#Big Sky Ranch

[kristannafever]

Big Sky Ranch

Kristanna Modern AU Rated: M WC: 1829

In the foothills off of the Rocky Mountains, resides a generational Ranch known to all in the area. Kristoff, a humble hand on that ranch, works hard and enjoys his simple existence. It isn't until a new woman starts at the diner that be begins to acknowledge his loneliness and plans to ask her on a date. When his plans are foiled by a rival group of men, it sets events into motion that plunge Anna and Kristoff into getting to know each other through some very unexpected situations and their relationship blossoms as their lives begin to change.

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A/N: This had been my passion project for over a year, and is the most self-indulgent thing I have ever written. It is inspired by the ranch setting of Yellowstone and the rural area in which I live.

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Anna had only been working as a waitress at the diner for a week, and she was quickly learning what the biggest perk of the job was. 

It was the cowboys.

She’d moved to the small town only a month prior, desperate to get as far away from the city where her sleazy ex-fiancé was.  It was the fresh start she needed after wallowing about that cheating asshole for months.  Truly dark times they had been.

After finding a basement suite to rent since she wasn’t sure how long she would be there before she moved on again, she got the job at the diner, and was truly starting to enjoy life again.  And that was in large part due to the clientele. 

The town was surrounded by ranchlands.  Large farms spread out in all directions, and the roads were ruled by pick-up trucks and farm equipment.  Many times, Anna had gone for a drive to clear her head and she’d come upon some large tractor-thing, and she’d have to squeeze around the slow-moving vehicle in the wrong lane, or wait until it pulled into a pasture.  Even so, she never minded too much, because she enjoyed the drives and admiring the lovely scenery against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains.

And every day, rain or shine, groups of men came in for breakfast or lunch.  Most of them in the full cowboy outfit; cowboy boots, jeans, roper or plaid shirts, and cowboy hats.  And no matter the size or shape of them, they were all ruggedly handsome in their own ways.

And decent!  Anna had never met so many decent men.  They were all extremely polite and respectful.  They held doors and said ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and ‘ma’am’, and they always tipped generously even if they only had a cup of coffee and a piece of pie. 

Anna truly did love her job, even if was a lot harder work than sitting behind a desk all day like she’d been doing when she worked at that insurance company with her ex. 

That asshole could rot in hell.

Now Anna had her eyes open for a cowboy.  A lot of them didn’t wear any wedding rings, but that didn’t mean that they weren’t married.  She’d asked one of the other waitresses and was told they don’t wear them for safety, not wanting them to get caught in ropes or machinery.  And the ones that did wear them, wore those new rubber ones that could break if they got caught in something.   It made perfect sense to Anna.  Although it certainly made it harder to tell who was and wasn’t attached. 

Which was why for the time being she just had her eyes open.  She never outwardly hit on any of them for fear of hitting on a taken man.  She just hoped that one day, one of them might just ask her out.  And until then, she would more than happily take in all the eye candy.

*****

Kristoff yawned as he got out of his truck and stretched out his tired back.  Him and Sven got up extra early and treated themselves to breakfast whenever they could, and right now they had a short break before calving season when their days were a little less long.

The air was still chilly with the last of winter’s tenuous hold, and their breath came out in white vapors as they walked through the parking lot.  At least the snow was mostly all gone, and while that meant that him and Sven’s work load was going to ramp up, it was hard to argue with the sun shining bright after six brutally long months of snow-covered ground.

As soon as they stepped into the diner, Sven gave him a nudge with his elbow.

“New girl,” he said under his breath, and flicked his head in her direction as they walked to a booth along the front windows. 

Kristoff glanced her direction then turned to Sven and gave him a hard stare.  Ever since he got engaged, Sven had been trying mercilessly to set Kristoff up with someone and it was starting to get on his nerves.  The girl was really cute, sure, he just wasn’t interested.  He was too damn set in his ways to be interested.

They sat in their favourite booth, took off their cowboy hats, and set them on the seat beside themselves.  Kristoff ran a hand through his hair a few times, shaking out the hat line, and the new waitress came over straight away and set menus on the table. 

“Morning, gentlemen.”  She smiled brightly.  “What can I start you out with today?”

“Coffee, black, and a water,” Kristoff said.

“Same here,” Sven said, “please.”

“Coming right up.”  She gave them another bright smile and walked away. 

“City girl,” Sven mused.

“Yup.”  He’d heard her accent too.

“She don’t have a ring.”

“Sven-”

“Come on, man.  You livin’ like that ain’t healthy.  All alone in that cabin.  You should move back to one of the main houses.”

“You know I don’t like being around people too much.”

“You like being around me.”

“Yeah, well, you’re the one exception and you know that too.”

“You could make another exception,” Sven flicked his head to the counter where she was pouring them coffee, “for her.”

