#yellowstone x imagine

[lolitastories]

Hey!! I saw that you write for Kayce Dutton and wanted to make a request if you're still taking them. Would you be able to write Kayce Dutton sickfic where Kayce is a kid and he wakes up sick in the the middle of of the night with a stomach bug or flu or something and his older brother Lee is the one who takes care of him? I just feel like we don't get much on Kayce's childhood or his relationship with Lee so I feel it would be really sweet. No rush, take all the time you need! :)

Of course, thank you for the ask. I hated how short their relationship was on the show, but I know they both cared for each other so much.

Dreams

Kayce Dutton

It was quiet in the Dutton house, but if you walked upstairs to the rooms you could hear Kayce stirring in his bed. His head moving from side to side trying to keep himself in some sleep. The fever had crept in the middle of the night and the shivers came soon after. “Kayce?” Lee walked and opened the door a bit wondering what the noise was. The faint light of the hallway casted enough on the young boy to make Lee notice Kayce, he wasn’t having a good sleep.  He pushed through the door in a hurry and kneeled down in front of him. “Bud?” His brow furrowed in confusion. Lee pressed the back of his hand onto Kayce’s forehead, he was burning up. His eyes searched for an answer that his mind couldn’t come up with fast enough. “Kayce?” He said a little louder. With his hands he shook the young boy awake. Lee’s heart stopped hearing the weak sound of Kayce’s voice.

“Lee?” Kayce was only 9, he didn’t know what to do. Of course, Lee was much older but until 2 years ago when someone got sick, it was their mother who took care of them. “I don’t feel well,” In haste Lee swept into his feet, leaned forward, one arm under Kayce’s legs and the other under his arms.

“Let's find you something Bud,” Lee picked him up with ease, making sure to accommodate him as he carried him all the way to the kitchen. As he placed him in the leather couch, he almost kicked himself, it probably wasn’t the smartest idea to bring him out of bed in the middle of the night when he was running a fever. “That’s right!” A slight smile appeared on his face; he got an idea.

“Where is dad?” It came out in a low groan from the young boy. As his hand opened every drawer looking for the thermostat his mouth went dry. Lee’s eyes flicker to the oven light reading, 2:33am. He was trying to stay awake to hear from his father's meeting but by now he should have known he wasn’t coming tonight. No matter how hard Lee tried to be a part of the ranch, John Dutton couldn’t bear it. Deep down he made himself think it was to protect him, but protect him from what? The deal of the ranch wasn’t what brought the death of his mother, it was a simple ride on the horse that had done that. The death brought this on him now, the responsibility of his three younger siblings. He had learned to step up from uncertainty and now it wasn’t any different. He took a deep inhale when he finally found the thermostat.

“He will be here in the morning,” He spoke softly and motioned for him to open his mouth. “We should have some medicine in the fridge for you, if by morning you don’t get better, I will take you to the doctor.” Lee found his head rubbing Kayce’s small red cheeks. Kayce was the youngest among them, he needed to be a big brother more than ever to him. His thoughts were cut short when he heard a beep. The indicator turned red and read 102. “Shit,” He whispered.

“Am I dying?” This caused a laugh to escape Lee lips, He cupped his face and made Kayce look up to him.

“No buddy, you will be okay.” He returned a gentle smile to his younger brother. “Let's get you some medicine,” Lee tried to be a little more upbeat for Kayce as he walked over to the fridge. “This will do it,” His hand reached for a familiar bottle, the one prescribed to Beth not so long ago.

“Are you sure you know what you are doing?” Lee turned to his younger brother with a raised brow.

“Are you questioning your older brother?” He set the bottle on the kitchen counter. He let out a small sigh of relief when he heard a small laugh from Kayce. Kayce shook his head. “That's what I thought,” He smirked, moving his attention back to the medicine. Thankfully there were instructions to what age you are supposed to give and what amount too. He checked the instructions, then double checked, and tripled checked, just to make sure he wasn’t making a mistake. “Alright bud,” He turns his body over to Kayce. “How about we get you to bed first?” A small weak head gripped Lee's shirt.

“Can I sleep with you tonight?” He fought against his judgement. It wasn’t smart to have him so close when he is sick, but it was his little brother, and he wasn’t scared of a little sickness. “I don’t want to be alone,” Kayce didn’t need to say anything else; Lee already had his mind made up.

“Of course you can,” He leaned forward, grabbing Kayce carefully, trying not to make the medicine fall from its little cup. Kayce’s arms wrapped around Lee’s neck for support and his head fell on his shoulder weakly. Kayce always felt loved by his siblings, but he had a special bond with Lee. It didn’t matter if their age difference was over 10 years, they were best friends, at least to little Kayce they were.

“Lee?” Lee was careful to watch his steps, he hummed and responded.

“Yeah?”

“Are you ever going to leave me too?” That made Lee freeze. On top of the steps, he stood frozen. He knew eventually this day was going to come, his father the great John Dutton wasn’t one for words, so of course Kayce would come to him.

“I can’t know where this life will take me,” Lee said, looking into his eyes. “Just know that whenever you need me, I will be here.”

AN: This wasn't really my forte, but I really enjoyed it. I apologies if it was a little sad but I loved to think that Lee was there for his siblings after their mother passed. Thank you for the ask, I have had a hard time thinking of other quick imagines for Kayce but maybe because I have so many ideas for a story.

[the-palelady]

cowboy!ghost that’s driving cattle across the west when he stops into a small town to rest for a few nights.

he visits the local doctor for some medicine to take along with him while he travels when he is instead met with you, the cute nurse that so kindly hands him the sack with various herbs and medications inside.

you remind him of the side effects to which he gives a curt nod, not ignoring the flush that sits high on your cheeks when he utters a, “yes ma’am.”

you have the spurs on the back of his boots jingling a tad bit louder as he walks out and he decides then and there that maybe he can stay in town for a few more days.

[jetblack4realz]

his little girl - yellowstone boys

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

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

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

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kayce dutton:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

rip wheeler:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

until she became a brother's girl.

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

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

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

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

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

ryan:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

everyone had a good laugh about that one.

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

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

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

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

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

she smoked their asses.

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

lee dutton:

lee never wanted kids.

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

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

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

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

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

"language, lee," you laughed.

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

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

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

his world changed that day.

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

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

"watch me," was his answer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

jimmy:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

spencer dutton:

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

life had other plans.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"mama knows?"

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

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

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

"when is that?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

masterlist!!

[i-heart-yellowstone]

hi! Can you do a Kacey fic about s4e1? Where him and Monica were already divorced, he was dating someone else who was with Tate that day. She gets shot protecting him. Just a lot of fluff!

thank you!

Protecting the Heir

Walking up the wooden stairs inside the main house I heard my phone started ringing inside my blue jeans pocket until I removed it outside of my pocket and pressed it up against my right ear. “Hey cowboy, how bored are you of that desk job already?”

“Extremely. Not much is happening today. I’d definitely rather be working the ranch with you and Tate.” Kayce sighed heavily on the other end of the phone.

I smiled weakly even though he couldn’t see it. “I know, honey. But just a few more hours and we can all cuddle up on the couch with some barbecue that Gator made and have nachos for dinner. How’s that sound?”

“You’re a girl truly after a rancher's heart.” Kayce declares and I swore I could almost hear the smile on his voice.

