child-of-of-the-sunshine - Tumblr blog

child-of-of-the-sunshine · 14 days ago

Text

Go check this out it’s good

67 - Dutton/Norris Family Dinner

Part 68

Raised Fair Share of Hell

How many chapters do y'all want this story to be?? Im thinking 80 or more if that's possible 🤔 😂

- Tag list @bvbwestfall @hcwthewestwaswcn @child-of-of-the-sunshine @elenavampire21 @keep-the-wolves-close @kmc1989 @tallrock35 @whatelsecouldgowrong @lover-of-books-and-tea

The Montana sky bled into shades of orange and purple as we drove up the long, winding driveway to the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. Even after years of being with Kayce, the sheer scale of the place still took my breath away. It was beautiful, powerful, and a little…intimidating. Tonight, though, the beauty was overshadowed by the knot of anxiety twisting in my stomach. Cooper and Faith’s shotgun wedding was fast approaching, and the whole situation felt like a powder keg waiting for a spark. Throw in Angela Norris’s unapologetic Texas swagger and Beth Dutton’s…well, Beth-ness, and I was mentally preparing for a full-blown detonation.

I squeezed Kayce’s hand in the truck. “You okay?” he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

“Just…apprehensive,” I admitted. “Two families, two different worlds. And teenage hormones on top of it all.”

He gave me that reassuring, steady look of his. “We’ll get through it. Family always does, even if it’s messy.”

Faith, in the back seat, rolled her eyes. “Easy for you to say, Dad. You’re not the one carrying a baby and trying to navigate this whole thing.”

“I know, sweetheart,” I said, turning to smile at her. “And I’m proud of you. Just remember to breathe.”

We piled out of the truck, and I immediately felt the weight of the ranch settle on my shoulders. John Dutton stood on the porch, a stoic figure silhouetted against the dying light. Beside him was Rip Wheeler, ever watchful and silent. I gave them a small, nervous smile.

He nodded towards Tommy, Angela and Ainsley Norris, who were just getting out of their own vehicle. Tommy, looking like he’d wrestled a bear and lost, offered a lopsided grin and a cigarette. Angela, dressed in a flashy, tight dress that probably sent Beth into a silent rage, sashayed forward with a confidence that bordered on aggression. Ainsley, on the other hand, looked like a deer caught in headlights, her bubbly optimism seemingly dimmed by the sheer weight of the Dutton presence.

“John,” Angela boomed, extending a hand. “Good to finally meet you. Heard so much about this…spread of yours.”

John simply nodded, his eyes narrowed slightly. The tension in the air thickened.

Inside, the dining room was set for a feast fit for a king. Or, in this case, a king of Montana. Beth was already at the table, nursing a glass of amber liquid and radiating disapproval. “Well, look what the cat dragged in,” she drawled, her eyes raking over the Norris family. “Texas oil trash. Just what this family needed.”

I winced, shooting Kayce a pleading look. He placed a hand on the small of my back, a silent promise to keep things from escalating too far. “Beth,” Kayce warned, his voice low.

John cleared his throat, taking his seat at the head of the table. “Let’s try to have a civil dinner. We have important matters to discuss.”

The air in the Yellowstone ranch dining room was thick enough to cut with a knife – a dull knife, mind you, because the tension was working everyone’s nerves raw. Just swap out Summer Higgins for…well, the entire Norris clan. Faith and Cooper's pregnancy announcement had ripped through both families like a wildfire.

I took a deep breath, trying to project an air of calm I definitely didn't feel. I hated these dinners. I was trying to be the glue, the rational one holding Montana and Texas together, but it felt like trying to wrangle a herd of wild mustangs in a hurricane.

John Dutton sat at the head of the table, his gaze sweeping over everyone with the intensity of a hawk surveying its prey. Beside him, Beth radiated a simmering, dangerous energy. Kayce, bless his heart, was doing his best to look stoic, but I could see the worry etched in the lines around his eyes. Opposite them sat Tommy Norris, looking like a tumbleweed that somehow sprouted a Stetson and a pack of Marlboros. Ainsley, his youngest, sat beside him, bubbling with a nervous energy that mirrored Faith's. I caught her shooting glances at my daughter.

But the real firecracker across the table was Angela Norris. She was a beautiful woman, even with the hard-edged glint in her eyes. She was all sharp angles and raw passion. Tonight, that passion was directed, it seemed, at our poor cook, Gator, who was nervously plating a bowl of mashed potatoes.

"So, Gator," Angela drawled, her voice thick with a West Texas twang, "I gotta ask. This here ranch, it's got…history, right? Some good, some bad, I reckon."

