#rip wheeler x dutton reader

[bellarkeselection]

I had an idea for rip. It’s kinda like the scene from season 1 where jimmy got beaten up by Fred but instead of Jimmy could it be the reader is rips wife and she’s secretly pregnant with their second child and she protects her stomach and then revel to rip she’s pregnant again. You can easily change bits to the story or even add a little bit of smut that’s fine with me .

The Rule Of Fighting…Especially my Wife

Threading my fingers through his black hair Rip broke the kiss pulling himself out of me where we laid under the covers naked. Running a hand over my face I began catching my breath. Moving my other hand over my growing pregnant belly until Rip grasped my hand in his. Rolling onto my side I whispered still not awake even though we woke up in a very pleasing way. “Do you have to go to work today. Can’t we just take a day and lay around the house?”

“You’re daddy wouldn’t like that. Besides I owe him everything for letting me work at the ranch.” He responded leaning forward and kissing me on the head gently getting up from the bed. He shrugs his jeans on and grabbed his black jacket with his hat off the hook.

Holding myself up on my elbow I held the sheet up against my chest even though he had seen me naked already. “Yeah you’re probably right, baby. Hey though where do you think our little Georgie is off too?”

“I ain’t too sure. He’s probably trying to sattle a horse or running around with his grandpa John. I’ll see you later tonight Y/n.” He placed his hat on his head coming over giving me one last kiss going to work.

Getting out of the bed, I ran my hands down my grown belly, looking myself over in the standing mirror we had in the corner of the bedroom. I slide on the pair of jeans that didn't press on my stomach, pairing it with a light orange flannel shirt that was tucked into them. With some light brown boots and a tan cowgirl hat on my head. Heading towards the barn, I grabbed the saddle for my horse about to throw it over until I heard someone make a remark about me entering the room. "Woah, I guess that Wheeler really couldn't let you go, so he just keeps knocking you up."

"I'm sorry do you have a problem with me?" Throwing the saddle over my horse I turned around on my feet with my boots kicking up dust.

My gaze met the appearance of one of the ranch hands who was named Fred if I remember correctly. "I've got a problem with you getting special attention from the boss."

"Your boss is my father, so.." Crossing my arms over my chest, I snipped in a slight tone.

Fred stepped closer towards me, glaring down at me since he was slightly taller than me. "I ain't talkin about your daddy, Dutton. You're sleeping with Wheeler and get off work early and still getting the same pay as we do. That isn't right in my opinion."

"First off, I get breaks more than you because of my five year old son Georgie and are you blind cause at the moment I'm pregnant again. Two, I'm heading to work now Fred - argh!" I screamed when he stomped up grabbing me by my hair yanking me backwards until I elbow him in the face.

He stumbled backwards holding his nose while I spun around on my feet. "You bitch!"

"You don't want to fight me, Fred." I warned him, getting in a fighting stance with my hands into fists ready to go.

Yet the ranch hand refused my warning and came charging straight for me. He tackled me to the dirt before I could really blink. He was throwing punches at me but I was blocking most until he gave a harsh one to my belly and I released a cry of agony. "God damn!" I cursed curling up in a ball for a second with him getting to his feet.

"You need to remember who is stronger here, Dutton girl." He spat down to me.

Sniffing through some tears i glared at him until I swiped my feet underneath his near mine where he topped to the dust. Forcing myself to my feet I held my stomach with one hand landing a good punch on his nose with the other. Fred came back trying to kick my stomach yet I buried my face close against it so he kneed me in the face. My nose begins bleeding where he quickly grabbed my arm throwing me over his back until we heard my son's sweet voice. "Mommy, why are you wrestling?"

"You're boys gonna see how weak you are - ohhh fuck!" Fred groaned in serious pain onto his knees when I kicked him in between his legs giving me the chance to rush to my son.

Grabbing his shoulders I croaked through tears and some pain myself. "Georgie, go find daddy now. Bring him here." He ran off when Fred started getting up until I charged tackling the man even though it was harder when I was pregnant.

Swinging a few punches at Fred I got some of his blood on my knuckles. He grabbed my wrists twisting them behind my back throwing me down again. "I told you I was stronger than you, bitch!" He growled in my ear where he about kicks me in the stomach again until someone harshly shoved his body against the wooden barn stalls.

Gasping for breath and some relief I sat upright seeing my husband Rip had him by the collar where he threw him against the stall and then did it again but it was down in the dirt raising his voice. "What's the rule about fighting, Fred. You wanna fight somebody, come fight me. I'll fight you all damn day!"

"That girl done started it with her saying that she deserves the same pay as we do but cuts out half the work. I guess you'll believe anything when you married a whore." Fred coughed looking at me when Georgie came over by my side.

Rip yanked the guy by his jacket holding him against the wall where he almost couldn't breathe by the choke hold he had on the ranch hand. "What did you call her!"

"She's knows I'm right that's she had to send in the little guy to get the big guns." Fred taunts until my husband kicked him harshly in the gut and he collapsed into the dirt.

He grabbed Fred up one last time against the wall for good measure croaking his deep tone with the words he declared. "If you ever hit or speak to my wife like that again I'll kill you, Fred! Are you okay, Y/n?" He released him from his grasp coming slowly over to me with his gaze softening.

"I hurt a little bit...here especially. But otherwise I think I'll be fine." I mumbled placing my hand in his with my eyes dropping to my pregnant stomach where he tugged me up to stand where he picked me up bridal style when I almost collapsed onto the dirt not able to stand on my own.

He carried me back to our cabin with Georgie following us and opening the door to the cabin, then our bedroom and finally the bathroom. "Georgie, go grab one of my shirts and the shorts off the foot of the bed for mommy." Rip spoke towards our son who quickly came back with what he asked.

"Is mommy going to be okay, daddy?" He asked with worry in his sweet voice.

Rip sat me down on the toilet lowering himself to his knees since I didn't have gotten my balance back yet. "She will be. I want you to go play with grandpa John while I help mommy okay little man." He nodded leaving us alone in the bathroom letting silence into the room.

He slowly tugged on my shirt shrugging it over and off my body giving him perfect view of my belly. "I'm sorry he did this to you..to our baby. I'll take him to the train station tomorrow morning if that's what you want." He placed his on my bump feeling me slightly pull away when he touched the sorest part of my body from the fight.

"Rip, don't blame yourself for this. Fred has always been a jackass from the day my father hired him. I'll go to the doctor and get the baby checked out." Resting my hands on his shoulders I sent him a half smile knowing he would start blaming himself for me getting injured.

He nodded, helping me remove my pants and slide the shorts up. He ran a hand through my hair once I slipped his shirt on that was like a dress on me. "I love you so much, darling. He will never touch you again I swear it." He softly took me into his arms carrying me into the other room laying me down in the bed.

He climbed in on his side and I snuggled up into his warmth knowing he would leave to deal with the rancher when I went to sleep and rested. "I love you, Rip and so will this second child of ours." Whispering up into his brown eyes I intertwined our hands together closing my eyes letting sleep overtake me.

Comments really appreciated ❤️

[i-heart-yellowstone]

Hello, love how you write the Yellowstone characters and saw that you’re taking requests so i couldn’t resist😅

I have a request for Rip where reader is a Dutton daughter and has always had a thing for Rip. They’ve always been super close but he just never saw her that way and only had eyes for Beth. And then one day when Beth is being extra toxic towards him reader tries to comfort him and he realizes that he has feelings for reader as well. Maybe with a little sibling rivalry/bad blood between reader and Beth as well.

Dutton Daughters Quarrel

My friends that have siblings tell me that it is the greatest thing in the world.  I disagree with them.  My twin sister Beth and I have never gotten along since our mother died after she got paralyzed by her own horse during a ride with my sister and our youngest brother Kayce.  I knew one reason we never got along is because I was basically a mini version of our father, fully embracing the ranch lifestyle even after her death. 

Riding through the main gate and up to the barn I followed behind my father and my mothers dead body that was laying on her horse.  Tugging on my reins I climbed down my horse heading inside the barn to see Rip cleaning one of the horse stalls until he saw me drop down onto the dirt.  “Y/n, is everything alright.  Why are you crying?” 

“No! She’s gone.  My moms dead.” I sniffed back tears wrapping my arms around myself, sobbing on my knees before him. 

Rip dropped his shovel and came over pulling me in for a hug that I truly needed.  He held onto me for a long time and I cried against his shirt until someone came inside the barn.  “It’s going to be okay, Y/n.  You will get through this.  I’ll always be here for you.” 

“She should have blamed you for her getting hurt, not me.” 

Rip and I turned our attention to the new voice that belonged to my sister Beth that was standing in the doorway death glaring at me.  “Beth, what are you talking about?” 

“She always was easier on you.  She never made you go through what I did and now she’s dead.” 

Wiping away tears from my face I walked past her when Rip walked over and pulled her in for a hug like he had done with me minutes ago.  “You can’t hate me for what happened to her.  Her horse got spooked because of you.” 

“You always have to show off at everything.  You’ve always been a better horse rider than me.  If you hadn’t been doing tricks I wouldn't have felt so nervous on my horse.” Beth snapped at me before I turned on my heels and ran out of the barn. 

Galloping across the field on horseback my eyes noticed Rip sitting up on the hillside that overlooked part of the ranch all by himself.  Riding over to him I dismounted my horse walking up to greet him.  “What are you doing up here all by yourself, Mr. Wheeler?” 

“I’m waiting for your sister to show up for our date tonight.” 

Sitting down beside him in the grass once my horse had laid down behind us I spared him a glance.  “She wants you to take her out on a real date.  Hmm, maybe there is more women in her than I thought.” 

Rip looked at me softly.  “She once told me she thinks you were born with a more manly personality than a female one. Honestly I don’t see how that’s a bad thing.” 

“She says it as a dig to me because our mother supposedly liked me more than her when she would be tougher on her than she was me.” Shaking my head I removed my tan cowgirl hat and ran a hand through my messy hair.  “I don’t really understand how she can hate me so much for an accident that we had no control over.  She - she thinks I’m a monster for still riding horses on our seven generations family ranch.” 

“I’m sorry she made your life a living hell after losing your mother.  She shouldn’t have taken her anger out on you.” Rip responds to me placing his hand over mine softly. 

Footsteps stomped up the hill where we turned our heads and I rolled my eyes seeing my sister coming straight over to us.  “I knew you’d run off to her out of pity soon enough.  You couldn’t help yourself but start pretending to care for my sister.” 

“Is that such a horrible thing, Beth.  You haven’t been too kind to her over the years that I have been working at your family's ranch.” Rip got up from the ground and I shortly followed behind him.  He simply walked over to her with his arms crossed over his broad chest. 

My twin sister snapped at the lead ranch hand.  “She got both of our parents' love and now apparently you’re stupid enough to fall in love with her too.  So in the end I am left utterly alone.” 

“Hey! Don’t talk to him that way.” Stomping up to the pair I got up in my sister’s face after pushing Rip behind me so I was in between them. 

My sister spits in my face.  “I can talk to him however I want.  It’s not like he is your boyfriend or anything. Although I doubt any man would choose you when they find out you are just like our father.  I mean you saw that Monica told Kayce to leave and he came back here.  She realized that he was turning into our father just like you have.” 

“Don’t talk about her that way ever again, Bethany!” Right before my eyes I screamed when he made a fist and punched her in the face where she stumbled down onto the ground.  “I never should have started falling for you.” 

Rip held his wrist that was now scuffed up with some bruises where I slowly walked towards him examining his hand. “We should get this cleaned up.” He nodded, allowing me to lead him over to my horse and he climbed on behind me where we rode to the large barn since there was some medical supplies inside of there. 

Finding the box he leaned against one of the horse stalls letting me grab his hand and apply some alcohol to it.  He winced slightly but didn’t mind it too much before I wiped some of the bruising and wrapped up his hand in some gauze just in case.  “You didn’t have to defend me like that, Rip.  My sister and I have been butting heads like that since we were kids.  Her words aren’t as harsh to me emotionally anymore.” 

“I’m sorry I didn’t realize it sooner that she’s not the one for me.” He grabs my other hand in his, taking my attention up to his deep brown eyes.  “For years I only ever saw you as my friend but after today I realized that I love that you may act like your father.  Except in my eyes that isn’t a bad thing cause I owe your father my life, plus he gave me you.” 

“Are you being serious because I have wanted to be more than your friend for a while now? I was just too scared that you’d never feel the same way I do about you.” 

Rip moved his hands up to cradle my face before he closed the gap and connected my lips with his own. Without thinking my hands flew to his hair and I was thankful he had removed his black hat while I deepened the kiss till we needed air to breath.  “We can’t ever go back to being friends, Y/n Dutton.” Grinning up at the lead cowboy I grabbed the front of his jacket bringing him in for another long kiss. 

Tag list - just send an ask to be added @tallrock35 @kmc1989 @pear-1206 @frost-queen n @chaoticneutral3

[jetblack4realz]

his little girl - yellowstone boys

how the yellowstone (+ 1923) boys react to you having their daughter

i think i might make this a series if y'all are interested. i think it'd be cute! i'll do kayce (obvs), rip (ofc), ryan (what a man), lee (we didn't get enough of him), jimmy (i haven't seen a single thing on here for him, not that there isn't but still), and spencer (he's iconic)!!

lmk if you want anything in particular for any or all of these guys! i think it could be fun :)

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kayce dutton:

when you first got pregnant, you were so certain it was going to be a little boy, and that's what you told kayce. he smiled over at you, hand on your stomach as he shook his head.

"and why's that, baby?" he wondered.

"he's been kicking like a boy, and i've got the skin to show it's a boy. i've always imagined that i'd be a boy mom," you answered with a shrug, leaning into his embrace comfortably. "and we've already got tate. i think it'll be another boy."

and he'd been alright with that. he let you have your dreams of what to name him and how you'd have him and tate match in little cowboy outfits. you even omitted the gender reveal in favor of it being a surprise, but also because you were so certain it was a boy.

but, when that little girl came out, you both were in instant happy tears.

kayce held her first due to some complications during birth, and he suddenly remembered the joy that came with being a father. as he stared down at his baby girl with eyes that matched his, he was flooded with a certain protectiveness that didn't come with tate. this was his little girl - nobody was going to mess with her.

to say she was spoiled by her daddy was an understatement. there wasn't a day that he didn't come home with a new handful of wildflowers, one for each of his girls, and sit on the floor having her explain all her little drawings to him. when tate would mess with her, teasing as a good older brother would, kayce would give him a stern shake of his head, holding her close to his chest as she sniffled.

"she ain't a boy, bud," he told him. "i know she's your sister and you wanna tease her, but you gotta treat her like a lady."

"i just wanna make her laugh," tate defended.