I snorted a laugh back in response. “Well I am dating one after all.”

“I'll make you my wife tonight when I get back if you keep talking like that. What is that - oh shit!” Kayce mumbled something under his breath before I could hear gun fire on his end of the phone call.

I called out his name, beginning to worry. “Kayce! Kayce what's happening over there?”

“Go to the bunkhouse.”

I asked him not sure what he meant. “What?”

“Find Tate and go to the bunkhouse. Grab one of the shotguns by the kitchen too.” He shouted back at me before I heard gunfire going off in rapid fire before the phone call went dead. I called his name even though the line had cut off, feeling a nervous tightness inside my chest. “Kayce! - shit - Tate, Tate!”

Bolting up the rest of the way of the staircase searching through the rooms for the young boy. When Kayce moved back onto his father’s ranch he had brought his son to live with him. During that time I was hired by John as his new horse trainer, which allowed me and Kayce something to instantly bond over.

He had divorced his wife Monica a few months before we had met. She still has some visitation with Tate but ultimately Kayce and I have full rights and parenting responsibilities over his son.

“Y/n! What happened?” Tate’s voice came from his bedroom before I saw him running straight towards me.

Wrapping my arms around his body once it collided with my body I held him for a brief moment. Remembering the phone call with my fiancé I broke the hug intertwining my hand with his, leading him down the stairs quickly. “Turn around and go down the stairs. Your daddy says we gotta leave.”

We scrambled through the living room heading towards the kitchen that had a door closest in the direction of the Bunkhouse. I gasped slamming into the chest of a guy dressed all in black clothing and a mask so I couldn’t see his face. “Urgh!”

“You or the kid try to run and I’ll kill you.” The stranger reached inside his coat, revealing a handgun from the waist of his jeans.

Pushing Tate behind me I glared at the guy. “You’re going to kill us either way.”

“I’d suggest you not talk back to me girl if you know what is good for you.” He warned me by keeping the barrel aimed directly at my forehead.

I didn’t waste another second before raising my leg and kicking the stranger in his groin causing him to drop the firearm and dropping to the ground in pain. Whipping my head around I hollered to the young Dutton standing behind me. “Tate, get to the bunkhouse - arrgg!” Suddenly the guy yanked me backwards by my hair, throwing me down onto the kitchen floor. He wrapped his hands around my throat, choking me while I attempted to reach for the handgun with my right foot. He noticed and elbowed me with his rib, making me moan. “Asshole!”

“Y/n!” Tate called my name hiding in the doorway of the kitchen, panic clear in his voice.

I punched the guy in the jaw where he held his chin rubbing the sore area. I began crawling away reaching for the gun, nearly grabbing it with my fingertips till he grabbed the back of my jacket dragging me backwards to him. “You’re gonna pay for that, bitch!” He wrapped one hand around my throat taking out a knife and quickly stabbing me in my lower stomach making me scream like a banshee.

The attacker removed the knife ready to stab me a second time but his body immediately collapsed beside me following a loud bang sound. “T-Tate.” Slowly rolling onto my side when I lifted my head I sighed in relief seeing the young kid holding the handgun in his hands.

“Y/n, you’re - you’re bleeding.” He lowered the handgun eyeing the stab wound on my stomach.

Getting up from the ground holding onto the nearby counter for balance I noticed my eyes getting heavier the second I was standing straight up. My throat was sore and I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath. “Tate - call - 9 - 1 - 1.” Pressing my freehand to my bleeding wound I saw that my hand was quickly being covered in my own blood. I went to take a step forward towards the kid unfortunately I collapsed before him immediately falling unconscious.

The next time I blinked open my eyes I quickly shut them closed, getting blinded by the bright hospital lights shining down on me. Peeking one eye open I turned my head to the side seeing Kayce sleeping on the bed side of my bed with his head resting on his crossed arms until I lifted my hand close to him gently shaking him awake. “Kayce. Kayce, hey.”

“Hmm. Y/n. Y/n, oh my gosh.” Relief was the first expression to cross the youngest Dutton son’s face. He got up from his chair raising a hand to the side of my face cradling it in his palm. “I thought I had lost you. The nurse said you had lost a lot of blood.”

Leaning into his palm I placed my hand over his larger one. “Nobody can get rid of me that easily. Where’s Tate?”

“He’s out in the waiting room. I didn’t - the doctor recommended that he saw you once- if you woke up. Fuck, I thought I was about to lose you when I saw you all bruised and bandaged up laying in this bed.” Kayce admitted with watery eyes sniffing through tears. I could tell he was trying to remain tough but it didn’t last before he started bawling happy tears.

Opening my arms out wide I gestured my head to the side wanting him to climb up into the hospital bed with me. “Awe, come up here cowboy.”

“We can't both fit on the bed.” He shook his head no.

I smirked in his direction, raising a brow knowing he would cave in a second. “You thought differently when it came to having sex in the backseat of your truck.”

A genuine chuckle left his lips which was a rare sight to see given the lifestyle of his family. He pushed his chair back away from the bed then climbing into the bed once I had scooted over to the other side allowing him room. “Sometimes I wish you didn’t know me so well.” He wrapped his arms around my waist.

Running my thumb over the stubble on his chin I locked my gaze with his deep brown eyes. “If I didn’t pay attention to what you like, I'm not sure I’d be wearing this engagement ring on my finger.”

“I was thinking about that actually. How would you like to get married tonight?”

I sharply gaspe not expecting those words to come from his mouth. “Kayce John Dutton are you shiting me right now?”

“No, darling.” He stared deeply stare at me. “I’m very serious. Today made me realize that I don’t want to wait another minute. I want to call you my wife now.”

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 he was laying on his back and I was sitting on top of his lap, only focusing on how good it felt to kiss the other in this moment.

“Ew gross!” Kayce and I broke the heated kiss quickly turning our heads to the doorway noticing his ten year old son was standing there watching us.

I blushed, sending the kid a bright smile. “Tate, I’m happy to see you.”

“Are you feeling better after getting shot?” He asked nicely, crossing the room until he was at the end of the bed.

Nodding my head I knew I'd definitely feel more of the pain once I left the hospital since they had to do surgery to remove the bullet and close up the stab wound that I had. “I'm a little sore but I'll be fine. I'm just relieved that guy didn't hurt you.”

“So can we go get ice cream to celebrate your okay or are you and my dad going to start having sex again?” The young boy asked catching me and his father off guard.

Kayce turned bright red in the face as I was. “Tate!”

“What. I know when you close the bedroom to cuddle really means.” He shrugged his shoulders, sending us a disgusted face.

Running a hand down my face I sighed heavily so embarrassed. Dropping my hands into my lap I turned my attention back to his father who was likely still waiting on an answer from me. “So - uh about your idea earlier. How exactly would you get me discharged from the hospital in enough time for us to rush to the courthouse to get married before they close for the evening?”

“Simple, we just walk out and say we ain't got time to wait. We wanna get fucking married.” Kayce said with a smirk across his face, and I knew there was no changing his mind once he had an idea in his head.

I warned him. “Kayce.”

“Please darling.” He gave me sweet puppy dog eyes.

Closing my eyes I paused for a moment before getting his son's attention. “Tate, go grab one of the wheelchairs in the hallway. We're busting out of this place.” He ran out into the hallway leaving me and my fiancé in the room alone.

