes like it was the four of them against the world, although, unlike Andy, Pebbles and Alo had never felt like anything other than brothers to Jas.
And there it was. Andy. Jas sighed. Her mind was back where she didn’t want it to go.
Jasmine couldn’t decide if she was angry at herself for not telling him how she felt, or angry at Andy for thinking he could order her around like that. She was upset that he hadn’t even wanted to say goodbye.
She shook her head, and wandered out the market and down main street.
Grandma Vivi sat on her porch. She didn’t walk as much these days, so Jas took some time to sit and chat before heading on. Now she’d started thinking about Andy, memories were coming back thick and fast. Here, Jas remembered them sitting on the bolts of fabric Grandma Vivi kept piled up, while she told them bedtime stories, or climbing out onto the balcony to look for shooting stars.
Glancing across the road at Andy’s house, she quickly looked away. Too many memories in that one. Uncle Owen had lived there alone for the longest time. It was already one of the biggest houses in town before Aunt Heidi got her hands on it to add an extra floor, so it had made sense for Hunter, Logan, Justice and Andy to all move in there as a family. As a result, Jas had spent a lot of time there growing up, almost as much as she spent with her ma, or with Grandma Vivi.
The Blue Moon next door was thriving. They even had some awnings and outdoor seating now, and between Aunt Heidi and Aunt Hunter, they'd managed to expand the saloon upwards as well and double the hotel capacity. Jas waved at Molly, who was in Sandrock working for the summer. She’d travelled from Portia, like a lot of people did these days, and Jas had spent the previous night catching up with gossip about her destination, and trying not to think about Andy. There were so many memories here though. No one bothered too much in Sandrock about children in the saloon, so long as they didn’t drink anything stronger than yakmel milk. Jas and Andy had learned why the hard way when they snuck a few bottles of sand beer one Winter Solstice. They’d been on cleaning duty for a week, starting the following morning, while Jas experienced her first and, to date, only hangover. She’d never touched the stuff again!
The Commerce Guild was by far the most changed building at this end of the street. Since Miz Mi-an took over, she’d cleaned it up - Jas recalled the laughter as people realised that the Winter Solstice bonfire that first year was fuelled by Yan’s awful posters of himself, along with the wanted posters for Logan and Haru. Overall, it was a much warmer and friendlier place. Inside, too, all the empty spaces had been refilled with awards and relics, and the guild library restocked over the years. Every trace of Yan and his fraud were eliminated. Even the annual rankings had been done away with in favour of an equally shared bonus. Still, Jas missed seeing Yan throwing tantrums anytime someone - normally Aunt Hunter - beat him!
Speaking of Aunt Hunter, Jas spotted her in her workshop across the tracks, baby Lettie swaddled against her chest. Jas waved and headed over to chat.
This whole end of town had changed massively. The station was one of the first things they’d developed, and they’d added a bridge from Main Street over the tracks. There was much more than Hunter’s workshop and the salvage yard there, too. Since the road to Portia joined the other end of Main Street a few hundred yards along from the station, what had once been ignored outskirts was prime real estate now.
“Hey, Jas!” Hunter called out. “All packed and excited?”
Jas paused before answering. “Packed, yeah, excited? I guess. Nervous, though.”
“You’ll be fine! And we’re seeing you at the saloon tonight. Everyone’s coming to say goodbye. We’re gonna miss you, kiddo.”
“Almost everyone,” Jasmine murmured.
Hunter smiled, “You’ll be surprised, Jas. Don’t borrow trouble, promise?”
“Auntie Hunter,” Jas asked suddenly, reverting to her childhood name, “do you ever wonder what would have happened if you guys hadn’t got together?”
“Well, that’s a deep question for a Saturday afternoon!” Hunter laughed.
“I just, well, everything seems to be changing so fast, and what if I miss out on something.”
Hunter untied the babywrap, and placed Lettie down in the crib that sat next to her workshop door. The building was an indoor workshop now, although Hunter still kept a bed there from times where she needed to work overnight. Since Lettie had come along, all three of her men conspired to keep that to a minimum.
“Well, if we hadn’t, this little troublemaker wouldn’t be here, so I have to believe that we would have eventually. Might have taken us a bit longer to get our heads out our backsides if we hadn’t had all the battles going on that forced the issue, but we’d have got there eventually.”
“I’m old enough for the full story, now!” Jas teased.
Hunter raised an eyebrow. “Not all the details, but I’ll give you some of it! They settled on the chairs next to the door.
