#jacob lofland x reader

[lowkeyrobin]

HII ‼️ begging on my hands and knees for an aris fic where they meet at the wckd facility and when they get out reader and him start developing a crush on each other on the way to the right arm. even better if gets angsty and includes aris being taken by wckd at the end. :D 👍

OH MY GOD YES PLEASE AND THANK YOU!!! ; finally an aris request LMAO ; and thank you for the ppl who sent maze runner reqs for me, the drive has been insane considering I started two whole fics on my wattpad (not published yet) for aris & brenda (character x oc) over it is insane 💀 but anyways! ; thanks for requesting, hope you enjoy! ; also damn this is a long one LMAO ; also red wine supernova inspired this a lot and idrk how

ARIS ; through the scorch we go

summary ; as you trudge through the sandy scorch with aris, you realize you're growing weird feelings

warnings ; language, violence, guns, drugging (the club for cranks or whatever)

disclaimers ; reader is described to be roughly the same height as aris

word count ; 2.6k

masterlist

You'd strayed from your friends long ago, after the maze and after they'd all been taken to the safe place. Your friends Edith, Percy, Leo, and Rosa had all been called by Mr. Janson to leave to go to the safe place to be free from WCKD forever over the past two weeks. You'd been welcoming in the last of the mazes, having learned they'd gone A-Z somehow.

The only boy from the new addition, Maze B, had caught your eye rather quickly. He was quiet, usually using his dark, striped hoodie to hide himself from others. He sat alone at his own little table, in the middle on the far right side.

As you spent your days investigating, he rarely ate, inspecting his cornbread when you obviously looked over at him after catching him looking at you. You noted the dark bags under his eyes, almost red like he never slept either, in the back of your mind. You couldn't help but almost feel worried for him, like he wasn't adapting outside his maze very well.

On top of losing his friends as well, whether being killed or taken to the safe place, or by the Right Arm, it would've broken you to also know that he actually wasn't eating or sleeping. Just knowing he never talked to anyone on top of that hurt your heart.

So, one day, a day prior to Maze A's arrival, you decide to sit with him, having been alone after your last friends were taken. You were tired of being alone and were sure he felt the same way, probably just needing a friend here. Who knows how long it would be til either of you would be called to go to the safe place?

You sit down across from him at the beginning of dinner, giving him a little smile as your tray lightly slaps down on the metal table.

"Hi, I'm Y/n"

He blinks a few times, kind of surprised you'd one, sat with him, and two, introduced yourself. Maybe he wasn't used to kindness.

"I'm Aris," He mumbles, setting his cup of water down as he'd held it in his hand before he spoke.

"My friends all got sent to the safe place too" You comment, "We can be friends if you want? I know you've been lonely over here, inspecting your cornbread everyday"

He smiles, appreciating your kindness towards him. "Yeah, that'd be cool. Thanks, Y/n"

A few days after making friends with Aris, just as you were about to fall asleep, you hear a loud thud and clattering noise under your bed, scaring you awake. You instantly sit up, and cautiously begin to peer over the side of your bed to see what had caused the noise. Before you can even place your hands on the rim of the metal bed frame, Aris' hands beat yours there, his face emerging from the darkness.

He holds a panicked, awkward smile on his face, the gap in his tooth shining brightly into your tired eyes. "Come on, we aren't free from WCKD. Everyone who's been getting called to go to the safe place, they're being used as lab rats, hooked up to machines and stuff."

You blink a few times with a puzzled look, silently begging for more information.

"We need to go, we're escaping with the guys from Maze A, right now." One hand leaves the edge of the bedframe to move around in his hoodie pocket. It rises back up to show you a key card. He flips it back and forth to show you it was legit. "We need to go, please!"

You nod, quickly scrambling out from your bed to get down on your hands and knees to crawl through the vents with him. You follow his lanky frame, his eyes looking more alive than ever as he directs you through the ceiling of the lab.

You end up on the other side of the door toward the outside world, awaiting the boys arrival. As Aris quickly informed you in the vents, there were five of them, plus a girl that they were going to find.

Their introductions are quick and action-packed, with Thomas just making it under the closing door before it closed by sliding. Aris quickly uses a brick, which had been laying around due to construction, to beat the key card reader so Janson and the WCKD gaurds assisting him couldn't use it and just chase after them.

You look to Aris, eyes wide as you look between him and the other teens before sprinting toward the exit. As the large doors open, sand flies into your eyes, blinding you for a moment before you all run into the cold desert, needing to run as far as you could before they tracked you all down again.

After hiding, getting away, and discussing a plan, you get familiar with the other teenager's names while searching for resources. There was Thomas, their leader, Teresa, Newt, Minho, Winston, and Frypan. You hang tight to Aris, being the only one you trusted at the moment.

"Damn, who are you gonna kill with that thing?" You joke, looking at the shy boy as he holds a metal baseball bat in hand.

"Cranks, probably"

Your second night, after losing Winston, was awful. All of his friends were clearly upset after having to leave their friend for dead, meanwhile you and Aris didn't really know how to comfort them, deciding to gather sticks for a fire to try and leave them be for a moment. Once you returned, they were clearly lacking any spirit, barely keeping it together before falling asleep.

It was much colder than it was the past night, leaving you freezing and shivering beside the dead fire. The hard, dead dirt didn't suffice as much of a mattress either.

You attempted to hold yourself to warm up, but it didn't help much. Between your sweatpants and t-shirt, there wasn't any warmth to be created. You would've picked some clothes up while you were gathering resources, but there ended up being nothing left in whatever sizes would fit you.

Aris asked if you'd be okay, which you responded too with a positive nod and smile.

Christ, you wish you took him up on that offer to look around more that other night.

Aris must've awoken due to your frantic shivering and slightly loud attempts to blow warm air into your hands. He sits up, eyes immediately directing to you, trying to warm up any way possible.

"Oh, sorry" You whisper, "Didn't mean to wake you"

He shakes his head, assuring that your apology wasn't needed. He pulls off his jacket and then his hoodie, handing it to you, leaving him in the white WCKD t-shirt you'd all been given on your first day. You look at the hoodie, then him, then the hoodie, then him again, almost confused.

He nods, holding it out for you to take.

You graciously accept the hoodie, quickly pulling it over your head while he slides his tan jacket back on.

As you pull the sleeves down over your wrists and adjust the hood before pulling it over your head, you quickly catch the smell of sweat and, somehow, cologne. You didn't know how or why this kid and his laundry smelled so good out in the desert where you'd spent days sweating with no hygiene set in place, but you weren't complaining.

You breathe in the musky, almost comforting scent one more time before looking back at Aris, who was already looking at you. You give him a smile to tell him thank you, appreciating his sacrifice for you.

But sadly, he was now cold without his extra layer, and you were still a little cold as well. You didn't understand how the Gladers were sleeping through the night like babies, but at least they were getting rest.

The both of you, shivering, quietly laugh as you notice, now seeing that you were both and still miserable.

"You wanna like, cuddle? To bounce off each other's body heat?" You suggest, getting a little risky with your moves, not even catching your own words and what they could've meant to him.

He nods after a moment, opening his arms for you to join him in his little patch of dirt. You scoot over, falling into his arms, your head buried in his chest while his head rests on top of yours. You're roughly the same height as him, but you decide to use him as your pillow, not needing him to see your tired face anyway. That could wait til morning, at least.

As you trail around the club, looking for your new friends, you hang on tightly to Aris. You took a drink of some random substance from a red cup to get in, probably having been drugged with how you were feeling after one sip. You had to take one for the team, though. Your team consisted of you and Aris, you didn't know who you were kidding.

You hang onto his hand tightly, your own hands clammy. You feel your head pound viciously behind the loud, thumping music, your vision becoming swirly and colorful.

As you stand still for a moment within the crowd, Aris catches you as you fall into his arms sideways as you're practically unable to walk. Your speech is slurred, complaining of your body hurting, your pupils dilated like no one's business.

"'ris, mmm... eyes hurt, please..." You hide your face in his shoulder, hiding from the light. "Make 't stop..."

"I know, I'm sorry," He replies, his voice raspy from the lack of water he'd been ingesting out in the scorch. "We need to find Thomas, okay?"

You nod, pulling your head up from his shoulder to look at him. You lightly place your fingers on his cheeks, admiring his pretty face.

Between the music, being drugged, and the shining lights all around you, you felt like you were actually having a brain aneurysm or something. After convincing yourself that you were dying, you quickly pressed a chaste kiss to his lips, unable to speak the words you were thinking to him.

The sun peers through a large window nearby, hitting him in the eye, causing him to give you an almost disgusted and cringed type of look. Through the miscommunication, you take it as disapproval for your actions.

He moves you a bit, needing to get his eyes away from the blaring sun. "C'mon, you're drunk out of your mind. Let's find the others, 'kay?"

In a state of panic and worry, he quickly pulls you into a side room, just having randomly found the others, plus your new companions Jorge and Brenda. They stand around Jorge, beating answers out of some dude for the location of the Right Arm.

Newt, Teresa, and Thomas quickly run to your aid as Aris asks for help, then you'd fell to the floor, complaining of being dizzy just before. The four pick you up and help you onto a cushioned chair just beside you, allowing Aris and Teresa to look over you. Thomas, Newt, Minho, and Frypan turn their attention back to Jorge and Brenda, still trying to beat answers out of the random dude you didn't know.

"How long have they been like this?" Teresa asks the boy.

"Since we got here, like fifteen minutes or so. They took a drink of something to get us in, I guess it was spiked," He quickly explains, looking at you with worry in his eyes.

"Shit," the raven haired girl mutters. She places her hands all around your face, checking your temp, trying to get you to follow her fingers. She was like a natural doctor.

You close your eyes, covering them as well due to the sensitivity to the light you were facing.

"They should be okay, it doesn't seem life threatening"

"Okay..."

Aris pulls you up from the chair, much to your dismay, to follow Jorge who just announced that he finally got the answers he needed. Aris essentially carries you on his back, allowing Thomas to walk behind him to catch you if you fell at all.

By the time you'd reached the car, you were already knocked out cold. He and Thomas lift you into the back, letting you rest your head on his lap and have the rest of the back seats for your sprawled out legs. The other boys plus Teresa sit in the trunk while Brenda joins Jorge in the front.

Aris can't help but softly run his fingers over your hair, admiring your peaceful, sleepy look.

Thomas, Fry, and Minho all giggle and look up at Aris from the back, joking about how smitten he was for you.

"True love" Minho laughs.

"We've known each other for like a week!"

As you settle into the Right Arm, you sit beside a little campfire with Aris, meeting his two friends Sonya and Harriet. They seemed really cool so far, you'd love to be friends with them.

"I think Y/n is one of the funniest people I've ever met" Aris smiles, knowing you couldn't hear him upon the cliff where you were offering food to the Gladers.

Sonya playfully rolls her eyes as Harriet speaks. "Sounds like you have a crush, the way you look at them is insane"

He shrugs, not even really hearing her as he stares up at you.

"Hey, Aris!" Fry exclaims, waving down to him.

"Hey guys!" Aris waves back, having been dragged from his daydreams.

You walk back down to the Maze B survivors, joining them once again while Thomas climbs up a bit higher on the clifftop to talk to Teresa.

"What're we talking about?" You ask, sitting back down next to the familiar brunette boy.

"Making plans for the Safe Haven" Sonya replies, "I call dibs on being the Keeper for the scavengers"

"I'm not working under you," Harriet jokingly fights.

"Well, you are!"

You and Aris laugh as you listen to the two girls, enjoying the peace you'd waited so long for.

He looks over at you as they leave, going to retrieve s'mores ingredients for themselves. He smiles, looking at you a little too long before speaking.

"They're nice, right?"

You nod with a smile to match his, a quick realization putting a pit in your stomach as you look at him.

"You okay?" He asks, seeing your smile quickly falter.

You nod, "Yeah, I'm good"

His eyebrows furrow, silently asking if you're sure. You nod in response.

A loud explosion catches you off gaurd, causing you to jump into his arms as heat waves over your bodies. Screams and gunshots fill your ears. You're paralyzed in fear as you try to process what's happening.

Aris quickly pulls you up, dragging you away by the wrist, trying to look for Sonya and Harriet.

Within the dramatics, explosions, and gunfire, you lose him.

It's not until you're by Thomas' side that you realize WCKD has him and that Teresa was working with the enemy. You're unable to hear as Thomas, Teresa, and Ava Paige speak, only able to hopelessly look over at Aris, his arms held behind his back by a WCKD member in uniform.

He's eventually dragged away and shoved up into the Berg, his eyes resting on your worried expression until he couldn't look at you over his shoulder anymore.

Minho and Sonya are taken as well, so are a bunch of other teens who had found safety with the Right Arm.