Grabbing Kayce’s jaw with my fingers I turned his chin so he was looking back at me before capturing my lips with his. “I can’t believe I’m gonna be calling you my husband tonight because you’re so impatient, Dutton.”

“Have you ever known my sister to be patient about anything? That should have told you that it runs in the family, honey.” He chuckled, kissing me longingly where I wrapped my arms around his neck deepening the kiss, happy that I would call him my husband the second Tate came back to help me sneak out of the hospital room.

[weirdgenetic-fuckup]

Second Chances

A/n: first time writing for Rip Wheeler, hope to write more for him

I started this months ago and just finished but I hope it’s good :)

Warnings: implied smut, religious trauma, Beth and Rip aren’t together anymore(love Beth but it couldn’t work for the idea 😔), abuse, if you think I missed anything let me know otherwise enjoy!

Masterlist

He looks so pouty and cute I can’t 🥺

~October 15th, 6:37 pm~

"You got a spare room, don't ya, Rip?" John's gruff voice came over the phone, voice wavering through heavy breaths.

"Yeah, why?" Rip asked, he'd just been making himself a quick dinner, body already aching for the sanctity of bed and rest.

"I'll explain later, just get it ready." John hung up before Rip could say anything more.

~7:05 am~

There was an old abandoned shed farther away from the main house, way over a few fields. It once served a purpose but now just lay, holding a few tools that no one had ever bothered to retrieve, there wasn't enough reason behind it anyway.

However, John had been passing by it the past few months with loose cattle around and kept hearing noise coming from it. At first he didn't pay much attention to it, it was most likely just some animals that had taken it over to hide away from the cooling weather, but he wanted to check it out when the sounds started getting stranger.

"Kayce," he called to his youngest son, "I want to take you with me to check out the shed up North of here." He said.

Kayce was with his wife, Monica, and son, Tate. They were having breakfast together, Tate was going off about something and Monica was listening closely, Kayce had been as well until his father came over to him.

"Up North?" He repeated. "Why? That thing’s been here longer than me, never needed to check on it before."

John sucked his teeth and shrugged. "Just come with me later, alright?" Kayce agreed, he had nothing else to do. Nothing to do with the ranch, anyway.

They couldn't head off right away, things needed to get done with the horses and such, everyone had chores.

~4:45 pm~

The two hadn't been able to leave much earlier, just getting on their horses to head out. Kayce didn't mind leaving earlier, he'd thought they'd leave later but this way he figured he'd still be able to tuck Tate in with Monica.

They arrived at the shed and sure enough those noises were back, only this time there was a light seeping through the cracks of the old wood.

Not wanting to risk getting caught they tied their horses up further away to trees, walking through the overgrown grass lit up by the setting sun, it cast a golden glow over the already yellowing field.

There was definitely someone inside, someone doing something and clinking shit together. They drew their guns as they neared the door facing into the trees.

John kicked it open, whoever was in there jumped and dropped something. "Hey-hey! Who the hell're you?!" It was a man yelling from inside. "Show yourselves to me, you crazy fucks!" Kayce gave John a worried look.

John peered in and saw the guy, scrawny fellow, shaved head, it didn't seem to be by his own fruition with how choppy it was. His clothes were tattered and stained, eyes bugging, he was clearly on something; what, they weren't sure, but they couldn't risk anything.

Kayce took the first step in, gun aimed at the man just in case. John followed shortly after and looked around while Kayce kept the man against a wall, hands in the air defensively.

"Cooking meth, you're cooking meth on my land?!" John yelled, making his way over to the man in a few short strides, raising his fist and punching him square in the face and knocking him on his ass.

There was a second thud, it didn't come from Kayce or John, not even the addict. No, this one came a second later from somewhere else.

In the corner of the shed was a smaller closet, it had been used to keep shovels and such. It wasn't small but big wasn't a good word for it, not by a longshot.

"I'll deal with this, you check on that." John said to Kayce, taking the rope from his side and kneeling next to the man, getting him over to the broken down and chipped table in the middle of the room and tying him to it as tight as he could.

"Don't, it's nothing, nothing!" The man yelled, struggling against John's hold on him.

The door creaked open and Kayce froze at the sight. "You, uh, you're gonna wanna see this, dad."

John looked up at his son, trying to get a look from where he was but needing to stand up anyway. The tied man kept yelling and squirming, shaking the table as he did.

Kayce moved to the side to let John look. The room was small, still, it held a poorly made bed, really it was just the frame with a shitty pillow and ratty old blanket thrown over it; there wasn't even a window to cover up.

In the darkness he made out a figure, a small one. A person chained to the bed. They were on their knees, elbows resting on the wood and hands clasped in one another, lips moving subtly in a silent prayer.

"Oh, Jesus Christ..." John muttered. He knelt down, placing a hand on your shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. "Hey, are you alright?" He asked, keeping his voice gentle as it could be.

Your clothes, a shirt and cotton shorts, were browning with age, holes dug into them, blood littered over them, crusted into your shorts especially.

You finished your prayer and looked to him, keeping your gaze below his head and refusing to look any higher. You gave a small nod.

Kayce had gone back to the horses and returned with bolt cutters and handed them to his father. "We're gonna get you out of here, ok?" John said, rubbing your back. He reached for the chain wrapped around your ankle, hooking the cutters into one of the loops.

The feeling of him trying to get the chain off was more than you could bear, this room had been all you'd known for years, that chain had been around your ankle for years, rubbing on it and making your skin raw.

You swatted at John's hand, pushing him away and backing yourself into the corner across from the bed. Your breathing was heavy and you shook your head, this chain was keeping you here and still, you couldn't lose it.

John looked to Kayce who was chewing his cheek, thinking of ways to help.

The son took the cutters from his dad and moved to kneel in front of you. "I'm not gonna hurt you, alright? I just want to help, I can't do that with this thing." He said. Kayce was much gentler than John, his voice not as gruff and warmer. He looked you up and down, taking in your disheveled state and seeing how panicked you were. "Can you tell me your name?" He asked, not bothering to make you look at him, it was the least of his concerns right now.

You fidgeted with your hands in your lap. You thought for a moment before shaking your head.

Kayce sighed. "Well, I'm Kayce Dutton, I live on this farm land with my family... we- my dad and I” he said, gesturing back to John, “want to take you there, we can get you food and a change of clothes... a proper bed to sleep in."

"They're lying! They're liars, don't listen to them!" The addict yelled. John groaned and went to him, tying the rope tighter around him. You couldn't hear what John was saying and you were too panicked to care.

"I am not lying, I can't promise you much more than my word, do you trust my word?" Kayce asked, taking your hand in his, smoothing his thumb over the back of your palm in a soothing moment. You gave a small nod. "Alright now, I won't cut it all off, does that sound better?" You much preferred that compromise.

He didn't leave much, just keeping it around your ankle and then a few chains to keep a bit of extra weight, what you were used to, at least similar to it.

"Kayce, we gotta go." John said, peaking back into the room. "Now. Come on, let's go!" John hurried out, leaving you and Kayce alone.

"Can you walk?" You shook your head, Kayce exhaled with a nod. "I'm gonna pick you up and carry you out to the horses, alright?" You paused a moment but there wasn't much time for him to wait for you, quickly wrapping his arms around you and carrying you out of the shed and to the horses where John was already waiting, horses untied and ready to go.