“So, Owen and Justice had been friends since they were toddlers, and Logan came along a few years later. For a while, the three of them were inseparable. Then Pen set Logan up to take the fall for bombing the church and killing Howlett, leading Logan to go on the run.
“About 6 months later, I answered an ad for a builder in Sandrock, and moved here. I became friends with Justice and Owen pretty much from the get-go. I realised early on I was attracted to both of them, but I didn’t want to ruin any of our friendships, so I just tried to ignore it. It mostly worked, although they were both thinking the same thing.
“After Justice saw me go over the edge of the cliff when we were tracking Logan, then come back, they were both about to tell me how they felt. However, Grace had dragged me in to help prove Logan’s innocence after that, and I didn’t think I was a good enough liar not to give away what I was doing, especially lyin’ to the sheriff, you know, so I kinda avoided them.
“You know most of this bit, it’s town legend by now, although Owen and Justice have never managed to get it right on story night. Grace and I infiltrated the location of the ruin, proving the church was behind what was going on. Haru was captured and a mock trial held in Martle Square, where Logan returned and helped us expose the scheme - and discovered another one.
“The next coupla weeks were chaos, fighting Duvos, and I barely got time to see any of them much. Logan bunked down at the workshop a couple of times, although he mostly stayed with Justice - we were both close enough to the edge of town for him to sneak in and out.
“Then Logan, Justice and I had to battle through the spaceship ruins. Mostly we stuck together, but at one point, Pen blasted Justice and I away and locked the door - needed Logan alone to do his big villain monologue, I guess. While we were trying to find a way back out, and a way to defeat Pen, Justice kissed me, saying if anything happened to either of us, he’d never forgive himself for not letting me know how he felt. Then, once we defeated Pen, Justice, the stubborn sumbitch he is, sent me and Logan onwards to defeat Matilda, while he tried to stop them taking the relic.
“As we headed for the basement, Logan opened up about what Pen had told him, how he was the one responsible for Howlett’s virus, how he’d blown up the church and killed him. I hugged him and, yeah, that led to a few kisses as well.
“I had hoped to talk to them when we got back, but we were all too tired that night, then I had to try and fix the relic under the oasis. I asked Owen to help as I needed someone tall to lift stuff so I could get under and work on it. When I finished and stood up, we were standing so close together and so happy that it had worked that we hugged and yeah, all the chemistry we’d been ignoring ignited.
“Finally, the night of the town celebration, we all managed to get together, talk things through, and well, we’ve been together since.”
“What if they hadn’t told you, just assumed you knew?”
Hunter laughed. “Given how stubborn we all are, it might have taken a bit longer, but we’d’ve got there. But just remember, all of them - especially Logan - had a hard time talkin’ about how they felt, particularly at the beginning. And if you’re thinkin’ bout Andy, remember where he learned a lot of it from.”
“And you’re happy?”
“I can’t imagine my life without any of them, Jas. So, yes, totally.”
Jas sighed. She wasn’t sure if talking to Hunter had helped or not, but at least getting some of it out her head had.
“I’m going to walk round town some more, Aunt Hunter, I’ll see you tonight.”
Jas headed up past the Wandering Y Ranch. Not much had changed there, at least as far as buildings were concerned. Tourists occasionally crowded to meet the Monster Whisperer herself, though. Elsie even kept a few tame creatures on hand for demos. Jas giggled as she remembered the arguments with Cooper when Elsie wanted a second barn built. But Cooper, true to his word, had actually listened - eventually - and gave in. To be honest, arguing with Elsie about that had probably been habit rather than meant.
Through the tunnel, and past the research centre. Director Qi still kept to himself, but he had a lot more leeway from the city these days, and random explosions were a regular occurance. Jas had heard Hunter and Mi-an one night express that the research centre probably kept a full builder employed with the amount of repairs Qi needed.
Aunt Catori’s entertainment area was thriving. Although Catori had had a tough time getting investors to begin with - Light after the first month, it was really just Hunter, Owen and Jasmine who were left - she’d really pulled things together as Sandrock began to grow again. Jas’ investment hadn’t been much, a few gols here and there from delivering papers, but Aunt Catori had treated it as seriously as the adults’ investments, and worked out the returns each quarter. Any money she got was invested straight back, which meant she now had a nice amount stashed away now for a rainy day.
In the distance, you could see the turrets of the rest of Catori’s empire. She’d finally built her theme park in the valley behind the town.