Gator, a gentle giant of a man, swallowed hard. "Yes, ma'am. Been here a long time."

"A long time," Angela echoed, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Seen a lot, I bet. Seen what goes on behind closed doors. Seen where the bodies are buried, metaphorically speakin', of course."

Beth’s eyes narrowed, a warning flicker in their depths. "Angela, I hardly think grilling our cook about ranch history is appropriate dinner conversation."

Angela chuckled, a low, throaty sound. "Just makin' conversation, darlin'. Trying to understand the lay of the land. Figuratively and literally speaking of course. This here ranch…it’s a powerful thing. Right, Gator?"

Gator, bless his soul, just nodded weakly, setting down the bowl with a clatter.

"Angela," Tommy interjected, his voice raspy from years of cigarettes. "Lay off the poor fella. He just cooks the grub."

"Tommy, honey," Angela purred, turning her attention to her father, "I’m just curious, that’s all. A curious woman in a strange land. And this land…" she gestured around the room, "…it’s definitely strange. Especially to us Texans."

I decided to jump in before things escalated even further. "Angela, I understand you're curious, but maybe we can focus on Faith and Cooper for now? They're the reason we're all here."

Tommy, after downing several glasses of wine, started regaling everyone with stories from the oil fields, his language colorful and his laughter loud. Beth, predictably, was not amused.

“So, you just…drill holes in the ground and suck out the black gold?” she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “How…charming.”

Angela bristled. “It’s a little more complicated than that, sweetheart. But yeah, that’s the gist of it. Keeps your fancy cars running and your lights on.”

“And pollutes the land and destroys communities,” Beth retorted, taking a long swig of her drink.

“Everything pollutes something,” Tommy interjected, waving his hand dismissively. “Hell, even you pollute the air with that sharp tongue of yours.”

I saw John’s jaw tighten. This was exactly what I’d feared. “Alright, enough,” I said, trying to inject a note of levity into the conversation. “Let’s talk about the wedding! Faith, have you decided on a dress yet?”

Faith, bless her heart, tried to play along. “I was thinking something simple, maybe lace? But Mom, Angela wants me to wear some crazy sequined number.”

Angela laughed. “Hey, gotta show off that baby bump! Sequins are festive!”

“Festive and tacky,” Beth muttered under her breath.

Cooper, who had been mostly silent, finally spoke up. “I just want Faith to be happy. She can wear whatever she wants.”My heart ached for him. He was so young, so earnest, and completely out of his depth.

The conversation shifted, albeit awkwardly, to the logistics of the wedding. John, surprisingly, seemed genuinely invested in making it a memorable occasion. He offered the ranch as the venue, a gesture that seemed to genuinely touch Tommy. “John, that’s…that’s mighty generous of you,” Tommy said, his voice thick with emotion. “We appreciate that.”

“It’s for my granddaughter,” John replied, his gaze softening slightly.

Then, of course, Beth had to ruin the moment.

“So, what’s the plan after the wedding?” she asked, fixing Cooper with a calculating stare. “You planning on being a stay-at-home dad while Faith finishes school?”

Cooper shifted uncomfortably. “I… I’m starting my own oil company. I’ve got a plan, a good one. I've already quit my job. I’m not gonna be sitting around doing nothing.”

Beth raised an eyebrow. “An oil company? With what money? Your charm?”

Angela jumped to her son's defense. “He’s got the brains and the drive, Beth. That’s more than half the battle.”

“And what about you, Faith?” I asked, trying to steer the conversation back to a less confrontational topic. “What are your thoughts on balancing motherhood and your education?”

Faith sighed. “It’s gonna be hard, Mom. But I want to finish school. Maybe take some online classes, get a degree in… I don’t know, something. And Cooper will support me, right?”

Cooper nodded fervently. “Absolutely. We’re in this together.”

I watched them, a mixture of hope and worry swirling within me. They were so young, so naive, but they had a fierce love for each other. Maybe that would be enough. The tension in the room was palpable, like a storm cell gathering strength on the horizon. I knew it was only a matter of time before it broke.

It was Ainsley who inadvertently set it off.

“This ranch is…amazing,” she said, her eyes wide with wonder. “It’s like something out of a movie.”

“It is a movie,” Beth snapped. “A very expensive one, funded by generations of hard work and sacrifice. Something you Texans wouldn’t understand.”

Ainsley’s face crumpled. “I didn’t mean…”

Angela stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. “Alright, that’s enough! I’m not gonna sit here and listen to you insult my family. We came here in good faith, to celebrate our kids. But you’re just a miserable, bitter woman.”

“And you’re a loud, obnoxious Texan,” Beth shot back, rising to her feet as well. “Get out of my house.”