The sky above you, the trees and the grass, all of it was so familiar and new all at the same time. The cool chill of the night hitting your face and body, your skin so pale in comparison to everything else. For just a moment you were struck with this envious look, all of this had been waiting for you? Just a few feet away? But then it all came crashing down as it settled in you that you were outside, alone and vulnerable.

As soon as you reached the horses you started panicking again, yelling and screaming and reaching out for the shed again as the man called out for you as well. Kayce laid you on the horse and gave it a smack to get it going, John was on the other horse, holding the reins to Kayce's horse and moving while Kayce started running just behind you both.

He didn't get far before the shed caught far, exploding. Kayce was already far enough away and wasn't injured, no one was but the man holding you captive was definitely gone, a foot landing not far from you.

You screamed until your throat hurt, until nothing came out. Your eyes red and stinging from tears as you cried out, body shaking over the horse.

John slowed down and Kayce caught up with you, taking the reins of his horse back and leading it back to the farm. "Kayce, call 911, we need to stop the fire." John spoke, taking out his own phone.

The land was damp and frosted, chances are the fire wouldn't make it very far, besides, the houses were much too far for it to cause any real damage. Still, the fire was right on the tree's edge and they couldn't risk too much.

The phone rang in John's hand, all while you wailed in the background. "You got a spare room, don't ya, Rip?"

~7:16 pm~

Rip had set up the spare room, there really wasn't much to set, the bed was made and it wasn't a particularly messy room, dusty, sure, but not messy.

There was a knock on his door and he went to answer it, opening it to find John with a more than distraught you under his arm. "I'll go get some of Beth's old clothes, get her in the shower, clean her up.” The older man ordered, gently pushing you towards Rip.

Rip was caught so off guard and just held you close to him for several minutes while John walked away, back down the hill to the main house. He looked down to you as you stared at the ground. Your hair was matted, face a mess, clothes… he didn’t even want to think about it so he just guided you to the bathroom and set you down on the floor while he ran the water in the tub, making sure it was nice and warm since you were shivering.

He glanced back at you, huddled in the corner, knees to your chest, tears rolling down your cheeks. “What’s yer name, kid?” He asked, keeping his voice gentle. You shivered and shook your head, you didn’t know him, you didn’t know what was going on, where you were. You were more than scared of this big, strange man, no matter how kind he seemed off the bat.

Rip sucked his teeth and nodded, understanding that this was something new for you. “I’m Rip… I’m a cowboy, you know what a cowboy is?” You shook your head again. “A cowboy is someone who protects the people around them… people like you, you understand?” You didn’t but you nodded anyway. “So, I’m not gonna hurt you, I’d never do that… and if anyone hurts you, you tell me, alright?” You nodded again.

Rip looked back to the water as the tub filled up. “What are you doing?” You asked, also looking to the tub as water poured out the faucet.

“I-I’m getting a bath ready for you.” He answered simply, raising a brow at your question. “You’ve had a bath before, right?” He looked you over, you didn’t look like you had.

“When-when I was younger…” You answered softly. “To wash away the day's filth is to wash away God’s path for you, your history.” You explained. Rip sighed, he wasn’t a very religious man but that sounded cultish to him, seeing your disheveled state…

“That’s not what God said, you know…” He said, hoping you’d look up at him but you didn’t. “If that’s what he really wanted he wouldn’t have made lakes and rivers for us to clean in… he would’ve made it harder to do that, would’ve put up a sign or something.” You thought about what he said. Nothing was changing overnight but after everything today you were at a loss, you couldn’t go back to the room you knew, all you had was Rip right now.

“Do you need help out of your clothes?” He asked, gesturing to you with a nod. You’ve heard those words before, not in that order, not in that tone, but you understood that much and shook your head.

You stood and pulled your shirt up over your head, Rip looked away to give you some privacy, as if he wasn’t about to wash you himself. You pulled your shorts off and tossed them aside to the corner before going to the sink, now Rip looked at you, confusion swirling in his eyes as you placed your hands on the edge of the sink, parting your legs and looking down into the sink.

Rip stared at you dumbfounded. Your clothes covered in blood and basically standing alone in the corner, it made sense now and he jumped to his feet, gathering you in his arms and bringing you over to the tub, carefully setting you down in the warm water. “You don’t ever have to do that again, you hear me?” He said, holding your mucky hair out of your face, turning your head to look at him. You closed your eyes, refusing to look at his face. “Can you look at me?” You shook your head. “What’s stopping you?” He let go of your face, letting you look back to the water turning brown around you.

You swirled your hand in the water, amused by its ripples. “He said you may not look man in the eyes for it disrespects him and taints your soul.” Rip exhaled sharply, staring at you a moment longer before reaching back to get a washcloth from the cabinet under the sink.

He rubbed soap into the cloth, letting it bubble in his hands before running it over your bruised and battered skin, listening to every hiss you let out from the scars it passed over and caught on. Your ribs and inner thighs were the worst of it, all it did was anger Rip more and more by the second.

“I’ve got no respect to lose, you can look at me.” He muttered, running the cloth down your arm. “Your soul… that’s something you can’t touch with your eyes.” You didn’t respond.

He continued to bathe you as you rested your chin on your knees, eyes slowly closing until you couldn’t keep them open any longer, you were used to sleeping in this position, your body accepting it as normal while Rip fought the urge to pull you closer to him.

He’d never felt this with someone before, other than Beth. He wasn’t speaking to Beth anymore, she left and made sure he knew she was done with him, tore his heart out and made him eat it.

He didn’t want to think of that right now, he wanted to help you, that was his focus, his only priority.

~7:45 pm~

Rip had been struggling with your hair for too long, he’d finally managed to get your body clean but your hair was beyond repair. A knotted, matted mess that just needed to be shaved off.

A knock came to the bathroom door and it creaked open and John stepped in, keeping his back to the bath as he held out a pile of clothes. "I got you somethin' to wear, just, uh, put these on when you're done" He said, looking down the hallway with a nervous look etched on his face. "I gotta go find Rip." He said lower.

Rip stopped trying to untangle your hair, it was only harder because you were asleep and he didn't want to wake you. He cleared his throat. "I'm right here, sir" He said softly. "She needed help."

John's head snapped to him before he quickly looked away again to avoid looking at you naked. "What the hell are you doing?! She's been locked up and used like a fucking doll, you don't know what she'll think of this!" Rip hung his head, he knew what John was talking about, seen it in the way you reacted sometimes, your clothes. "You're supposed to be keeping her safe, Rip."

Even with his harsh words and the deeper meaning behind them, it was hard to take him so seriously when he was scared to look into the bathroom. "I-I know, Sir, I was just helping... she needed it..."

John let out a heavy sigh. He set the clothes on the counter beside the sink. "Just finish up and get her into bed, not your bed. I wanna talk to you for a minute." He said, closing the door behind him and heading down the hall to the living room.

Rip let out a heavy sigh, very few times had he disappointed John, he hated it every time. However, he couldn't just get this done quick.

He looked to the counter and pulled out a drawer, looking into it and seeing his razor. It was the best thing for you.

He dried you off and got you dressed, doing his best not to wake up, which turned out to be easier than he’d thought it would be, you were just out and he kept checking your pulse.