"find another way, okay pal? there's a million ways to make her laugh and only a few to make her cry. let's figure that out, alright?" he said, pulling the boy into his side for a hug. tate looked at his sister, thinking for a moment before making a funny face, sticking out his tongue and crossing his eyes as he pulled his mouth at a funny angle. she burst into a fit of giggles, kayce high-fiving him as she clambered out of his lap to go play with her older brother.

you had to be the one to teach her to rope and ride, ensuring she had the true makings of a cowgirl because kayce did not want that life for her. he hoped that she wouldn't ever end up with a cowboy. but, once she knew how to ride well enough, he'd take her on long rides with him and tate, explaining the beauties of montana to them both.

he first bought her a dress from a little boutique in town and a matching bow to go with it when she was five, beyond excited to dress her in it and take her out on a daddy daughter date. you took tate on a mommy son date that same night, smiling as you saw your husband and daughter eating ice cream through the store window as tate dragged you to the theater down the street.

kayce stayed protective, but supportive of what she wanted - except for when she started getting cutesy around the newest ranch hand rip had let stick around, a kid called carter. kayce nipped that one in the bud real fast.

he thrived as a father, it was his true calling, with both tate and your little girl. having both felt like his life had equalled out and he ensured they had a close bond as well. kayce isn't a girl dad or a boy dad, he's just a dad, and he loves it.

rip wheeler:

rip would never admit it, but whenever he imagined finding a girl, settling down, and starting a family, it was always filled with daughters. it was easy to assume that he'd want all boys - he was one of the most manly men montana had ever seen. but, with that, he felt a need to have girls to protect, to be strong for.

so when that first baby ended up a girl, he was silently ecstatic.

"baby, it's a girl," he mumbled to you, his smile the widest you'd seen it since your wedding day.

he was so supportive during labor, petting your hair out of your face as you squeezed his hand tightly. when your little girl finally started crying, he took her straight from the doctor and set her on your chest, one hand on your arm and the other on the baby's back.

he watched over the both of y'all carefully. it was obvious to everyone that you were his number one priorities, and if anyone so much as mentioned your names with the wrong tone he was ready to fight.

rip started taking her out on rides as soon as she was able to be strapped to his chest and sit on a horse without crying, which was actually awfully early. you told him it was only because she was his daughter that he was able to do this, but they both loved it. she was an expert rider by the time she was eight years old, and a good roper too.

you had two twin girls after her, both absolutely adored by rip and their older sister. you were able to go on family rides at that point, you and rip with each one of the littles in front of you and your oldest perched behind rip with wide wondering eyes.

"daddy, an eagle!" she cheered, pointing over his shoulder at a bald eagle flying over the trees.

"good eye, baby," rip said, smiling as he high-fived the little girl.

she quickly became his right hand man. even at four years old, she was grabbing him a banana for breakfast before he headed out the door or helping him clean his boots. the older she got, the more responsibility she got, which was fine by her. she was strong and determined and a total daddy's girl.

until she became a brother's girl.

carter showed up when she was seven and she fell in love with him quickly. he was sweet with her, carrying her on his back out to the barn as she helped him shovel stalls the best she could.

rip didn't know how to feel about it until you finally approached him about adopting carter.

"it wouldn't be anything official since neither of y'all have any documentation or anything," you told him, fiddling with your fingers. "but, that boy needs a home. and rip, i really love him, and so does she, and so do you. we've got one extra room and a place at the table. i want him here. you've seen him with our baby girl, he wants to be a part of this family too. please, rip."

and so that was that. after you sat the boy down and told him, he became even more dependable. he was an avid protector of your daughter and rip actually began smiling at the sight of the two of them walking around the ranch.

rip didn't love carter the same way he loved his baby girl, he was always meant to be a girl dad, but he appreciated him nonetheless. the way he was with rip's daughters helped secure him in the little wheeler family, and rip was happy about it.

ryan:

ryan was in no way prepared to be a father. when you told him you were pregnant he about shat himself.

"but we used protection," he said, eyes wide as he paced the bunkhouse.

"well, quite obviously it didn't work," you said. you grabbed his arms. "ryan, hun, it'll be okay. okay? it'll all work out, we'll figure it out."

"i don't have anything for you. i can't do anything for you. i don't have a house for myself, i barely have my own truck, i make enough to live but i don't know how to provide for you," he stressed.

"we'll figure it out," you emphasized again, wrapping your arms around his neck tightly.

and you did. with how long ryan had been working on the yellowstone ranch and how close your family was to the duttons (how you'd met ryan, actually), john gave you space in the main house to take care of you new little girl - heavens knew there was enough room, he barely even noticed you were there. he, himself, was kind of obsessed with the idea of having another pseudo grandchild, and ryan was convinced that was the only reason he worked it all out for y'all.

ryan was a nervous father. he was uber careful, keeping constant eyes on the baby or whoever was holding her. ninety percent of the time, that person was himself. he barely even let colby hold her and he cursed out jimmy when he asked, saying how he wasn't about to let that dumbass, brain-injured, bronco-riding klutz of a rodeo star hold his precious baby girl and drop her on her head just like his parents had done to him, obviously.

everyone had a good laugh about that one.

your little girl wasn't around the horses or cows, or even a damn rope for so much of her life, but what she was around was poker. ryan had her in his lap as they played cards since she was a month old and not sleeping through the night. somehow, impeccably, she went down without a fuss after sitting through a few games of cards with her father and his friends.

when she got a bit older, he taught her all his favorite childhood card games, but she got bored of them. when you first walked in on him explaining poker to her, you about smacked him upside the head, but when you saw her smiling and figuring out the order of the cards you let it slide.

"she'll be cheatin' out the rest of us in no time," ryan said, running a hand over her hair as he smiled up at you.

"whatever you say, cowboy," you sighed, sitting next to her and picking at the chips he'd laid out for her.

for her tenth birthday, he threw her a poker party with the rest of the wranglers, the duttons, tate, and carter, with ibc rootbeers in a cooler to make her feel just as cool as the rest of them. it was the first time she'd played with anyone but her parents, and she was stoked.

she smoked their asses.

they were freaking flabbergasted, even ryan. he pressed a kiss to her head, laughing as he congratulated her. "that's my kid, everybody."

lee dutton:

lee never wanted kids.

he knew it, you knew it, john knew it, hell, the whole family knew it. it was never in his plan.

but, you also weren't in his plan. he'd had a perfectly organized idea of being the forever bachelor of the yellowstone, hitting up bars for quick girls when he wanted a makeout or one night stand or whatever, and then returning to life on the ranch.

well, you showed up, a horse trainer from the sixes, travis wheatley's little sister, and he fell in love so fast he almost tripped over his feet. he rushed into dating you, proposing, and marrying you but no one in montana had any complaints, except for maybe your father, but he was in texas so it didn't matter in the long run. and he also, accidentally, rushed into getting you pregnant, which was not the goal at all.

"i know, and i'm sorry, but i'm keeping it, baby," you'd told him the night he found the test. you held his face in your hands, brows furrowed. "i want this. i hope you can understand that."

"i never wanted kids," he told you, shaking his head and breathing out a deep sigh. "but, uh, with you? with you, i'm not so opposed." he looked up at you, mustering a small, almost scared smile. "hell, we're already here, ain't we? let's fuckin do this thing, baby."

"language, lee," you laughed.

his mind was blown when you gave birth, absolutely scared and amazed out of his mind when the nurse handed over this perfect, slightly messy, bundle of pink blankets screaming bloody murder to him as they cleaned you up.

"holy shit," he muttered, staring down at his daughter with wide eyes.

"language, lee," you groaned, sitting up and reaching out for the baby. he handed her to you immediately, watching the both of you carefully.

his world changed that day.

as soon as you were ready to let her out of the house, he took her everywhere with him, and he was not ashamed about it. the strap-on baby carrier was his best friend as he walked around the house, grabbing her nursing bottles before heading out to the barn. john laughed when he saw him the first time.

"and what the hell are you doing? you can't cowboy with a baby, lee," he told his eldest.

"watch me," was his answer.

you didn't know he was doing all this, only being told that he'd take her out while you got some rest or did whatever you needed to get done. it was nice to have little breaks throughout the day, but you worried if she was hungry. well, until you saw the little bottle holster he'd made himself that he kept strapped to his side.

you almost thought it was ridiculous, but it was the best possible outcome you could've hoped for, so you let him take her out every few days.

that girl was practically a cowboy by the time she was five years old. she knew all the terms, had her own boots, was dressed in the same wranglers and carhartts as her dad and grandpa, and always was begging for a horse. she wasn't allowed quite yet, but lee promised her she'd get one eventually.

he took her out hunting with him basically her whole life, teaching her the sacredness and also the practicality of it. she became obsessed with guns when she was eight, something you became especially worried about. you made him put extra locks on each case and then on the safe, the fear of her getting into them eating you alive. she complained about not being able to get a tag until she was twelve, but you thanked the state for it.

lee, of course, found a workaround where she began shooting bucks as big as the bed of his truck when she was only ten because it was on the dutton property - who was going to know? if she could love him anymore than she already did, she definitely did after that.

you kept it to the one kid, knowing she was all lee could really handle. and you were both happy to have her be the center of your worlds. and as much as some traditional montanans might argue that dutton ranch's succession should be male, anyone who met your daughter knew that that little ten year old was as much a cowboy as anyone on the ranch, following in the large footsteps of her grandpa and father with exactness.

jimmy:

jimmy was ecstatic when he learned you were pregnant, as nervous as it made him too. everything in his life was starting to work out; he'd figured out his dream job - to be a horse trainer, he had a good job, y'all had just gotten married, and he bought his first house right by the sixes.

"this is perfect," he told you, kissing your forehead as he smile widely. "everything is so perfect now, darlin'."

when you learned it was a girl that day at the doctor's office, he was even more ecstatic.

"our little cowgirl," you told him as he pulled you into his side.

"our little cowgirl," he nodded, a certain proud smile on his lips as he thought about what it'd be like raising a little cowgirl as a real cowboy now himself.

now that he had money, and good money too, he let himself go out and buy the baby all sorts of things, from cow printed blankets to little stuffed horses. you laughed when he came home one day with tiny little baby boots.

he put them on her as soon as she'd grown enough to give him the chance. he held her hands as he walked her around the room, the small girl bouncing a bit as she situated in her boots.

"i know they're kinda funny, hun," he hummed to her as she walked with him. "but, they're actually the best sort of shoe. you're gonna love 'em."

his favorite part of the day had always been coming home to you, but it was even better now that he had two people to come home to. and she loved her daddy, babbling with that big baby smile as she crawled to him. he'd always scoop her up into his arms and give her a big kiss on the cheek before walking through the rest of the house to find you.

he told her stories about the yellowstone ranch when he tucked her into bed, her favorite black and white spotted stuffed horse in her arms as she gazed up at him with a smile and big hazel eyes that mirrored his own.

when she got older, you started bringing her down to the arena to show her what exactly her daddy did. at that point, he was on travis' main team of show horse trainers, and he was happy to show off for his wife and little girl. she was always excited to watch him, hanging off the fence with a wide grin as you stood behind her, waving at your husband just as travis yelled at him to get back to work. it was the first time jimmy had ever really talked back to him, yelling not to curse when his daughter was around. travis never did it again and began to show off for the eight year old when she was around too.

she was spunky, way spunkier than jimmy was ready for and sassier than he ever had been. "she gets this from you."

when she went to travis asking for her own horse and better lessons, her brows raised and arms crossed over her chest, jimmy nearly had a heart attack. he dismounted his horse, crossing to his daughter but not making it before travis responded.

"what do i get if i do? horses aren't free, you know."

"a new trainer," she answered, nodding at him firmly. "i've seen y'all do this my whole life. i've rode my whole life. just gimme a shot."

at the ripe age of ten, she'd managed to convince travis wheaton to give her a horse, let her dad teach her, and the opportunity to stay on as she trained. travis laughed when he passed jimmy, shaking his head. "i hate to break it to you, but she ain't your kid, jimmy."

jimmy breathed a sigh of relief before he pulled her up onto his horse, shaking his head and rolling his eyes.

"you've really got to talk to me about things like that before you just do it," he said. "that's my boss, you know that?"

"he ain't my boss," she laughed, kissing her dad on the cheek.

spencer dutton:

spencer had always wanted kids. and ever since he met you he knew he wanted to have them with you. but, life as a hunter in africa was dangerous enough as it is that you both agreed to wait.

life had other plans.

well, you weren't exactly careful, for one, and for two birth control was iffy, so you should've seen it coming sooner or later. it probably should've been later, but what the hell.

he decided that was the right time to quit being a predator hunter then and did what he could to get you both back to montana, hopefully before you popped. you didn't argue - you wanted to be home when you had your baby too. he took excellent care of you on each ship, each town, and on the train west, ensuring you always had water and foods that didn't make you want to throw up, being a constant pillow for when your body decided it needed a nap, and paying for the most comfortable accommodations the different vessels had.

you didn't know the gender of the baby until after you had her. you were exhausted, but spencer had been right by your side the whole way through, smoothing your hair back and cooling you down with a wet cloth as cara coached you through it.

the look on his face when cara exclaimed it was a girl was one you would never forget; a mixture between love, adoration, and excitement, and fear, protectiveness, and anxiety.

he coddled that baby girl. every night, he spent hours cooing to her as he rocked in the rocking chair his father had built when he was just a baby. he told her stories about cowboying and africa, sang her lullabies cara used to sing to him, and never missed an opportunity to kiss her sweet chubby cheeks.

"you're so good with her," you mumbled to him one night as you sat on his lap in the chair, head tucked into his neck as he held you in one arm and the baby in the other. "how do you do it?"

"i don't know," he whispered, glancing at you with a gentle smile before you both returned your gazes to your daughter. "loving her comes as easily to me as loving you. it's as natural as anything i've ever felt."

"so it's just instinct that helps you calm her in any situation?" you asked.

"well, i can't calm her in every situation," he said with a quiet chuckle. "you've got the only solution sometimes. but, yeah. i guess in other ways it is."

then things got worse with whitfield and the ranch. she was older then, about six, and spencer made sure she knew to never go anywhere alone, to scream for help if she ever saw anyone she didn't know on the ranch (because she knew and adored literally every cowboy working for jacob), and to run. fast.

and she was fast. like, surprisingly fast. she took great pleasure in challenging spencer and jack and jacob to races. spencer and jack always pretended to let her win, and so did jacob, but after he got shot she actually did start to win. when he was told to walk around to get better, she thought she would be encouraging by walking right by his side a little faster than he was able to. it did actually get him moving quicker, but cara was constantly rolling her eyes as she did it.

when she got older, of course spencer taught her how to shoot and hunt.

"this is what daddy did before you were born, princess," he told her as he helped her line up the sight to the target.

"kill things?" she asked, raising her brows. you laughed as you sat to the side, watching in amusement.

he cleared his throat, his brows furrowing a bit. "well, i mean, yes, but i was protecting people from animals that wanted to hurt them. and other times getting food for the family."

"so, do i have to get food for the family now?" she asked, looking down at the gun. he laughed.

"you don't have to, no," he reassured. "i just wanted to show you. it's something i love to do, and something to protect you. that's why mama knows."

"mama knows?"

"yes, i do, baby," you chimed in with a smile. "he showed me back when we were just teenagers. he's a lot better than me though, so you listen to him."

"can we shoot something real next time?" she asked, glancing back at spencer.

"maybe not next time, but when you get enough practice in then yeah," he answered.

"when is that?"

she had a lot of questions. and she always asked them. but, spencer was as even kiln as ever, so patient when he responded to her and made sure her curious little mind found the answers it needed.

but, whenever you thought of spencer as a father, there was always one night that came to mind. she was probably four and it was way past her bedtime. y'all had put her to sleep maybe ten times before she finally stayed in her room and you left to hopefully get some rest.

except spencer turned on the radio. you'd just gotten it the day before and were so excited about it and when he flicked it on, some slow, country tune was playing through it. he took you in his arms then, holding you close to his chest with his lips on your temple, swaying you both gentle along to the tune.

you were smiling the whole time, letting him twirl you once before bringing you in close again. only a few minutes into your impromptu slow dancing, your door was pushed open and in walked your toddler.

there was no shouting or frustrated demand for her to go back to sleep, even though that was very tempting given your last hundred tries to have her do just that. instead, spencer pressed a kiss to your head and twirled you out of his arms as he moved to scoop her up instead. he held her up with one arm, his other holding her hand as he spun slowly in circles.