You solemnly watch as the Berg flies away, leaving the destroyed camp burning and smoking. You're speechless, unable to form thoughts as Newt tries to ask if you're okay.

You only nod, unable to verbally answer him.

"It's okay, we'll get them back. We aren't leaving without them"

[i-heart-yellowstone]

A Boy Named Cooper Norris

Hello, my readers. This is a preview of a Yellowstone / Landman crossover idea that I had recently. Please let me know if you would like this to actually happen.

Raised Fair Share of Hell

Faith's pov

Walking on the campus I felt the wind blow up the back of my green dress. Thankfully I decided to wear leggings underneath it even if it was another hot day in Texas.  Frantically moving my head back and forth I knew that I probably looked like a fool not being able to even find my way back to my dorm room after leaving my family in the parking lot seeing as they had a long drive home.

Stopping on the middle of the sidewalk I turned the campus map in different directions in my hands hearing someone walking up behind me so I asked my question.  "Excuse me, could you point me in the direction of the East Wind dorm building?"

"I can show you something better than that.  My bed specifically." A guy tan with short black hair smirked quickly walking up and pushing my body up against the nearest campus light post.

I grunted against his tight grip on arms, dropping my backpack and map on the grass.  "Please let me go.  I - I don't know you.  I'm just looking for my dorm."

"You want me.  You want me by walking on this campus by wearing that dress.  I know it." The guy put his face closer to mine making me get even more uncomfortable.

Shaking my head I attempted to push him off of me but he was much stronger than I was.  "Please just let me go."

"Nah.  I'd rather have my way with you."

Another male voice joined the conversation causing me and the guy holding me hostage to turn our heads in the direction of the new voice. "The girl said to let her go."

"I wasn't asking for your permission." The stranger snapped at the other guy who had begun to take a few steps toward us.

The new guy who was wearing a red baseball cap with a big letter T on it.  He turned his hands into fists challenging the stranger.  "Clearly you didn't ask for hers.  Now you heard her, let her go before I make you."

"You're gonna make me.  Ha. Yeah right, little worm." The stranger dryly chuckled hiking up part of my dress

The other guy suddenly ran forward tacking the guy who previously had his hands on me.  The new guy wrapped his arms around the guy's waist slamming him down onto his back on the grass.  "I warned you once.  I don't want to have to warn you a second time." The guy who was bothering me moaned in pain, stumbling up to his feet.

"I'll remember this, worm." The stranger spat in his direction walking away and leaving the two of us alone.

Releasing a breath I didn't realize I was holding in I brushed my hands down my dress fixing it as much as possible.  "Thank you.  Um can I ask how you learn to fight like that?"

"I wrestle here at Texas Tech.  I haven't seen you around here before.  Are ya a new student?"

Tucking some loose hair behind my left ear I replied.  "I am actually.  My parents had to head back to our family ranch in Montana this morning.  And I um - don't even know where my dorm building is at."

"I can help you find it.  Oh here's your stuff back.  I'm Cooper by the way.  Cooper Norris." He reached down scoping my backpack and map into his hands while introducing himself with a weak smile on his lips.

I smiled sliding my backpack onto one shoulder eyeing his face seeing he had dark brown hair tucked underneath the Red ball cap and dark green eyes.  "I'm Faith, Faith Dutton."

"It's nice to meet you, Ms. Montana." He chuckled, gesturing with his hand with me standing beside him where we appeared to be almost the same height.  "Come on, your dorm should be just around this next corner."

Comments really appreciated ❤️

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

[bellarkeselection]

The Oil Man's Daughter

Arizona Miller wasn't like her father. She didn't know her role in the family. She dropped out of college and is looking for something in Midland or could it be someone her father told her she can't ever publicly date.

Co author @hcwthewestwaswcn

Please leave your comments ❤️

Tag list - ask to be added

@child-of-of-the-sunshine @kmc1989 @elenavampire21 @tallrock35 @bvbwestfall

[sinadukek]

Title: In the Dark of Arkham

Character: Ricky Meline x reader

Summary: /

---

The hospital was different at night. The usual hum of Arkham’s routines softened to silence, the lights dimmed, casting shadows along the long corridors. You didn’t mind the night shifts. It gave you a quiet escape, a break from the usual hustle and harshness of the day.

You were assigned to a particular wing tonight, the one with patients needing extra attention. It was usually filled with people who were withdrawn, haunted, with eyes that never quite met yours. But then, there was Ricky Meline.

Ricky was new here. You had heard a few nurses talking about him—how he didn’t quite belong here, how he had no business in Arkham’s walls. There was something different about him; even the other staff could sense it. They said he was innocent, harmless, and though he’d been caught up in the chaotic events that seemed to shadow Gotham, he wasn’t like the others here. He was quiet, a little bit lost, but gentle in a way that made you want to understand him.

Tonight, as you walked past his room, you saw him sitting on the floor, his back against the wall, his head resting on his knees. His face was partially hidden, but you could see the way his hands fidgeted, the way he picked at the fabric of his uniform like he was trying to find some comfort in the repetitive motion.

“Hey, Ricky,” you said softly, stepping into his room. He looked up, his expression somewhere between surprise and relief. “Mind if I sit?”

Ricky nodded slowly, watching you with those big, curious eyes of his as you lowered yourself onto the floor across from him. For a few moments, the two of you sat in silence, the only sound his shallow breathing and the hum of the hallway light. You knew that words didn’t always come easily for him, that sometimes he needed the silence, and you were more than willing to give him that.

After a while, he spoke, his voice soft. “Do you… believe I’m supposed to be here?”

His question was simple, but the vulnerability behind it tugged at something in your chest. You tilted your head, looking at him carefully. “I think… you’re a little different than most people here, Ricky,” you said carefully. “But I don’t think that means you’re wrong.”

Ricky’s face softened, his eyes brightening just a little. “People don’t say that to me. They… they look at me like I’m some kind of broken thing. Something they can’t fix, so they lock it up instead.”

“That doesn’t mean they’re right,” you replied gently. “Sometimes… people don’t know what they’re seeing. They don’t understand. But that doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you.”

A small smile crept onto his face, shy and tentative, like he wasn’t used to feeling anything close to happiness. “You’re… you’re different,” he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. “You don’t look at me like they do.”

You felt a warmth spread through you, and you reached out, gently placing your hand over his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Maybe that’s because I know you’re just… trying to get by, like anyone else. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Ricky’s gaze dropped to where your hand rested on his, his cheeks flushing faintly. He stayed quiet for a few moments, as though he were searching for the right words, struggling to put his thoughts together.

“You… you make me feel like I’m not alone,” he finally whispered, his voice filled with quiet awe. “Like… I don’t have to hide.”

Your heart softened, and you found yourself leaning closer, drawn to the gentleness in his eyes. “You don’t have to hide, Ricky. Not with me.”

A flicker of hope appeared in his eyes, and for the first time, you saw something break through the worry and uncertainty that seemed to cling to him. He looked at you with a vulnerability so raw, so honest, that it made your breath hitch.

“Will you stay with me?” he asked, his voice barely audible, as though he was afraid of your answer.

You nodded, giving his hand another reassuring squeeze. “Of course, Ricky. I’ll stay.”

---

The two of you spent the rest of the night sitting there, side by side in the quiet of his room. He didn’t speak much, but he didn’t need to. There was a comfort in simply being near him, in offering him the kind of presence he’d been denied for so long. He was soft-spoken, always hesitant, and you could tell that a part of him was waiting for the moment when you’d leave, when he’d be alone again.

But you didn’t leave. You stayed by his side, and as the night wore on, he gradually relaxed, his shoulders losing some of their tension, his breathing evening out. You saw him begin to trust that, for once, someone wouldn’t leave.

And as dawn approached, you found yourself whispering a promise, one you weren’t sure you could keep, but one that felt right. “You’re not alone, Ricky. I’m here, and I’ll be here as long as you need.”

For the first time, you saw a true smile break across his face, soft and unguarded, a glimpse of the innocence that had somehow survived, hidden deep within him. He reached up, hesitantly brushing a lock of hair from your face, his touch light as a feather.

“Thank you,” he whispered, his voice filled with a quiet gratitude that broke your heart. “For… seeing me.”

You smiled, covering his hand with yours, anchoring him to the moment. “You’re worth seeing, Ricky. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

---

In the weeks that followed, you made it a habit to visit him whenever you could, finding moments to sit by his side, to listen to his thoughts, to remind him that he wasn’t alone. And every time you left, you’d see that shy, hopeful smile, a reminder that, even in the darkest of places, there was still a light worth fighting for.

Because Ricky Meline wasn’t just a patient at Arkham. He was a soul who’d been lost, a gentle spirit who’d found his way back, and you couldn’t help but feel grateful to be the one who helped him see the light again, even in the heart of Gotham’s darkness.

[m4tthewmurd0ck]

THE MORNING SKY

── Coriolanus Snow x Fem!Reader

BONUS CHAPTER ── 2.5 [ MEET THE TRIBUTES! ]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

after mapping out most of the story, this is going to be a bit longer than i thought. although the games aren’t the sole focus of the story, i do want to show you the other tributes! i always appreciate when face claims are given to other characters because i like being able to put faces to names. note ~ not all will be extensively featured

__________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊

┊ ┊⋆ ┊ .

┊ ┊ ⋆˚    MEET

✧. ┊         THE

⋆ ★. TRIBUTES !

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT ONE

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── LUXURY GOODS

GAVIN LEATHERWOOD AS ATLAS

FREYA ALLAN AS EMERALD

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT TWO

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── MASONRY + WEAPONS

EWAN MITCHELL AS AEMOND

TOBY REGBO AS CASSIAN

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT THREE

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── TECHNOLOGY

LORENZO ZURZOLO AS FELIX

MAITREYI RAMAKRISHNAN AS ANTONIA

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT FOUR

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── FISHING

ALEXANDER DREYMON AS ROMAN

LEAH SAVA JEFFRIES AS ANNA

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT FIVE

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── ELECTRICITY

CURRAN WALTERS AS LEDGER

MACKENZIE FOY AS AURORA

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT SIX

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── TRANSPORTATION

KI HONG LEE AS EVERETT

KATELYN NACON AS FREYA

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT SEVEN

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── LUMBER

JACOB LOFLAND AS ELLIS

JENNA ORTEGA AS DAHLIA

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT EIGHT

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── TEXTILES

JONATHAN DAVISS AS CAIUS

EMMA MYERS AS MEADOW

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT NINE

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── GRAIN PRODUCTION

ALEX LANGE AS DARIUS

EMILY CAREY AS POPPY

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT TEN

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── LIVESTOCK / MEAT PRODUCTION

NICK ROBINSON AS ARTHUR

ISABELA MONER AS VERA

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT ELEVEN

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── AGRICULTURE

DIMITRI ABOLD AS REAPER

MCKENNA GRACE AS SKYE

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT TWELVE

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── COAL MINING

HARRY GILBY AS ARCHER

YOU AS CORYO’S SOULMATE 🤪

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[dammnimagines]

Never Let Her Go

Writer - @dammnimagines Requested? - nope

Disclaimer - I do not own any of the characters or events/ ideas. All credit goes to the creators/producers of The Maze Runner series.

Pairing - Newt x Reader Summary - (Y/N) and the rest of the group that escaped WCKD find themselves in a mall full of cranks

warnings - swearing, fluff, cranks

“What was that?” (Y/N) asked after hearing a loud growling noise. The group had stood in a mall, they had gone through the entire place it felt like, scavenging and gaining a change of clothes. Minho and Thomas had managed to turn the lights only to be met with cranks, unknowingly to the rest of the group of the danger.

“I’m not sure.” Newt replied to her, pulling her close to him out of nerves.

“What is going on?” Winston asked carrying Thomas’ backpack.

“I don’t know.” Frypan answered, the noise was getting louder yet none of them could place it.

“Hey!” Thomas voice yelled out and we all looked to our lefts to see him and Minho running at us.

“Run!” Minho screamed out, “Go!” As the two of them rounded the corner the group could see the cracks running after them causing panic to run through the entire group.

“Oh shit.” Newt whispered out under as he pulled on his backpack, he pushed (Y/N) in front of him as the entire group started to run away from the creatures as soon as Minho and Thomas were close to them, Winston throwing Thomas his backpack.

They ran towards and escalator and began running up them.

“Thomas. Minho. What the hell are those things?!”

“I don’t know just keep going!” Was Thomas’ response.

“Move. Move. Move!” Minho yelled out as the group of cranks got closer. Once at the top of the escalator they rounded the corner and kept running before another crank cut them off. Aris raised the bat he held in his hand.

“Aris. No!” Minho yelled out and Aris ignored him and swung at its legs causing the creature to fall towards the feet of (Y/N) who fell back in fear as it came closer to her, Teresa pulled her back by her arm and the two girls ended up at another escalator.