He shaved your head, it was better than leaving that mess on your head, then he washed your scalp, being careful around the sores. He carried you to the guest room and tucked you in, running a hand over the fuzz that covered your head now.

John was waiting for him out in the living room, resting his head in his hands, elbows on his knees. He stared at Rip as he came down the hall. “What the hell were you thinking?”

Rip inhaled deeply as he took a seat on the other side of the couch. “I was thinking she needed help and I helped… I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Yeah, that’s what you think.” John grumbled. “Look, she seems content with you if she was able to sleep, you keep an eye on her.” He stood up and went to the door, stopping just short of it. “That’s all you keep on her, ya hear?” He stated, shooting him a look. Rip nodded and John left.

Rip stayed there a moment, thinking about… everything before eventually getting up and walking back to the guest room where you slept peacefully under the sheets.

He sat on the edge of the bed, running a hand down the side of your face. “You’re too young for this.” He muttered to himself.

You began to stir, eyes slowly blinking open and you looked up at him. He stared back at you, your eyes were the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen, tortured and innocent, there was a purity in them he’d never seen in anything.

“You’re looking at me.” He said, cupping your cheek in his rough, clean hand. His hand had probably never been this clean before in his life.

You brought your hand up to hold his against your face. “You’re pretty.” You mumbled, drawing a chuckle from him.

“Am I?” You nodded with a smile. He sighed and looked over you once more. “What’s your name?”

You hesitated a moment. “Three.” Rip paused.

He shook his head. “No, that’s not your name, that’s a number, I asked for your name.”

You stared up at him with a blank stare, blinking tiredly. “Three.” You repeated.

Rip stared, eyes flickering over your face, taking in your doe like features. “Is that the name he gave you?” You nodded, sitting up with a grunt, body aching. “I’m not calling you that.”

“That’s my name.” You stated firmly, Rip was surprised that you’d use a tone with him but he didn’t care, he wasn’t calling you a number.

For several moments you sat there, staring at each other. Rip brought his hand back to your cheek, rubbing it with his thumb. He leaned in and closed the distance between you both, his lips on yours.

It was gentle and warm, passionate but not heated. Love was a complicated concept but you’d never felt it before, he hadn’t gotten ahold of it himself, still, he was determined to show you there were brighter sides to this world than what you’d seen.

A knock on the door reminded him of where he was, who was with, what was happening. He pulled away, seeing the way you were now looking at him; eyes wide, full of something new, something eager and curious.

The knock came again and he got up. “I’ll be back in a minute.” He said, giving you a last kiss. “Just lay down, darlin’.” You nodded with a smile as you moved down the bed.

He went to answer the door quickly, rushing to get it open so he could get back to you.

On the other side was Beth. He hadn’t seen her, nor wanted to see her, in so long, what felt like forever.

She was on him in an instant, arms around his neck, his own lifting her up as he carried her to his room. He knew he shouldn’t, that you were waiting for him.

It kept him up late after Beth was done with him, when she was sleeping next to him, using him for warmth, what else it was she’d use him for he couldn’t guess, there were too many options.

[reevesdriver]

Daddy Dutton (NSFW)

Request: @babygirl-4986 " Hi, I have a John Dutton request I wanted to do a wife reader where there trying to get pregnant , maybe a little bit of a breeding kink but definitely smut."

Word count: 1360

Character(s): John Dutton

Reader: Female reader

Warning(s): NSFW / 🔥🔥🔥 / Smut / Breeding kink / Oral Sex (Fem receiving) / Fingering / Older man (Reader is of age) /

Support me: Kofi

John had swore that he wouldn't have anymore children, that was until the pair of you were invited over to your close friend's house for a BBQ party. A beautiful wedding ring on your finger flashing in the sun as you cuddled your friend's baby made him realise what you were missing.

When the baby started to cry you quickly passed her back to her mother who took off to go and feed her leaving you scanning the crowd for John. You caught sight of him, beer in hand, staring at you whilst offering small replies to the man who was stood next to him trying to make idle conversation.

You smiled as you began crossing the garden to your husband. The man next to John saw you coming and took it as his cue to leave giving a goodbye and a nod to you.

"You ok honey?" You ask planting a soft kiss to his lips.

"I'm fine darlin'. You ready to leave?" He asks. You'd been there for a few hours now, drinking and socialising with your friends but you were getting tired.

"Yeah, lemme just say bye to Kirsty and the babe and we'll get going." You reply. John nodded and followed you inside the house as you tried to find your friend. She sat on the couch, baby asleep in her arms and smiled as you quietly crept over.

"We're gonna leave now, give you a little bit of peace." You hugged your friend, being sure not to wake the baby and took a step back.

"I'll see you soon, don't forget what I said." Kirsty says with a smile and says bye to you and John as he follows you out of the house, a questioning gaze present on his face. Opening the door to his truck he ushers you inside before climbing in himself behind the wheel.

The ride home was quiet, your eyes flicked between the road to Johns face as he drove. "What did she say to you?" John asked, finally breaking the silence.

"It's nothing John, just talking about babies."

The car fell into silence again. You were about 30 years younger than John, certainly a lot younger than people had thought when they heard that John Dutton had re-married. Though despite the gap between you and your husband you were a perfect match, hell you wouldn't be married if you didn't think so.

Though one subject had never been brought up throughout the two years you had been together and that was children. You'd been introduced to Johns adult children very early on, you got on with Beth the most though when you were asked about your own children you had nothing to say. You'd never really thought about having children and since John was older now you figured he wouldn't want a little baby around the house so you never really thought about it.

"You alright?" John says pulling you out of your thoughts.

"Hmm? Oh yeah, just day dreaming."

"You're thinking about that baby aren't you?"

You smile and laugh softly. "Yeah, she's cute."

"Our babies would be cute."

"What?" You ask, unsure whether you heard him properly.

"I said our babies would be cute darlin'." He says resting his palm on your bare thigh.

"I thought you didn't want anymore?"

"Never said that."

"I just assumed you didn't, all yours are grown up now, hell Kayce has his own child too. Just figured that was off the table."

John's hand begins to rise, pushing your dress up further. "It was, but darlin' seeing you today with that baby in your arms has awakened something that was buried deep inside of me."

"Oh my." You gasp when you feel his fingers stroke at your clothed pussy.

"Take these off." John says tugging at your underwear and you comply. Sliding your underwear down your thighs you let them drop into the footwell below where they disappear, probably under the seat. "That's better." He says returning his hand between your thighs.

With one hand on the steering wheel and the other stroking your cunt John manages to keep his attention on driving and making you cum all whilst muttering compliments to you about how much of a good girl you are.

By the time you pull up to the house your thighs and seat below are slick with your cum, it's a little uncomfortable as your skin sticks to the leather. The truck lurches to a stop as John parks it, he whips the seatbelt off himself and climbs down from the seat. Before he has the chance to round the vehicle and help you out you'd already jumped down from the moistened leather seat and slammed the door behind you.

Taking his hand in your own you practically drag John up the steps of the porch and through the front door. Once inside it was his turn to lead you, picking you up with very little effort he carries you up the stairs, much like he did when you'd gotten married, and to your bedroom.

John places you down onto the edge of the bed and drops to his knees so he can remove your expensive boots all while kissing your exposed skin. You lean back onto your elbows and watch as he kisses your ankle, then your calf, up to your thigh until he reaches your pussy. You raise up an inch or so and pull your dress up and over your head leaving you naked for your husband.