“Beth!” Kayce bellowed, his voice echoing through the room.

John slammed his hand on the table, the sound silencing everyone. “Enough! Both of you. This is my house, and I will not tolerate this behavior.”

He turned to Angela, his eyes hard. “You will apologize to my daughter.”

Angela glared at Beth, then grudgingly said, “I apologize. But she started it.”

John then turned to Beth. “And you will apologize to the Norris family for your rudeness.”

Beth looked like she wanted to argue, but she knew better than to defy her father directly. “Fine,” she spat. “I apologize. Now, can we please finish this… charade?”

The rest of the dinner passed in a tense silence. We all ate mechanically, avoiding eye contact and desperately wishing for it to be over until Tommy’s daughter spoke up, breaking the intense silence.

Ainsley chimed in, trying to lighten the mood. "Yeah, Momma, let's talk about the wedding! I’ve been pinning dress ideas like crazy."

Angela swiveled her head. "Wedding? Honey, we ain't even discussed details! We're talking about two kids who barely out of college and knocked up."

John Dutton’s hand slammed on the table. "Enough."

The room fell silent. All eyes turned to him.

"Faith and Cooper are adults now," John said, his voice a low rumble. "They've made a decision. We will support them. We will decide how, and when, the wedding will be. Is that understood?"

Tommy Norris nodded slowly, his eyes darting between John and his own daughter. Angela, however, remained defiant.

"With all due respect, Mr. Dutton," she said, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness, "This ain’t just about your grandbaby; it’s about our Cooper too. He’s wanting to make a name for himself. An oil company…He could be set for life working for someone else. But no, he wants to do things the hard way. Because he is in love."

"And he's got the Duttons' money to back him up now," Beth added, her voice laced with venom. I winced. Here we go.

"Beth," Kayce warned, his voice low.

"What? It's the truth, Kayce," Beth spat back. "Daddy's gonna fund his little pipe dream because Faith's carrying his great-grandchild."

"Now, hold on," Cooper finally spoke up, his voice surprisingly firm. "I don't need anyone's money. I can build this company myself."

"Honey, you barely ran a lemonade stand before now, but OK," Angela commented, rolling her eyes.

"Cooper has plenty of ambition," said Tommy.

John Dutton leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowed. "Ambition is a dangerous thing, son. It can blind you. It can make you do things you wouldn't otherwise do."

"I know the risks, Mr. Dutton," Cooper replied, meeting John's gaze head-on. "I'm not afraid of hard work."

"Hard work is one thing," John said, his voice softening slightly. "But the oil business…it's a dirty game. It'll test your morals, son. It'll test your loyalty. And it'll test your family."

"He's got a strong family," Tommy Norris said, nodding at his kids.

I saw Faith reach out and take Cooper's hand. Her eyes were wide, but there was a newfound steel in her gaze. "We'll figure it out, Grandpa. Together."

Rip Wheeler, who had been silently observing the entire scene, cleared his throat. "Sir, with all due respect, maybe we should focus on the positive here. We're talking about a new life coming into the world. That's something worth celebrating."

A tense silence hung in the air. Finally, John Dutton nodded. "Rip's right. We're getting ahead of ourselves."

He turned to Faith and Cooper, a rare smile gracing his lips. "Congratulations to you both. This ranch…it's seen a lot of changes over the years. But one thing has always remained constant: family. And you two, you're family now."

The atmosphere in the room shifted, ever so slightly. The hard edges softened, replaced by a fragile sense of hope. I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.

"So," I said, trying to lighten the mood, "about that wedding…Ainsley, what kind of dress were you thinking?"

Ainsley's face lit up, and she launched into a detailed description of lace, tulle, and floral arrangements. Faith joined in, her earlier anxiety replaced by a genuine excitement. Even Angela seemed to relax a bit, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

As the conversation shifted to wedding plans, seating arrangements, and potential venues, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, we could navigate this messy, complicated union without completely destroying each other in the process. Maybe Montana and Texas could find a way to coexist, even thrive, under the roof of the Yellowstone.

10 notes · View notes

child-of-of-the-sunshine · 6 months ago

Text

If you guys want a really good story go check this one out

34 - Norris Meets Dutton’s

Part 35

Raised Fair Share of Hell

Please leave comments of your thoughts or any suggestions ❤️

Tag list @bvbwestfall @hcwthewestwaswcn @child-of-of-the-sunshine @elenavampire21 @keep-the-wolves-close @kmc1989 @tallrock35 @whatelsecouldgowrong @lover-of-books-and-tea

Alissa’s pov

Standing in the kitchen I waited on the oven timer to go off to tell me the biscuits I was making would be done, which not surprisingly were my eldest daughter’s favorite thing in the world. Just like me and Kayce.