“If you don’t cut this out, I’m gonna strap you to that nasty old bull out in the east pastures.”

“Ole’ Bruce?”  Sven laughed.  “That bull don’t got any fight left in him.”

“I beg to differ,” Kristoff stated.  It was only a month ago that mean old brute had him scrambling for the fences when he charged Kristoff.  And of course, no one had been around to see it and they all told him he was making shit up.  That bull had it out for him, Kristoff knew it.

The waitress came back with the drinks and they ordered their usual; the cowboy breakfast.  It came with two eggs, three strips of bacon, a pair of sausages, hash browns, beans and two slices of toast.  Both him and Sven would eat it all and be starving by noon. 

They ate quickly and Kristoff pulled his wallet out of his back pocket since it was his turn to pay.  The waitress came back with the bill and a card machine which Kristoff waived off because he always paid with cash.  He gave her a pretty nice tip since she’d kept their water and coffee cups full.  He hated it when he was halfway through his meal and he had nothing to drink because the cups weren’t topped off. 

On the way out, when Sven wasn’t looking, Kristoff glanced in the waitress’s direction.  She had her copper hair in braids, and actually, was very attractive.  He always had been a sucker for freckles.  If he was interested in a relationship, he might ask her out, but he was more than content not having to deal with what came in having that sort of thing.

*****

Anna watched the pair of cowboy’s head back to their big dually in the parking lot.  They’d been the best-looking ones yet.  Especially that blond with the big nose and the pretty brown eyes.  He was very handsome.  And built!  The guy’s biceps were giving that roper shirt a serious quality control test.  She felt a little flustered to suddenly think about what being with a man like that would be like.  Her ex had been on the skinnier side and nowhere near as tall.  Not to mention never really left her satisfied.  She had a feeling that the handsome blond cowboy sure wouldn’t disappoint. 

He didn’t really say much, he left her a very nice tip, and he did say thank you when she dropped off their breakfast, even if he didn’t say please when he ordered it.  Anna hoped she’d see him again soon and found herself hoping that he was single and looking.

~   ~   ~   ~   ~

Sven suggested breakfast again the next morning and Kristoff damn well knew why.  Still, it was hard to argue against a big brekky that he didn’t have to make himself.   They drove to the diner and sure enough, the attractive waitress was working.

They sat in the same booth and she came over a moment later with coffees and waters.  It impressed him a little that they didn’t have to order, even if was presumptuous of her. 

“Same as yesterday, gentlemen?” she asked, after she’d set their drinks on the table.

“You bet,” Sven answered.

“And are we sticking with sunny-side up eggs and rye toast?”  Both men nodded.  “Perfect.  I’ll have that right out to you.”

Kristoff found himself watching her walk away.  She sure had a nice smile.  Very friendly.  Good for getting better tips for sure.   And those eyes were something else.

“You should ask her out,” Sven persisted in a hushed voice.

He turned to Sven and scowled.  “No.”

“Why not?”

Kristoff shrugged and couldn’t really come up with a good answer. 

Sven heaved a big sigh.  “You know what, I give up.  You’re hopeless.”

Kristoff sneered.  “Like you pointed out, she’s a city girl.  Only one way a relationship with her is gonna end up, and that’s me being dumped after a week.”

“Maybe if you would just try-”

“That’s enough,” he said, very serious.  “I’m not in the mood.”

Sven scoffed.  “Fine, whatever.”

Kristoff looked down at his hands and started to dig some dirt out from under his thumbnail.  Sven had no idea what he was talking about.  Kristoff had always tried.  He did his best, even though he was pretty damn clueless about romance.  Which seemed to be why none of the ladies he’d gone out with stuck around long.  He did try, and it was never enough.  It had left him jaded about dating. 

Their meals came out quickly and they ate even quicker to get a head start on their day.  It was going to be another long one, meaning come Friday night, both of them would be more than eager to blow off some steam at the saloon. 

*****

Anna gathered up the tip the other cowboy had left on the table.  It was still very decent even if he wasn’t as generous as the blond.  Neither of the men seemed like they were looking for a date, so Anna gave up on thinking that either of them were single.  Like most of them, they were probably taken, leaving Anna wondered what she had to do to bag herself a cowboy.

Another waitress had been talking about going to a saloon by the highway at the edge of town on Friday evening for some dancing and asked Anna if she wanted to tag along too.  She accepted, giddy at the chance that perhaps she might have her opportunity there to get herself a date, even if she was warned that the crowd could get pretty rowdy. 

--

Next Chapter

[kazroze]

back at big sky ranch

[simantoinette]

ranch life in sierra del sol

[aheathen-conceivably]

🏜️ Deadwood Reach: A Wild West Starter 🏜️

Has your sim followed the gold rush out West? Left behind the hustle and bustle of the city for the open air? Decided to try and make it on their own with no one other than their trusty steed? Despite its intimidating name and the Cowplant skulls guarding its entrance, this little starter home has everything a sim needs to build a life.