Past this area was the graveyard, where Jas was headed. Say goodbye to her pa, who had passed when she was a baby, and to Mort who had joined his beloved Martle just last year. Jas had spent a lot of time with the old man over the last few years - part of what had earned her the summer job with Mei was her writings about the early history of Sandrock based on her talks with him. Both Mort and Jas had been keen to make sure that history was not lost, to ensure that future generations learned from it. The town’s revival had been hard won, and they wanted to keep it that way.
“Pa, Mort, I’m gonna miss you both this summer, but I know you’ll be watching over me,” she whispered. Fang appeared after a while to tend his ma’s grave. Never a great talker, even now, he nodded at Jas, showing he understood.
The two of them spent some time in companionable silence before Jas decided to head up to the old temple, her final stop. As she left, she passed Fang kneeling at his ma’s grave and laid a hand gently on his shoulder. He reached up and patted it, before she moved on.
As she took the path up the hill, Jas looked round, trying to see the town with a fresh eye. Over the last few years, everything had been repaired and cleaned up as the town expanded. Haru had taken the third builder’s job, and there was more than enough work for all three builders.
And now, she was at the old temple. After everything that happened, it was agreed to let this one go, and start afresh. In fact, the new temple was one of the first buildings across the railroad tracks. Pastor Burgess was a much happier, more relaxed minister than either Matilda or Miguel had been before him, and the town was better for it.
Matilda's old house has been converted into the main school building years back, and the old dormitories had recently been converted into an extension. The temple building itself was still unused. Every so often, Aunt Catori appealed to City Hall to be allowed to turn it into a museum dedicated to the Duvos Wars, and every time she was turned down - too soon, was the normal response. Jas wasn’t sure she agreed with that, but maybe next time Catori asked, she’d be old enough for her views to be considered. The murals from the original temple had at least been secured for the museum, and they were a great tourist draw. The stained glass windows had been moved to the new Temple.
Now, the temple was an oasis of peace for the most part. Trees had sprouted up quickly as nature took the site back over, as Jas could see a resemblance to some of Mort’s older pictures of the area coming back.
She could hear the tram cars going to and from Gecko Station. Normally she loved to watch them, but today she wasn’t in the mood. Instead she rounded the front of the building, planning to watch the last of the market.
“Hey Jas,” a voice said softly.
“Andy!”
Jas tried to play it cool, but couldn’t help grinning. “I thought you weren’t comin’ back til after I left.”
“Yeah, well, I had an interesting talk with Justice when we were out in the desert.”
“Funny, I’ve just been talkin’ to Aunt Hunter.”
Andy ran his finger round the neck of his Civil Corps jacket, a sure sign he was nervous. The jacket hung loose on his frame. He’d shot up in height, but was still to fill it out. They walked over and sat on the old Yakmel station.
“So Justice and I got to talkin’ about how they saved Sandrock, and the battle through the spaceship, and he got to tellin’ me that he really thought he was gonna lose both Logan and Hunter going roun’ there. An’ if'n he had, well, he’d never have forgiven himself for not telling them how he felt.”
“That’s pretty much what Aunt Hunter an’ I were talkin’ bout’,” Jas grinned. “She reckons that, whatever happened, the four of them woulda ended up together somehow.”
The builder, the barkeep, the sheriff, and the bandit. The four of them were responsible for saving and rebuilding the town, and both Jasmine and Andy had grown up idolising them.
“Anyways, we got to talkin’ about you, as well. I was gonna talk to you this summer, then you said you were leavin’ town. Leavin’ me was what I heard. You know how I came to be with Logan an’ Haru, gettin’ abandoned in the desert - don’t tell me they lost me, they never came lookin’ for me in all these years. I tried pushin’ you away, cos I thought it would hurt less, but man, naw. Justice made me realise that if I didn’t say somethin’ and somethin’ happened while you were away…”
Jas was tempted to make him work for it, but she was so happy he’d come back for her that she decided to help. She reached between them and twined her fingers in his, leaning her head on his shoulder.
The contact seemed to relax Andy, but he was still having trouble finding the words.
"I wanted to come back with a big gesture, but I ain't good with clever words, that's your department. I thought about bringin’ you flowers, but wasn’t sure you’d be able to take them with you. But I found this."
And held out his hand, showing Jas the stone he held.
“Oh! An opal!” Jas knew that Aunt Hunter and Miz Mi-an used them in their refiners, but she’d always thought they were pretty. It sparkled in the sunlight.
“It’s lovely, thank you! And I can take it with you and think of you every time I look at it!”
Andy stood up and tugged on Jas’s hand.
“C’mon, got something else I wanna show you!”