My phone rang from its spot laying on the kitchen countertop so I picked it up reading my daughter's name coming up on the screen. “Hey baby. Are you on your way here now?”

“Yeah. Cooper and I left early this morning. We should be there by dinner at seven.”

Hoisting myself up onto the kitchen island I kicked my legs slightly up and down. “That’s good to know. I’ll have Gator cook some of your favorites for dinner. Does Cooper have any allergies I should know about?”

“No ma’am.” Cooper responded through the phone.

Biting my lip I made a silent note in my head hearing my daughter sigh through her end of the phone. “Honey, are you okay? What’s wrong because I can sense there’s something upsetting or worrying you.”

“I’m worried what daddy will think of him. I mean I’ve never had any boyfriends growing up until now.”

Pausing for a moment I debated on what to say next to my daughter. She knows her father loves her, but he's also super protective. “Look sweetie, your father loves you. He loves his family more than anything else in the world. So I get why you're worried but as long as your boyfriend is himself and treats you right everything will work itself out in the end.”

“Thanks, mama. I appreciate the advice. We'll be there in a few hours.”

Hitting the end call button I hung up with them. “See you then.” Sliding off the counter I went to help Gator make the dinner we would eat tonight. My mom, sister, Rip and the rest of our ranch hands would be working to prepare for the branding that would be in the next two or three days.

The spread that would be laid out would be steak, potatoes and biscuits for dessert.

An hour later I heard someone walk behind me before familiar arms wrapped around my waist. “Who got you to make biscuits hmm?” Kayce nuzzles his nose into my neck kissing the crook of it where my shoulder blade meets my neck.

“Our daughter is coming home for the branding while she's on fall break.” I responded, eyeing his hand that reaches for one of the fresh biscuits until I slapped it away with a spoon. “Hey, no! Those are for dinner later tonight. You can't eat them.”

“Ow! I just want one. Plus you know Tate and Madeline will smell them any minute now.” He rubbed his hand I had previously smacked.

Bending down I opened the oven lid pulling out another tray of biscuits already prepared for what he had mentioned. “That’s why I made an extra batch. Now please get out of the kitchen.” Sure enough two sets of smaller feet came barreling down the staircase the second the delightful smell filled the whole lodge.

A few hours afterwards it was exactly seven o’clock. Changing into a simple light blue dress I curled the ends of my hair and slipped on some short black cowgirl boots. Searching through the house for my husband I finally peaked my head outside the front door seeing him sitting on the front porch swing with a shotgun laying across his lap. “Kayce John Dutton. What on earth do you think you’re doing with that shotgun?”

“I don't like the wind chimes. They're gonna go in a second.” He came up with the best lie he could.

Putting my hands on my hips I scowled at him, noticing the particular chimes he referred to had been long gone. “You mean the previous wind chimes that Beth blew up with that exact firearm over ten years ago.”

“Damn it.” He quickly realized that they weren't gone just like i did. He avoided my gaze afterwards. “I don’t want to tell you what I'm really doing with this.”

“Kayce - tell me you're not thinking of shooting this boy off our porch.” Walking away from the door once I closed it, taking a seat beside him on the swing. He sent me a serious and silent look where I put a hand to my forehead. “Why do I feel like I married my father nowadays?”

Kayce got slightly offended by my comment. “Hey!”

“You’re telling me you don't see it in yourself right now.” Meeting his gaze I raised a brow at my husband, knowing he was smart enough to see it. “We have three kids, one son, and two daughters. Our oldest daughter has her first boyfriend and you're sitting out here waiting with a shotgun sitting on your lap. And by my count you'll threaten to shoot him just like my daddy did you when he found out you got me pregnant.”

“I do agree with some of your fathers choices now - he’s here.” Kayce rose from the swing nearly launching me onto the ground hearing a vehicle coming down the driveway.

“Mmm!” I grumbled under my breath getting up from the swing watching someone get out of the driver's side and open the passenger side door revealing our daughter. It was an old red and white pickup truck. Kayce currently had the gun pointed up until I pushed my hand down on the long barrel, aiming the loaded weapon to the ground. “Put the gun down Clyde.”

Kayce rolled his eyes, hating to hear our former nicknames of this town. “Don’t make me start calling you Bonnie.”

“Thanks. Mama!” Faith smiled at her boyfriend before noticing me coming down the porch steps. Extending my arms outward for her she flung herself into my embrace with laughter and happy tears.