Designed for a Decades Challenge or historical gameplay, this lot is off the grid and requires a bit of ingenuity (or anachronistic cell phone usage) to meet its simple living requirements. There’s a small area for gardening, cross-stitching, guitar picking, and of course, horse riding. For those who might want a few creature comforts, there’s a well equipped outhouse, two working fireplaces, and even a brand new feather bed.

So brew up your cowboy coffee, sit on a hay bale, and enjoy a fire under the wide open sky.

Lot Size: 20x15 Original Lot: Big Sky Reach Lot Value: 22,829 House Size: 1 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom Lot Traits: Natural Well Lot Challenges: Simple Living, Off-the-Grid CC-free

As usual, it is CC free so that everyone can download it, but please feel free to redecorate it or redesign it, just tag me if you use it so I can see your lovely pixels enjoying it too!

Available to download on my gallery ID: aheathenbuilds or here (SFS, no ads).

[apatheticintrovert]

02/02/2025

[pa-pa-plasma]

genuinely not kidding when I say that Tears of the Kingdom is not only a bad Zelda game, it's just a bad game in general. it's inaccessible to casual gamers who previously could play Zelda games because of their structure. there is virtually no plot, & what little plot there is sucks ass, is predictable in a bad way, & doesn't make any fucking sense, with the absolute lack of emotional reactions from the characters making it all the worse. the references are only there to distract from the absolute nothingness, despite a main timeline Zelda title being the perfect game to have them as a type of storytelling (what happened to Skyloft??). the sky islands are just rocks with nothing on them except fruit, or maybe a chest if you're lucky. the underground is a walking in the dark simulator. the overworld is the exact same shit as in Breath of the Wild & I already explored that twice so why do it again. the caves are pointless. they didn't add much to the game besides that (the shrines & towers are just reskinned, do not fool yourself) & what they did add is just more sidequests to fill the gaps between the bits of non-existent plot. the dungeons suck. the boss battles are okay which is just sad for a Zelda game. it's just a $90 DLC & if that doesn't explain why I'm so mad about this idk what the fuck will. maybe the fact that this "new formula" is a severe step down from the old one, where you had an actual full fucking puzzle game to play with an actual fucking characters & a story that wasn't just more MCU "cameo! reference!!" bullshit

[chewablepebbles]

I spent two hours training a green palomino gelding today along with his future rider and I feel soooo good. Really what I'm meant to be doing.

[wolfstarshipping]

Beneath a Big Blue Sky (68.298 words) by @eyra Rating: Explicit

modern AU, non-magic AU

Sirius and James accidentally find themselves on a Yorkshire farm during lambing season. The farmer’s son thinks that’s a bit annoying, actually.

Quote: The four-by-four heaves its way down long, twisting lanes, little more than dirt tracks scuffed into the surrounding fields and hemmed in by serpentine walls of flat, grey stone. They truly are in the middle of nowhere: the countryside rushes past, all rolling green hills and vast, endless skies, and it's odious. Sirius wants to murder James with his bare hands.

Comment: I'm guessing that a lot of you already know about and love this fic anyways, but just in case some of you don't: It's an absolute TREASURE! Sirius and James spend a whole spring/summer on the Lupins' farm, and that brings all the funny and tender and beautiful moments you can wish for in a fic! I loved Remus and Sirius slowly getting to know and love each other, and thought it was so well-written and just overall well done, it's the kind of fic I keep thinking about and wanting to re-read even though I only read it a couple of weeks ago. One of my favorite things about it (besides Snuffles the lamb <3) was how it dealt with homophobia and coming out, I found that was so well done!

[cl0ud-ninex]

[tarnishedhalo]

💋 - from Cara ( mistletoe )

Christmas in May || -- As far back as he can remember the Duttons and the Rileys have always taken turns hosting one another's families during the winter holidays, a ritual he thinks began when banding together to share resources was a means of survival. When the Admiral died, as eldest sibling, the task fell onto Riley's shoulders. So starting at Thanksgiving ~dinner at the Duttons had certainly been memorable~ clan and kin had gathered at the Five Oaks to begin decorating. It's now Christmas Eve and the party and gift exchange had wound down. He's till wondering if Beth is going to use the custom knife he'd given her to stab him when he least expects it. People broke off in pairs and groups, John had bid them thanks and farewell because this is a young kids thing. Riley has to wonder if maybe he misses his old friend and if he doesn't want to feel the weight of time and loss on the holy eve. Seeing as he likes his teeth where they are, he doesn't ask. Instead he shakes hands, and promises to have Cara home and safe as the roads allow. They both know he's a shit liar. John claps his shoulder and wishes him luck as he leaves. Riley sits next to Cara on the couch, enjoying the new quiet and the soft glow of all the Christmas lights glowing around them when she pulls something from her pocket. It takes him a minute to realise the leaves and berries for what they are, and only after she raises one arm above his head with a devilish grin. He raises his fingertips and gives a scritch of his jawline. The corner of his mouth tugs upwards and he leans toward her. "Merry Chrismas, darlin'." His lips are tender, light on her own as his eyes close.