"if i let you dance with mommy and me will you stay in bed?" he said, raising his brows as he met the eyes that matched his. she giggled, nodding as he kissed her cheek. "okay, then let's dance baby."

you leaned up against the bed frame, watching them with crossed arms and a smile as the music played through the small radio. he met your eyes and his smile grew, slowly spinning his way over to you. releasing your daughter's hand, he took yours instead and pulled you in close. his hand moved to your waist and soon you had your arms wrapped around him and your baby girl as he held her between you, swaying slowly.

as the song ended, he twirled you and then spun himself to earn a giggle from the toddler before setting her down and taking her small hand to give her a twirl as well.

your heart was so full in that moment. when he returned from tucking her in for the (hopefully) last time, you kissed him slowly, pulling away with a soft smile.

"you're a good dad, spencer," you told him. he shrugged, pulling you back in to hold you in a gentle embrace.

"you're a good mom. you make it easy for me."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

thanks for reading! leave a request in the comments or message me privately! i love writing, so if you've got an idea you need fleshed out on paper i'd love to be the one to do that for you

masterlist!!

[ivy09]

I hate when I’m specifically looking for fluff and the only thing that pops up is smut

[bullet-prooflove]

Could I request Yellowstone boys looking after a drink significant other please?x

Ryan is probably the one that got you in trouble in the first place and he assumes complete for responsibility for that. He's the one giving you a piggy back if your feet hurt or carrying you from the truck to the house because you took your shoes off in the car. You always get a little frisky and Ryan's always a gentleman, kissing your fingertips and telling you tomorrow, when your sober. He tucks you into bed, kisses your forehead before collecting your shoes and any miscellaneous items of clothing you’ve slung around and making sure they’re in a place you can find them.

Travis thinks you’re fucking adorable when you’re drunk. It doesn’t happen often but when it does he’s there for it. You always get super affectionate, flirty and silly and he loves it. Gives you entire attention even if you are chatting shit. Travis is very protective and keeps an eye on you, not because he doesn’t trust you but because he’s spent years on the rodeo circuit and he knows assholes, hell he’s been that asshole. Anyone shows to much of an interest, he’s literally getting between the two of you and telling that fella you’re taken and to fuck off.

When the two of you get home, he helps you get into one of his t-shirts and climbs into bed alongside you. You spend the night curled up against him as his fingers comb through your hair.

Rip’s experience of drunks before you was Beth. You are far more easy to handle. You’re a lot more controlled and don’t go completely off the rails. When Rip is picking you up, he always requests that you stay inside the bar because he hates the thought of you being out in the cold, and he also knows that bad things happen to woman in dark parking lots.

When he steps inside he usually watches you for a minute. If your dancing, he’s coming over to join you before he takes you home, if a guy’s anywhere near you he’s stepping in to protect his territory. He has no chill when it comes to you.

When he gets you in the truck, he has the music low because he knows you like to sing a long and the heating on because it gets cold. He asks you about your night, if you had fun.

In the house he makes you drink some water, give you a snack and tucks you into bed before making sure the house is completely locked up and joining you.

Walker thinks you're the cutest thing. The two of you dance and sing together in the parking lot, he doesn't give a shit who sees, he just likes having you in his arms. Let's you wear his hat because he thinks you look adorable in it.

The dancing continues at home and ends up with the two of you falling you asleep on the couch together, Walker singing you to sleep.

Kayce is all smiles when he comes to pick you up especially if it looks like you’re having a lot of fun. He drapes one arm around your shoulders and kisses your temple.

“Oh hey darlin, you ready to go…” type of thing.  

Keeps you tucked into his side in the parking a lot, it’s a territorial thing he doesn’t even realise he does, a way of keeping you safe. You usually fall asleep in the truck in the way home. He tucks his jacket around you for the journey, checking on you as he drives. He hates waking you up so he carries you into the house and puts you to bed, leaving a glass of water on the night stand.

Jamie loves to see you have fun, he’s addicted to your smile, your happiness. When he comes to the bar, he sticks around a while, watching you dance and laugh. He discreetly pays your bar tab before cutting in for a dance. Jamie just loves around you, so one dance turns into three more.

When he does get you home he’s very sweet and tender as he undresses you. Lingering teasing kisses as he helps you into your pyjamas. When he climbs into bed a long side you, the two of you stay up laughing while you tell him about your night. You fall asleep, draped across him, mid-sentence and Jamie just hugs you close.

[misquoted-chronicles]

Y/n: Here's your cup of warm coffee, Rip.

Rip: It's cold.

Y/n: Cup of coffee.

Rip: I'm not even sure if it's coffee.

Y/n: Cup.

[pileofboneswrites]

IN THE WIND.

SUMMARY — loosely inspired by the song cheyenne by ian munsick. every year he never asks anything from you, resigned to the routine you've created; you pull into the yellowstone, park your trailer, and spend all your time with him, and then when august rolls around you pack it all in, and leave. this year, instead of dancing around the heartache, he [and a few others] ask you to stay.

PAIRING — fem!reader x lee dutton

WORD COUNT — 4.1k

WARNINGS — established friends with benefits type relationship, lee has been in love with reader since they met, pinning, allusions to smut, lee watches reader get dressed – reader puts on a show, no use of y/n — everyone calls her honey as a nickname, mentions of heartbreak, mentions of murder (not overly graphic), mentions of past abuse, angst

MASTERLIST | YELLOWSTONE

you put your truck in park, tucked along the side of the house like you always do. you open the trailer up, lead you horse peaches out into the fenced off area out front, and then wander up the front steps and into the house. you kick off your boots, and pad through the hallway, taking in the view from the living room windows. you enter the open concept kitchen, grabbing a beer and setting to work on tidying up. you start with the dishes, there aren't as many as there were last time.

next, you sweep, the build up of dirt he's tracked into the house has you frowning. after, you throw laundry in — your own clothes first of course. next is vacuuming, followed by grabbing the load of groceries from your cold box in your truck. lastly, you step into the shower, watching the setting sun as you deep condition your hair and shave your legs. when you wrap yourself in your towel you hear the front door open, a pair of boots falling heavily on the hardwood floor.

"honey," lee breathes out, a wide smile on his face as he steps into the warm room, and enveloping you in his arms, his lips latching onto your own.

"hi," you giggle, through pecks to your lips, followed by him slipping his tongue into your mouth.

you allow it for a few moments, relishing in his closeness. you untangle yourself from him, making him frown cutely at you. you give him a teasing smile, and peck him on the lips once more.

"i just swept, and washed those floors of yours, lee dutton. i'm not impressed," you slip past him in your bath towel, tsking at him as you go.

"i'm sorry honey, allow me to make it up to you," he says, a devious smile on his lips, as he follows you into his bedroom.

he catches you by the end of the bed, arms circling your waist as he pulls you flush with his chest. you look up at him throughout your eye lashes, and he bites his lip looking down into your eyes. he dips his head, resting his forehead on your shoulders, his lips ghosting over your collarbone. you want so badly to give in, but you have plans tonight.

"sorry cowboy," you murmur, pushing him away, turning towards his closet—where you keep a sizable amount of your clothes. "you need to shower, and get dressed."

"dressed? for what?" he groans dropping onto the end of the bed, slipping off his boots.

"the carnival? you promised tate last summer we'd be there to ride on the rollercoaster with him?" you say, glancing at him over your shoulder.

"you remember that?" he asks, rasing an eyebrow at you.

you giggle, dropping your towel to put on your underwear. lee moans quietly at the view of your naked body. you slowly pull them up, bending over to give him a full view of your bum. he sucks in a sharp breath, eyes never leaving your skin as you tease him.

you nod, "i do, and he's only text me about it everyday since – so y'know, it'd be hard to forget."

"yeah..." he agrees with you absentmindedly, eyes clinging to your chest as you twist your bra around your chest pulling it up. "hard to– hard to forget."

you make a show of putting your arms through the straps, and pulling the cups up. lee hangs off your every move, his fascination with your body not ending even with your boobs covered. his eyes rake up and down your figure, his eyes dark, and his bottom lip betweeen his teeth as he works through something silently. you feel smug with satisfaction as you step closer, slinging one leg over either side of his hips. you sit on his lap, wrapping your arms around his shoulders, bringing his attention back up to your face.

"baby," you whisper, lips ghosting over his.

"mhmm," he hums, hands landing on your hips.

"you promised,"

he nods, "i did,"

"but?"

his grip on your hips tightens, briefly, then retract.

"nothing, honey, i can wait." he leans in closer to your ear, "but tonight, i'm not going to be able to stop myself."

a shiver goes up your spine, goosebumps exploding over your arms. you missed that. he easily lifts you off his lap, setting you beside him. he stands, heading into the bathroom to shower, the door clicking closed calmly behind him. you sit there, surprised by his show of restraint. he doesn't normally do that, normally he would have had your face pressed into the mattress in a seconds notice. after taking a second to collect yourself, you stand up, and walk back over to the closet.

you pick out a dark green summer dress, a pair of brown cowboy boots in better shape than the ones you'd worn here. you grab a cardigan, and a cowboy hat that matches your boots. you then go back into the kitchen, and grab your cellphone from where you'd left it charging. two missed messages from monica dutton long.

hi aunt honey it's tate! excited to see you and uncle lee tonight rollercoster here we come!

hey, it's monica, just wanted to let you and lee know we'll be by the ticket booth. tate's very excited, see you at 9.

ten minutes pass, and lee is walking down the hallway. he's wearing a button that coincidentally matches your dress, his good hat and his best boots. he looks refreshed, the stress of the day washed away, and a easy smile on his face.

"well don't you look handsome," you smile, stepping into his embrace.

he kisses you deeply, your knees go weak, his arm sliding around your back steadying you. he smirks into your lips, and you pull back rolling your eyes playfully at him. you forgot how much you enjoyed being here, being with him.

"honey, you are the most beautiful woman i have ever met; dressed up like this, or covered in sweat and dirt from a long day."

your heartaches at his confession; it's temporary, you'll be gone again come the end of august. then the cycle continues. you smile, enjoy it now. lee's always been your favourite, it's why you keep coming back. he always knows what to say to make your knees weak, and how to break your heart.

"we'd better go," you say, ignoring the disappointment in his eyes as you walk away.

you're always walking away.

"i had so much fun!" tate yells, hoisting the matching bear to yours over his head.

"and now he's going to take forever to get to sleep tonight," monica laughs, "thanks for the sugar rush, aunt honey."

"pshhh, he'll crash the minute you get him in the truck." you reply, "and no problem, i live for these moments,"

"it was good seeing you, honey." monica says, pulling you into a hug.

"you too mon, we need to get coffee before i leave." you tell her, giving her a light squeeze.

"why don't you stay?" she asks, watching as tate makes a beeline for the truck, climbing into the backseat as kayce follows behind him, chatting with lee.

"i can't," you can't tear your eyes away from lee's back as he talks with his youngest sibling, which doesn't go unnoticed by his sister-in-law.

"why not? you and lee act like a married couple and besides; you're perfect for each other." her tone is gentle, like she's talking to an easily spooked animal.

"because..." you debate telling her the truth, the real reason you run every year, and your heart wins out over your rational thinking. "i know that he'll always be there this way, i don't think he'd want me if he had me fulltime."

"how could you possibly think that? lee looks at you like you personally hung the moon, sun and stars. he's so in love with you," she says, smiling softly at you. "you have to know that by now. he turns into a completely different person when you're gone."

"i know he is, i see it in the way he looks at me. i just– i'm terrified of ruining what we have. i'm not an easy person to love, i've been told that my whole life; i'm impulsive, stubborn, bossy, rude, selfish.... he doesn't deserve someone like that. he deserves someone who's sweet, and kind, and... good." you say, "someone like him."

"i don't know... the way you describe yourself; that's not the person i see. i see someone so full of love, and life, someone that helps others no matter what, honey, i've literally seen you give someone the shirt off your back. whoever's pumped your head full of that hate, was trying to convince you you're evil, when you're not. you're none of those things."

"i appreciate that, i'm not sure you're entirely right, but thank you." you shoot her a half smile, and squeeze her shoulder before you break away, walking towards lee's truck.

he meets you halfway, entwining your fingers, and pulling you closer.

he smiles at you, "that was fun,"

"i knew you'd have a good time,"

"thank you for making me come tonight,"

"thank you for winning me a big ass teddy bear," you reply, holding the giant black bear. "i love him, and i'm going to call him dusty,"

"dusty, eh?" he qestions, pulling your door open for you.

"do you have any better ideas?" you quiry, sliding into your seat.

he leans against the passenger door, his head tilted to the side as he thinks. after a few seconds he shakes his head, ducking down to kiss you once. twice. three times before closing the door and walking around to the drivers side.

"wanna grab a pizza on the way?" he asks, and you nod excitedly. "barneys?"

"barneys!" you say it at the same time, and he laughs, patting your left thigh.

three weeks later, you're sitting in one of the muskoka chairs up by the main house, a blanket over your legs as you and tate roast marshmallows.

"yours is burning!" tate says, pointing to your marshmallow.

"i love them burnt!" you reply, watching as it catches fire.

"that's weird," tate makes a face, "burnt ones are gross,"

"nuh-huh, they're the best!"

"no! golden ones are!"

"ewwww," comes lee's voice from behind the two of you, "marshmallows? gross!"

"i agree with you there," kayce says, from his chair across the fire pit.

"i second it, too sweet." john adds from beside kacey, and tate looks shocked.

"grandpa! you don't like marshmallows?"

john shakes his head, a disgusted look on his face.

"that's devastating," tate says, and monica lets out a snort of laughter.

"who taught you that word?" she asks, trying to keep a straight face as he stares her down.

"aunt honey, she says it a lot." tate shrugs, turning back to the fire.

monica gives you a quizzical look, as lee sits down beside you, between your chair and hers on your right side. so i don't say fuck in front of your kid, you mouth at her, and she nods in understanding.

"cause i'm trying not to corrupt you," you add, wrapping an arm around his shoulders to give him a quick hug.

"yeah, besides, his dad does a good enough job on his own." lee chuckles making kayce roll his eyes, and flip his brother off while tate's looking away.

"how long are you down for now?" john asks, when the conversation dies down.

your eyes snap to lee, who's looking staight ahead into the darkness. monica and kayce exchange a look before they both take turns glancing at you, and lee.

"uh, 'm not sure just yet," you say awkwardly, your shoulders tensing automatically.

you feel like a dear caught in the headlights. john nods, his attention being stolen by rip who materializes next to him. feeling like john just smacked you, you excuse yourself, wrapping your blanket around your shoulders, and making your way to lee's house. you sit out on the steps, thinking about what you were doing. i'm not good for lee. staying would be a mistake, it would ruin what we have. then i'd be all alone again. you're not sure how long you'd been sat alone, staring off into the dark when you hear lee's boots crunching gravel.

"you okay?" you ask him, and his eyebrows pull together in confusion.