“(Y/N)!” Newt yelled out, fear evident in his voice. The two girls back up the stairs as the crank got up from it’s spot on the ground letting out a cross between a growl and a scream.

“Teresa, move!” (Y/N) yelled out at her newfound friend as a crank appeared in front of her, she kicked it in its chest with all her might causing it to fall into the other one that Teresa was up against. The noise the crank let out earlier seem to be a call to its kind as more cranks appeared.

“Go!” (Y/N) yelled out, “Go around! We’ll meet you on the other side!” With hesitation, the boys listened running for their lives again.

The girls ran up the escalator as the boys ran up another just down the aisle and around a slight corner.

“Newt!” (Y/N) yelled as they met back up.

“Are you okay?” Newt asked as they kept running.

“Yeah.” (Y/N) responded, they were all getting tired quickly.

“Good, now run!” Newt pushed (Y/N) in front of him in a protective manner. The entire group was pushing it at this point.

“We have to find a way out of here!” Frypan yelled from the front of the group as he ran next to Minho.

Suddenly there was the piercing sound of glass breaking and a crank came out of one the stores, tackling and pinning Newt to the ground.

“Newt!” Multiple voices let out. Thomas kicked the crank off of Newt’s chest then Minho, (Y/N), and Thomas helped him up.

“You good?” Minho asked as they all looked at the growing herd of cranks running full force at them.

“Yeah. Thanks Tommy.” Newt replied before grabbing (Y/N)’s hand and they all began running again before coming to a long corridor, trying every door along the way. They came along a set of three doors, all locked. All of them kicking the door with the loosest bolt lock.

“I’ll hold them back.” Winston said as he began shooting at the quick-approaching cranks.

“C’mon.” Thomas kept mumbling putting his bodyweight against the door over and over.

“Get that door open!” Winston yelled back.

“Move!” Frypan said, the group made a pathway and Frypan was able to run at the door and getting it open, everyone filtered through the door but Winston was grabbed by the cranks pulling him back, the group worked to get him away from him and they did but it left Winston with scratch marks down his chest but he was alive. They barely made it away from the creatures.

“You’re lucky she’s okay.” Newt nearly growled out, staring daggers at Aris who sat next to him.

“What?” Aris was confused yet scared as he has never seen him like this before.

“Newt. It’s fine, man. He didn’t know that was going to happen.” Minho said hitting Newt’s arm to get him to shut up. Minho knew the protective manner of Newt when it came to the beautiful (Y/N). Newt calmed down at his friend’s comment; he knew it wasn’t worth his breathe.

“You really care about her don’t you?” Aris asked quietly.

“Yeah, she’s my everything.” Newt answered looking down at the girl who slept soundly in his arms, he knew she was safe there. “She’s the reason I'm still breathing.” Newt didn’t take his eyes off her.

“Don’t let her go.” Aris said as he pulled his hood up, laying down.

“I would never let her go.” Newt said more to himself as he pressed a kiss to the girl forehead before going to sleep himself.

A/N First Maze Runner imagine! I’m sorry if it sucked but I hope you enjoy, send in request :)

[i-heart-yellowstone]

33 - Coming up on Fall Break

Part 34

Raised Fair Share of Hell

Please leave comments of your thoughts or any suggestions ❤️

Dutton ranch - Alissa’s pov 

Gator had finished up making dinner around the same time that John and Madeline had returned from their evening horse ride on the property.  Beth and Rip had kept the tradition of sitting at the living room table and eating dinner. Simply to avoid Beth biting someone’s head off about eating in the room with the dining room table. 

Carrying Madeline in my arms I sat her down in the chair beside her brother Tate.  Carter sat on the other side of him then it went to Rip and Beth.  That left me, Kayce and John on the other side of her.  

Comfortable silence filled the room along with the crackling of embers in the fireplace until Carter chuckled over in Madeline’s direction.  “Has your grandpa ever told you the story of the biggest snake he saw?” 

“No.  Why?  How big was it, grandpa?” The eight year old leaned forward eyeing her grandfather. 

John answered, wiping his mouth with his napkin. “Six feet.” 

“That’s a big damn snake.” Tate cursed. 

I raised my tone at my son.  “Tate.” 

“Sorry, mom.” He apologized knowing he shouldn’t cuss in front of his sister. 

Carter turned his head from John and then to Rip wanting to tell the story to the youngest one at the dinner table.  “Can I tell her?  Can I please?” 

“Sure, kid.” Rip nodded, taking another bite of steak off his plate. 

Carter leaned forward in his chair beginning to tell the old snake story that I remembered from my childhood.  “They were rebuilding the horse stalls.  Rip was about your brother's age and when he saw it.  He did exactly what the rest of the other boys did.  He ran up the wall like a damn spider and hung from the rafters.” 

Everyone started laughing before Rip waved his finger adding onto the story.  “Discretion is the better part of valor.  And trust me, there was a ton of valor up in them rafters.” 

“Did you kill it, grandpa?” Madeline questions with her eyes sparking with curiosity. 

John set his fork down.  “Hell no, I didn’t kill it.  You know how many mice those things eat.  I wouldn’t let any of the other boys kill it either.” 

“I know one thing you’re daddy screamed like a girl so loud he nearly lost his voice the next day.” 

She giggled when I saw Kayce lower his head down to stare at his plate of food.  “I didn’t like snakes as a kid.  And I remember you not liking bats.” 

“Eww.  Don’t talk about’em.” I shoved him lightly not wanting to have a nightmare about those things later when we went to sleep. 

Madeline hit her hands on the table getting bored.  “So what happened to the snake?” 

“I had this old heeler dog way back when and he was meaner than shit - excuse me Alissa.” 

I spared my father in law a weak smile.  “It’s okay, John.” 

“Anyway he was cat-quick.  One day he found that snake and oh my god, those two, they went at it like nobody’s business.  Show her the box.” John gestured his head toward the black curly haired kid. 

Carter reached behind where he was seated grabbing a small rectangle box, sitting it in front of her plate.  “Be careful when you open this, Mads.” 

“Ahh! Daddy!” She carefully began to open the box but jumped when Kayce reached down and pinched her hip knowing she was ticklish there.  

Covering my mouth with my hands I didn’t want to spit out my food.  “And the family tradition lives on.” Kayce opened the box all the way and Carter took the snake tail out showing her how old it was.  Resting my chin in the palm of my hand I truly cherish these moments. 

Kayce heard someone knock on the front door about to get up till I grabbed his wrist.  “Who’s here so late?” 

“I’ll get it.  Sit down.  I’ll be right back.” Leaving the living room I pulled the front door opened revealing my sister and our mother.  “Hey ya’ll, what are you doing here so late?” 

Alana responded simply.  “We thought it was easier to come and tell you in person that we almost have everything we need for branding in a few weeks.” 

“That’s great news.  Faith should be coming home that weekend to help us out -“ My mother, sister and I turned our attention back to the living room where an idea came to my mind once I watched Tate and Carter start chasing Madeline through the house pretending to be ghosts.  “Would you want to join us for dinner?” 

“We’d love to.” Our mother grins shutting the front door with us following her back to the dining table. 

Texas Tech Campus - Faith’s pov 

“No. No. No. You’re cheating.” Dylan, Cooper’s roommate, smacks my hand away from reaching for the card deck to shuffle them. 

Raising my hands up in surrender I snapped back at him, not doing anything wrong from what directions I had been taught on how the game works.  “I’m not cheating.  I wouldn’t know how, considering you taught me the rules of Kemps for the first time ever in my life tonight.” 

“Don’t lie to me, Ms. Montana.” Dylan waved his finger at me. 

“Hey. Don’t be picking on my girlfriend.” Cooper warns his friend.  Caroline took the card deck from Dylan’s hand and began dealing out a new round of cards for our new game. 

“Cooper, I have been meaning to ask you something.  With break coming up and everything I was planning on going home for the time - and I was wondering would you want to come meet my family then?” 

Cooper nearly choked on his Dr. pepper.  “Meet your family.  Are you sure that’s a good idea so soon?” 

“I know we’ve only been together for a couple of weeks but I really like you and I want them to meet you.” I tucked some hair behind my ear out of nervousness.  “Unless you don’t like the idea.  I’ll completely understand-“ 

She hit her hand on the tile floor making noise to get their attention.  “Can we get back to playing the game.  Because we girls got to beat these boys at Kemps.” 

“I’ll meet your family, Faith.  I just hope they’ll like me.” He smiled in my direction and I mirrored his expression.  Cooper’s phone vibrated with an unknown caller ID when he got up from the floor stepping out into the hallway.  “Uh I’ll be right back.” 

Dylan stretched his arms out getting up from the ground as well.  “It’s getting late and I have an 8am tomorrow.  I’ll see you two tomorrow.” 

“Bye.” 

Caroline waved bye picking up the deck of cards.  “Bye Dylan.” 

“Hey um Caroline, can we have the room for a minute.  I need to tell my girlfriend something.” Cooper stepped back into the room. 

My roommate slipped into the hallway going to the bathroom.  “Sure.” 

“What do you want to talk about without her in the room huh?” I asked pushing myself up to stand seeing he was shifting his feet around which is his nervous tick that he does like with me tucking hair behind my ear. 

He leaned his back against the shut door, slumping his shoulders heavily.  “That was my dad.  He just finished my paperwork for me to start working the Patch.” 

“The Patch.  You’re talking about the oil rigs?” Cooper gave me a nine verbal head nod yes to my question.  “Why would you do that?” 

My boyfriend dropped his gaze to his boots, running a hand through his messy hair rather than looking me in the face.  “I - I’m failing my classes this semester.  I don’t think I can bust my ass enough to make it past midterms next week.” 

“Cooper, what’s the real reason?” My stomach was turning in knots at the thought of how dangerous this could be for him.  Ranching had its dangers but nothing like what working an oil rig does. 

He finally raised his head looking me in the eye.  “It’s the truth, Faith.  With my current grades I’d end up working some dead end job selling computer chips or some other shit.  I don’t want that to be my life.” 

“Oh Cooper - We’ll figure this out.” I crossed the room flinging my arms around his waist since he appeared like he needed a hug.  He wrapped his arms around my waist, laying his head on my shoulder. 

He whispered into my hair.  “God I hope your father won’t shoot me off the front porch.” 

“Hey! I ain’t met yours yet.  So I hope he won’t do that to me.” I chuckled and he raised his head giving me a weak smile back in response. 

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

[i-heart-yellowstone]

41 - The Search for Faith Dutton

Part 42

Raised Fair Share of Hell

Please leave thoughts and comments below ❤️

Oil House 

Ainsley and her father Tommy were sitting on the couch staring at her computer before he got a call from his work and started his long day.  They had been working on their plan the second he had gotten home after dropping his son and girlfriend off at the man-camp.   

Tommy scanned his eyes over the computer screen pointing to the note that dealt with the Rodeo.  “When was she competing in the rodeo?” 

“It looks to be when she was high school age.  She won a few medals and even appeared on TV to do an interview.  Look here.” His daughter spun the computer more towards her father, hitting play on the YouTube video. 

The person doing the interview asked.  “So why do you do Rodeo, Ms. Dutton?” 

“I do it because it's fun.  Most people may think I do this for the awards but it's not true.  I don't really care if they think I'm the Rodeo Queen.” The girl in question appears to be 16 or 17 years old.  Hair in pigtails and a tan cowgirl hat on her head with a grin on her lips. 

Someone knocked on the front door causing the pair to pause their search looking at one another.  “Were you expecting someone?” 

“No, you?” Ainsley shook her head no. 

Her father ignored it and went back to tapping on the computer flipping through pictures of Faith posting with horses and some with a few other kids.  “Who are these people?  Friends or something?” The picture he clicked on was her standing with one boy and one shorter girl and a clear landscape of green and blue sky behind them. 

His daughter paused pointing her finger to the shorter girl wearing a cowgirl hat too big for her head it looked t9 be falling off.  “I'm guessing it's a younger sister.”  The little girl looks very close to Faith, but she has bright blonde hair and brown eyes. 

“And the boy?” Tommy asked. 

She shrugged her shoulders.  “Ex boyfriend maybe.” The boy had slightly darker brown hair than Faith but they had different eye color. 

“Why don't her parents have her boyfriend's phone number?” They heard a female voice ask outside the window.  You couldn't see inside because they had closed all the blinds. 

A male voice responds.  “Hell if I know why they don't.  I just got a call saying I need to check on her.  Are you sure this is the right address?’ 

“Yes.  I remember her saying the name Tommy when she left our room.  Plus she'd never cheat on Cooper.” 

Ainsley spun around on the couch carefully peeking through the curtains seeing a girl and an older looking cowboy standing at their front door.  “Daddy, there's strangers on our porch.  What do we do?” 