One thing you loved about John, amongst many, is the fact that he loved going down on you. His tongue knew each fold of your pussy and you never had to worry about whether he would find your clit or not as he teased it with the tip of his tongue before lapping and sucking.

"John." You say as a breathy moan escapes between your lips. "I need you."

"You need me?" He smirks removing his face from your pussy.

"Don't tease me John, get undressed and get up here." You say tugging his tucked shirt out of his jeans. Moving backwards up the bed until you are resting on the pillows you watch as John strips his clothes off in front of you.

John moves around the bed and climbs in beside you. Taking matters into your own hands you push him down so he's on his back and straddle his hips. Raising up on your knees you align his cock with your entrance and slide down. His cock fills you perfectly, each ridge of a vein massages your walls until they sit snug against you, the bulbous head of his cock pressing against your cervix roughly.

John is helplessly grabbing at your body, hands moving from your waist up to your tits where he takes one in each hand and squeezes before pulling one to his mouth. You use the new position of you bent over slightly to ride his cock, rising up and down his shaft your moans filled the room whilst Johns are muffled into your breast. With laboured breaths you clench around his cock as you cum once more, John moaning at the tightness of your pussy around him.

Little effort is used from your husband to flip you over so your back is pressed into the sheets, cock still sheathed inside you. Johns lips meet yours in a hungry kiss as he pulls back and thrusts into you with ease.

"That's it baby, taking me so well." He says gruffly between kisses.

"Oh John." You moan, manicured nails gripping at his back as he cums deep inside of you. He stills but his cock is still pulsing inside of you. Peppering your lips with kisses you smile in bliss as he rolls onto his side and pulls you against his chest. "Give me an hour and we'll go again, I want you pregnant before the end of the week." He says and pulls the cover over you both.

Just like John wanted, by the end of the week you'd taken a test and jumped into his arms when you saw the positive result.

[topguncortez]

Sunburn - K. Dutton

whumptober masterlist || previous day

prompt: Heatstroke

synopsis: The Montana summers weren't for the weak. You and Kayce have unspoken history.

warnings: heatstroke, passing out, vomiting, mentions of abuse, mentions of drug usage, mentions of running away, Monica and Tate don't exist.

word count: 2.1k

There was something about Montana summers. 

The valley in which the Yellowstone ranch laid, had its fair share of weather changes. The winters were brutal, feet of snow coating the land, the wind bitter against the skin making it hard to want to get up in the morning and do chores. Spring usually brought inches upon inches of rain, damn near flooding the place and making it a muddy mess trying to move cattle in preparation for breeding season. Fall was a vibrant display of changing leaves, and the scent of fields being harvested in time before the first frost. 

But the summers, the summers were something else. Blame global warming, or whatever you wanted, but the summers in Montana were hot and steamy. The sun was unforgiving most days, beating down on you and your horse as you worked from sunup till sundown, training and cleaning horse stalls, helping move cattle from pasture to pasture, and carrying out the daily maintenance of the ranch. Most of the cowboys didn’t have an issue, but you on the other hand, never quite got along with the heat. 

It was supposed to be an “easy day”, Rip had barked at all of you as you shuffled into the barn to get tack up your horses, but the sun was already blaring its god awful rays down on the earth. Your skin felt sticky from the humidity and your hair was already sticking to your forehead underneath your hat. You left your water jug in the bunkhouse, choosing to fuel your body with the dark roast coffee Loyd had made instead. 

“You think the Devil just walked up here and decided to fuck with the temperature,” Ryan said, sitting on top of the fence, watching you and Colby rake it out. 

“Don’t know,” Colby grunted, “Think you could quit fucking complaining and help?” 

“I don’t want to melt,” Ryan chirped back and you rolled your eyes. The two of them fought like an old married couple most days.

Colby and Ryan were the first two to make you feel welcome in the bunkhouse. It was hard walking into a house full of men, no one knowing who you are or what you had shown up at the ranch for. Everyone knew bits and pieces of your story, you had known Kayce when you were younger, highschool sweethearts or something of the sort. He was the one who got away, or so you had said. While he was thriving in the military, you were left behind, struggling and doing anything you could to make a buck. You had shown up on his doorstep, soaking wet in the rain and begging for a job, begging to finally leave behind the life you had created for yourself. Kayce barely gave you the time of day, telling you to walk back down the road, take a left, and keep going until you reach the bunkhouse, that there would be someone there to help you. Since then, you and Kayce had been walking on eggshells around each other. 

“Okay, Princess,” You rolled your eyes, lifting your hat slightly off your head, and wiping away the sweat, “It’s fucking hot.” You stared at the heat waves rippling off of the earth for a moment, as the familiar sound of cowboy boots crunching on the gravel drew close. 

“What up, boss man,” Kolby greeted Kayce with a nod of his head, “Come to sweat with the worst of us?” 

“No, I need the girl,” Kayce said gruffly, and you turned to look at him, “We’re moving cattle. Let’s go,” He turned and walked back the direction he came without another word. You scoffed, throwing the pitchfork down. 

“What a fucking douche,” You grumbled, but went and followed after him to where the horses were enjoying the cool air of the barn. Kayce’s horse, of course, was already saddled up. You weren’t about to ask him for help as you grabbed your saddle from the wall, and walked down to your horse’s stall. You could feel his impatient tension like an extra cloud of heat in the air. 

“Ready?” Kayce asked as you walked your horse down the barn alley, and you nodded, silently following him outside. 

The two of you rode in silence for most of the journey, slowly but surely pushing cattle from one pasture into another. You weren’t sure why you, of all the people on the Yellowstone Ranch, had to be the one out here, sweating with Kayce. Normally, you wouldn’t have minded the silent rides through the rolling fields, but it wasn’t just the heat making you not want to be out here. 

Kayce thought that asking you to come out here with him would be the perfect chance to tell you how he felt. He, just as much as you, was tired of the awkward dance that you had been doing since you showed up. He didn’t need to ask too many questions that night when you came knocking on his door, soaked to the bone, nothing more than skin and bones. When he left for the Navy, a mere days after graduation and breaking your heart, he had asked Beth to keep an eye out for you. Begrudgingly, she did so, and told him about the shift in your life. You had always dreamed of getting out of Montana, but you never made it that far. 

Every time Kayce thought of saying something, of apologizing or even just asking how you have been, his mouth went dry and his mind blank. Instead, he thought that maybe even getting you near would break some of the tension, but he was so wrong. It seemed as if the tension had picked up a notch as the two of you rode next to each other. 

“Fuck, is it hotter out here, or is it just me,” You mumbled as you sat on top of your horse. The body heat from the animal was soaking into you, paired with the brutal beatdown from the sun, your skin felt like it was physically burning. 

“Complainin’ ain’t gonna make the sun go away,” Kayce said back and you rolled your eyes. The last thing you needed was the sass from him. Your skin felt dry and your head was pounding. All you wanted was to feel the cold stream of water in the bunkhouse shower. 

— — — 

You had never felt so happy to have your feet back on the ground. Three hours sitting up on a horse in the sun, slowly moving cattle into a new pasture. You knew that your shoulders were horribly sunburnt, and the sweat stains in between your thighs from sitting on the saddle made it look like you wet yourself. 