"i'm fine, are you, okay?"

you force yourself to nod, "of course,"

he reaches out for your hand, and you immediately give it to him, allowing him to guide you up into the house. you shed your uggs, blanket, jacket, sweatpants and sweater, when you enter his bedroom. you crawl into bed, pulling the blankets up and waiting for him to crawl in next to you. he does, turning the lights off, and shimmying close to you. you rest your head on his chest, and even after you hear his soft snoring, you can't fall alseep. you lay there, eyes closed trying to sleep, but then the first ray of light speaks into the room.

before you know it, it's six am, and lee's softly shifting you over so he can go shower. you stare up at the ceiling, unmoving. the room is still dark, and when he steps out of the bathroom, towel around his hips, and his hair dripping wet. you pretend to be sleeping when he leans over the bed to give your temple a quick kiss, before he heads down to the bunkhouse. you lie there, staring up at the ceiling, your mind racing. you met lee at a bar in town when you were eighteen, you'd been passing through, on your way to your next race, when he'd caught your eye.

you ended up spending the month curled up in his sheets, praying that it would never end. but like all good things in your life, it did. you'd had a blow out fight about something ridiculous, and after he fell asleep that night you left. you found yourself passing through the following summer, part of you praying you'd see him again. and you did. he sat perched on a bar stool, chatting with rip and two other hands from the ranch. rip saw you first, a knowing smile on his lips, then the other two—who you later came to know as colby and ryan—their conversation fizzled out quickly.

lee had stood, ready to leave for the night, but when he twisted around on that bar stool, he saw you standing there. a smile broke out on his face, and the next thing you knew, you were face down on his mattress, and all was forgotten. it was a cycle that repeated itself for years, this being your tenth summer returning to yellowstone. you couldn't help yourself, there was just something so magnetic about him. you couldn't stay away even if you tried. you show up, play house, counting down the days until a fight breaks out and then you disappear like leaves in the wind.

this time something was different though. everyone around you seemed to be trying to get you to stay. you'd had conversations with kayce, beth, tate, monica and even rip. that was the one you kept rolling over the most. you'd had a similar childhood as he did, but instead of you ending things, your father took your mother and two younger sister's lives then his own. you were seventeen. the only things you had left after that, was your horse, peaches, your truck and trailer. other than some clothes, that was all. you were a traveller, rarely staying in one spot long enough to form any meaningful connections.

lee and the dutton's were an anomaly to that. maybe that was why you always came back, but you couldn't be sure. rip had intercepted you just before supper one night, and despite never having had a much of a real conversation (besides small talk) in your ten years as acquaintances, you sat and listened to what he had to say. rip being a man of few words, had talked to–well more like at you–for twenty minutes. in that time, he'd managed to make you really wonder if running was the best option. you can only run for so long, eventually you'll be too old too, and then what? what would you have to show for it?

you phone goes off on the nightstand, and you sigh, forcing yourself to sit up. monica dutton long. you hit answer, and greet her.

"sorry, were you sleeping?"

"no, no, you're fine. what can i do for you?"

"tate was hoping you'd be up for a ride, i've packed a picnic, and kayce and lee said they'd meet us for lunch."

"sure, that sounds fun," you smile softly, your head screaming, see? you'd miss this if you left. you always do. "i'll get peaches ready, and meet you down at the barn,"

"awesome, tate's already excited. see you down there,"

you hang up, and slide out of bed. your feet hit the hard wood floor, and you go through your routine. you brush your teeth, put on a ballcap, and then throw on a t-shirt, jeans and your boots. you grab a bag of the cookies you bakes yesterday, and jump onto the four wheeler lee leaves for you so you can get around the far without using your truck. over the years, you've noticed that lee gets weird about your truck. it's probably because anytime you go near it, you're usually hauling ass out of yellowstone. you blink away the thought, and head down towards the barn.

lloyd is standing in the bunkhouse doorway when you park the four wheeler, "coffee?"

"oh, yes please." you nod, and he disappears inside returning moments later with a mug for you. "thanks, lloyd."

"you're welcome sweetheart," he smiles at you, and the pair of you stand in a comfortable silence, enjoying your coffee. "y'know, it's nice seeing you around here again,"

the guilt you've felt since you stepped into lee's house flairs back to life, and you nod, forcing a small smile. you go to walk towards the stall's, and he catches your elbow pulling you back.

"i know you've heard it a lot since you got back," he says, staring you down, "but everytime you leave; it's like lee loses part of him... you know that saying, "behind every good man, there's a great woman"? lee needs his great woman around. he needs you around,"

your eyes fill with tears, and you're sobbing before you have much of a chance to try and keep yourself together. lloyd's eyes go wide, and if you weren't losing your mind, you'd have laughed. he guides you into the bunkhouse, closing the door behind him. you plop down at the table, and try to calm yourself. lloyd stares at you, waiting patiently.

"i'm sorry," you mumble, using the shoulder of your shirt to wipe your eyes. "i don't know why that happened,"

"i didn't mean to push you," lloyd tells you, a look of guilt in his eyes.

"no, oh god no, please don't. this isn't your fault. i just..." you trail off looking at your feet. "can i vent for a minute?"

he nods, pulling out a chair and sitting beside you, "please,"

"i come from a pretty fucked up family," you start, lee doesn't even know about what happened to your family. you liked it that way, because every time you give someone an insight into your background, their perspective changed and they started treating you like glass. "i mean, who's isn't? mine... well, mine is a different kind of fucked up. my dad snapped one night, murdered my mom, two baby sisters, and then killed himself. no one's really sure why he did it; he was abusive as shit, sure, but that– that was a kind of rage he never displayed before. he didn't leave a note, he just did it, and then shot himself in the head. go figure the old bastard went the easy way,"

you sigh leaning forward resting your head in your hands, "i started running that night. i'd snuck out to see a boy, and came home to find them all dead. i just took off. had i not snuck out, i would be just like them. i don't have friends, i don't have any family, i've tried to keep to myself but when i met lee... my desire to be isolated changed. i just wanted to be with him. when i'm not here, all i can think about is whether he's safe or not. he's all i think about, but... my dad made it incredibly clear to me growing up that i was a burdern, unlovable, worthless, a waste of space... that kind of thing is difficult to just forget. he told me that everyday, for seventeen years. the scariest part of it all, is that i have my father's rage. i don't want to be like him, but i'm terrified that if i'm too close, i won't see it and it'll be too late."

you look up at lloyd, tears in your eyes, "he told me i wasn't worth loving, and i believe him. i hate leaving, i'm tired of it, but i'm terrified."

someone clears their throat from the doorway, the pair of you jumping at the noise. you turn your head, and see lee standing there, clutching the doorknob so tightly his fingers turn white. lloyd clears his throat, and stands, leaning down only to give your hand a light squeeze. lloyd leaves, and lee closes the door. it takes four long strides before lee is pulling you to your feet by your elbow, and crashing his lips to yours. you're surprised by the action, but melt into his touch. when the pair of you pull apart, breathing heavily, he rests his forehead against yours.

"i love you," he breaths, "you are worthy of love, you deserve happiness, and you are good."

your eyes water, again.

"how do you know i'm not a monster?" you whisper.

"because i know you. you bake cookies when you can't sleep, you pick up spiders and take them outside instead of killing them despite the fact that you're terrified of them, you close your eyes every time you see roadkill because it makes you sad that an animal died, you'd sooner adopt every animal than see them suffer, cute animals excite you, you're scared of thunder but always put on a brave face for tate because you don't want him to freak out, you hold doors open for everyone, and pay for peoples groceries or meal if they can't afford it. you are light, you are warmth, you are so damn good."

you bury your face in his chest, sobbing uncontrollably as he holds you tightly. never in the ten years that lee has known you, has he ever seen your eyes water, let alone see you cry. someone knocks softly on the door, and then monica pokes her head in.

"oh, sorry– i was just going to ask if you guys were ready, but if now doesn't work–"

"no, now's good," you say, pulling your face away from his chest. "we were just–"

"she's staying," lee cuts you off, and she lets out an excited squeal.

"i have to tell kayce and tate!" she says, quickly disappearing.

you look up at him through red, swollen eyes, a teasing smile on your lips.

"i'm staying am i?" you ask wrapping your arms around his back. "'cause last i checked, you're the only one who hasn't asked me to stay."

"hasn't?" he echoes, an embarrassed look on his face as he looks down at you.

"oh yeah, your family was on me the minute i pulled in. you just happened to catch me in the aftermath of lloyd asking me."

"even rip?"

you nod, "especially rip. i think he had me convinced, but i wanted to hear it from you before i made my final decision."

he looks into your eyes, a serious look you've never seen before sliding over his features, "stay, please."

"okay," you whisper, not breaking eye contact, as his lips twitch up.

"marry me?" he says next, "please."

despite how badly he's caught you off guard, you find yourself immediately nodding, a wide smile crossing your face as he grabs you and spins you. you giggle, and he laughs, the pair of you hugging each other tightly.

"i love you," you tell him, "i love you so damn much, and i'm sorry for not you telling you sooner."

"it's ok, because we know now. that's good enough for me."

you nod, "me too."

[romaevelizz]

Sandpaper ˖ ࣪⊹

Carter Dutton-Wheeler & oc!Crystal Maverick

1.) Miss Mav

sum: June had finally started meaning people would be coming and going from the ranch. Carter was excited to watch cowboys come and go from the ranch. Little did he know he’d be meeting a family friend that would be staying for the summer. The bunkhouse quickyly giving him shit for his little girl crush, little did he know just how close this family friend was.

warnings: cursing, Orginal characters! non-canon storyline! Not thoroughly proofread.

The sun had not yet begun to rise, casting a soft, dusky light over the rugged mountain peaks, but Carter was already awake and preparing for the day ahead. The scent of coffee mingled with the aroma of sizzling bacon wafted through the air as the bunkhouse came to life. The morning air was filled with a quiet anticipation, and conversations were just starting to bubble up among the occupants. Carter moved through the small, cluttered space, collecting his thoughts and his breakfast. He glanced at his bunkmates with a hint of amusement. Teeter was playfully flirting with Colby, herthick accent ringing out like a bright chime, while Colby, his cheeks flushed with joy, grinned from ear to ear, clearly enjoying the attention. In another corner, Lloyd and Ryan were engaged in their usual banter, teasing Jake mercilessly as they sipped their steaming cups of coffee. Carter couldn’t help but chuckle at their antics, feeling a warmth in his chest as camaraderie filled the room.

The atmosphere shifted slightly as Rip made his entrance, his presence commanding immediate attention. A hush fell over the bunkhouse as everyone turned to see what was planned for the day. He moved purposefully, and when he reached Carter, he offered a reassuring pat on the shoulder. It was a simple gesture, yet it spoke volumes about their relationship. Carter met Rip’s gaze with a grateful smile, in many ways, Rip had become more of a father to Carter than his biological dad ever was. With every shared moment and every word, Rip had given Carter a sense of belonging and support that he had longed for. As the day began to unfold, Carter felt a deep sense of gratitude for this second chance ata life.

“Alright, well be having people coming in today I need bout, four stalls cleaned and set up,” he spoke up his gaze shifting to Carter as he said the last part. “We have family coming in needles to say, some of y'all know 'em and some of ya will just be meeting them. They're guest of Mr. Dutton treat them with respect.” he finished off the team nodding.

Carter cast a wary glance around, trying to gauge who was approaching. Rip had just wrapped up giving orders, and one by one, the others began to disperse, their footsteps echoing against the ground. With a sense of purpose, Carter moved to the stable, quickly getting to work on saddling the horses. As he tightened the girth and adjusted the stirrups, the distant rumble of a truck engine broke the stillness, its sound growing louder as it drew nearer. Finally seeing the truck it wasn't just one but two, two GMCs pulling horse trailers, one black, the other white. He let out a low whistle at the nice trucks. His eyes wandered curiously his gaze being shaped away hearing Rip yell at him.

“Boy! I need them stalled cleaned, get on it!” Rip hollered getting off his horse.

Without a moment's hesitation, Carter made his way directly to the stalls. The air was thick with the earthy scent of hay and the faint sound of rustling hooves. He rolled up his sleeves, he began to clear away the old bedding, gathering clumps of straw and manure into a wheelbarrow. The warmth of the sunlight filtering through the open barn door cast a golden hue on the wooden beams as he meticulously cleaned each stall, ensuring that everything was fresh and tidy for the animals that would stay in them. He heard the unfamiliar voices of people talking, the sound of hoves entering the barn getting louder before he stepped out of the stall. He Came face to face with a teenage boy his age, an older guy and Rip, bringing in three horses.

“This is Carter, he's mine,” Rip spoke half introducing him.

“Hello.” Carter smiled at the two.

“Hey! I'm Micheal, you can call me Mikey.” the younger boy introduced himself shaking Carter's hand. Mikey was pretty tall bout six feet like himself, he was black, his hair short clean fade on the sides but a hat backward on his head covering the small pit of hair he had on top. He seemed to be pretty strong a tone build not too skinny but a bit smaller than Carter. He wore a black tee shirt with a logo that Said ‘Maverick ranches’ inside a star, and some washed-out wranglers and boots.

“I am Elijah Maverick, his father. Thank you for cleaning up for us we got two other horses to bring in.” he smiled shaking the boy's hand. Now that was a big Man. He easily made Carter nervous though he was nothing but kind and even smiled at him, He was taller than his son and Rip maybe bout six-three, a dad-built with huge shoulders and arms he was muscular, to say the least. The Tan button-up shirt his sleeves rolled up with a different logo that Said Maverick Ranch kind of reminded him of the top gun logo but kinda different, but it was black showing the tattoo sleeves on his arms.

“Its a pleasure to meet you guys, do you need help with the other horses.” Carter asked wanting to be helpful.

Elijah let out a small chuckle at his eggness “No its alright, My daughter and her friend are out on them helping your cowboys for fun.” he spoke shaking his head.

He had a daughter? He thought meeting Mikeys eyes he asked “She older?”

Mikey scoffed “ She’ll tell you she is but only by like— seven minutes.” he rolled his eyes.

“Shes your twin? Wow that's cool.” Carter grinned.

“You could say” Mikey smiled, “you ride man?”

Carter nodded “Nice maybe you could show us around a bit haven't been here since we were kids.” Mikey explained.

“Sure id love too, but I don't get off till later this evening.” Carter shrugged.

“Hey no worries! We got some work to do, my sister in ropeing this summer so we got errans to run.”

She Ropes! The phrase hinted that she might rodeo a bit. The conversation between the three faded, and they stepped outside, with Carter trailing closely behind. He strolled toward the fence, where he could see them skillfully herding the cattle. His attention was immediately captured by an impressive all-black gelding, which glided smoothly across the landscape. Sitting atop the horse was a dark toned girl whose long, mixed-color braids of different browns and blonds were woven into a single, thick braid thatmoved as she maneuvered with practiced ease. She commanded the horse effortlessly, guiding the cattle with precision. She wore of a snug pink t-shirt with a Maverick Ranch logothe shirt highlighted her curved frame, paired with light-washed boot-cut True Religion jeans that hugged her legs comfortably. A pair of boots on her feet, complementing the rugged ensemble. Cinched around her waist was a stylish belt, adorned with a gleaming buckle—perhaps a trophy from a recent victory.

As Carter's gaze shifted to her face, he couldn’t help but notice how striking she was. A wide, radiant smile lit up her features, radiating confidence as she worked the herd. Her youthful appearance was enhanced by several piercings; both nostrils and ears displayed shimmering gold jewelry that suggested a sense of maturity. On her head was a light tan felt hat, which she adjusted with a quick flick of her hand as she turned to listen for her name being called in the distance.

“Well shit miss. Mav you can cowboy better than Jake here!” Lloyd complimented the young girl.