“Hide your computer in the bedroom and hide behind the kitchen counter.  I'll handle them.” She followed her father’s instructions quietly going up the stairs and coming back down and hiding but peeking around where she could see the interaction when he opens the front door.  “Can I help you two  - argh - fuck!” 

Tommy got shoved against the nearest wall by Travis who bared his teeth demanding answers from the oil man.  “Where is she?  Tell me where she is!” 

“Daddy!” Ainsley cried out from her hiding place. 

Caroline slowly walked into the rental house standing beside Travis giving a sad look.  “I'm sorry, Mr. Norris.  We're just looking for my roommate.” 

“Who’s your roommate?” Tommy coughed attempting to push one of the hands off his throat. 

“Faith Dutton.” Caroline replied. “Can you tell us where she is, please?” 

“You better not be holding her hostage here, asshole!” Travis snapped back at him. 

Ainsley rose from her hiding spot with tearful eyes.  “Please don’t hurt my daddy.  Daddy, tell them where you dropped my brother off.” 

“We just wanna make sure she's safe, Mr. Norris.” Caroline softly spoke. 

Tommy pushed on Travis's harsh grip, coughing out his answer in breaths. “They’re  - at the - mancamp.  Oh god -” 

“Take us there.” Travis released his grip and the old oil man collapsed onto the floor of his home trying to catch his breath. 

Tommy slowly got up from the floor and his daughter rushed over helping him stand since he didn’t have good balance.  “Fine but my daughter comes with me - fucking cowboy.” Travis nodded walking outside to his truck. 

“Sorry, I didn't know he was going to do that.” Caroline apologies following the cowboy and the pair outside to their trucks to go see her roommate. 

Dutton ranch  - Alissa’s pov 

It was nightfall on the ranch and we still hadn't heard anything from Travis on whether our daughter was safe or not.  My mother and sister had come over from work hearing the news from John.  John was standing in front of the fireplace with one hand resting on the stone, staring into the flames.  “Do we have any news from Travis on my granddaughter?” 

“No.  Kayce called him at 8am and it's almost 9 o'clock now.” 

“Now you know the stress you put on your father and I before you got pregnant.” My mother scoffed under her breath sipping on a cup of hot chocolate. 

Whipping my head around I gasped standing near my father in law. “What did you say?” 

“I said now you know how we felt in your teenage years.” She responded back, tapping the side of her cup with her freehand.  “When you were 13 until 17 your father and I never knew what kind of trouble you were in.  We only knew you were likely with Kayce and your other friends.  And now the same thing is happening with my granddaughter Faith.  It's somewhat ironic to me.” 

“Wow, mom.  Thank you for that information that just scare the crap out of me even more.” Spinning on my feet I harshly paced back and forth in front of the couch, feeling a tightness in my chest growing. 

My mother gave me a weak look.  “Alissa, I was just trying to lighten the mood.  She could be perfectly fine like you always were.” 

“Or she could be in serious trouble, mom!” 

Alana calmly entered the conversation.  “Lissa, if I know my niece.  She's resilient just like her mother.” 

“You know what, I can't talk about this right now.” I stomped across the door, throwing the door open and slammed it shut behind me.  Standing near the porch railing I bent my head down laying my head in my hands crying for a good minute until I heard someone call my name softly behind me. 

“Alissa.  Are you okay, darling?” 

Barely lifting my head up from my hands I whisper out the person's name.  “Kayce?” 

“Come here, homey.” He rubbed my back, taking my hand in his leading me over to the porch swing.  Together we sat down on the wooden swings and he wrapped his arms around my shaking form. 

Burying my face against his chest I stained his shirt with tears. “What if she's hurt or worse.” 

“We can’t think that way, Lissa Rae.” He spoke into the air. 

Looking up into his eyes I croaked.  “How are you so calm right now?” 

“I already had my freak out.  If your mother asks, a raccoon threw her gravel driveway to hell, not my truck.” 

I chuckled at the image laying my head back on his chest and he kissed my forehead.  “The first time Faith looked like your younger twin was when she rode a horse by herself.  Do you remember that?” 

“I'll never forget it.” Kayce responded and I weakly smiled at the memory. 

It was a cloudy day on the ranch but that didn't damper our daughter's excitement.  Today she would be getting her own horse to ride when she turned 13 years old.  “I’m so excited, mama.” She bound up and down walking beside me. 

“I can tell sweetie.” I grinned down at her seeing her father lead the light brown horse down from the horse trailer that was near the fence area.  “Hopefully she’ll be a good horse for her.  Don’t you think, Kayce?” 

Faith slowly walked towards the horse that made a noise until her father stopped petting the side of its head.  “How do I get up on her, grandpa?” 

John came up behind her offering out his hand that was extended for me with a wooden box sitting beside my horse since she wasn’t as tall.  “Just put your right foot in the strup and swing your leg over the other side of the saddle.” He explained seeing her lift her body up onto the horse and swung her left leg over the saddle, shifting until she felt comfortable on it. 

Petting her horse's nose I smiled up at my firstborn sitting on her horse.  She tipped her cowgirl hat up slightly so we could see her face better.  “How do I look, mama?” 

“Like a natural, babygirl.” I grinned and the two men with me mirroring the same expression as I did. 

“Don’t bounce against the horse.  All right.” Her father raised his freehand in the air bringing his hand down while he explained. “When the horse bounces up, let it stand you in the stirrups.  And when it comes down, sit back in the saddle.” 

“Be careful and don’t stay out too late.” I called out to her when she gently tugged the reins and walked to the open gate.  John, Kayce and I watched her ride off into the green fields, howling up to the sky with such innocence in her voice. 

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

[i-heart-yellowstone]

50 - Similar than We Thought

( gif belongs to @forcestruck )

Part 51

Raised Fair Share of Hell

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

Alissa’s pov

He turned nearly jumping out of his boots, noticing Kayce Dutton waiting in the hallway. “Jesus fuck!”

“We need to talk you and me, Tommy Norris.” The cowboy spoke in a deep voice, lifting his head up so he could see his dark eyes looking at him underneath the black cowboy he was wearing.

The two men walked down the quiet hallway with the only sounds coming from the different types of hospital machines that we’re monitoring other patients that we’re staying there. The two stubborn men entered into an empty room seeing nobody was there. “Thomas Norris my name is Alissa Dutton. My daughter is dating your son, Cooper.” The door slammed behind them where they saw Kayce’s wife standing in the dark corner.

The man named Tommy Norris wore a straw colored cowboy hat, white tea shirt, jeans and black boots. He had dark gray hair and a beard on his face. “I’d say it’s nice to meet you if the circumstances were different.”

“As do I but yet here we are.” I scoffed at the elderly oil manager.

The Texas man knitted his brows. “What did we need to talk about exactly?”

“We want to help you get revenge for your kid and our daughter. Our daughter was nearly on the verge of losing her mind when she found out what happened to her boyfriend. Nobody hurts our family and gets away with it.” Kayce strides up getting in his face, hands clenched together into fists at his sides.

Crossing my arms over my chest I tilted my head up death glaring into his eyes. “Just so you know even if you don't let us come with you we'll just go behind your back and do it ourselves.” This man from Texas didn't scare me. Tommy stared at us briefly nodding his head and we took that as a sign to follow him outside to our trucks.

Tommy, Dale, Kayce and I all pulled up in our vehicles outside the trailer we were looking for at the man-camp site. Getting out of the car Kayce cocked his handgun sliding it into the pocket of his jeans then pulled out a Yellowstone branding fire poker. I picked up a baseball bat that Beth had put inside the truck while Tommy and Dale carried smaller to conceal weapons. Tommy’s boots made a noise on the porch where we heard one of the guys inside attempting to whisper. “Don't answer. Make like we're asleep.”

“I can fucking hear you.” Tommy declared sternly.

One of the two guys opened the door letting us inside the trailer. “What's up?” Tommy shoved him harshly back into the wall before he hit the guy upside the head with the weapon in his hand.

“This seem familiar, motherfucker?”

“Hey, man…” The second guy slowly backed away where Tommy hit him repeatedly with the weapon to his stomach causing the one guy to fall onto the floor.

“You get on your ficking phone and call your friends. You know, the ones that you called that put my fucking son in the hospital.” Tommy pointed his index finger seeing the guy didn’t move so he glanced at his black friend who clearly was in charge of these two. “No? He don't want to call his friends, Boss.”

“Me and these two will take him in the back.” The black guy responded, eyeing my husband who grabbed the second guy up from the floor harshly.

“Okay, I'd appreciate that.” Tommy responded watching my husband drag the guy towards the nearest bedroom.

“Oh, we'll convince you, you little prick!” Kayce growled in his ear slamming him against the wall before the door was shut in my face.

I heard the one guy in the room screaming and I knew more than likely Kayce and the other guy were beating the hell out of him by the way he screamed. “No. No, fuck.”

“Nobody said "get up," Manny.” The second guy that was left alone with me, Dale and Tommy, attempted to get up from the floor till Dale hit the back of his head and he collapsed on his hands and knees once more.

“Have a seat, Manuel. Here's how this is gonna go. Needless to say, you're fired. By noon tomorrow,you'll be on a "no hire" list for every fucking oil company in the Permian Basin. Sheriff's gonna be here in about five minutes, and he's gonna toss this fucking place. And I'm just guessing he'll add felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, and maybe possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.” Tommy sat down at the small round table inside the trailer and the other guy sat down showing me a harsh bloody dent into the side of his head. Tommy threatened the man across from him while I clutched the handle of the baseball bat in my hands. “And any goddamn one of those violates your parole. And then you add on top of that shit, aggravated assault charge and kidnapping, 'cause when you shut the door on him, that's kidnapping. I ain't a goddamn mathematician, but that's, like, 30 years. That's what I do to people who hurt my family. You fucked with the wrong hillbilly.”

Hearing a siren I bolted forward yanking the guy up from the table swinging the baseball bat into gut repeatedly until he collapsed weakly onto the floor. “Manny, you listen here you asshole, his son is dating my daughter and you have emotionally damaged my child and for that you are going to pay. You messed with two wrong families buddy and you're gonna regret it for the rest of your life!” Grabbing the back of his head he winced when I pressed the bat to his throat, choking him with my knees on either side of his body, trapping him from escaping.

“I'm gonna take 30 years of your life away from you. And if you ever come back to this place, I'm gonna take the rest of it.” Tommy bent down on a knee forcing the guy to stand up weakly. The trailer door opened revealing the sheriff who must have been called by Tommy on the way here. “Have you met the sheriff?”

“Stand up and turn around.” The Texas sheriff pushes the guy against the wall handcuffing him.

“They're having a confession in the back room.” Tommy explained to the officer of law enforcement.

The back room door opened revealing his friend. “Tommy.”

“Did he have anything to say?” Cooper’s father asked.

“He gave up the names. Even wrote 'em down for you.” The man replied.

The sheriff asked him. “You think he'd repeat 'em to me?”

“Sure he would if you asked.” He responded.

Following the sheriff into the back room where I glanced over in the direction of my husband who was holding onto a bloody fire poker in his hands. “Would you confirm the names of the other assailants?” I didn’t even need to ask knowing my husband had a violent side from serving in the Navy. He knew when to correctly use it and when to not.

“You-you gonna take me with you?” The first guy was quivering in the corner bruised all over.

The sheriff put a hand on his other set of handcuffs. “Well, that depends. You gonna say something give me a reason?”

“I'll give you a reason.” He gulped minutes before the sheriff led him outside to his vehicle with the other arrested man leaving me, Tommy and my husband all standing in the small trailer.

“I gotta get my boy out of here before somebody kills him.” Tommy lit a cigarette placing it inside his mouth shaking his head eyeing his boots.

Spinning the baseball bat in my hands, turning on my heels and walking out the trailer door tossing the bat into the truck bed. “We thought we were sending our daughter to a safe state to experience life outside of our ranch. Apparently your son tracks trouble into her life.”

“There's something about that boy, just draws trouble to him like bugs to a light.” Tommy sighed, tossing his cigarette onto the dirt ground stomping out the last bit of fire with his boot.

Kayce tossed his poker into the backseat of the Yellowstone work truck crossing his arms over his chest glaring at the Texas cowboy. “He sounds exactly like I was when I was younger. I just hope he turns out better than I did and does it a lot faster.”

“He ain't mean enough for this place, Alissa. He just ain't mean enough.” Tommy slumped his shoulders running a hand down his face.

“Sounds like we have more in common than you would think, Mr. Norris.” Swinging opened the passenger seat climbing up inside of it before slamming it shut. “We ain’t heading back to Montana until we know as much about you as you seemed to want to know about my daughter.”

Tommy walked over knocking on the window so I pressed the button rolling it down. “What do you mean by that?”

“You’re bratty teenage daughter called my son a bastard because I’m not his biological mother.” I glared at him sternly into his eyes. “You wanna know how I found out. I heard it walking into the hospital before my daughter got into a fist fight with yours who completely deserved it.”