Kayce felt happy too, to be back on solid ground. He would be lying if he said the heat hadn’t gotten to him either. He was used to being in hot temp areas, but he would take being in full kit in Afghanistan versus sitting on a horse waiting for cattle to hurry up and move. Kayce had taken his horse back to the barn, carefully taking the tack off of him and hanging it up. He told Loyd to give the animal a good wash down, wanting to make sure his horse was cooled down before being put away for the night. 

Kayce slowly made his way down the alley of the barn, stopping just right outside of your horse’s stall. He had been thinking of what he was going to say to you since the moment he got you alone out in the field. The two of you had yet to have “the talk” since you arrived months ago, and he wasn’t sure how much longer he could go without it. Every time he saw you, the words that he wanted to say were right at the tip of his tongue, but the second you looked at him, they all seemed to go blank. But now, it was as good a time as any. 

“Y/N,” Kayce said, stepping into the horse stall. You stood by your horse, your hand on its belly, back facing Kayce, “We need to talk.” 

You blinked a couple of times, trying to stop the black spots floating in your vision, and trying to keep yourself up right. You felt like your knees could give out at any moment. 

“Y/N?” Kayce called out. He reached out to touch your shoulder, as you doubled over and vomited into the hay sheddings, “Holy shit,” Kayce moved quickly, rushing to you as your legs gave out and you collapsed in his arms. He was alarmed by the flush color of your skin, and your chapped lips. Your eyes looked glossed over as you looked up at Kayce. 

“I-I don’t feel,” Your words were slurred as Kayce hoisted you up in his arms. 

“I know, we gotta cool you down,” Kayce said to you, and you weakly nodded your head. 

Kayce moved you quickly to the bunkhouse, the first flash of cool air made you instantly shiver. He walked you to the bathroom, and you were thankful that the house seemed to be quiet, not wanting any of the other cowboys to see you like this. It was hard enough being one of the only females here, you didn’t need this to be held over your head. Kayce gently sets you down on the shower tile, reaching above you and barely turning the water on. The second the cold water hit your skin, you gasped.

“No! No!” You cried. 

“It’s okay,” Kayce cooed, “I have to cool you down.” 

“Please,” Tears were welling in your vision, and you weren’t really sure why you were crying. You summed it up to your body being in such shock, you didn’t have control over your emotions. 

“It’s okay,” Kayce said again, running a hand up and down your back as you leaned into him, feeling your body grow weak again, “You’re going to be okay. It’ll be okay.” You let out a whine as your body had shifted temperature, but welcomed the cool water against your warm skin. 

— — — 

You weren’t sure when you fell asleep or maybe you passed out, but you woke up in an unfamiliar bed, with a box fan pointed right at you. It took you a moment, your head pounding as you looked around the room, noticing the various country-esq landscape paintings and the giant deer head on the wall. It was nearing night time, or so you had guessed by the last remnants of the sunset peaking through the wooden blinds. You tried to sit up, but let out a groan instead, your head starting to swim and black spots filling your vision. 

“Y/N?” You froze as you heard Kayce’s voice from the other side of the door, “Can I come in?” 

‘Holy shit’ You cursed to yourself, ‘I’m in Kayce’s room.’ 

“Yeah,” Your voice was raspy, and you could still feel the sting of bile. 

Ever so gently, Kayce pushed the door to his bedroom open, sticking his head in first before coming all the way in, “Hey,” You nodded your head as he walked towards you, a glass of water in his hand and some tylenol, “Drink this and take these. It’ll help the headache and muscle cramps.” 

“How do you know?” You asked, taking the water and medicine. Now that he mentioned it, your legs felt heavier than normal with a slight ache to them. 

“They train you on the basics of heat stroke in the Navy,” Kayce said, “Seen one too many guys fall over.” You felt your cheeks pink up in embarrassment, “No one saw, if that’s what you’re worried about.” 

“Am I that transparent?” You said barely above a whisper, “You didn’t have to bring me here. They would’ve taken care of me at the bunkhouse.” 

“I know,” Kayce swallowed thickly. He wasn’t all too sure why he had picked you up and put you in his truck, driving back to his house for you to rest somewhere quiet and comfortable. But he did, and he didn’t regret it. He knew that he would’ve been a nervous wreck leaving you in the bunkhouse, “I needed to make sure you were going to be okay. . . You scared me.”

“I’m sorry,” You squeaked out. 

“Don’t apologize, Y/N,” Kayce said, shifting closer to you on the bed, “One of my first summer's running cattle with my dad, I did the same thing. We’d been out all day and came back, and the second I climbed off my hose I hit the ground. Face first in shit shavings,” You couldn’t help but chuckle, “At least you picked a clean stall to upchuck and pass out in.” 

You rolled your eyes, “Thanks for catching me.” 

“Always,” Kayce said, grabbing your hand. You glanced down between your hands and back up at Kayce, who had a slight blush on his face. He went to pull his hand away but you squeezed it and then laced your fingers with his.

[ilyasorokinn]

trouble seems to follow , kayce dutton

note, hey... i've never written anything for yellowstone on here (i have on wattpad) so I hope you all enjoy!! <3 I feel like this kind of trope is done so much, but I think it's sweet. this is loosely (heavily) inspired by that scene when beth fights that random woman hitting on rip. pair, kayce dutton x reader summary, whenever you go out, no matter the circumstances, trouble seems to follow you. warnings, bar fights, fighting, violence, cursing word count, 1168 words

(gif not mine)

Getting everyone to go out and away from the ranch was a task, but getting Kayce to go out was totally different. And you knew the only reason he agreed to go out was because it was your birthday.

"One drink?" You asked, a pleading look in your eyes that he tried hard to say no to.

"If I give in, then you're gonna just keep plying me with drinks." He shook his head, "I'm here, that's as good as it's gonna get."

"Kayce, it's my birthday. Come on, have some fun!" You urged him.

"No." He shook his head. You opened your mouth to argue with him again, but shut it after the look he gave you, "I'll have some soda, and keep an eye on you."

"You don't trust me?" You raised a brow at him.

"Not you, darlin'. Trouble just seems to follow you." He joked, kissing your head and handing your drink over to you, "Now go have fun. Enjoy the night." He nudged you towards the dance floor where everyone else was already dancing and having fun. You rolled your eyes but went in the direction he had pushed you in.

The night continued, and you were having fun, almost forgetting all about Kayce. When you did remember he was there, you remembered you also hadn't had any water, so you turned around to where he had been once sitting but froze when you looked up.

A woman who stuck out like a sore thumb amongst all the locals was standing pretty next to Kayce. The look on his face told you he couldn't care less about what she was saying, but he was playing along for appearance's sake.

You slowly approached them, a cautious look on your face as you tried to listen in on their conversation, "... I don't know, if the guys are as cute as you out here, I might just have to move out." She flirted shamelessly, batting her eyelashes at him.

Kayce looked uncomfortable as he nodded, "Right." He looked away from the glass of soda in front of him, and back onto the dance floor.

When he couldn't find you, he started to get nervous. He quickly spun around, trying to find you amongst the crowd, "Who're you looking for?" The woman tried to get his attention again, putting her hand on his arm, trying to get his attention again.

He ripped his arm out of her grasp and continued to look for you, "What the hell?" He muttered.

"You got a girlfriend or something." The girl tried to joke as if he hadn't mentioned you numerous times already.