Her laughter bubbled up, bright and infectious, and it brought a small, genuine smile to Carter's face.

“Crystal, mere!” he heard a deep voice say next to him.

She quickly made her way over the fence, “Hi daddy!”

“Hi baby, wanna intriduce you to Carter, take it you met some of Rips new boys.”

She hummed nodding her head “But this is Carter, he Beth and Rips kid.” he spoke.

Carter watch as she raided a brow “They took me in.” he spoke up clearing her confusion.

“Ohhh- that makes a bit more since, Nice to meet you Carter! I'm Crystal, how old are you?” she asked quickly.

“Im 16 turn 17 in july.” he said.

“Nice! Bit older than Tate.” she spoke.

Her head looked over her shoulder again “Sorry I started helping them wanna finish up before I come out! But again it's nice to meet you good to know there are kids our age here so I wo t be stuck with those old farts.” she giggled motioning towards Lloyd and Jake.

He nodded “No worries I get it I gotta get back to work myself, nice to meet you Ma'am.”

She flashed him a radiant smile one final time before returning to her work, a gesture so warm and genuine that it felt contagious. Carter couldn’t help but feel the corners of his mouth tug upwards into a grin. The brightness of her expression seemed to light up the room, and perhaps it was a tad too apparent, as he caught Lloyd’s gaze across the space. Lloyd was watching him with a knowing chuckle, the corners of his lips twitching in amusement at Carter's unintentional display of infatuation.

“Don't let that sweet smile fool you, kid; she's quite the handful,” Elijah chuckled, a glimmer of mischief dancing in his eyes as he warned the young boy. His heart swelled with love for his daughter, a whirlwind of energy who had a delightful knack for turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. With her vibrant personality, she commanded attention wherever she went—her laughter rang out like a cheerful melody, and her outgoing nature was unmistakable.

Though her smile was disarmingly charming, Elijah knew that beneath that veneer lay a fierce spirit capable of surprising even the hardiest of souls. Her words often spilled forth without hesitation, and it was her fearless confidence that sometimes left adults taken aback. She could rope and ride with an expertise that rivaled seasoned cowboys, effortlessly outshining those who had spent years honing their craft. Every time she mounted her horse, it was as if the wild spirit of the West surged through her veins, and Elijah couldn’t help but beam with pride at the audacity and joy with which she embraced life.

“Common miss. Mav shows em whatcha got.” Walker spoke.

Carter's mind drifted as he pondered the unusual nickname, "Miss Mav." The curious title echoed in his thoughts, leaving him with a sense of intrigue. He couldn't help but wonder about its origin and what it revealed about her character. Yet, he decided to put that question aside for now, focusing instead on the moment at hand.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow across the landscape, the day began to draw to a close. The Mavericks had ventured out for a while, promising to return later, leaving behind a lively atmosphere in the bunkhouse. Inside, the boys gathered, their laughter echoing off the wooden walls as they shared stories and teased one another. Teeter, seemed particularly taken with Crystal, affectionately referring to her as “my girl.” The friendly ribbing continued as they playfully jabbed at Jake, tasing that the young girl had outdone him in their cowboy activities that day.

Carter still curios he was still a bit out of the loop regarding the Mavericks. When he inquired about them, Lloyd took the opportunity to share tales of their impressive ranch located up in Oregon, not quite as expansive as Yellowstone, but substantial nonetheless. He painted a vivid picture of the Tillamook area, where the Mavericks cultivated a diverse array of animals—goats, chickens, and horses. This conversation reignited the question that had been lingering in Carte's mind,.

“Why do you guys call her ‘Miss. Mav’?” he asked.

Lloyed chuckled “Just respect really, a nickname that has been with her for years. She was a bossy thing when she was younger and hung around here. Shit I mean she still is. They call her that in the rodeo to just kinda stuck Mr. Dutton started it really.” he finished.

Carter nodded, his gaze drifting away from Lloyd, his thoughts lingering on their recent interaction. He recalled the moment when she was putting her horse away, a vivid picture in his mind. Her spirited chatter had flowed effortlessly, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being scrutinized, as if he were in the hot seat. The way she tilted her head, a delicate movement that drew attention to the soft curves of her features, captivated him. Her eyes, bright and intent, locked onto his with a piercing focus, making him acutely aware of every word he uttered. An unsettling mix of nerves and intrigue bubbled within him, leaving him both breathless and contemplative.

He watched her as she bikers with her horse as one would with a person made him laugh, “Why do argue with him like he can understand you.” Carter asked laughing a bit and closing the stall as she stepped out.

“Hes like a giant dog who has no manners.” she scoffed glaring at her horse.

He chuckled a bit watching the horse wander around the unfamiliar stall before sticking his head out and going for her hat. Crystal quickly grabbing her hat from him, “Can you not! Can't you see in having a conversation!”

Her horse shook his head almost in a mocking manner “Take it he's a handful when y'all aren't actually showing?”

“Handful is an understatement Theo is a Boy dog with leg extensions.” she laughed a bit.

Their eyes met, “so whatcha doing tonight Carter?” she asked putting her hand behind her back.

Carter scracthed his neck nervously as she stepped a bit closer to him, “Well.. Uh nothin much, just plan on turning in for the night having dinner with my family tonight.”

She hummed “ Ouu sounds fun so ill see you at dinner then! Maybe after-”

“Cryst! Let's go!” Mikey yelled into the barn, his voice stopped quickly seeing them close.

“Hey! You leave that poor boy alone!” Mikey yelled.

Her head shaped over to her brother scoffing “Shut up Michael! Can't I have friends!” she finish shoot ping her hands up in a shrug expression.

“Carter run while you can!” he spoke, a small playful scream leaving him as he quickly ran back as he saw his sister start to move towards him.

She looked back quickly waving at Carter and smiling at him “Bye Carter I’ll see you at dinner!” she spoke quickly before turning back and running out of the barn.

Coming back out of though he laughed a bit to himself his eyes looking up meeting Ryans. He sat up quickly looking around “ What?” he asked.

“Oh nothing, just watching you smile to yourself over there like a lil weirdo.” Ryan spoke shrugging his shoulders.

“What no! Am I really?” he asked quickly.

“Ye’ yet are” Teeter grinned, “Thinkin’ bout’ lil miss Mav huh?” Teeter spoke to the boy.

Carter shook he head standing up “No its not like that, just not used to talking to kids my age and having some around is nice..”

Lloyd hummed mockingly “mmhmm, Thats why you waited a hole hour after just to unsaddle her horse.”

“I was being nice.”

The bunkhouse erupted into a chorus of laughter, the sound echoing off the wooden walls. A playful teasing filled the air as the boy, his cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and delight, exchanged glances with his obvious crush. It was to early to say he had any actual feelings toward her but he'd be lying if he said he didn't grin when thinking about her.

The bunkhouse fell to a hush as Beth entered the house, “Baby lets go we have guest tonight.” she spoke motioning to him.

Carter looked back at everyone “Not a word..” he mouthed, the cowboys only laughing lowly as he left.

Getting in Beths car she looked over at him. “I need you to take a shower when we get up to the house okay? Gotta be a bit presentable.” grabbing his head kissing the side of it, “You smell like horse shit.” she smiled before starting the car heading up to the house.

This was bound to be an interesting dinner.

tags:

@nomournersonefuneral

[moonlight-joy]

MASTERLIST

YELLOWSTONE Masterlist

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Masterlist

KRAVEN THE HUNTER Masterlist

CRIMINAL MINDS Masterlist

BRIDGERTON Masterlist

[letsgobarbs]

kinda wanted to read some damn John Dutton fic pls but there's only ones of young john which is fine or whatever but like… don't be cowards… give me the peepaw fics. john dutton is a gilf and the fandom needs to own it I just need a fix pls and stop making Beth so whiny in fanfiction she's a boss an icon if you will but more importantly I need the older john dutton fics like rn rn

[supergirl000983]

Yellowstone How you Kiss

Rip

Kayce

Lee

Travis

John

Ryan

Colby

Jimmy

Walker

Jamie

[bellarkeselection]

Request

Reader dutton x rip wheeler

Reader has a Stalker one night when the ranch is out doing something reader is alone at the ranch and the Stalker comes attacks her and rip gets a call from kayce after finding her

He’ll go to the Train Station

Officially finished with all the requests in my ask box 😊

Coming back from town I shut the drivers door to my truck and gasped seeing someone I thought was gone from my life for good. Twisting the fabric of my jacket I gulped recognizing my ex boyfriend Mike who had to leave home when his mother got really sick. But he couldn’t get over the fact that I wouldn’t leave my family home to be with him. Mike was leaned up against the wooden post smiling at me yet all I felt from him was terror now. “Long time no see huh Y/n. I’ve been missing you something horrible in case you were wondering.”

“I’m not sorry to say that I haven’t missed you. What exactly are you doing here, Mike?” I questioned him crossing my arms across my chest slowly walking towards him but I avoided his gaze for the most part.

He pushed himself off the wooden stair railing coming toward me until we were almost pressed up against one another and I could smell some alcohol on his breath. “You should know exactly why I am here. I mean we did spend almost four years together. If my mother hadn’t gotten sick then I would have never left you and your beautiful body-“

“Don’t touch me, Mike. I thought you would have got my message after I ignored your hundreds of texts and the picture of me that I’m not even sure how you got them when you were supposed to be back in Texas.” He reached his hand up trying to tuck hair behind my ear but I smack his hand away before he could touch me.

Mike smirked down at me before he grabbed me by the waist and shoving me against the side of the stairs making me grunt at the impact. He ripped my shirt off of my body and it got covered in mud while I tried to kick him in between his legs. Yet he elbowed me in the gut and smashed his lips onto mine growing against my grunts. “You are mine and don’t ever think that anyone else deserves you. Nobody else can take care of you like I can. You belong to me - urgh!”

“Kayce…” I collapsed onto the dirt ground rummaging around and managing to get the shirt off the dirt ground seeing it was my younger brother who had pulled him off of me.

My brother sucker punched Mike to the dust before he could blink and he was covered in quite a few stains of blood and bruises. Kayce came over to me when I noticed that Mike had blacked out from how hard he had hit him, he pulled out his dialing my boyfriend Rip. “Rip, somebody came after my sister Y/n. I’m gonna check her out but thought you should know.”

“Kayce, I don’t know how he found Mel but he did. I can’t believe that I didn’t think he would. Is he..dead?” Holding the back of my head I drew my hand back seeing some blood on my finger tips. “Shit, he got me harder than I thought.”

Kayce bent down on a knee sweeping me up from the ground and into his arms bridal style and carried me inside my bedroom inside the main house. He comes back with a wet rag and had me press it to the the wound on the back of my head just watching me for a few minutes in silence. “Rip should be here in a second. He just saw my phone call. Can I get you anything, sis?”

“Nah I think I’m good.” I shifted the pillow trying to get comfortable hearing someone running up the wooden stairs meaning it had to be Rip for sure.

The door creaked open and he rushed to my bedside when my brother stepped out of the way knowing I would find more comfort with him now. Yet Kayce still stayed in the doorway watching our conversation just in case I needed extra help. “Sweetheart, where is the asshole whole thinks he can hurt you and not pay the consequences?”

“Rip, don’t worry about Mike. I’m fine and my head only hurts a little. Look, the bleeding has stopped.” Pulling the rag away I showed him the dry blood on it but he wouldn’t take that as a good enough answer.

He shook his head lifting his hands up to the sides of my face cradling it like I was a piece of valuable china that royalty would use. Too afraid he might break me but he never could do such a thing. "I just need to know that you aren't hurt. That asshole...he should have never laid a hand on you in the first place."

"I'll have the police arrest him for attempted rape." Kayce turned on his heels to leave.

Shooting forward upright in the bed I winced where Rip rubbed my back, trying to ease the pain. "Kayce wait. Jail doesn't excuse all the pain he gave me. He's...he's been stalking me since the day we broke up. He will just keep coming until he thinks I'm getting back together with him."

"No way in hell!" My brother spat in disgust.

Holding my hands up in front of me I cut them off before either of them could protest any further. "Woah, hang on. I'd never go back with someone like him. What I am saying is that I want him to be gone. Gone where he can't hurt anyone else...to the train station."

"We can do that. Right Rip?" Kayce asked our fathers top ranch hand.

Rip leans forward kissing the crown of my head gently wrapping his arms around my waist holding me against his safe embrace. "Done deal, darling. He'll go to the train station."

"I love you...both of you." Lifting my head up a little I shifted my gaze from my brother and back to Rip's brown eyes.

He smiled before I wrapped my arms around his neck and gripped the fabric of his jacket in my fingers letting some tears fall hearing him whispering in my ear the moment Kayce had left the room. "I love you too, Y/n."

Comments really appreciated ❤️

[jetblack4realz]

damn bars - yellowstone boys

how the yellowstone (& 1923 too) boys react to you getting hit on at the bar

kayce, rip, ryan, carter, spencer

word count total: 5k

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

kayce dutton:

you had gone out to the bar for one reason and one reason only: to dance.

you and kayce loved to dance, but you didn't get many opportunities to. so, when one night john took tate for a sleepover, winking at you as he pulled the boy away, you decided to get out there and swing away like you were teenagers again. you grabbed beth and rip to come too, knowing they'd appreciate getting out even if they didn't dance - would rip ever dance? probably not.

it was fun for the first little bit, all the good swing songs playing as he twirled you around the wooden dance floor. you pulled out old tricks he forgot you knew and he twisted and flipped you into cool routines you forgot he knew. when you decided to take a break, kayce heading to the bathroom while you ordered a drink, you just knew something was going to happen.

but, you ordered anyways, eyes on where beth was shaking her ass away to the fun country music playing and where rip was watching her with the fondest smile you'd ever seen from him.

the bartender slid you your drink. you smiled. "thank you."

he nodded at you, walking down the bar to attend to another customer as you leaned your back against the counter, eyes back to your sister-in-law.

"you've really been busting a move out there."

you turned to see a man, taller than you but definitely shorter than kayce, bigger, with a brown hat and black boots. he wasn't necessarily attractive and there was just something about him that made you want to scrunch your nose, so you did.

"yep," you hummed, sipping on your whiskey.

"you've only had the one partner. i'm sure i could show you some moves if you're looking for a new one," he said, glancing to the side as a smile pulled up one side of his mouth. "i don't see him here anymore."

"he'll be back," you told him, setting your drink down and looking him over again. "and even if i was looking for another partner, you don't look like much of a dancer, buddy."

he knitted his brows at that, looking down at you with a curious smirk on his lips. "spicy. i like that."

you wanted to throw up.

"don't call me that," you said. "that was gross."

"oh come on, darling," he said, shifting so he was more in your view. "just one dance? he'll never even know, he ain't here."

"he is." you held up your ring finger, flashing the rock that was your wedding band at him. "i ain't going with you buddy."

and that was when he grabbed you, hand on your hip as he pulled you into him. he smelled like bad beer, cheap cologne, and straight b.o. you instantly pushed away even as he held you tighter, speaking now: "one dance, baby. life is too short to only dance with one man the rest of it."

"life's too short to dance with ugly men," you retorted, scrunching your nose again as you finally, very forcefully pushed him away from you, backing towards where you knew rip was last standing. except he wasn't there.

you looked at the dance floor and your mind was blown. of course the one time rip wheeler decides to take to the dance floor was when you were actively being harassed at the bar.

the guy didn't like your answer and stepped towards you, mouth open to say something before another figure stepped in front of you, one you knew very well. especially since you'd picked out his shirt. you breathed a breath of relief as he glanced back at you, checking you were okay before returning a much more menacing gaze to your advancer.