[kristannafever]

Big Sky Ranch - 12

Kristanna Modern AU Rated: Explicit WC: 3451

Chapter Index

*Content warning in tags*

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Anna was clearing up the dishes from the supper that she had made while Mr. Weadick read a book at the kitchen table when the doorbell rang.  She wiped her hands on her apron and went to answer it.   Sven was standing there with a scraggly looking middle-aged guy in a trucker cap.

“Hey Anna,” Sven greeted her warmly.  “Got a new hire to meet the old man.”

“Oh sure,” she said, and stood back to let the men enter.

“Well, hey there,” the stranger said directly to her, as he stepped through the threshold, eyeing her up and down.

Sven turned quickly to the other man and brought up a finger.  “She’s taken.”

The man held up his hands.  “My apologies.  She yours?”

“No, my brothers.  Now drop it.”

The man gave him a rather exaggerated apologetic look while managing to appear thoroughly amused. 

Anna brought them into the kitchen and they took a seat at the table with Mr. Weadick.  She busied herself with cleaning up from the rest of dinner, listening to the interview.  The guy, apparently having just arrived in town, had worked hard with Buck all day.  Mr. Weadick threw him some tough questions and he seemed to manage them easily.   In the end, he was welcomed on and Anna had to wonder if Buck was going to get along with him sharing the house. 

She couldn’t quite place it, but there was something about the guy – Bill, apparently – that seemed a little off.   Perhaps it was the rather lewd look he’d given her when Sven wasn’t paying attention when they were leaving the kitchen.  Maybe it just creeped her out a bit now that she was with Kristoff.  She’d had plenty of looks like that before from her ex’s friends and at the diner by certain men, and never thought much of them beyond plain disgust. 

With everything cleaned up and prepped for the morning, she bid her boss a good evening and happily went down to the ranch houses to help Coop with their supper.

He was planning on doing smokies on the grill and there wasn’t much to help with, so Anna sat in one of the lawn chairs and waited for the rest of the ranch hands while she chatted with Coop.  Kristoff, Sven and Jett filtered in a short time later and Anna was happy to see her boyfriend.  Bill was chatting with Buck, having accepted the invitation for dinner, and seemed to pay her little attention.

The guys put the horses away and everyone shot the shit over a beer before Coop fired up the grill to cook the smokies.  Anna was pretty tired with how much her and Kristoff had been going at it, and she happily let him handle the BBQ while she relaxed with the other guys.

“We should eat outside,” Coop said, looking over his shoulder from the BBQ as he brushed it clean to cook on.

“Sounds good,” Sven said, and everyone else agreed.  “I’ll grab the condiments and shit.”

“I’ll grab another round a beers,” Buck added.

“I gotta take a piss,” Kristoff said quietly to himself and got up with a faint groan.  He threw a smile Anna’s way and went into Sven’s place.

“Oh, I should grab that little folding table from the stables for the fixins’,” Coop said and turned away from the grill.

Anna looked to see that Bill and Jett were in a conversation and she didn’t want Coop to grab it with his broken arm.  She stood.  “I got it, just tell me where it is.”

“Oh, it’s somewhere buried in the storage room at the back.  Thanks, Anna!”

She took off for the stables and opened the man door beside the barn doors.  The smell of horse was prevalent, yet there was a cleanliness to it.  Coop was doing a great job managing it himself with his broken arm. 

Anna walked the length of the stable to the storage room.  Looking in, she spied it right away and went to grab it.  She was leaning over to lift it when someone grabbed her ass, hard.

Anna turned, startled, half expecting to see Kristoff grinning at her.  What she saw instead was a threatening and seriously creepy look from Bill.  “What the hell-”

He moved as quick as a snake strike, clamping his hand against her mouth.  He didn’t say anything as he shoved her towards the wall, slamming her back painfully against it.

“You stay quiet if you know what’s good for ya,” he hissed, as his hand came up and grabbed her breast through her shirt and squeezed painfully.  “We gonna have a quick little party in this room here.”

Anna’s fight response kicked in and she did the only thing she could think to do in that moment, which was to bring up her knee as fast and hard as she could.  It connected with the man’s testicles with a satisfying thud.