Kayce got in the driver's seat closing the door, one hand on the steering wheel. “What would we find if we looked into your family hmm.”

“Follow me to the bar and I'll explain why I was looking into your daughter and I'll tell you whatever you want to know about mine. Deal?”

Kayce and I replied in unison. “Deal.”

[i-heart-yellowstone]

37 - Life on the Rigs

Part 38

Raised Fair Share of Hell

Please leave comments ❤️

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Dutton ranch - Faith’s pov 

Shutting the truck door the wind blew some of my hair in my face when I walked back over to my parents who were waiting to say bye to me.  It was time for me and Cooper to go back to school.  I hadn't told them what he really would be doing since we had finished the weekend on a good note.  Cooper was leaning against the bed of his truck letting me say bye first.  “I'm gonna miss you, guys.” I hugged my mom and then my dad before adjusting the brown cowgirl hat sitting on my head. 

“We'll miss you.  I want you to make sure you don't let your grades slip but to also have fun.” My mom squeezed me with another hug. 

Sparing her a smile.  “I know, mom.” 

“Norris.” My father gained his attention causing him to look up from his boots.  “Remember the promise you made to me.” 

He gulped nervously.  “I will, sir.” 

“Daddy, don't be too tough on him now.  We're all getting along let's just leave it at that.” Stepping away from my mom I wrapped my arms around him in a hug and he kissed my forehead before breaking the hug. 

“Faith! Faith, wait!” 

Whipping my head in the direction of the voice I saw Ryan and the other ranch hands coming up to us.  “Ryan! What are y'all doing.  You're supposed to be working.” 

“We can’t let this kid leave without this first.” Lioyd revealed something from behind his back when Cooper made his way over the Bunkhouse crew.  In the older cowboys hands was a black cowboy hat that looked to be completely new. 

Ryan put a hand on his hip explaining to us.  “It costs us all a week's pay.  But if he's going to be a part of this place.  He has to somewhat look the part.” 

“Thanks, guys.” I grinned at the simple gesture. 

Cooper caught the hat in his hands once Lioyd tossed it in his direction.  He slowly moved it around in his hands, nearly speechless.  “Thanks - thank you.” 

“It ain’t a freaking rattlesnake try it on.” Teeter smacked her lips together when she talked. 

Cooper flipped the hat over setting the cowboy hat on top of his head.  It pushed down some of his curly hair where he kinda looked similar to my father when he was his age.  “How does it look?” He asked moving his head around before the bunkhouse gang started clapping and cheering. 

“Ain’t half bad, Norris.” My father remarked with his hands stuffed into the deep pockets of his brown jacket. 

Cooper shifted his gaze over to me.  “What do you think, babe?” I stepped over to him, grabbing his shoulders connecting my lips with his own.  I felt him smiling into our kiss before I broke it seeing the tiny smile on his lips grow bigger. 

“I think it makes you more handsome.” Dropping my hands from his shoulders looking back over to my parents when I heard my mother chuckling behind me.  “What’s so funny, mama?” 

She laid her head on my fathers shoulder once he tugged her against his side, draping one arm over her shoulder.  “Girls always like a man in uniform or in our case a man in a cowboy hat.” Sending her a grin Cooper chuckles before we finally got into the truck and started our long drive back to the campus. 

Midland Texas - one week later 

Sitting in class I was right in the middle of an exam for my class when I heard my phone blaring off an alarm. “Ms. Dutton, phones are supposed to be silent during exams.” My professor scoffed seeing me rummaging around in my backpack ignoring the paper test laying in front of me. 

“I'm sorry Ms. Thornton.  I'll turn it off - I have to go. I'm sorry.” Unlocking my phone it flashed a pin on the site that Cooper was supposed to be working on.  The message that appeared read ‘explosion 911.’ 

My professor came over to my desk.  “Ms. Dutton I'm not asking again.” 

“I'll make it up later.  I have to go.” Picking up my backpack and jacket I ran out the front door and all the way back to my dorm room.  Kicking opened the door mu roommate jumped up slightly from the bed.  “I need your car, Caroline!” 

She asked a question I didn't have time for. “Why.  What happened?” 

“Just give me your keys now!” I raised my voice at her before she tossed me they keys and I scammed the door closed going to get her car from the parking lot.  Once inside the car I dialed the first number I can think of, my father.  It took a minute before his picture came through on the video call. 

“Hey, baby.  I kinda can't talk right now.  We're about to push some pairs up the road.” 

I blurted out the words.  “Cooper sent me an emergency alert text, daddy.” 

“What happened to him?” My father asked before I heard my mothers voice coming up behind him. “I thought he was in college like you are.” 

“Is our girl alright?” 

“He dropped out to work the oil patch with his father.” Sniffing through some tears I put my foot down on the gas harder needing to get to the hospital as fast as I possibly could.  “I don't know, daddy.  I - I ran out of my exam and am on my way to the hospital.” 

“You skipped an exam!” My mother scolded me. 

I raised my voice at her.  “Mom, Cooper is in the hospital.  I don't care about my exam - I'll make it up but he could have died today!” 

“Sweetheart, take a deep breath and don't assume the worst.  It won’t do you any good.” My father said in a calming tone seeing I was close to bursting into tears. 

Sucking in a breath I clear my throat doing what he had told me, feeling somewhat better after the fact.  “Okay, daddy.” 

“Faith, just drive safely there and call us once you know anything more.” My mother responded before I nodded ending the call. 

“I will.  Bye.” 

“Bye honey.” They both said hanging up the phone.  Finally making it to the Midland hospital I slammed the car door shut running inside until I found the nearest check-in desk.  “Norris - um Cooper Norris’s room number please.” 

“Are you friend or family?” The nurse asked me. 

Putting my hands on the countertop I didn’t have time or patience to wait.  “I’m his girlfriend.  Look, just give me the darn room number.” 

“He’s in ER-5.” The nurse finally answered my question. 

Nodding my head I spun around on my feet. I bolted towards the hallway and into the direction of his room number.  I nearly made it into his room until I crashed right into someone heading into the same room as me.  “Thank you.  Cooper! - ow! Hey. Watch it asshole!” Rubbing the side of my head I brushed my tousled hair out of my face seeing an older guy sitting up on the tile floor. 

“Where are you running so fast, little lady?” The older man was wearing a white dress shirt with jeans and black boots.  He picked up his white straw hat off the tile floor. 

Pushing myself up from the floor dusting off my clothes at the same time as he does.  “Cooper Norris’s room.  Why are you dying to see him?” 

“He’s my son.” He responded. 

I coughed feeling my whole body go cold in utter shock.  “You’re his father.” 

“Yeah I am.  Now mind telling me who the hell you are?” 

“Faith Dutton - um Cooper!”  I chuckled, rushing into the room needing to see my boyfriend.  “Oh my god.” 

Covering my mouth with my hands he was laying in a bed completely covered in ash dust from the explosion and his right hand had a vital monitor on his index finger before he focused his gaze on me standing at his bedside.  “Faith, you - how did you know I was here?” 

“You’re phone sent me a emergency alert message when you called an ambulance.” Crossing the room I sat down on the edge of the bed tucking hair behind my ear.  “I also met a family member of yours.” 

He raised a brow curiously. “Who? “

“Your father.   And I mean I literally tackled him onto the ground which is a great first impression.” Throwing my hands up in the air I put my face in my hands hearing my boyfriend reply to someone else. 

“Oh boy.” Cooper brought a hand to his face dropping his hand hearing his father enter the room.  “What happened to your hand?”

He pulled up the rolling stool chair holding his cowboy hat in his lap.  “Well, here's a life lesson worth filing away. When hammer hits hand, hammer wins. Your turn.” 

“I don't know. They sent me to the truck to fetch a pipe wrench. Next thing I know, I'm flying through the air.  And just like that, three widows and six orphans.” Cooper explained slowly. 

“Eight orphans.” His father corrected him with a stern tone.  “Here's reason number one of about 300 why you might want to find a better way of making a living.” 

Cooper rolled his eyes scoffing.  “What am I gonna do? Sit in an office and sell fucking computer chips?” 

“Yeah, maybe. I know what I'm gonna do. When they sew up what's left of my fucking finger, I'm gonna drive over to Luis's house and tell his wife she's lost a husband and two nephews.  And then I'm going over to Armando's house. and do the same kind of thing.  And then I'm going out to Elvio's house to tell a 22-year-old mother to break out the fucking want ads and get a job.” He explained and I parted my lips feeling even worse that I snapped off at him now. 

Mumbling under my breath I felt bad for the families who had lost someone today.  “That’s a rough day.” 

“No time to grieve, no time to mourn. 'Cause banks don't wait.” His father explained further on.  “You might want to look at the want ads yourself, you selfish little son of a bitch, before I'm having the same conversation with your mother as I'm about to have with Elvio's wife.”

Cooper watches his father begin to walk away and he’s nearly out of the room till he asks in a snarky tone. “If I'm so selfish, what does that make you?” 

“A divorced alcoholic with $500,000 in debt...and I'm one of the lucky ones.” Cooper's father paused in the doorway turning around to answer his question.  He snapped his fingers on his non-bandaged hand pointing at me sternly.  “Dutton, was it?  I’m gonna need to speak with you outside in the hallway for a minute.” 

“Right now?” I questioned not expecting him to boss me around like he was. 

He nodded exiting the hospital room.  “Yeah, right fucking now.” 

“Good luck.” Cooper told me when I climbed down from his hospital bed going into the hallway with his father.  I paused, turning around sending him the middle finger. 

[i-heart-yellowstone]

47 - Cowboys and Texans

Part 48

Raised Fair Share of Hell

Please leave comments and what you want to see happen next ❤️

Dutton ranch - Alissa’s pov

“Stop tickling me, Dutton!” A fit giggling came from my mouth with me and Kayce both in the upstairs bathroom of our bedroom. Currently we were just laying in the bathtub together letting the comfortable silence fill the large room. He had found me here after finishing up dinner with the kids. Madeline decided it would be fun to have a flower fight in the kitchen and so that resulted in a lot of dirty clothes afterwards but regardless I adored her childish innocence and high energy levels.

Tate still occasionally had his childish side still in him, yet we knew it wouldn’t last for long. Sooner or later he would be getting interested in girls differently and take over running this ranch once we became gray and old like his grandpa John. Tate, certainly was born to be a rancher. He loved living off the land like we did.

Sadly though every time I looked at my two children it makes me think about my oldest being out of the house and all the way in Texas. Missing my oldest daughter I have been debating on asking something of my husband even though I knew he wouldn't have any problem with doing so. Cowboys never minded what was running through my head.

Kayce was leaning his body against the other end of the tub across from me. His hair was a tousled mess of wet curls. “I don't want to it's fun.” He grinned ticking the bottom of my feet knowing it was my most ticklish spot.

“Kayce!” I squealed, throwing water out of the tub unable to not move every time he touched the bottom of my feet.

He smirked until I splashed water in his face where he raised his hands shielding his face. “You know you love me, Lissa Rae.”

“Yeah I do.” I smiled, staring at him before an idea popped into my head and a smirk crossed my lips. “Kayce, there's something I wanna ask you.”

He made a noise gently running his fingers through my wet hair. “Mmm.”

“I wanna have another baby.” I whispered, kissing his lips gently with a smile on my lips.

Kayce scooted closer tucking hair behind my ear speaking in a husky voice. “You want your cowboy to get you pregnant again hmm?”

“Yes, please.” I nodded my head in agreement, wrapping my arms around his neck, climbing up into his lap.

Kayce made a noise nuzzling his nose with mine. “Damn you are the best thing in my life.”

Lifting my head up I met his gaze placing a hand to his stubble kissing him once more. He leaned forward responding to the kiss, switching our position where my back was against the side of the tub and he was above me. He leaned down moving his hands over my body and I did the same where we knew we were throwing water on the floor. The simple kiss became heated where we filled the room with kisses and moans from one another.

Kayce and I got so lost into one another, hands tugging on hair and lips hungrily connected onto one another. Footsteps came walking into the bathroom and a soft voice pulled us away from each other. “Mama. Daddy?”

“Madeline?” Kayce and I quickly separated from one another blushing like crazy.

“Can we go stargazing?” She asked in her cheerful voice.

Clearing my throat I removed myself from being pressed against her father’s bare chest. “Sure, Mads. Just give us a second to get dressed.” I spoke to her reaching over for my robe hanging on the edge of the tub side that I was on.

“Okay.” She grinned running out of the bathroom leaving us alone to get some clothes on.