"i don't know what you've said or done thus far, but the way my wife is lookin at you doesn't look very good for you," kayce said, his eyes turned in a glare as he stepped towards him.

"look, man, all i wanted was a dance, not anything more-"

"a dance is still too much to ask for, especially when she's already said no," kayce said sternly. "leave. now."

"what, like the whole-"

"i'd really love a reason to punch you and if you keep talking you're gonna be giving me one," kayce warned, but the guy didn't get it apparently because he kept going.

"hey, man i didn't do anything-"

kayce looked back at you. "he touch you?"

the moments between you nodding and kayce full on clocking the guy in the jaw went by in literally the blink of an eye. the man stumbled back and kayce swung again, effectively knocking him to the floor. he kicked him then, the man folding in half with a groan. kayce moved to do it again when you grabbed his arm.

"baby, let's just get out of here," you told him. "i don't need you getting in trouble."

"i'm the livestock commissioner, i'll be fine," he said.

"well, then, just..." you moved around him to where the dude was sprawled on the ground, looking up at your husband in fear as some blood tricked from a cut in his lip and also between his teeth. everyone in this town knew kayce dutton could throw a punch.

you stomped on his hand then, hard, earning a shout and an instant recoil. you could've sworn you felt a crunch under the heel of your boot when you did.

"so you can't grab any other girls anytime soon," you said before turning on your heel and grabbing your husband, who looked like he was chomping at the bit to get back to pummeling him. "c'mon, baby."

but, tonight was supposed to be fun. when you pulled him out the front door for some fresh air and maybe to bar hop, you thought to remind him of that. you turned to him with a smile, hand cupping his face just below his jaw. "c'mere, cowboy." you kissed him slowly, his hands falling to your waist almost instantly as he folded to your touch, returning the kiss eagerly.

when you pulled back, he kept you close, kissing you again.

"thank you," you breathed out when you finally broke again, smiling up at him. "i can always count on your mean right hook to get me out of any bad situation."

"i practice it just for that," he said quietly, pecking your lips again.

you laughed lightly. "seriously, thank you though," you said, wrapping your arms around his middle as you relaxed in his hold. "for saving me."

"i'll always save you," he promised, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. "and i'm never going to the bathroom while we're out again."

rip wheeler:

to get rip to go out was a chore. it usually took some promising of later nightly activities and some chanting and begging from the wranglers too. and when you finally got him there, he wasn't exactly interactive, mostly just watching you dance and getting you the appropriate amount of refills to keep you semi-aware.

aware for situations like this.

you were dancing the night away with teeter, hands in the air as you laughed and jumped and twirled with your favorite of the cowboys, glancing up at rip regularly to shoot him a wink or shout something about how great his ass looked in those jeans, when suddenly you felt hands on your waist.

you spun around, brows shot straight up as you swatted this strange, tall and skinny man who oddly reminded you of a drugged out, dark haired jimmy, man away from you, stepping back and bumping into teeter. "damn you're ballsy, dude," you said. he stepped back to you, his hands landing on your waist again, fingers brushing over the waistband of your jeans as teeter grabbed your shoulders and helped you shuffle away. "seriously, get off!"

"hey, come back here, baby-"

it was instinctive, really. your father had taught you how to throw a proper punch and rip had taught you the best places to throw it, and well, the first one that came to mind was the throat.

he staggered back with a choked breath, hand rising to his jugular as he stared at you with wide eyes. "you crazy bitch!"

"did you seriously just call me the bitch?" you said, stepping towards him now with your hand balled into a fist.

but, before you could throw another punch and before the psycho dude could fully recover, rip was now in the picture. two extremely well-placed punches sent the creep into the surrounding crowd. no one did or said anything for a few moments, everyone having seen him grab you and insinuating exactly who rip was in this situation.

he turned back to you, grabbing your hand tightly and sending a look teeter's way that had her collecting the rest of the wranglers, who had all suddenly appeared at your side.

"let's go," he said strictly.

"can we go to another bar?" you asked as he dragged you out of the facility and towards the truck. he let out a short laugh.

"there's no way in hell i'm letting you back into another bar anytime soon," he said. "if another psychotic bastard thinks he can put his hands on you i can't promise that i wouldn't kill him right then. it took a lot of restraint not to keep going in there, baby."

"rip, come on, let's have fun tonight - woah!"

and suddenly you were thrown over his shoulder in a fireman carry. he barely even stopped to do it, just scooping you up and continuing on to where he'd parked the truck.

"nope," he said. "and anyways, there's other ways to have fun." he pulled the door open and set you on the passenger seat with a smirk. "you have a couple promises to fulfill for even dragging me here in the first place."

"damn," you mumbled as he gave you a quick kiss, shutting the door and crossing to the other side. as he got in and buckled, you looked over at him with a bit of a dopey smile on your lips. "have i told you i love you recently?"

"i'm sure you have, baby, but i'm happy to hear it again," he told you, smiling your way as he started the truck up.

"well, i do love you. and thank you. that sucked."

"and it ain't ever gonna happen again on my watch," he promised. "he really just snuck up on you there."

"literally crazy."

ryan:

you weren't much of a games girl, which everyone thought was weird given the man you were with. but, you were content to watch, to sit at the bar conversing with the wranglers who weren't involved in the game of pool or dancing, and to watch colby crash and burn as he approached girls again and again.

that last one was your favorite activity.

every now and again you would wander back over to where ryan was playing lloyd or jake, cheer him on, give him a quick kiss, and then return to the designated spot colby kept coming back to after another failed attempt at wooing a tourist.

the tourists were funny too. you could always tell which ones had just bought their hats and boots before or even while they were in montana just to blend in. some of the girls were wearing such california things you wondered if they were wanting to blend in at all, which the answer was no. colby, and plenty of other cowboys, liked the tourists. or at least, for a quick one.

you were watching him with a grin as he stumbled on his words with a pretty brunette, sipping on your drink casually. he was using his hands to emphasize something and she did not seem like she was interested in that something at all. you giggled to yourself.

"you like people watching?"

you glanced to your side to see a shorter man with spiky blond hair at your side. this guy didn't even take a try at a hat, sticking it with bright and shiny new black tecovas with a pointed toe and a snakeskin design that was so opposite of what you were used to.

you didn't think you'd ever been turned off more by a boot.

"yeah, i do," you nodded, looking back at where colby was actively losing his chosen girl's attention. "it's entertaining."

"it is," he agreed, taking the seat next to you. "you from around here?"

for some reason, you laughed. you guessed it was because he was so obviously not from here that for him to ask you if you were was just funny to you. "yep. you ever heard of the yellowstone dutton ranch?"

"it got anything to do with the park?" he asked.

you laughed again before taking a sip of your drink. "no. around here, when people talk about the yellowstone, they're talking about the 800,000 acre cattle ranch just outside of town owned by the livestock commissioner and the oldest family in montana."

he seemed shocked, but he tried to get through it, continuing his little q&a. "you're from there?"

"it's my family that owns it," you answered easily.

"and what's it like owning 800,000 acres of some of the most coveted land in america?" he asked, tilting his head at you. if you hadn't before, you definitely piqued his interest now.

you shrugged. "it's a lot of work, but it's worth it. it's beautiful."

"lonely, though, i bet," he said, and that made you laugh again. wow, he really tried that one.

"no, actually," you told him. "need a good amount of people to run that ranch. don't get too much time to yourself."

"do you want time to yourself?" he asked.

"i'm good with what i've got, thank you," you told him. you looked over at where ryan had caught sight of your predicament and was making his way over to you. you stood, shooting the man at your right a polite smile. "one of the cowboys we've got is particularly attractive. i'm entertained enough, don't you worry about me."

he saw ryan then and stood as well. "i wouldn't say he's particularly attractive. you could do better."

"are you suggesting yourself?" you asked with a laugh, holding an arm out to wrap around ryan's waist as he came to your side, pressing a kiss to the side of your head before eying the man in front of y'all. "sorry, pal. you may be decently cute, but you ain't no cowboy. if you're looking to get lucky in this town it'd do you good to remember that. shoot for your own kind."

the man looked up at ryan. "you her cowboy?"

"damn straight," ryan answered. "you better take that advice. a lot of the cowgirls you'll see around here anyways are taken, you're asking for a fight talking to 'em. you're just lucky she played nice. it's the only reason i am too." ryan nodded, tilting his hat at the man before stepping away and bringing you with him. "best of luck. just not with my girl."

he took you back to the pool table with him where lloyd was laughing at the sight of you. he pressed another kiss to your head.

"did you really have to call him cute?" he asked you.

"decently cute," you reminded with a shake of your head. "i called you particularly attractive, which is an understatement. i just didn't wanna shake the guy's confidence down too much. those boots are doin that enough for him."

ryan laughed. "damn tourists."

carter:

nearly everything carter did reminded beth of how rip was at that age. and nearly everything you did as you consistently visited reminded her of how she was at that age.

it had her worried and excited.

"don't break his heart," she told you one day, cornering you after lunch. "i've been there, i've done that, it's terrible for everyone involved. save yourself the trouble and just snag him now, you know you want him and he wants you. just date, okay? and don't be a bitch later."

the words shocked you, but definitely kicked you into gear. carter was shier than you ever were, awfully polite and gentlemanly as beth had trained him to be, and so you were the one to get him into going to the bar.

"will we even get served here?" he asked, holding your hand as you led him in.

"hell yeah we will," you answered, smiling back at him as you approached the bar. you were quick to pull out your id - a fake one, but one nonetheless - and slide it to the bartender. "an old fashioned please."

"what about me?" carter whispered.

you laughed lightly. "just get your id out, darlin'."

confused but obedient, he pulled out his wallet and was surprised to see a new driver's license in the clear slot he usually kept his in. one that said he was 21.

he held it up as he cleared his throat, catching the bartender's attention. "make that two." he looked back at you. "these any good?"

"i think so," you answered with a shrug. "you ever have bourbon before, or just beer?"

"just beer," he nodded.

"well, hopefully you'll like it," you said with a shrug. "i've seen your dad make them back at the ranch. i'm sure you'll like them."

"oh, he's not my dad," he corrected as the bartender slid them over to y'all.

you furrowed your brows. "really? you look exactly alike."

it was as he was taking his first swig of his drink that you felt someone slide between you and the person sitting next to you, their arm settling on the counter in front of you. you looked up, brows raised as you found a man, definitely in his late 30s, in a nicer shirt than this bar deserved, brand new boots, and what looked to be a cross between dress pants and jeans. interesting.

"can i help you?" you asked, his positioning crowding you into your seat even though you didn't move much. this was your bubble, he was the one who had to get out of it.

"just wondering if you had anyone paying for this drink," he said, his hand now on your whiskey as you narrowed your eyes.

carter moved sharply to stand, but settled when you set a hand on his knee, thumb rubbing circles into his jeans. you offered the guy a very thin, very fake smile.

"that's a nice shirt," you said, earning a wider smile from the man. "where'd you get it?" he almost went to answer, but you continued, your next few sentences stringing together in almost one breath.

"oh, well, i bet you don't know since your wife bought it for you. or - is it ex-wife, now? i don't see a ring, but i definitely see that faded tan line from it being there for years and recently taken off. probably because of a very similar situation we find ourselves in now. your wife is at home, with the kids, waiting for you to take her out to a dinner that will never happen because you're here, scoping out for the youngest woman you can find to sloppily sleep with in the back of your brand new honda civic that you convinced yourself and that girl was some new sports car because it's a 'newer model'."

already, he was in shock, staring at you with a scared kind of wonder that for some reason made you so proud.

you continued. "so, either you're here trying to do that again behind your wife's back, or she's already divorced you, which for her sake i hope is the case, because you seem like a pathetic piece of shit who blames his infidelity on being overworked and undersupported when really you're just a pedophiliac horndog who doesn't understand what the word 'no' means."

you took your drink back from him, taking a sip from it as you watched his expression change between shocked, offended, confused, and embarrassed.

"and yes," you added, "i do have someone to pay for my drink."

he gaped at you as you turned away from him, hand still on carter's knee as you grinned into your glass, sipping from it again. he glanced behind you at carter and you knew he wanted to exclaim how carter was a boy and he was a man, but didn't because he didn't know what else you would say.

"you psycho bitch," he muttered. "all i did was offer to pay for your drink."

"yeah, well i'm quite obviously young enough to be the daughter you had when you accidentally knocked up the drum major when you were a junior, so it's still kind of disgusting," you told him, rolling your eyes. "especially when it's so easy to see that the man i'm sitting next to is my boyfriend, or at the very least, someone else who is paying for my drink because we got them to us at the exact same time and my hand is on his knee. so fuck off, dickwad."

and he did, scoffing as he left. carter turned to look at you with wide eyes before he breathed out a laugh.

"you're my favorite person ever," he said. you smiled at him, shrugging lightly.

"i was trained by the best," you hummed.

he smiled at that before giving you a curious look, tilting his head at you. "so, i'm your boyfriend?"

"i'm hoping," you said, smiling back. "i mean, i really like you, and i think you like me. beth told me to get on with it already because why waste time, hence why we're here. i can call you my boyfriend, right?"

"yeah, yeah you can," he said, nodding as he breathed out a laugh.

you were beaming, maybe even blushing as you glanced away for a few moments before continuing conversation. "how's your drink?"

"surprisingly good," he answered. "you have good taste."

your smile softened a bit as you looked at him, nodding slowly. "yeah, i do." you finished your drink in one swig, setting the glass on the counter. "hey, do you wanna get out of here?"

"but, we just got here," he said, furrowing his brows.

"well, i just have this feeling more situations are going to arise that will either warrant me coming up with more speeches like that or you punching a guy square in the nose, and i'm not in the mood for either," you answered, standing and pulling your wallet from your bag.

"hey, no, i pay," he said. he tossed a ten and a twenty on the counter, his hand going to your lower back as he followed you out of the bar.

"hey carter?" you asked as he opened the passenger door to the truck, holding your hand to help you up. he smiled up at you.

"yeah?"

you reached forward, taking his face in your hand and pressing your lips to his gently. he froze for a minute, but stepped forward to reach you better and deepened the kiss as best he knew how, his hands on your waist as he pulled you closer to him.

when you pulled away, he was grinning, "damn."

spencer dutton:

when you and spencer left for africa, neither of you were fully prepared for the sheer amount of idiot tourists there would be, both on and off the safaris spencer went to go rescue.

most times, you accompanied him on his little adventures that were the hunts, him wanting to keep you close and you wanting to stay out of the city. but, for one fateful leopard chase, he'd told you to stay back at the lodge, which ended up being the right decision. you met back up with him in nairobi, where you'd stayed, and were sat at the bar waiting for him.

now, when a lady was without her man, other men noticed.

and the british men in africa noticed.

"no, thank you," you said with a polite smile as the tall, british man at your side told the bartender that he would pick up your tab. "i've got it taken care of."

"no, my lady, i insist," he said, helping himself to the seat at your side. he turned to the bartender then. "it'll be on mine. and i'll have a sidecar, please."

"a brandy man," you said, raising your brows as you sipped on your glass.

he chuckled, nodding as he then eyed your drink "yes. and... what it is you're drinking, ma'am?"

you smiled at him as you set your drink down. "whiskey."