He dropped her and doubled over.  Anna turned and ran out of the stables, banging her shoulder against the jam of the man door and stumbling to her knees on the ground outside.  She looked up wildly to see who would help her, when Kristoff looked casually over at the movement in her direction as he descended the steps from Sven’s house.

His face changed instantly, and his entire body snapped into action.  If she thought Bill had moved fast, there was nothing as fast as the way Kristoff started charging in her direction to see her on her hands and knees with a pleading look for help.  Only his focus wasn’t on her, it was on the open door to the stables.  He didn’t even look at her as he barreled past and into the building.

The next thing Anna heard was the sound of a fist hitting a face, something she’d never even heard in her entire life until that fight that Boone had gotten into with Kristoff.

Anna scrambled to her feet, looking at the other men near the house.  Jett and Coop were wide eyed with a confused ‘what the fuck?’ expression on their faces, and Sven had his arms full of condiments as he’d been following Kristoff out of the house.  He locked eyes with her.

“Kristoff’s gonna kill him,” Anna yelled to his brother.

Sven dropped everything in his arms and charged forward with instant understanding.  Anna scrambled to her feet and beat him to the door and ran inside.  As she’d expected, Bill was on his back on the stable floor, taking hit after hit to the forearms that were trying to protect his face and failing half the time to do so.

“Kristoff!  Kristoff!”

He wasn’t listening, his face twisted with that rage she’d seen when he was choking Boone.  

Sven came in and launched himself at Kristoff’s back.  “Kris, stop!  Stop!”  He put his arm around Kristoff’s neck and tried to haul him back while he mercilessly kept pummeling the man on the floor.  Jett and Coop ran into the stable a moment later, and upon seeing what was happening, tried to help haul Kristoff off of the prone man.

There was a struggle until Buck appeared in the threshold of the door and used his incredibly loud voice.  “Stop it you fucks!”

Kristoff finally relented and the ranch hands were able to haul him away from the other man and up to his feet.  Bill was scrambling away on his ass, screaming about how crazy Kristoff was pretty much every curse word Anna had ever heard.  His face was a bloody mess, and it was clear that his nose was badly broken.

Her cowboy was panting with clenched teeth, his wild, furious eyes locked on Bill as he scrambled to his feet.   Kristoff remained silent, seething, while every other man on his side started shouting at Bill.  It was hard to make out what they were saying, they were all shouting over each other, but it all had similar tones of ‘fucking off’, ‘getting lost’ and ‘you come back and we’ll kill you’.  In the end, Bill heeded their advice and ran from the stable.

When he left, Kristoff was still panting, staring ahead down the length of the stable.  Every man holding him back released their grip slowly, like they were afraid he’d take off after Bill.  Instead, he sank slowly to his knees and hung his head between his slumped shoulders.

“Come on,” Sven said quietly to the other men, and they retreated slowly, all looking down at the ground.

Kristoff remained where he was, still breathing deeply while Anna could only stare at him.   She was a little shocked, a little scared, and madly in love.  He’d been hitting Bill mercilessly, and yet the man was still able to take to his feet.  A man Kristoff’s size could have easily bashed Bills face in in the time it took Sven and the others to haul him off, and as crazed as Kristoff had looked while he pummeled the man, Bill was still able to leave under his own power.  That kind of restraint spoke volumes.

Anna walked over to him and slid her hands onto his shoulders.  They tensed at the touch only did not relax.  She started to rub his rock-hard shoulders.  “I fucking love you so much.”

He let out an exhale and his entire body finally relaxed a little.  He pulled in a shaky breath like he was on the verge of tears.  “What exactly did he do?” he whispered.

Anna suddenly understood.  Kristoff knew Bill had hurt her, only he didn’t know how.  And to him, that didn’t matter.  All he knew when he looked at her was that she was in trouble, and he acted.

“He groped me,” she said with a wince, unsurprised he tensed up again under her hands.  “But I’m fine.  I kneed him in the balls.”

He was silent for a moment and then there was a very light shaking of his shoulders with a nearly silent chuckle.  “Atta girl.”

She moved around him and kneeled in front of him, ignoring her clean jeans on the dusty stable floor, then hooked her finger under his chin so that he would look at her.  “I never once worried about my safety, Kristoff.  I knew you were here.”

His eyes darted away from hers.  “I shouldn’t have left you alone.  That guy had a creepy vibe.”

Anna would have chuckled if this wasn’t so serious.  “Well, he’s gone now.  So, let’s just go eat, okay?”

His eyes rolled slowly back to meet hers.  “Where?”

Anna understood by the look he was giving her, his brows turned up with worry.  Her hand came up and she touched her palm lightly to her left breast.  “Here.”

His lips pursed in rage again.  “I’m so sorry.”

That surprised her.  “Don’t be sorry for his actions!  You set him straight.  I’m sure he’ll think twice before doing anything like that again.”

“He won’t.” 