Once we had gotten out of the bathroom and dried ourselves off Kayce had thrown on some sweatpants and a dark green long sleeve shirt. I slipped on some leggings and one of his old sweatshirts with the Navy logo stitched onto the front of it. Madeline waa found already out on the front porch trying to lean over the fence railing to see the stars in the sky. “Come up here, little bug.” Kayce scooped her up, sitting her on his shoulders holding her legs so she didn't fall off.

“Oh I think there's a shooting star. See it, Mads.” Stepping up by my husband I pointed up to the night sky with my finger noticing a ligh flash a line across the sky unlike the other stars. “Wish on it, baby. If you wish on the shooting star the wish will come true.”

She closed her eyes whispering to the sky. “I wish for a little brother or sister.”

“We'll work on that once she falls asleep tonight.” Kayce whispered down into my ear and my face turned pink at the thought knowing we were mirroring the same smirk on our faces.

Faith’s pov

Caroline and I were driving through the neighborhood going to see what my boyfriend was opened. She looked around, noticing him before I do pointing her finger towards my window. “Oh man. Looks like your boyfriend is getting into a fight.”

A black guy got out of the car pulled into the grass, stomping up to my boyfriend with a handgun pointed at him. “I told you to stay the fuck away. Now you're playing husband? Huh, motherfucker?”

“Stop it, Manuel! Stop it!” Some girl with black curly hair came rushing out of the house.

The guy kept his firearm aimed at my boyfriend shouting at the girl. “What the fuck is this, huh? Elvio barely in the ground, and this peckerwood's mowing the fucking lawn?”

“Yes, he's mowing the lawn. After he mowed the lawn in the back, and weeded the garden, and helped me organize Elvio's bills and build a budget. How many times have you come by to help, huh? Where are all his fucking friends?” The girl I assumed had to be Ariana snapping at the man in front of her. She shoved her hands against him making him stumble backwards. “Because you don't care if I lose the house or my baby starves. You just care if I fuck another man, huh? That's where you draw the line with my life. Who do you think you are? Baby needs changing. You gonna do it? I bet he would.”

The guy snapped. “'Cause he wants to fuck you.”

“He never mentioned that.” She bared her teeth.

He scoffed. “It's what he wants.”

“Watch close, Manuel.”Ariana strides over to Cooper cupping his face in her hands, suddenly kissing him.

I gasped sharply clutching my hands into fists. “That bitch.”

Caroline noticed me swinging open her passenger car door, seeing me getting out and slamming it behind me. “Faith, Faith, don’t. Don’t go - oh no.” Stomping forward into the grass lawn Cooper pulled back away from the kiss, blinking before he noticed me coming angrily towards them.

“Faith? What are you doing here?”

“If he keeps playing his cards right, he might just get the chance. Some fucking friend you are. Get off my lawn before I call the police.” Ariana stepped backwards once my boyfriend had pushed her away and she walked back into the house.

“That's the second time you've pointed a gun at me. Third time's gonna be the last.” Cooper glared at the black guy still standing in front of him.

Stomping up to my boyfriend I slapped him across the face causing him to stumble slightly backwards. “You’re a freaking liar, Norris!”

“Who’s this fucking girl. How many girls are sleeping besides her!” The dude asked, grabbing me by my forearm, spinning me around to face him. He raised his gun pointing it at my chest. “Stay out of this bitch!”

“Oh I’m in no mood.” I scowled at him, raising my knee and kicking him in the nuts. The guy winced, dropping the firearm onto the grass, groaning in pain. “I'm getting really tired of people pointing guns at me in this state.”

The dude slowly got up from the ground picking up his gun and getting in his vehicle driving off. “I’ll see you tomorrow, motherfucker.” He snapped at my boyfriend making skid marks in the front lawn.

“Faith - I know what you saw. But it's not what you think it is.” Cooper began explaining but I picked his hat up from the ground that had fallen off and launched it harshly back into his chest.

“She’s just a friend huh. Last time I checked you don't kiss your friends, Norris!”

Someone grabbed my arm tugging me backwards towards the car and away from him. “We should go before you start ripping his hair out.” Caroline spoke at me, leading me to her vehicle she had now parked in the driveway.

“You’re an asshole of a liar, Cooper Norris!” I shouted back in his direction watching him push his ball cap back onto his head. Cooper slumped his shoulders watching the two girls leave Ariana’s driveway. He ran his hand through his hair knowing that misunderstood kiss just might have ruined what they had.

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[i-heart-yellowstone]

43 - An Easy Morning

Part 44

Raised Fair Share of Hell

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Slamming the trailer door behind me I shoved Travis harshly where he stumbled into the wall behind him. His hat nearly fell off his head where he adjusted it staring at me. “Was that necessary, Faith?” He questioned me, taken back by the frustration I used on him.

He knew I was tougher than I looked after working on my family’s ranch for years. Clutching my hands into fists at my sides I glared at my former horse trainer. “You had no right to just blurt out my family’s business the way you did.”

“I came here looking for you because your parents have been horrified that you were in danger. Why are you freaking out about the Cooper family knowing some of your family history?”

Bringing a hand to my forehead I groaned in frustration. “Because I haven’t told my boyfriend anything about my family history!”

“That’s your problem, not mine.” Travis pushed himself up off the ground floor of the trailer dusting his clothes off with his hands. “What you need to freaking do is call your parents and tell them that you aren’t in a ditch dead somewhere out here.”

“Don’t speak to me like I’m a child. I’m eighteen years old!” I snapped at him.

Travis stepped closer to me, intensely staring into my green eyes. “Clearly somebody needs to because you aren’t acting like an adult right now. Why haven’t you been telling this boy about your family?”

“You won’t understand the reason.” I rolled my eyes crossing the room sitting down on the bed.

He crossed his arms over his chest asking me. “Why wouldn’t I understand it?”

“In Montana everyone knows the Dutton name. I’m known as the Governor's niece, the Livestock Commissioner’s daughter or the Heir to the Dutton/Lambert ranch. I can never just be simply Faith like I can here.” I slumped my shoulders, ruffing my hair around with my fingers. Blinking back some tears that were welling in the corners of my eyes. “Here in Texas I get to be just simply Faith Dutton. Cooper isn’t scared of my family or likes me for my family name. He just likes me for who I am.”

Caroline, who was standing by the closed door, made a comment for the first time. “Awe.”

“Yeah, it’s cute. But you know that a Dutton will always look out for their own regardless of where they live. So you better call your mama and daddy.” Travis lowered his gaze to his dirty boots hearing someone knocking on the locked door.

Caroline turned around unlocking the trailer door. “I’ll get it. What do you want, Norris?”

“Can I speak with my girlfriend for a second?”

Caroline glanced over to me and Travis, seeing me give her a head nod yes. “Do you want to talk alone?”

“But-“ Travis began to reply until my roommate dragged him outside and closed the door behind her once my boyfriend had stopped inside the trailer.

Cooper moved to stand in front of me with his hands stuffed into the pocket of his dark gray sweatshirt. “Why didn’t you tell me about your family? Do you think I’d be embarrassed of what you tell me or -“ Looking at me with those puppy dog eyes of his when he asked the question I had been dreading.

“Terrified I’d scare you off if I told you about my family.”

Cooper blinks a couple of times asking an obvious question back to me. “Why would you think that after I have met your family and seen you doing the work that you love where I think I’m falling in love with-“

I cut him getting off of his small cot bed. “My family does things that aren’t necessarily always the right thing to do.”

“Can I know what you mean by that? Like what don’t I know about your family?” He asked me softly.

Throwing my head back slightly I scratched the back of my neck thinking of how to beastly word this to him. “We have two lawyers in the family on my mothers side but we used to have three with one being on my father’s side. Until he was sentenced to life in prison for trying to kill my Grandfather John who was the state Governor at the time. My aunt Beth got arrested for hitting a woman over the head with a beer before. Then there’s some past minor charges that my parents got arrested for when they were teenagers-“

Cooper takes a step forward tucking a strand of hair behind my ear gently. “You don’t have to tell me everything about your family in one sitting. Just start with stuff I don’t know about you, like how do you know the Travis guy that abducted my father and sister?”

“I guess you’re right, Norris.” I nervously chuckled with a weak smile. “Travis and I started working together when I did rodeo in high school. We would compete in competitions together and became friends through it. He even got me this toy crown and kept calling me Rodeo Queen after I won my first ten competitions in a row.”

My boyfriend chuckled, smiling. “That’s cute, Faith.”

“You think I’m kidding but look.” Taking out my phone I searched through my photos finding the yellow toy crown sitting on my dresser near my window. “It’s still in my bedroom back home and nobody is allowed to ever remove it.”

Cooper dug in his pocket for his phone scrolling before he turned the phone to me so I could see what he had pulled up. “This is for your eyes only. Nobody else gets to know what my mother did.”

“Oh my gosh! Baby Cooper, you’re so cute.” Covering my mouth with my right hand I saw a picture that had a younger version of my boyfriend with his hair up in braids on top of his head.

Cooper took the phone from my hand, hiding it back inside his jacket, deeply blushing. “It’s not cute. It’s embarrassing ... .I'm sorry about earlier with my new crew members. I didn’t think they’d come for you.”

“It’s okay, Cooper. You couldn’t have known I would be held at gun-point-“

The trailer door got kicked opened causing the two of us to jump and scream seeing Travis bust inside the small bedroom. “You got a gun held to your head. I’m sorry when we’re you planning on telling me this information!”

“Travis, can you give us a little privacy here god damnit!” I cussed out, clinging onto my boyfriend who had wrapped his arms around my waist not expecting him to come busting inside his camp trailer.

My family’s friend had his hands on opposite sides of the doorframe when he raised his voice at me and the young boy. “Call your parents Faith and I’ll leave you the hell alone.” Cooper and I shared the same look with each other, knowing this was only the start of our day.

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[i-heart-yellowstone]

38 - The Famous Tommy Norris

Part 39

Raised Fair Share of Hell

Please leave comments and suggestions below ❤️

Cooper’s father was on the phone when I stepped out into the hallway until he hung up the call focusing solely on me where I nearly froze where I was standing. “How long have you been dating my son without my knowledge, Ms. Dutton?”

“Um, about two months. We have only been on one date.”

He fired off another question at me. “Has he met your family already or not?”

“He met them over our break. And also told me that he was dropping out right before we left for Montana.”

His father crossed his arms over his chest shaking his head in frustration. “God he’s an idiot. Did you try to convince him not to drop out?”

“No, but I don’t know his childhood.” I began to respond but paused when his father's death glared at me. “I didn’t realize how dangerous it could be until I saw him this morning. I grew up knowing how dangerous being a rancher was.”

Cooper's father shifted his peaking back into his sons hospital room seeing he was resting his eyes, laying his head back on the pillows looking adorable in my opinion but his father didn't need to know that. “You care about him don't you, Ms. Dutton?”

“Yeah I do.” I held out my hand deciding now was a good of time as any to introduce myself. “Please just call me Faith, Mr. Norris.”

He shook my hand firmly introducing himself. “Tommy Norris.”

“It's nice to meet you. And I'm sorry for basically tackling you earlier. I was just really worried I had lost my boyfriend to an oil explosion.” I apologized feeling really bad that I had knocked him on his ass while he had already somehow lost part of a pinky on one of his hands.

He put one hand on his hip with his phone vibrating, meaning he got a text from somebody. “I appreciate your apology. This job certainly ain't for the weak. Uh, I have to take care of some things at work, but I can drop you off wherever you're living if you want.”

“Thank you for the offer. But I have to return my roommate's car back to campus. I kinda stole it to come here since I didn't want to steal your son's truck.” I shook my head appreciating the offer nonetheless.

The owner rig managing nodded his head in understanding. “Give your roommate back their truck for sure they're gonna need it to get around here. But I do have a favor to ask of you, Faith.”

“Sure. Anything, Mr. Norris.” I responded.

He tipped his tan hat to me turning on his heels and heading in the direction of the exit sign to leave the hospital. “Be ready tomorrow morning. I'll pick you up from your place at six.”

“Wait. I didn’t tell you where I live at.” I called quickly realizing he didn't know I went to college.

Yet to my surprise Tommy glanced over his shoulder pushing my concern away. “You’re going to Tech. How else would you have met my son?” He slipped around the corner leaving me in the hallway.

Once he was gone I spun on my boots throwing my hair around running back into my boyfriends room. He was rubbing the sleep from his eyes noticing that I had come back into his room. “Hey, so what did he want to talk with you about?”

“It doesn't matter now. I'm just relieved you're alive. Oh and-”

Cooper rubbed his arms when I slapped it harshly with a death glare at my boyfriend. “Ow! Faith, what was that for?”

“That’s for you nearly dying on day one, Cooper!” Holding back some tears I clutched my hands into fists at my sides. “I - I thought I was gonna lose you. I didn’t - the last person I nearly lost was my grandpa John. I don't want to lose you.”