Kissing her hair I broke the hug so happy she was home. “Ooh I’ve missed you baby. Now introduce me to this boyfriend of yours. I can’t believe you told Aunt Beth before me.”

My daughter eyed her boots before tipping her cowgirl hat up slightly, walking us back over to the truck with Texas plates. “I’m sorry, mama. But anyhow this is Cooper. Copper, this is my mother.” He had brown slightly curly hair stuffed underneath a red Texas ball cap, wearing a gray flannel shirt, dark blue jeans and dusty brown boots.

“Nice to meet you, ma’am.” Cooper held out his hand and I shook it gently. “Cooper, Cooper Norris.”

“I’m Alissa. It’s nice to meet you.”

Cooper nodded lifting his gaze up to the porch with his entire body shivering a something. “Is he really going to shoot me if I step up onto the porch?”

“Kayce!”

Faith turned her head to seeing exactly what I saw. “Daddy!”

“Put the damn shotgun down before I come up there and kick your ass. You’re gonna scare the boy shitless.”

Kayce slowly lowered the firearm glaring at the Texans boy, walking into the house carrying the weapon in hand. “Just giving him a good warning.”

“So - um that’s my daddy, Kayce.” Faith nervously chuckled.

Raising my hands up I waved the pair up and inside the house, reminding myself to talk with my husband later about this first impression he just gave. “Don’t worry I’ll make sure there’s no firearms at the dinner table. Her father really is nice once you get to know him.” The three of us made our way into the house, where the two got settled on the living room couch for a few minutes.

The doorbell rang a few times with it getting thrown opened where I heard my sister in law make a lord entrance with her husband following behind her. “Where is my biscuit lovin’ niece and this boyfriend of hers at!”

“Aunt Beth. Uncle Rip!” Faith spun around on her boots, hugging each of them tightly with a huge smile on her face.

Footsteps came around the corner where we saw John and Gator coming out of the kitchen heading to the dining room. “Dinner is ready and we're eating at the dining table tonight. Oh so this is your boyfriend, Faithy Rae. I’m John, her grandfather.”

“Oh god.” Covering my face with my hands I prayed my sister in law wouldn’t run the poor boy off.

Cooper shook John’s hand following my daughter into the dining room. “Nice to meet you. I’m Cooper.”

“Is there - a - specific seating or-“ Rip eyed the long table unsure of where to sit.

John took his seat at the head of the table, pointing to the front seat in front of his left arm. “Wherever you want. Faith, you and your boyfriend can sit right here.”

“Um Mr. Dutton?” Cooper removed his red Texas Tech ball cap holding it up.

His father in law responded watching Faith sit her tan cowgirl hat on the edge of the table. “On the table is fine. It looks formal, Cooper. But it’s not. It’s just supper.”

“Rough day at the office again?” Beth asked, seeing the anger written on her brother’s face.

Kayce answered with food in his mouth. “Work isn’t what is bothering me.”

“Is it because you currently want to throw the Norris boy off our property?” Beth kept firing another question at her younger brother.

John placed his napkin in his lap. “How about we don’t talk about threatening the boy at the dinner table.”

“Do you have that shotgun hidden underneath the table?” Beth asked.

Cooper stiffened his back up against the chair with his mouth full of food. “What?”

John glared at his daughter. “What’d I just say?”

“What would you like to talk about, daddy?” Beth slammed her fork down on the table. “Kayce is obviously uncomfortable about his daughter dating. She’s his baby girl and his first born.”

John simply said her name. “Beth.”

“Our house is filled with shotguns and other things. Oh Cooper, did my niece mention to you that her father is a former Navy seal with advanced training?”

Faith attempted to reassure him that we were a nice family. “We're just very protective of our family is all. Family is everything here. But don't worry he's not going to kill you , right Auntie Beth?”

John grumbled again. “Beth.”

“If we don’t talk about my brother’s uncomfortable feelings over this dinner we have nothing to talk about. Are you suggesting that we eat in silence and make it more uncomfortable for Kayce and Cooper. Is that really what you’re suggesting?”

Rip finished his food quickly, getting to his feet grabbing his wife’s arm tugging her up from her seat. “Thank you for dinner, sir. Let’s go check on Carter sweetie.”

“Baby, what are we doing-“ Beth asked before we heard the front door shut behind them letting the whole house fill with silence except for the sound of people eating their food.

Awkward silence fell into the room with everyone staring at one another causing me to get up from my chair going towards the kitchen. “Who wants biscuits, huh. And while we eat those , Cooper you can tell us about yourself.”

“That sounds great. Mrs. Dutton.” He responded with my daughter placing her hand over his so he wasn’t as nervous.

This family dinner certainly wasn’t over yet.

20 notes · View notes