His eyes seared into her, and she shook her head slightly, wondering again the ways of men.  There was so much goodness in them, and yet so much evil.  At least for her experiences, the good ones far outweighed the bad.

“Come on,” she said, standing to her feet and reaching out for him to grab his hands with an encouraging smile.  “Let’s go eat.”

He looked up at her, regarding her, then nodded and stood up.  As soon as he was on his feet, he pulled her into a fierce hug.  “I fucking love you so much, too.”

He held onto her as long as she let him until she decided it was over and she let go of him and waited.  While he did not want to, he knew it was time to do the same.  He looked back down at her face when they pulled apart, his mind still clouded with fury.   Despite the fact that the old man was a pretty good judge of character, they’d all missed something with that guy.

Anna asked again if they could go eat and he was helpless to resist, even if he wanted to just take her back to the cabin and barricade themselves in.  She was hungry and he didn’t have much on hand, so they left the stables to eat some smokies.

The scene that was unfolding at the grill was tense.  Every man was on their feet, speaking harshly to one another.

“… fucking know better, Buck!” Sven was shouting in the older man’s face.

“You and the old man are the assholes that hired him!” Buck shot back. 

Coop shouted, “Where the hell was Jett when Bill took off?!  They was talking a minute before!”

“I had to take a leak too!” Jett threw up his arms.  “I went around the side of the house to piss!  You’re the one that let her get that table on her own!”

“She offered!” Coop shouted, holding up his casted arm.  “I was grillin’ the dogs, I didn’t see him take off for the stables!”

Sven turned his rage on the group.  “None of that matters!  Buck saw him suckin’ at a flask all day and didn’t say nonthin’”.

“I was gonna tell you after he left and see how you assholes wanted to handle it!” Buck shouted, taking a step towards Sven with a raised fist.  “Not like we’re exactly innocent of doing the same thing from time to time, and we’re hurtin’ for help here!”

The arguing continued and Kristoff had had about all he could take.  His nerves were already fried.  “Enough!” he roared.

The four other men looked at their direction, all eyes on him until they realized Anna was beside him and every focus went to her.

“I’m so fucking sorry, Anna,” Sven said, getting a little choked up.  “I thought the dude was on the level.”

His eyes slipped to Kristoff and he saw the panicky apology in them.  He wasn’t mad at his bother, but it wasn’t so easy to let go of so much sudden adrenaline and his furrowed brow refused to relax.  No one would have guessed that the guy would try and pull something like that with them all around, even if he had been nipping at a flask all day long.  Perhaps he figured it was his only chance to get as far as he could.  The dude clearly had a screw loose.  Not that any of that mattered to Kristoff.  If he ever saw the guy again, he’d resume beating him.

“Sven, it’s okay!” Anna was saying, bringing his focus back to her.  “I thought he was okay too!  When you guys were up at the house he seemed on the level.”

Sven’s eyes turned to the ground.  “I’m sorry,” he muttered again, looking more than ashamed.

Kristoff knew it was because his brother had looked to him for a reaction and only received a hard stare.  He was still furious.  And ashamed of himself too.  If the other guys hadn’t stopped him, he wasn’t sure if he would have stopped himself. 

“It’s my fault, Anna,” Coop piped up, speaking quickly and looking as sacred as a rabbit in a snare.  “I should’ve got that table myself.”

“I offered!” Anna protested.

“I should’ve said something about the flask right away,” Buck said to the ground.  “Even though he was a hard worker and got a bunch of shit done, that’s still not right.  I’m sorry, Anna.”

Before she could open her mouth, Jett spoke up.  “He glanced at you headin’ to the stables when I got up to take a piss.  I should’ve clued in on that.”

“Guys!” Anna pleaded.  “Please, I’m fine!”  She reached down blindly and Kristoff knew she was looking for his hand.  He slid his into hers.  “I knew y’all would protect me.”

The way she said that, mimicking their accent, made every single man relax their shoulders and smile ever so slightly.

“I know you boys got my back,” she added, in the same fashion, and the last of the animosity dissolved into nervous chuckles.

Kristoff looked down at her when she turned her face up to him.  Her eyes were pleading, and he understood.  Crisis was averted, and Anna did not want to dwell on what happened.  He nodded once at her.

He turned back to the ranch hands.  “Let’s just eat and forget about that fuckin’ piece of shit.”

-----

As soon as they stepped into Kristoff’s cabin and shut the door, he turned and pulled her into a protective hug.  “I’m so sorry.”

Anna let out a quick exhale of air against him.  “I know!  That’s all you guys did all night long was apologize! It wasn’t your fault!”

He knew she was mad and she tried to pull away.  He held her tight, unable to let go, and his eyes welled up with tears.  He sniffed and Anna relaxed in his embrace, allowing him to hold her for a very long moment while they breathed against one another.