Opening his arms out wide he gestured his head to the side wanting me to climb up into the hospital bed with him. “Awe, come up here cowgirl.” I couldn't resist Cooper especially when he gave me a puppy dog look.

Climbing up into his bed he wrapped his arms around my waist kissing my forehead whispering in my ear. “I'll do my best to not scare the shit out of you anymore, Faith.”

“Promise me that you won't get into any more trouble.” I muttered gripping the fabric of his messy tea shirt.

Cooper lifted my chin up with his hand so I was looking into his deep gaze. “I promise, Faithy Rae.”

“That’s what my family calls me.” I blinked through some happy tears.

He made a confused expression. “I'll come up with something better. But I do promise I'll be more careful.”

“Promise me the way my parents have us kids promise.” I responded back to him, holding up my pinky finger.

My boyfriend smiles while looping his pinky with my own. “Cross my heart and hope horses are in heaven.”

Draping my arms over his shoulders I leaned forward connecting my lips with his. He leans into the kiss moving one of his hands to the side of my face and his other hand gently threaded into my hair deepening the kiss the second he earned a moan from my lips. I threw one of my legs over his before he shifted so I was sitting more on his lap, only focusing on how good it felt to kiss the other in this moment.

Oil House

Tommy Norris enters the house that his oil industry boss has him and two other roommates live in and now includes his seventeen year old daughter Ainsley. She was on Spring break for a few weeks and had been waiting on her father to bring her home some food. “Thank you, God.” She took the bag from his hands happily sitting at the kitchen table.

He sat down in the chair near hers. “I talked them into the lettuce thing in back there.”

“How'd you do that?” She asked him.

“Showed 'em your picture.”

The pair chuckled before she reached inside the bag pulling out an order of fries. “Daddy, I said three fries. There's a whole order in here.”

“Well, the rest are for me.” Her father responded even though she told him she only wanted three fries.

She held out the thing of fries winning at him. “Well, I'm just gonna talk you out of them, Daddy. You need to throw 'em away. Now. Now!”

“You know, this shit was cute when you were eight, but now all I think about's your first marriage and the skid marks that poor bastard leaves after he's had a few years of this shit.” Her father got up, throwing away the rest of the fries sitting back down in his seat.

Ainsley ate the three fries she had picked out of the box. “It annoys you because you're my father, and you don't want to have sex with me. But other boys look at these chores like...little treasure hunts.”

“Oh, your brother's in the hospital. I forgot to tell you. Sorry about that.” Tommy decided to switch the conversation topic, needing her help with his son and his so-called girlfriend.

Ainsley questioned him. “Where?”

“Here.”

She tilted her head to the side. “What's he doing in Midland?”

“Working for me.”

“But he doesn't graduate till May.” She still didn’t quite understand.

Tommy sighed heavily in frustration. “He don't graduate ever. He dropped out. He wants to work in the patch.”

“He is such a loser.” Ainsley muttered under her breath, realizing how her words could hurt her father’s feelings. “Daddy, I didn't... I didn't mean it like that.”

“Let me tell you something, honey. There's two types of people that work in the patch...dreamers and losers.” Tommy explained to his daughter tapping his fingers eyeing her. “I need you to look into someone for me?”

“Who?” She asked softly.

He ran a hand down his face slowly recalling the name of the girl he talked with at the hospital. “Her name is Faith Dutton. She says she’s your brother’s girlfriend. And I need is for you to look across that phone of yours and find whatever you can about her.”

“Why do you want to know about her?”

He answered her simply. “Because I need to convince your brother to go back and finish college and get a degree. And I think she’s the key to doing that.”

“I’ll start looking into her tomorrow, daddy.” Ainsley smiled, finishing her sandwich before they got ready to go to sleep for the night.

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[i-heart-yellowstone]

51 - Dutton’s in Texas

Part 52

Raised Fair Share of Hell

Comments really appreciated ❤️

Dutton ranch 

A rock flew into the air hitting the side of the trough filled with water.  Madeline kicked some gravel with her boot in defeat.  “This game is dumb, grandpa.” 

“Well that’s cause you’re throwing at the trough.  That ain’t ever gonna work.” John looked up at granddaughter standing beside him.  He was sitting on the ground in between his two grandchildren. 

Tate, who was standing on the other side of him threw a rock up into the air and it splashed down into the water.  “You gotta throw it up in the air and let gravity do the rest, sissy.” 

“You brother is right.” John picked up another rock, tossing it up, getting a splash right in the center. “Once you figure out the physics, you’re going to get a splash every time.  Try again, Maddie-Mads.” 

“I got it.  I got it, grandpa!” She gently tossed the rock up into the air and watched it slowly fall down and hit the water.  She jumped up and down cheering kicking up dust with her boots. 

“I think this calls for a celebration.  There's some big donuts in the kitchen.  Mads,  you go get the biggest one in there.”  He told her before she ran off bolting inside the house with Tate on her heels.   John enters the kitchen seeing his youngest grandchild sitting at the table staring at a plate of donuts.  She was having a hard time picking which one she wanted to eat.  “Did you pick one yet?” 

“I wanna eat the biggest one.” 

John sat down beside her lining them all up in a row.  “You can line them up in a row and then the biggest will be easier to spot.” 

“I can do that, grandpa?” Madeline gasped with glee in her eyes. 

The elderly man nods his head yes to her.  “You’re my grandkid.  You can do whatever you want.  Who's calling me now?” 

“Mama!” Madeline squealed seeing her video image appear on the cell phone when he answered the call. 

Alissa waved where she could see her father and Aunt Beth sitting beside her on a hotel bed in Texas.  “Hi Mads, we all miss you guys.” The trio had informed the land owner that they would be staying in the lone star state for a little while longer than everyone originally thought.  

“So what’s going on over there with the Norris kid?” John questioned the trio on the other side of the phone. 

His daughter in law ran her fingers through her loose wet hair, obvious that she had just gotten out of the shower.  “That’s a rather complicated story I don’t want to have with little ears listening.” 

“What’s that mean?” Madeline asked, confused. 

Footsteps entered the kitchen where the pair looked around seeing Tate come over carrying a stick in a washcloth in his hands.  “I found this in the bathroom.  What is this, momma?” 

“Buddy, you might want to wash your hands after touching that.  Cause your mother peed on it.” Kayce chuckled before Tate jumped backwards, dropping the stick from his hand onto the kitchen island beside him.  

The two kids made the same noise in disgust.  “Ewww!” 

“Hold on, does that mean what I know it means!” Beth’s voice could be heard in the room squealing with joy. 

Alissa chuckled putting her face in her hands, embarrassed even though it was joyful news coming from her mouth.  “Yes, Beth.  I’m pregnant - we’re pregnant again.” 

“I knew those weren’t naps you were takin’.” Tate scolded his parents eyeing the pregnancy test laying on the kitchen island. 

John grinned brightly at the couple who were the only ones who could provide kids born with true Dutton blood in their veins and not simply be adopted into the family. “Congratulations you two.  You better tell your firstborn daughter about this before we get the idea to tell her first.” Kayce and Alissa shared the same grin knowing fully well that Madeline would be the first one trying to call her sister and tell the news before the two boys on the ranch would.  Faith had a lot more difficult things coming her way than they did for sure. 

Faith’s pov  - a few days later 

Cooper was laying in his hospital bed while I was stuffing his dirty clothes inside a duffle bag.  A nurse had helped him change and removed all the Iv's from his body so we were just waiting on the doctor to discharge paperwork for him.   Cooper shut his eyes in frustration over what we had been talking about for hours.  “I really don’t want to go live at my fathers place.  He’s got two grown roommates and my sister living with him.  And apparently my mother now.  I don’t need the family issues in my life right now.” 

“It might not be as bad as you think.  Besides, you know you can’t go back to your trailer considering it’s a crime scene now.” I pointed out to him zipping up the duffel bag. 

He grumbled doing his best to sit upright on the bed holding his ribs that were bruised from the beating.  “You’ve only spent one dinner with my mother.  Trust me you wouldn’t want to live with her, especially when you’re injured.” 

“Well unfortunately you can’t live in my dorm room with me and Caroline.  Campus rules as you know.  But I’ll do my best to come visit every day so you don’t miss me too much.” Sending him a smile he weakly smiled back as a nurse came into the room helping him down into a wheelchair.  She rolled him through the hospital and down to the main entrance of the lobby.  The double automatic doors slide opened revealing Tommy’s truck waiting outside. 

“Don’t worry about him, Faith.  I’ll make sure he doesn’t get jumped again.” His father spoke to me, opening up the truck passenger door about to lift his son up in the passenger seat until we heard a vehicle coming in creating harsh skid marks in the parking lot until they parked right behind us. 

The car door opened where I noticed it was my aunt Beth strolling up in a black dress and black boots with part of her hair pinned upright.  “I’m kidnapping your son, Thomas Norris.” She declares swaying her hips back and forth until she was standing directly in front of us. 

“What the hell are you saying to me, Ms. Dutton?” Tommy asked with one hand on his hip. 

She pulled out a cigarette, lighting it in front of the three of us.  “It’s Mrs. Wheeler actually.  And what I’m talking about is the fact that I am going to be taking your son with me this morning.” 

“Faith, what is she talking about?” My boyfriend asked me while sitting in the hospital wheelchair. 

Shrugging my shoulders I eyed my Aunt.  “Aunt Beth, what do you mean you are taking him with you.  He’s supposed to be staying with his family while he recovers.” 

“Since you’re parents and I will be staying here for a little longer I didn’t see the reason for spending a bunch of money on a hotel room.  So instead I bought a cabin a few miles away from your college campus.  We’ll be staying there and you're welcome to do the same little niece if you don’t like staying in your dorm room.” 

Tommy shook his head at the woman watching me throw an arm around my boyfriend helping me sit him down in the passenger seat of her vehicle.  “Why don't you come home, Cooper?” 

“And where would that be, Dad? Where's home for me?” Cooper snapped at his father holding his injured side before I closed the passenger door gently in his face. 

“ You might get more company than you want, honey. There's a big bull's-eye on this boy.” Cooper’s father reminded me but it was more so directed at my aunt. 

My aunt got into the driver's seat and I climbed in the backseat of the vehicle where she put the gas pedal to the floor, burning rubber of her tires.   “I’m used to having targets on my back.  It runs in the family if you know us Dutton’s.” 

“So what place did you rent out for a while?” 

She glanced back to me, pulling into the gravel driveway where we passed a bunch of empty dirt ground.  “Oh I ain’t renting, Little niece.  I bought this place for us.” Looking through the window my mouth hung opened seeing a large ranch house coming into view. 

Cooper whispered under his breath with a weak chuckle before he winced feeling some pain in his ribs.  “This is definitely going to be better than my parents' house.” Beth parked the car where we slowly started heading inside the place to check it out for ourselves. 

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[i-heart-yellowstone]

49 - Dutton’s and Norris’s Collide

Part 50

Raised Fair Share of Hell

Happy Christmas eve readers 🎅🎄

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Pacing back and forth in the Midland General hospital waiting room I was most definitely making scratch marks with my boots on the tile floor with how hard I was pressing my boots into the tile floor. Wrapping my arms around myself I sniffed through tears and I haven’t stopped crying since we had transported him here with the helicopter.

Footsteps came down the closest hallway. I turned my head sharply seeing his sister walk in with the worker named Dale from dinner the other night. “What the heck are you doing here, cow eater?”

“Waiting to see if my boyfriend will make it out of surgery or not. What were you doing going to a strip club or something by wearing that outfit?” Noticing his sister Ainsley was dressed in a blue jacket and a short white dress that newly showed her butt, her hair was in a braid and she was wearing short dark brown cowgirl boots.

Ainsley scoffed, pushing her finger harshly into my chest raising her voice at me. “At least my father didn’t get bored with my mother and have another child with another woman.”

“What did you just say about my family?” I glared at her, clutching my hands into fists knowing she was talking about my brother. My parents had told us later in life the reason Tate was my half brother by law.

Ainsley scowled directly at me, suddenly screaming. “My brother isn’t considered a bastard like yours - ahh!” Dale and a nurse quickly turned their heads seeing the intense interaction that was happening right before their eyes.

Bolting forward I raised a fist hitting her square in the face where she collapsed down onto the tile floor. I jumped directly on top of her throwing punches but she started throwing hits back at me, though she wasn't as strong as me. “My aunt and uncle taught me how to fist fight you little brat!”

Ainsley kicked me with her feet harshly where I got thrown backwards on the floor. I gripped her hair yanking on it till she elbows me in the rib stumbling backwards into one of the chairs. “You’re just angry cause it’s true - urgh!” Ainsley grunted suddenly, getting yanked off the floor and shoved against the wall.

“What made you think you could put your hands on my daughter!” She gasped, clawing at the hand that was wrapped around her throat.

Scrambling to my feet, my mouth hung opened in shock. “Daddy! Mama, how did you get here so fast?”