They headed round past the tram car station, and down towards the Civil Corps buildings.
“What are we looking for?” Jas laughed.
“You’ll see, c’mon.”
The Civil Corps station had also been increased, as had the size of the corps. Justice was still Sheriff, and Unsuur had made deputy after the Duvos troubles. They had two other members now besides Andy, and worked with the Corps based in Portia to train each other.
Instead of heading to the office, Andy turned right.
“Unsuur’s old place?” Jas asked, “Why are we heading there?”
Andy took a key out his pocket, and unlocked the door.
“Ain’t Unsuur’s any more, ain't been for years, really. Chuck lived here for a while after he transferred from Walnut Groove, but he and his lady have a baby on the way, so they moved to one of them new houses. I officially took possession last week, although I’ve not stayed here yet. Much as I love my folks, reckon it’s time I get out on my own. Was ‘bout to tell you, when you told me you were goin’ to Portia. Kinda blindsided me, if I’m honest.”
Jas looked round, it was still pretty empty and needed personalised but it had potential. There was one picture on the wall so far. “Oh, I remember this, Pebbles took it at the last Solstice.”
She and Andy had been dancing round the bonfire and Jas tripped. Andy caught her, and for the briefest moment, Jas had thought he might kiss her, something they still hadn’t done publicly. Pebbles hadn’t caught that moment precisely, but a few moments later when they were still looking at each other in wonder before moving apart.
She knew that photo because Pebbles had given her a copy for her birthday, and it was tucked at the back of one of the books she was talking to Portia.
“Why have you got that photo on your wall?” She asked quietly. Light, I hope it’s the same reason I’ve got it in my book! She thought.
Andy pulled her over to the table, which had the only two chairs in the room.
“So, I know we’ve gone about this backwards but, I wanted to ask if you’d be my girl, Jas?”
“’Course I will. Always have been, haven’t I?”
Andy opened his arms and Jas snuggled up against him.
“Once I calmed down, I realised I didn’t really want to make you stay. I know this is a big opportunity for you, an’ I’d hate to see you miss out. I wanted to wait until you came back, and I was settled here and had somethin’ I could offer you. I didn’ want you to think you needed to stay in Sandrock, neither. But man, takin’ to Justice made me realise that I needed to tell you and take the chance.”
“So, wanna make it official and come to the Blue Moon for dinner?” Jas asked. “Ma says everyone’s gonna be there.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world!”
Jas and Andy walked into the saloon just past seven. The entire dining area had been decorated with balloons and streamers, and a sign hung across the stage - “Good Luck Jasmine!”
Jas paused and swallowed, the reality of what she was about to do finally hitting her. Andy squeezed her hand. “C’mon, you got this, remember.”
She looked round all the friends and family who had turned out for her, and grinned. No matter what happened, Sandrock would always be her home. These people right here were what made it home.
Her ma was stood next to the stage looking remarkably friendly with Hugo the blacksmith. That was an interesting turn of events.
Hunter sat in the far corner with Heidi, Sonia, Amirah and Mi-an, along with an entire gaggle of under fives. Jas was happy they were happy, but she could see herself taking a leaf out of Elsie’s book - she and Haru seemed far happier as the cool aunt and uncle of the gang. Their men fussed around them, making sure they had everything they needed. Owen had even closed the saloon and laid everything on as a buffet so he could join in. He’d left Molly tending the bar, although everything was on the house tonight, he’d said. Jas grinned as she watched Alo chatting up the Portian, and hoped it worked out for him.
Next to them, chatting to Justice, sat a blonde that Jas hadn’t seen in a few years.
“Grace!” she yelled, running over to hug her, “what are you doing here?”
“Thought I’d come see you off, kiddo!” she replied. “Visits might get a bit easier now. I joined the Flying Pigs last month!”
“Well done!” Jas squealed. She’d heard Justice and Logan talking to Andy about the Lucien-based adventurers guild. While none of them wanted to join, they were in awe of how tough they were, so Jas knew admittance wouldn’t have been easy.
Andy walked over and took Jas’s hand again. Grace grinned.
“You two finally sorted yourselves out? Took you long enough!” she teased.
“We’re working on it,” Jas said.
“Oh, and this is Mali,” Grace added, pulling forward the tall slim brunette that had been chatting to her and Justice.
“Oh, wow, THE Mali?” Andy exploded. “Flying Pigs Mali?” Jasmine giggled as Andy slipped into fanboy mode, and wandered over to see her ma.
“All sorted now?” Trudy asked her.
“I think so, Ma, I think so.”
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