His mind was a wreck.  He hated what happened, he hated himself, and he hated that fucker Bill like nobody’s business.  He didn’t think there was anything that could pull him out of his current mood.   Anna moved away from his hug and brushed her palm against his crotch.  He was unfazed.

He shied away from her, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt he would not be able to perform.  He was still mad and had an overpowering sense that he’d failed her.  It was also hurting him that she wanted normalcy and he was unable to provide it.  He paced the kitchen, mind lost in troubling thoughts.

“Kristoff, talk to me, please.  I’ve never seen you like this.”

He wasn’t sure what to say.  They’d talked about it a bit over supper, with Anna constantly telling the guys to stop apologizing.  In the end they’d let it go, but the meal wasn’t a happy one.  The mood was low.

Sven had pulled Kristoff into a hug before he took Anna back to the cabin.  It was rare of him to do so in front of the other guys, and Kristoff had greatly appreciated it and hugged his brother back tightly, letting him know that all was right with them.  The only person he blamed for what happened to Anna was himself.

Anna crossed her arms in front of her chest.  “You’re being ridiculous.”

That immediately pissed him off all over again.  “He groped you,” he said through gritted teeth.

She dropped her arms with a frustrated sigh.  “It’s not the first time that’s ever happened to me.”

His eyebrows shot up.  “It’s not?”  It surprised him.  He knew there were a lot of bad dudes out there and he knew the shit that women faced on a daily basis, he just hadn’t really thought about anything like that happening to her before.  Why would he?  Thinking on such things would be torturous.

Anna sat on the couch and patted the seat beside her.  He sat obediently, ready to hear what she had to say.

“One of my ex’s friends got too friendly one night when he was drunk.  He was always giving me dirty looks and gross suggestions, like I should serve them drinks in my lingerie.  And when my ex caught his friend when he had backed me into a corner and had his hand up my skirt, he blamed me.  They both did.  Said I’d been flirty and it was my fault.”

Kristoff didn’t think he could be any angrier, and here he was, seeing red with his hands balled up into tight fists and his teeth clenched so tightly it hurt.  He was vaguely aware that his body had started to shake.

Anna put her hand on his forearm.  “That’s why I haven’t told you about that stuff, Kristoff.  Your protectiveness is pretty intense.”

He thought on that a moment and then did his best to let go of the tension in his body.  It was true, and something he supposed he might have to work on.  Anna wanted to let it go and get right back to living happy and he was holding her back.

“Okay, Anna.  I get it.  I’ll work on that.”

She smirked at him.  “Not too much, I hope.  I do like it.  Just, you know, when I say I’m good, I’m good.  Okay?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

That made her smile, which made him happy, and he was finally able to let go of the simmering rage he felt.  It abated, but the anger did not.  He had a feeling it never would.

---

Previous Chapter

Next Chapter

[kazroze]

getting that one (1!!) chick to hatch was a whole event but i'm so proud of us, luke

[simantoinette]

happy days on the heartlands ranch

[navree]

the whole rednote thing is dumb and stupid and has been from the getgo and i look askance at anyone using it, but this chinese dude who was a big fan of yellowstone so he moved to inner mongolia to be a rancher and made a video welcoming american users to rednote saying 'i love cowboy culture' is the best thing i've seen all week, multiculturalism is always the gift that keeps on giving

[techdriveplay]

14 Detour-Worthy Things to Do in Montana on a Road Trip

Montana might not be the first state that comes to mind when considering an epic American road trip, but this huge state should be on your travel radar. Having visited over 65 countries, I often say Mongolia is my favorite. Swap the nomadic tribes with cowboys and the sheep for bison, and Montana’s grassland steppe is the closest you’ll find to one of the least visited places in the…

[inboundremblog]

Big Sky Ranch Simi Valley: A Premier Master-Planned Community

Credit: Image by PetrPodlesak | Pixabay

Best Features of Big Sky Ranch Simi Valley

Located strategically in a naturally inclined area, the Big Sky Ranch in Simi Valley is a one-of-a-kind master planned and built home development. 

This is not just the community of the enchanting appearance of houses; it is about achieving the mood of living that means luxury and proximity to nature. 

Whether you want to buy a home here or want more information about this region, the following is all you need about Big Sky Ranch.

The architectural layout of Big Sky Ranch Simi Valley is given considerable thought. Its plan is comfortable and relatively homogenous in overall concept. 

The quality of the houses underlines this, as does the overall level of cleanliness of the territory and a wide range of extraordinary services. This community in the hills offers the lifestyle its homeowners will love.

Architectural Elegance

The architecture in Big Sky Ranch homes has been carefully selected, and the structures have been designed with modern architectural excellence that suits the hillsides.