“We weren’t the ones driving from the ranch.” My mother explained coming into the lobby before I heard the clicking of heels against the tile floor. My aunt Beth came rushing in full force standing beside her sister in law.

My father death glared at the teenager he was holding up against the wall. He had one arm pressing against her stomach and the other hand was wrapped around her throat until we heard footsteps coming in and a nurse exclaimed. “Oh my god. What are you doing to her?”

“This doesn’t concern you.” My father released his grip, dropping Ainsley down to the floor gasping for breath.

The nurse gulped, brushing her hands down her scrubs. “Uh - he’s - he’s awake and out of surgery if you want to see him. I suggest only three of you go in at a time though.” Walking right up to her, me, Dale and a bruised and bloody nose Ainsley followed her to his hospital room.

Entering the small room we let Dale go in first seeing him laying on the bed with a breathing tube in his nose and an IV sticking in his left hand. His face was covered in bruises and he barely could open his eyes. “How you feeling, slugger?”

He took a shaky breath. “Been better.”

Dale explained to my boyfriend. “Yeah, them damn ribs is the worst. You know, try like hell not to laugh and try like ever-loving hell not to sneeze.”

“Oh, my God.” Ainsley muttered under her breath with a hand covering her mouth.

“What are you doing here?” Her brother noticed her standing in the room.

Ainsley crossed her arms over her chest snapping off. “Well, I was waiting for five hours to see if you lived through surgery.”

“Sorry to disappoint.” He grumbled under his breath at her response. He blinked briefly seeing the bruises on her face and then seeing I had one underneath my eye and my hair was sticking out in all kinds of places. “Who’d you two get into a fight with?”

Death glaring at his sister Dale clearly could sense the tension between me and his younger sister. “Each other.”

“We're gonna wait outside, amigo.” Dale leans forward tapping the edge of his blanket where his feet were sticking up. “You need anything? Hmm? Want a pack of cigarettes?”

Cooper lightly laughed wincing when pain shot through his injured section of ribs. “You said, "Don't laugh."

“Sorry. My fault. Broke my own rule. We'll be right outside, bud, okay?” Dale apologies heading to the door.

“To think, I missed my first patch party for you.” Ainsley remarked to her brother walking out of the room leaving us alone to talk.

“I'm sure there'll be plenty of chlamydia at the next one.” Cooper coughed looking over at me pressing up against the doorway struggling to keep tears from streaming down my face. “Faith - I shouldn’t have let her kiss me - she - kissed me. I didn’t -“

“Cooper, I don’t care about that anymore. All that matters to me is that you’re alive. I thought - I thought you were going to die when I found you in your trailer.” I sniffed through tears standing at his bedside, reaching down and taking his freehand in mine. “I - I love you, Cooper Norris. I know that I overreacted and should have believed you when you said Ariana is just a friend. It's just you’re my first boyfriend and - I guess I was insecure of myself but I realized when I thought you were going to die before I got to tell you I love you.”

Cooper opened his eyes, meeting my gaze, crying lightly tugging me by the hand. “I love you too, Faith Dutton.” Crawling up into his empty side of the bed once he had scooted over I wrapped my arms around him. He laid his head down on mine, closing his eyes getting some sleep with a weak smile on his face.

Listening to Cooper’s shaky breathing I kept my head laying on his shoulder while he was sound asleep, at least we both were till his mother came into the room a loud and sobbing mess. “Oh, my God. Look at my little angel. What the fuck?” Sharply lifting my head up I looked around waking up in a panicked state by her loud sobbing.

Tommy began to speak to his ex wife. “I know. Wh…”

“Look at him, Tommy!” His mother shouted in her husband's face.

Tommy questioned her. “What happened to "don't freak him out"?”

“You better find the fuckers that did this.” She bared her teeth with anger in her tone.

Cooper shifted slowly, waking up from the small nap he was taking before she had come into his room. “Mom?”

“I'm here, baby.” She croaked through tears.

Tommy gently pushed her towards the doorway needing her to calm down before she talked with her son. “We know that, honey. The whole hospital knows. I know you got a Xanax on you, so go out in the hallway and take it. And wait till it kicks in 'fore you come back, okay? How 'bout that?”

Angela sniffed back tears leaving his hospital room. “I'm gonna...I'm gonna be right outside, baby, okay?”

“I can’t believe she might be my mother in law someday.” Laying my head against the pillows I covered my face with my hands.

Tommy moved to take a seat in the chair on the other side of the bed, eyeing me still cuddling up on his son’s side on the hospital bed. Cooper sighed with his eyes closed. “Ariana called and asked for help, and I gave it. Faith didn’t have anything to do with this.”

“She's not my concern. You are. And at the moment, the fuckers that put you in this hospital are my main concern.” His father explained with a stern tone in his voice.

Cooper trailed off weakly. “If my father steps in…”

“This is not your dad talking. This is the general manager of an oil company talking. And when my employees break into another employee's company-provided housing and beat the dog shit out of him to the point where a surgeon has to re-inflate his lung, I step in. Manuel and Antonio. Who else?” Tommy raises two fingers asking for names and by the look in his eyes I knew he was probably going to do something very serious and possibly illegal. “You can tell me, or I'll beat it out of the first two.”

“I don't know their names.” Cooper blinked his eyes briefly racking his brain for the answers. “Maintenance crew for the buffalo field.”

“That's all you had to say.” His father nodded, getting out of the chair going out into the hallway once someone had called his phone. He turned nearly jumping out of his boots, noticing Kayce Dutton waiting in the hallway. “Jesus fuck!”

“We need to talk you and me, Tommy Norris.” The cowboy spoke in a deep voice, lifting his head up so he could see his dark eyes looking at him underneath the black cowboy he was wearing.

[i-heart-yellowstone]

46 - The Not Spaghetti Dinner pt 2

Part 47

Raised Fair Share of Hell

Please leave comments and anything you’d like to see ❤️

Shoveling food in my mouth I didn’t know what type of food she had made considering most of my meals had consisted of steak and mashed potatoes. But whatever it was, it was delicious and I didn’t want to stop eating it. Everyone was eating in a somewhat comfortable silence until Cooper’s mother attempted to make conversation. “Are you all better from your explosion, honey?”

“I'm fine.” Cooper simply replied back to her.

She nodded, eyeing his sister. “You know, your sister's following in your footsteps, baby. She's going to Tech.”

“I'm sure all the sororities are beside themselves with joy.”

Angela glared between her two children and then over to me. “Cooper, be nice.”

“Or maybe just don't speak. For the rest of your life.” Ainsley snapped back at her older brother.

Stabbing my fork into the bowl I raised my voice at the blonde who had been glaring at me for the last ten minutes of the dinner. “Hey! That’s enough. You shouldn’t be mean to your brother like that.”

“Oh yeah. What would you know about being a good sibling huh?” Ainsley glared at me, leaning forward so she could look me in the eye.

Slamming my fork on the table I got up from my seat at the table. Everyone shifted their gaze onto us and whatever was about to happen between me and the youngest Norris. “I’m actually a better sibling than you’re being right now. I have a brother my age and we have a younger sister and she is more of a sweetheart than you are being. Oh and she doesn’t starve herself. She loves sugar and she once ate a whole box of mini donuts just because she wanted to.” Ainsley covered her mouth in horror at my words, taking a long sip from her wine glass with heavy silence covering the dining room.

“So, uh...What'd you say this stuff is?” Tommy entered the conversation knitting his brows

His woman in the bright red dress began explaining. “Bolognese. It's three types of meat...veal, beef, and wild boar...like I was telling God.”

“So, spaghetti.” Tommy finished her thought.

“Not spaghetti. No. Spaghetti doesn't use veal or pork and it doesn't use cream and it doesn't use sugar.” She scoffed, explaining it more in depth to the people at the table.

Ainsley held her bite in her mouth, dropping her fork and pushing the bowl away. “Is there sugar in this?”

“Not enough to make a difference.” She mother said.

His mother sighed, dropping her shoulders. “How was your day, Nathan?”

“My day?” The looking lawyer gulped nervously looking around the room. “Uh, I'm an attorney. Well, I can't… My day is governed by attorney-client privilege.”

“So you can't talk about your day?” Angela tilted her head at the thought.

He shook his head answering her question. “No, ma'am.”

“Well, till the end of the day, it was just about a two.” Tommy interrupted their conversation

His ex wife sniped seeing he wasn’t feeling like explaining anything more about his day but it turned out to be the opposite. “What happened? You a fucking lawyer now, too?”

“You want to hear about my day? All right, here it is. I stood out in a hundred-degree heat all day staring at gauges on fucking oil pumps, until some cartel members showed up and demanded we pay 'em back for the drugs they lost on our lease to the tune of about $30 million dollars. Guess how they took it when I said no.”

Nathan gasped, eyeing his work partner. “That really happened?”

“Yeah. Yeah, it really happened.” Dale nodded in his direction

Nathan questioned almost turning it into a work discussion like my grandfather John would hate. “Does Monty know?”

“I'm going over there tomorrow. Well, let's see. What else? My hemorrhoid finally burst. It's amazing how 80 miles of dirt road will work through one of those pesky ones.” Tommy kept going on until his wife dropped her silverware storming into the kitchen.

Ainsley called for her father’s attention. “Dad.”

“What?”

She spoke again seeing that he didn’t understand what he should do. “Go talk to her. Say sorry.”

“All right.” Her father got up from his spot at the table, going into the kitchen.

Ainsley sent him a childish grin. “Be nice.”

Laying my fork down I took a sip from my wine glass before I felt someone touch my arm making me look out the corner of my eye seeing it was my boyfriend looking at me. Cooper placed his freehand that has a bandage wrapped around it over my smaller one, as a way of telling me he was here no matter what. “You don't think we're doing this every night, do you?” Nathan leaned over to his other roommate living in the house.

Dale chuckled with a mouth full of food. “I don't know, but this fucking spaghetti's pretty good, though.”

“You got this image in your brain of how everything's supposed to go, but we don't know what that is, you know? We don't see it.” While everyone was sitting at the table eating whatever weird dinner she had prepared we could hear the two talking in the kitchen. “So, when it doesn't go the way you dreamed it up, you get pissed off, you throw a tantrum, and then I get pissed off, throw a bigger tantrum, and then we're back to square one.”

Angela sighed heavily in defeat. “Our children hate each other.”

“Honey, they're teenagers. They're supposed to hate each other.”

“Cooper is not a teenager. He's a man. I mean, a man. He'll - He'll likely marry that rancher girly, leave me forever and have grandkids we might not ever see.” She disagreed with her ex or current husband. I wasn't entirely sure at the moment. “When the fuck did that happen? I mean, do I look like a woman with a 22-year-old? I'm turning into a GMILF.”

Tommy asked her bluntly. “The hell's a GMILF?”

“A grandmother I'd like to fuck.” She scoffed at her and I shook my head putting my freehand over my face thinking that my family appeared much more like a family than Cooper’s does at the moment.

My boyfriend’s voice pulled me from his parents' conversation to notice that his sister was just giddy like a kid on Christmas for some reason. “What're you smiling for?”

“Why aren't you? That's the question.” She didn’t drop her smile thinking he was the odd one.

“'Cause I'm old enough to remember when they were together.” Cooper muttered back to her and his words caused me to sink into my chair understanding the weight of his words. He rustled around his plate, grabbing his hat and getting up from his chair, gaining my attention. “Are you ready to go, babe?”

Wiping my mouth with my napkin I sat it down pushing in my chair and following him out the front door. “Yeah, let’s go.”

Riding in the passenger seat of my boyfriend’s truck I heard his phone vibrating where he picked it up and answered it by putting it up to his ear. “Cooper?”

“Yeah, who is this?” He asked the person on the phone.

“Ariana.”

Hearing a girl's name come from the phone I instantly got curious about his relationship with someone I didn’t know. “How are you? Hello?” Cooper asked, thinking the connection had gotten lost.

“I need to see you. Can you do that for me?” She asked and I could hear some sadness in her voice.

My boyfriend replied by hanging up the phone sensing I was staring at him silently. “Sure, I’ll come over tomorrow….what is it, Faith?”

“I should be asking you that. Who is this Ariana girl?”

He glanced between me and the road in front of us making sure we didn’t get into a wreck. “Faith, you don’t have to worry about her. She’s just a friend that I’m helping out.”

“When did you meet her then?” I questioned him, hating that I sounded like a jealous girlfriend right now.

Cooper focused his gaze on me. “Her husband was a part of my old crew that got killed in the explosion. She has a young son to take care of but doesn’t know how.”

“Cooper, I’m - I’m sorry I jumped to the thought of you cheating on me.” Lowering my gaze to my hands in my lap till he reached over the seat, intertwining his hand with mine giving me a weak smile knowing I meant well.

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