"whiskey," he repeated. to say he was surprised would be an understatement, his brows raised so high they nearly touched his hairline. he didn't seem put off by it though, a smirk rising to his lips. "very american."

"well, i am american," you answered as you brought the amber drink back to your lips. "and so is my husband."

"and where is your husband?" he asked. there was a certain air to british people that made them seem as if they were always looking out for you and your wellbeing - he did not have it. his smile had shifted as he eyed you and your whiskey and his arm had somehow slid across the bar to nearly be touching yours.

"he's here," you told him, glancing over his shoulder in hopes that spencer would just appear out of the blue. "he's speaking with some coworkers currently."

"ah, a business man," he said with a gruff laugh.

"a hunter," you answered shortly.

his laugh cut short as he watched you with a hanging smirk, waiting for you to laugh and say instead that he was the viscount of hereford or something. but, you didn't. instead, you nodded, smiling as you set your glass against the counter once more.

"yes, he's an awfully good gunman," you continued. "grew up hunting in montana - where we're from. then, he went off to war. and, i mean, surely you've heard war stories about the american armies - they're intense. he learned a lot. it's definitely his area of expertise, shooting, so he does well here."

you felt a hand on your shoulder then, earning a quick check backwards. a smile tugged your lips up as spencer leaned down to press a kiss to your temple, his eyes on the man opposite you.

"you talking about me, darling?" he asked.

"yes, sir, i am," you hummed before turning to smile at the british man. "this is my husband, spencer dutton."

"i've heard about you," he stammered, brows knitted tightly as he stared at spencer. "you're the hunter, the one on the safaris who shoots the maneaters. the american."

"he's been hung up on the american thing," you mumbled to spencer, shooting him a sideways smile and shrug.

"yeah, i am american," spencer said with a bit of a huff. "had to clean up after y'all during the war, so i thought i might as well keep doing it here. just a bit more exotic, being in africa and all."

the guy didn't know really what to say, looking to you for help but you sure as hell weren't about to offer it. spencer's hand rubbed across the expanse of your shoulders, lingering on the exposed skin he could find.

"now, i appreciate you keeping my lady here safe while i was off, but it'd be good of you to move on now," he said, his brows raised as he eyed him.

"yes, of course sir," the guy answered, standing quickly. he looked to you, offering a tight smile as he nodded. "ma'am."

you nodded in return, an amused smile growing on your lips as you turned back to spencer. "it's about time you showed up. i thought you got eaten by that leopard."

"two leopards, actually," he said with a sigh as he sat on the chair next to you. he smiled when he met your eyes, reaching forward to grab the seat of the chair beneath your legs and pulling it towards him, the legs making a dull screeching sound before he stopped you in front of him. "i missed you."

"i missed you too," you answered, smiling as you reached a hand up to cup his jaw and bring his mouth to yours. he was happy to oblige, his hands on your waist as he tugged you to the edge of your seat.

"you're not leaving my sight for a while, baby," he mumbled as he kissed you again.

you laughed, shaking your head when you pulled back. "i reckon we should probably get back to our room then, hun. i wanna hear all about your hunt."

"i got hit on," he told you with a shrug, his grin growing as you raised a brow.

"serious?" you wondered as he stood, taking your hand and stepping back to let you out from between the bar.

"i'll tell you about it in our room," he said with a hum. you held up a hand as you began walking to the door.

"i don't wanna hear it," you said with a shake of your head. "i mean, she was probably right for thinking it-"

"they."

"they?"

"they."

"they were probably right for thinking it, but those things they were likely dreaming up about your cute face? that's my reality, baby. and i'mma make you say a lot of things that have nothing to do with those other ladies."

he laughed thinly, squeezing your hand as you pulled him out into the night air and down towards your hotel. his steps quickened as he moved close behind you, a certain urgency in his tone as he mumbled in your ear. "you never fail to, baby."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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[fandom-imagines-stories]

Going Down Swingin

Kayce Dutton x Reader

Words: 4271

Summary: Tired of being holed up on the ranch, the reader begs her husband to calm his paranoid mind for one night so she can go out to the bar with some of the ranch hands. Turns out, his concerns were  founded.

Notes: God I love this man. I honestly have had ideas for Kayce imagines for like a year and now I’m finally finishing them (well, at least this one). I hope to do more with him soon, so fingers crossed for my blonde cowboy husband!

Warnings: Harassment, assault, fighting, wounds-

The cage of his arms was a welcome one. It kept you safe while also reminding you of every moment that led to this one. 

In this case, you were reminded of how you got into this position. 

Kayce’s beard tickled the back of your neck as his lips trailed down to your shoulder and back up again. You sighed contently and nestled back into his embrace. 

“Time to get up,” He mumbled. 

You screwed your eyes shut and shook your head. 

“Noooo,” You whined. “I’m still asleep.” 

His chuckle rumbled against your back. “C’mon.”

Your husband’s hands made their way to your waist and squeezed gently. He flipped you around so you were facing him. You tangled your fingers in his long blonde hair and crashed your lips into his in hopes of dissuading him from leaving the bed. Before you could deepen the kiss anymore, he grabbed your hips tighter and pulled you back. 

“Nice try, baby, but we’ve got work to do.” 

“Or,” you walked your fingers up his chest. “We could lock the doors and spend the whole day-”

He cut you off with another kiss. Just when you thought you’d won, he sat up, giving you a devilish smirk. His hands latched onto the blankets. 

You glowered. “Don’t you dare.” 

“Hey, I gave you a chance,” he said, yanking the covers back and subjecting your bare skin to the cold morning air. 

“Kayce!” You shrieked, clawing to regain the warmth, but he held them just out of reach, laughing at your demise. “Kayce John Dutton, I’m gonna kill you!” 

“You’ve got to catch me first, darlin’.” He took off, taking the blankets and sheets with him. 

“Navy SEAL or not, I’m still going to get you!” You shouted after him, grabbing his henley off the floor so you weren’t completely naked as you chased your childish husband around the room. Of course, he wasn’t wearing anything either which made the whole ordeal even more ridiculous. 

When you did finally catch him, he’d stopped so suddenly and you were running so fast it knocked both of you to the floor, practically rolling with laughter. 

“I… win…” You wheezed in between giggles, laying on top of him. 

“Alright, alright.” He brushed your hair out of your face so he could kiss you, but just for a moment. “But we’ve still got to get to work.” 

You bit your lip. 

“What if I promise to make some time for us tonight, hmm?” He offered. “Dinner, movie, whatever you want.” 

You sighed dramatically. “I suppose I can live with that.” 

Kayce rolled his eyes, locked his arms around you, and stood. You squealed as he threw you over his shoulder, smacking your backside with a victorious chuckle. 

Needless to say, you were definitely awake after that. 

-

It was a long day. In a good way. One that felt like you were actually doing something. But still, every move you made ached from the day’s work. You helped out at the ranch because of your past in veterinary school. Sure, you hadn’t been in a clinic in years, but you knew your way around an injured horse enough that John liked having you around. He said it was because you didn’t cost as much. You were pretty sure he liked you more than he let on. 

When you saw your husband riding up over the horizon, he didn’t look like he’d fared much better. Dirt caked his forehead, mixed with the sweat on his brow. Not that you minded. 

“Hey baby,” he greeted gruffly. Kayce jumped down off his horse and gave you a quick kiss on the cheek. When he pulled away, you notice the downward cast of his gaze and the look of guilt in his eyes. 

“Alright,” you sighed. “You’ve got that kicked puppy look now. What is it?” 

A smile cracks on his face. “I do not look like a kicked puppy.” 

“Sure you do.” You tucked a lock of blonde behind his ear. “With your big eyes and your pouty face.” You hooked your arms behind his neck and pulled him closer. “Are you ready for that date night we talked about?” 

The puppy look returned. 

“About that, baby,” He blew out a breath and ran his fingers through his hair. 

Uh oh.

“You’ve gotta work,” you concluded. 

“My dad’s asking me to run to Billing’s to take care of some things-”

You held up a hand to stop him. When it came to John Dutton, you didn’t want any details. 

“It’s okay. We can make plans for a different night.” You pulled him into a kiss, smirking against his lips. “But you’ll definitely have to come up with something big and romantic and groveling.” 

“I’m sorry,” he said, wrapping his arms around you. “You know I’d pick a night with you over anything, but I don’t think fighting him on this would be a good idea. It’s business and you know how he gets.”

“It’s fine, Kayce, really. I’m sure I’ll find something else to do.”

As if summoned, Ryan and Colby mosied over to the two of you. While Kayce wasn’t close with any of the boys from the bunkhouse, you’d gotten to know them from working on the horses. So even though Kayce tensed protectively, you gave them a bright grin. 

“What do you two fuckers want?” You asked. 

“We’re going out,” Colby said. “Celebrating Ryan’s birthday if you want to come.” He eyed your husband nervously. “Both of you.” 

“We just saw you over here and thought, maybe you’d want to join, but it’s totally fine-” Ryan started to ramble. 

You weren’t sure if it was their usual awkwardness or if the boss’s son just made them nervous, but you couldn’t help but laugh. 

“Kace can’t, but I could use a night out,” you beamed. 

Kayce’s arms tightened around you and his puppy-dog eyes turned intense. 

Sensing the change, Ryan and Colby took a step back. 

“Cool,” Ryan said. “Meet up in ten.”

The two hurried off and you turned to fierce brown eyes. 

“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Kayce said. 

“I wasn’t exactly asking for your permission, honey,” you scoffed. “Besides, like I said, I could use a night out. I can’t even remember the last time I really got away from the ranch for some fun.”

He turned away, jaw tensed, and eyes following the group of men heading back toward the bunkhouse.

“I don’t think any of the ranch hands are stupid enough to hit on me if that’s what you’re worried about,” you teased, trying to lighten his mood.  

“It’s not that.” He shook his head, gaze returning to yours. “And it’s not that I don’t trust you, so don’t start thinking that. It’s just… the places these guys go to. Nothing good ever happens.” 

“Baby, I think you’re the last person to worry about me getting into trouble. Or anybody, for that matter.” 

It was true. You’d married a trouble magnet. Hell, maybe it’s even safer to go to the bar without him, but he definitely did not look in the mood for you to point that out. 

“I won’t go if you really don’t want me to,” you said. “I’ll just sit at home…. All alone…. Bored.” You sighed dramatically. 

Kayce huffed and kissed your forehead. “Just keep your phone on, okay?”

“Don’t worry. You will always be my phone call if I get arrested.” You gave him a mischievous grin and started off to join the others. 

“That’s not funny!” He called after you, chuckling at your excitement and hoping that he wouldn’t regret this.

-

The neon lights bathed your skin in a blue and pink glow. Music blared from the band on the stage and your throat burned pleasantly from the liquor at your lips. You could feel the tension melting off of you from the long, hard day, realizing how much you needed this. It wasn’t that you didn’t like being at the ranch, but sometimes the vastness somehow felt so small. And knowing how much it hurt Kayce to be there, the nightmares you knew he’d had, made you wonder if it was worth it. 

“You look like you could use another,” a voice said over the music. 

“Hey, Rip.” You turned to face the dark-haired cowboy with a small smile. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Yeah, well,” he shrugged, “every once in a while I let them drag me out to these things.” He ordered himself another beer and you another whiskey. “Not used to seeing you without tall blonde trouble on your arm.” 

“Looks like I’m causing enough trouble on my own tonight,” you smirked back. “He’s working.” 

Rip nodded, running a hand over his chin. “And he let you come here?”

“He didn’t let me do anything.” You took a drink. “He wasn’t particularly happy about it, but he knows better than to try and tell me what to do.” 

“If it were me,” Rip chuckled, “I would have locked you up at home. You’re too nice for a place like this.”

“You rough and tumble cowboys don’t scare me,” you smiled. “I married one, remember?” 

“You married one of the good ones.” 

“Cheers to that.” You clinked your glass against his and he smiled, still shaking his head as he walked to the other end of the bar to keep an eye on things. 

His seat was not empty for long. 

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you ‘round here before.” A muscular arm dressed in a ratty old t-shirt blocked your view of the dance floor and the body attached to it loomed over you like you were a meal. It was a feeling that you were unfortunately familiar with, having grown up around bars like these and, more specifically, their patrons. 

“That’s because I haven’t been here,” you said, keeping your voice calm, but cold. The red-haired man beside you did not get the hint. He leaned even closer and you could smell the mix of tobacco and too much beer on his breath as he swayed drunkenly in the seat. 

“Well isn’t it my lucky day then?” 

You held up your hand, flashing him the wedding ring on your finger. 

“Not so much, buddy.” You downed the rest of your drink. “But I’m sure there’s plenty of single women dying to give you a handjob in the bathroom,” you snarked, signaling for the bartender to get you another. 

“What if I want you?” He leered. 

What started out as annoyance was turning into anger. 

“Do I have to spell it out for you?” You stood up in order to get away from his ever-leaning frame. “I’m married, dipshit.”

The drunkard shrugged. “I don’t see anybody here?” 

Oh but if Kayce were here… 

You could handle yourself without him. 

“Why don’t you just back off before that tiny dick of yours gets you into something your tinier brain can’t deal with.” 

You turned to walk away. 

He grabbed your wrist, twisting it back until it stung. 

“What did you say to me you fucking bitch?” 

When your fist collided with his chin, it was just the beginning. 

Hands grabbed your arms, giving him a clear hit to your stomach which you took with a grunt. You yanked yourself free and found two more men encircling you. Apparently, this shitstain wasn’t alone and all of them were drunk enough to not care that you were half their size and a woman. So much for chivalry. 

“Three men versus little old me,” you scoffed. “That hardly seems fair.” 

But you weren’t alone either. 

Ryan broke through the crowd first, punching the man to your right square between the eyes. Colby was next, fighting some others who’d joined in for the hell of it. You stayed focused on your original creep. 

“By the time we’re done, you’re going to be begging me to fuck you into tomorrow,” he sneered. 

You responded with another hit to his mouth, feeling a couple of teeth crack against your knuckles. 

He swung. You dodged. He picked up a bottle and crashed it against your shoulder, still too drunk to actually aim. You stomped on his foot. He grabbed you by the hair. 

Somewhere, a gun went off and everybody screamed. 

Red-haired Romeo, however, didn’t seem to care. 

By the time Rip had made it over to you, you were being thrown across the bar. You felt the sticky, slick surface slide past your leg before you collided with the back shelves, and dozens of bottles shattered into your back. Your head slammed into the counter as you fell to the whiskey-soaked floor. 

Everything was black after that. 

-

You got little bits, here and there, trying to force yourself awake, but never able to fight back the darkness. 

Rip and Ryan carrying you with your arms over their shoulders, Rip cursing the whole way to the house. 

“Her husband is going to have somebody’s hide and it sure as hell isn’t going to be mine.” 

A flash of strawberry blonde and the smell of cigarette smoke. 

Ryan’s worried eyes as Rip dragged him away. 

It was until the alcohol-dipped rag touched your cuts that you were fully awake. You grimaced, the sharp sting shooting up your back. You gripped the arm of the couch, face down in a pillow. 

“Oh good, you’re awake,” Beth snarked. “It’d be a shame to miss this fun.” She pulled a piece of glass out of your side and you clenched your jaw. “That looks like it hurts.”

“Is there still bourbon down here?” You asked. 

She laughed, shaking her head. “That’s what got you into this mess, sweetheart. And when my brother makes a list tonight, I’m not putting myself on it.” 