The homes range from large single-family homes to tiny townhome-style dwellings; therefore, customers are guaranteed a beautiful and wide variety of styles, meaning everyone gets their preferred taste.

Community Design

The layout and distribution of Big Sky Ranch are precisely designed to ensure a conducive, amicable environment. Streets and other common areas have aesthetic features and sports interconnectivity and are integrated into the districts' plans.

Green Spaces and Landscaping

The community and surroundings have delicate greenery, fine trees, hedges, lawns, and other green chunks. Apart from being so beautiful, they provide those dwellings in those regions with many places to enjoy the outdoors.

Exclusive Amenities

Big Sky Ranch facilities aim to provide the residents with a rich experience and quality of life. These include:

Clubhouse: A community clubhouse can be used to organize functions within the community, such as parties, events, and even a meeting place.

Swimming Pool: A practical, well-maintained pool provides a source of exercise and relaxation for residents who require it or just for recreation. Fitness Center: Especially for conscious guests, the hotel has an equipped gym and fitness center to help the guests work out.

Pet-Friendly Park: A Haven for Pets and Families

Of course, as it is seen and well known, this community is a pet lover, and thus, another fantastic feature of the Big Sky Ranch is the pet park in the North of this community. 

This park is designed with both pets and families in mind, giving a range of amenities and highlights that make it a popular destination for residents. 

Looking at the current establishment of pet owners and families, this park has been designed to incorporate some of the following features that make this park a home to the residents:

Dog-Friendly Spaces

The park has territory where pets, especially dogs, can use excess energy. These are well-fenced, policed compounds that are always very clean to ensure the pets and their owners are comfortable exercising.

Ball Fields

The park is available to lovers of athletic activities. The residents have provided four ball fields for practice in baseball, soccer, and other essential team games. These fields are served by subsidiary facilities designed to promote the setting up of matches and friendly matches.

Children's Playground

This was prepared for children, and the parents who teach homeschool will also benefit from the new playground, which has been equipped with the best safety equipment. The playground has been designed to serve as a play zone for outdoor games for children.

Picnic Areas: In the same regard, for recreation, the park also has areas that can be used for picnics by families or other relatives. These are areas where tables and benches can be placed; hence, one may spend a day admiring the park's natural environment.

Walking Trails

If one decides to stretch and casually walk within the area, the park has walking pathways encompassed by some greenage. Such trails are unique in that you could be doing something as essential as exercise or just a walk and simultaneously 'offer scenery.'

Living in Big Sky Ranch: A Lifestyle of Comfort and Convenience

In Big Sky Ranch, homeowners are not just living in efficient homes, but they are living a life that is efficient and quiet in equal measure. Here's what you can expect from life in this community:

Community Atmosphere

Fun activities are always organized to start at one corner of the facility and stretch to the other end; this is the extent of the Big Sky Ranch's community well-being. The management ensures interpersonal contact, and one can be comfortable since it is like being among friends and relatives.

Access to Local Amenities

Several community attributes make access to society's basic needs straightforward and convenient. The facilities, dining, shopping, and leisure facilities in Simi Valley allow everyone to access whatever they need within their community.

Proximity to Outdoor Recreation

The Big Sky Ranch is close to forests, hills, and other natural attractions, so people who love jogging, cycling, or just taking nature walks can enjoy it. 

The area and vicinity offer many possibilities for hiking and enjoying nature since the field and surrounding the school are covered by hills and valleys.

Educational Opportunities

Families with kids can benefit from advantages such as good schools and educational facilities nearby. For this reason, the community of Gulf Spur carries a strong theme of family-oriented amenities, including access to quality education.

Transportation and Accessibility

Another advantage is that Big Sky Ranch is easily accessible, with connections to the most important means of transport, implying that commuting and travel will be easy. Besides, the community's layout boasts properly designed roads and walkways that enable convenient access to the community.

Conclusion

Big Sky Ranch in Simi Valley is not just a housing unit; it is what can be termed a mixed-integrated city where people live in structured environs integrated with nature. This gated community offers sophisticated homes, several facilities, and family conveniences: the pet-allowed park with various recreational opportunities is one more strength of Big Sky Ranch.

From architectural beauty to active community culture and physical activity opportunities, nature has given Big Sky Ranch a lifestyle that meets numerous needs. It is a community where elegance, leisure, and accessibility are combined, providing perfect life satisfaction.

For those planning to relocate to Big Sky Ranch or to extend your knowledge regarding this prestigious development, you do not have to go further to seek more details. Check out the opportunities and find out how Big Sky Ranch can become your next home.

For an in-depth look, check out https://buyahomeinsimivalley.com/simi-valley-central/big-sky/ on our website.

Discover a master-planned community offering exceptional amenities, pet-friendly parks, and a vibrant lifestyle at Big Sky Ranch Simi Valley!