She plucked another shard. It seemed every muscle in your back spasmed with every move she made, taking out class and swiping at the blood pooling on your skin. Not to mention the pounding in your head, hair matted with gore. You were grateful it was her, though. At least she’d get it done quick, without any pitying or panic. 

Meanwhile, outside was an almost as pitiful sight. Rip leaned against the barn, glaring down the other men who nursed their injuries. Ryan’s eye was already starting to swell and Colby rubbed his aching jaw. Even Lloyd looked worse for wear. 

“You’re lucky I don’t fire every one of you,” Rip glowered. 

“In our defense, we were trying to stop the fight,” Ryan said, but quickly regretted it. 

Rip stepped toward him. “You want another black eye?” 

All eyes, however, glanced behind Rip, a pair of headlights growing nearer and nearer.

“Oh shit,” Colby muttered. “I thought he was going to Billings.”

Rip ran a hand down his face, trying to contain his frustration. Could anything else go wrong?

“Apparently not.” 

Kayce got out of the truck. 

At first, he thought they’d cut the party short and came back to the ranch, but as he got closer, he saw the specks of blood on their shirts and the color of forming bruises. 

“What the hell happened?”

Rip sighed. “What does it look like?” 

Kayce’s burning gaze turned to him, the question going unsaid, but very much present in his eyes. Rip held up a hand, keeping his voice level to not poke the bear any further. 

“She’s inside. Beth’s with her.”

Kayce didn’t waste any more time, dark eyes flashing as he whipped around, sprinting up to the house. 

“Y/N!” He screamed. “Y/N!” 

Beth rolled her eyes. “Do you want to wake up all of Montana? We’re in here.” 

A door opened upstairs. John was awake. 

“What’s going on?” 

You buried your face in the pillow. 

Oh. God. 

Kayce stormed into the living room at the same time his father appeared in the loft. 

“I’m sorry for getting blood on your couch,” you said, gritting your teeth as Beth cleaned another gaping cut. Your bare chest stuck to the leather uncomfortably as you shifted to get a look at your father-in-law, avoiding your husband in the doorway. 

“Is she going to be okay?” John called down. 

“She won’t be able to lie on her back for a while.” Beth looked up at your panicked husband with a smirk. “But hey, save a horse, ride a cowboy, right?” 

“Beth,” you groaned. 

Kayce’s expression darkened. 

Beth placed the rag back in the bowl and stood. “That’s my cue.” She waved up at John. “Just another day in the Dutton house, daddy.” 

John sighed, muttering as he went back down the hall. “I don’t want to know.” 

Kayce was at your side in seconds, dark eyes widening at the sight of your bloodied back and bruised face. Guilt and worry took over his features. It was worse than he thought. There were still a few shards of glass stuck in your flesh and some of the cuts looked like they went pretty deep. Your shoulder was a web of scratches with a bloody point of impact in the middle. The back and side of your head were covered with that dreaded red, more glass stuck in your hair. 

You tried to crack a smile. 

“You should see the other guy.” 

“Baby…” he breathed shakily, a trembling hand against your cheek. “What happened?” Before you could answer, another, angrier question boiled in his chest. “Who did this to you?” 

“I don’t know.”

He opened his mouth, but you stopped him. 

“I’m serious. I didn’t exactly ask for contact information when I was swinging at him.” 

Kayce nodded, body rigid with rage as he picked up the rag and started tending to your wounds with a much gentler hand than his sister’s. 

“So a man attacked you?” His voice was calm which made you even more nervous. He only sounded like that when he wanted to kill something. Or someone. 

“Well, I wasn’t tossed over a bar by Montana Barbie,” you snarked. 

Your humor hid your humiliation but only made his frustration worse. His hand tensed roughly against your skin. You bit your lip to keep from wincing. 

“Sorry,” he muttered. Keeping his movements slow and soft, he got the rest of the glass out and cleaned up most of the blood, though some of the cuts would definitely need stitches. 

“And technically, no,” you said. “I started the fight. He was just annoying.” 

You tried to push yourself up, crying out at the pain in your shoulder. Kayce gently urged you back down, repositioning the pillow so you could look at him more comfortably.  

“It doesn’t matter,” he growled. “Anybody who does this to you-”

“Have probably already been punished by Rip.” You used your strength to reach a hand to tuck his blonde hair behind his ear. “I’m okay, Kace.” 

He motioned to the liquor store sliced into your back. “Not from where I’m sitting, sweetheart. You know, one of those bottles could have paralyzed you, or-or severed an artery. You would have bled out on a dirty bar floor and I wouldn’t have been able to do anything about it.” 

His voice cracked and you finally let your cocky facade fall. 

“I’m sorry, baby,” you cried. “But you can’t protect me forever. I can handle myself.” 

“Tonight’s not real good proof of that,” he said, a small smile teasing his lips. “Only you could get into this much trouble going out for drinks.”

��Hypocrite.” 

He started bandaging you up as best he could to get you ready to go to the hospital. 

“I don’t need to go anywhere,” you protested as he helped you up. 

“You just had your head smashed against I don’t want to know how many surfaces. Rip said you were out for a couple of hours, now we should have had you at the hospital sooner,” Kayce said. “I’m not messin’ around.” 

Sure enough, when you did see the doctor, they confirmed that you had a concussion. A bad one. Enough to make them want to keep you overnight to observe, as well as stitch up your back. When they asked what happened, you told them you fell.

“You… fell…” The doctor eyed you, then looked at Kayce. 

You grabbed the woman’s arm, directing her suspicious gaze back at you. The last thing Kayce needed was somebody getting the wrong idea and thinking this was his fault. 

“Through a glass table, from which I might have died if my husband hadn’t come home early so you keep your focus on me, okay?” You snapped. 

Kayce chuckled. “Easy, baby. We’re not being interrogated.” 

“I’m responsible for what happened. I don’t want her thinking anything different,” you said. “Tonight was my fault.” 

“No,” he sighed. “It wasn’t.”

He should have been there. He didn’t drink, so he would have been able to see those creeps coming a mile off. Better yet, he should have stayed home, stayed with you like he said he was going to. Then none of this wouldn’t have happened. 

“Hey,” you said, taking his hand. “Don’t start.” 

“I didn’t say anything.” 

You gave him a knowing smile. “You don’t have to.”

He brought your hand up to his lips and held it for the rest of the night. 

-

Three Weeks Later

The wind whistled around you and for the first time in almost a month, you felt like you could really breathe. Adjusting the reins in your hand, your golden-brown quarter horse turned, facing you back toward the ranch, miles, and miles of beautiful country all around you. In the distance, you saw a dark hat appear out of the stables and heard your name echo across the field. 

You pet your horse's neck, laughing. “I think we’re in trouble.” 

With the sunset overhead, you rode back, your husband’s disapproving frown becoming clearer and clearer. 

“What the hell are you doing?” He asked. You dismounted and led your horse to the barn. “You just got cleared by the doctor. Are you trying to get another concussion?”

“I know how to ride a horse without falling off, baby.” You kissed him as you went by. “Besides, it’s therapeutic. See, I feel better already.” 

Kayce watched you go by, eyes lingering on your back, imagining the angry red scabs and scratches that crisscrossed your skin. He thought about how you tried not to wince when he touched you or that you’d have to lean on him after standing, too dizzy to see straight. 

He should have been there. 

“Morning, Rip,” you said, seeing the mountain of a man in the other doorway. He tilted his hat at you in greeting, glancing over at your husband for a moment before carrying on by. Something you’d watched that morning clicked in your mind. “I actually wanted to talk to the two of you about something.” 

Rip halted and turned around. 

“I saw on the news this morning that they found the remains of three hikers in the park last night,” you said, suspicious eyes switching between the two of them. “Three men. You two wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?” 

Kayce’s brows furrowed. Rip’s expression didn’t change. You put your hands on your hips and narrowed your eyes. 

“Because I can fight my own fights. I don’t need either of you getting yourselves into trouble.” You shot your husband a look that said ‘especially you.’ It seemed like trouble was both of your middle names sometimes. 

But he just shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, baby.” Kayce turned to the other cowboy. “Rip?”

A silence fell over the barn, heavy with tension and an unspoken truth. 

“It’s the first I’m hearing of it,” Rip said, cool blue eyes watching you. “They probably poked a bear they shouldn’t have.” With that, he left the two of you, and Kayce couldn’t help but feel grateful. As much as he would have wanted to deal with them himself, he was glad those bastards got what they deserved. 

You unstrapped the saddle and started to lift it off.

“I got it,” Kayce said, grabbing the heavy leather for you and the two of you finished putting everything away. But that heavy silence was still there. 

Your hand slipped into his, tugging slightly to make him look at you. 

“Kayce,” you started softly, those big brown eyes making you melt just like they always did, but in them, you could see the guilt he’d been carrying for the past three weeks. “What happened was not your fault. It just… happened.” You laid a hand on his cheek. “Even you can’t stop the world from happening. And you can’t stop some men from being drunk bastards who can’t throw a decent punch.” 

His fingers traced the forming scars on your shoulder. “I can try,” he whispered. 

You brought his gaze back to yours and pulled him in for a kiss that said everything you both needed it to. When you pulled away, you smiled teasingly. 

“So enough of the puppy look.” 

Kayce rolled his eyes. “Not this again.”

“I’m serious!” You giggled. “It’s time to, I don’t know, have a little fun again. I’m not going to break.” 

Ever the fighter, he thought, bringing you in for another kiss. 

You tugged on his hand again, leading him out of the barn. The first stars were making their appearance over the incredible landscape you called home. 

“Besides,” you said, leading him back toward the house. “You still owe me a date night.” 

Kayce chuckled, wrapping an arm around your waist with a smirk that matched your own. 

“Yes ma’am.” 

[bullet-prooflove]

Could I request the Yellowstone boys looking after the reader on her period or after a long day of work.

Could you also include young John Dutton in the list please 🤗

So I’m going to go with long day/bad day as there’s only so much you can do for a period before it becomes a little samey.

See below the cut as it gets lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng!

Since the Becks riding is a little tougher for Gina because she has more aches and pains due to those broken bones from the beating. They may repair but in the cold or with overexertion they ache like fuck. When she comes in from a long day or barrel racing and training she’s usually in some pain. She will not tell Travis but he will notice it almost immediately because of her movements and gait on the horse and when she’s getting off the horse. He offers to take care of the tack and settling Artemis so she can see herself home to warm up.

When he gets in she’s probably on the couch too exhausted to move, waiting for her pain killers to kick in. Maui is usually hovering around her because he knows his person’s in pain. Travis will head upstairs to run a bath with the fancy shit she likes or stuff he’s stolen from a hotel while on the road, he then herds her up the stairs into it. He takes his time helping her undress and getting her into the tub before he derobes and joins her. He tucks himself in behind her, holding her close until she falls asleep on him.

When the water starts to cool, he wake her up, dries her off with their most plush towel and helps her dress in one of his shirts and boxers. When they go downstairs to watch The Cowboy Channel he’ll braid her hair for her as they watch tv, eating popcorn. Travis will always try to catch it in his mouth while Gina throws it and Maui ends up eating all the ones he misses.

Pre Opal: Jamie’s work place is literally five paces from the flowershop so after work he’s coming to meet you and then he’s taking you out. You’ll usually go to somewhere fancy but lowkey, with good wine and excellent food. This always ends up diffusing the tensions of the day because of how cared for Jamie makes you feel. He pays attention when you talk, listening intently, making you laugh. On the way out, he helps you into your coat, his arm wrapped around you as he guides you to the car.

If you got an order that needs finishing he’s rolling up his sleeves to help.  

Post Opal: He’s taking charge of the baby and ordering out to give you a little time to destress. Usually you take a shower to chase away the negativity of the day. Jamie by this time has already fed Opal and the two of you put her down to bed together, with loads of baby cuddles. You have dinner together and catch up on the days events with a glass of wine.

Jen’s work can keep her out to all hours because of the nature of being a vet in a rural area. There are days where Rip is home long before she is. He usually cooks a meal for the two of them, warming it when she gets in. As soon as she gets in the door, he’s helping her out of her jacket, ushering to the couch, taking off her boots before he guides her to the table. Even if he’s eaten, he will sit down at the table with her and catch up about the day.

Afterwards he lights a fire in the fireplace and the two of them spend their time cuddled up on the couch and watching the flames as they doze.

Corienne’s job is similar to Gina’s in terms of physical intensity, there’s a lot of travelling, riding horses, it takes a physical toll.

If it’s been a training horses day, the two of them are sharing a shower and he’s washing her, taking care of her, drying her and then he’s massaging all of those sore muscles. It usually ends in sex because Kayce is very good with his hands.

If it’s been a travelling day, Kayce will cook and the two of them will have dinner on the porch step overlooking the land because it instils a real sense of being home for her. They’ll stay out there as possible drinking beer and cuddling underneath the stars, watching the sun go down.

For Katalina her bad days usually involve something horrible, it’s the lot of inheriting the sheriff’s position in Bozeman. Those are the days she struggles to get out of her head. Ryan is very intuitive about this, he understands it can be hard to transition from work and sometimes there’s a need for a physical change. For him it’s taking the livestock agent badge off, for Kat it’s the removal of her uniform.

He usually lays a set of clothes out for her, comfortable jeans and her softest sweater for her to change into. When she does they usually take the Briscoe for a walk, enjoying their small patch of land, his hand holding hers. It can take her a while to open up but she eventually does and it feels like a pressure is relieved. When they get back home they usually cook together before settling down with Briscoe to watch tv. During this time Briscoe will start bringing his toys over to Ryan to play with which ends up with Ryan on the floor, roughhousing with the dog which always makes Kat laugh.

When Belle has a bad day, the one thing that is guaranteed to get her out of it is playing the fiddle and Walker knows it. She will initially be resistant until Walker picks up his own guitar and plays a few notes, it usually starts with a jaunty little tune and some teasing like “come on Belle, you know this one.” She usually ends up relenting and the two of them play together, challenging each other to different, faster songs as they go. After that it’s all flushed skin and happiness from their playing, which leads kissing and roving hands before they make love on the couch.

Afterwards with a blanket draped over them, Walker will caress her cheek and ask if she’s in a better mood which ends up with a pillow to the face before he falls off the couch butt naked and laughing, which makes Belle laugh.

With Lee and Anna-May it always comes back to nature. If she’s had a shitty day, he’s saddling up his horse for a trip up to the wild bloom. He usually packs a small picnic and a blanket, the two of them have dinner up there, warming their feet in the stream as they talk through her day. Just being around all that greenery, allows her to take a breath and she’s a lot happier by the time they ride home together on his horse, tucked in contently against her man.  

Pre Affair (before John’s marriage to Evelyn) If Lou was having a bad day John would often snag a bottle of his best whiskey and the two of them would go for a ride. They’d head up to the rock pools strip off, take a dip and share the bottle. They’d usually stay up there for the night, camping out underneath the stars before riding down the next morning.

Post Evelyn Marriage:

Due to the fact it’s an affair, he’s not often there for your bad days. When he does turn up it’s usually with a bottle of whiskey as an ode to the old days when you were a couple.

[pileofboneswrites]

WILDFLOWERS.

MASTERLIST | YELLOWSTONE

you resisited his charm for a long time; acting like he didn't exist, or brusting off his flirting. then after getting cornered at a bar by some creep, ryan stepped in like a knight in shining armour. you couldn't keep your disinterested act up much longer before he was sweeping you off your feet. your relationship is a fairytale. it was the kind of love you thought only existed in movies.