"Wife, actually." Kayce's shoulders dropped when he heard that familiar voice he loved so much. The woman's attention quickly fell on you, and an almost unimpressed look fell on her face.

"Wife?" She scoffed.

"That's right." The look on your face was one Kayce knew all too well. The look on your face, the way your eyebrow slightly raised and your lips curved a little into something of a smirk.

"Oh, no." He muttered. He turned around, trying to get the attention of the other ranchers, but they were too far and the music was way too loud for them to notice him, "Whatever you're about to do, just think it through."

"What's she gonna do?" The woman scoffed, standing a little straighter with a look on her face that made you want to punch her, "I could easily take you."

"Oh, I'm sure." You tightened your fists, before winding up and punching her fight in the face before Kayce could stop you.

"Whoa!" Kayce shouted, trying to grab onto you but you pounced on the other woman, tackling her to the ground and straddling her, laying punch after punch.

As soon as you both hit the floor, a fight broke out all around you. Ranchers and tourists alike were going at each other, breaking beer bottles and punching each other.

Blood was flying and glass was shattering all around him, but all Kayce was focused on was getting you off the other woman. You were shouting things at her, she was shouting things back at you.

After trying to find a way to get you off without hurting you, he decided to just go in for it, "All right, that's it. Let her go!" Kayce grabbed onto your waist, just missing your elbow that you had thrown back to punch her again, and pulled you off.

"You crazy bitch!" The woman shouted, holding her bleeding nose.

"Calls coming from inside the house, sweetheart!" You shouted back. Kayce managed to carry you out of the bar even though you were wiggling and shouting. He didn't put you down until he made it over to his truck.

"What the hell was that?" Kayce asked. You simply shrugged, looking down at your knuckles and wincing at the blood and cuts forming, "No, don't shrug this off." He grabbed your chin and forced you to look into his eyes.

"Oh, come on, it's not like you were comfortable with it." You glared at him, shoving his hands away from you, "I was protecting your honor."

"You can't go around punching people in the face," Kayce told you.

"Yeah, well I'll remind you of that next time some guy hits on me." You raised a brow, and that got him to shut up, "Right." You smirked, throwing your arms around his neck and kissing him, "You alright?"

"Yeah." He nodded, wrapping his arms around your waist, "Thanks for protecting my honor."

"You're welcome. You're just too pretty." You joked, laughing when he rolled his eyes.

As the other ranchers and tourists alike started piling out of the bar, blue and red lights pulled up outside the bar as well. A few cops got out and Kayce pushed you behind him.

"Officer." He greeted the man with a nod.

"Mr. Dutton." The officer nodded right back, "Got a call about a fight. Something about your wife starting it."

"Fight? What fight?" Kayce asked, playing dumb and looking around. All the other ranchers shrugged innocently as well.

"No idea what you're talking about, sir," Lloyd spoke up.

"That crazy bitch attacked me!" The woman in question shouted, holding an ice pack to her nose.

"Is that true?" The officer asked, looking around Kayce's shoulder at you.

"No idea what she's talking about." You shrugged with a shake of your head.

"All right then." The officer nodded, "Apologies for the inconvenience. Y'all have a good night." He got back in his car and drove off.

"You all are fucking crazy." The woman muttered, walking off with her group of friends who you hadn't even known were there.

"You're gonna put me in an early grave, Trouble." Kayce joked, throwing an arm around your shoulders.

"Only if you don't put me in one first." You nudged him, "Now, let's go home. I've played nurse too many times for you, it's your turn."

"Yes, ma'am." He smirked.

-

add yourself to the taglist!

[pretending-ican-write]

Cowboy Up - Pt.1 - Ryan x Dutton!reader

Um so I watched all of Yellowstone last week and as a result, my multi-year writer's block was broken by a need to see more of Ryan because I am obsessed with Ian Bohen. Idk how many parts this will have or how often it will get updated as I'm in the last few months of uni but I hope y'all enjoy!

Pairing: Ryan (Yellowstone) x Dutton!Reader (Kayce's twin sister)

WC: 1053

Next part

Disclaimer: Beyond watching Yellowstone I have zero/little knowledge of Western riding and the ranching lifestyle but I do know horses so that has certainly influenced this! I'm also English so writing dialogue correctly for them is not my strong point! If you find any issues please let me know!

---

The sun was just beginning to dip below the mountains and the cold was starting to set in when she joined him on the fence.  Neither of them spoke for a while, just looking out at the vastness in front of them, all that was theirs but came with so many conditions.  

Eventually she broke the silence, “so you told him?  How’d he take that one?”

Wordlessly he opened his shirt where the ‘Y’ was just starting to scab over, still red and angry.

“Motherfucker,” she swore, “this ain’t fair Kayce.  He doesn’t just get to do this.”

He shook his head, “dad does whatever he wants and there ain’t no consequences for him.  That’s why I gotta do this.”

“Shit man.  What’s Monica gonna do?  Besides worrying about you getting your ass shot in the desert miles from civilisation?”

Kayce chuckled, “beats getting my ass shot in the middle of Montana miles from civilisation.  She’ll be okay, her family will help and she’ll be a teacher.  Just like she planned.  It’s you I’m worried about here with dad and no one else to speak sense to.  ‘Cept Lee”

“Well I’m leaving, dad be damned.  I’m not gonna be a pawn in his power trip.  Gonna go see this godforsaken country and win it all so that when I come back he can’t question whether it’s where I wanna be,” she declared.

Her brother rolled his eyes, “you ain’t talking about the same him now.”

“I don’t know what your talking about,” she denied, staring out at the darkened mountains.

Kayce shoved her shoulder, “you can’t bullshit to me y/n.  That’s the one problem with being twins, ain’t no way to lie to me.”

“I���m just a kid to him, he ain’t ever gonna see me any other way if I stay here,” she admitted, “hell if I stay here no one will ever see me as anything more than his kid.  ‘S why we both gotta do this Kayce.”

He nodded, “no way to stand in the sun in this state, always gonna be a shadow.”

“When I come back I’ll be able to stand in sunlight so bright I’ll have a fucking halo.”

-/-/-

2 years later…

 Montana has its charms all year round, but fall has a particular appeal.  The leaves had started to turn, there was a chill in the air that only seemed to get  stronger and there was still a frost on the grass that the sun hadn’t hit.  

With the sun keeping the cold from their bones, the Yellowstone ranch hands were occupying themselves keeping their roping skills fresh.  Rip observed from the sidelines as the new hand struggled to keep up with Ryan who turned to lecture the kid about keeping his eye on the steer.  

Lloyd rolled his eyes when he missed the horns again, “you gotta try harder than that if you wanna be a wrangler!”

“He keeps pulling the damn steer too early,” the hand argued back.

Ryan glared at him, “don’t fuckin’ blame me for your bad skills.”

Before they could descend into an all out brawl, the group were distracted by the sound and sight of truck coming down the road.  They watched it pull up in front of the barn, trailer in tow.  A rare silence occupied them as they watched a young woman step out, adjust her hat then stare out across the ranch in front of her.

“Well I’ll be damned,” Lloyd muttered, “she’s back.  You fuckin’ know about this?”

Rip said nothing, but his face gave the answer.  The other hands who recognised her muttered between themselves about what she was doing back after so long.

The new hand leaned over towards Ryan, “who the fuck is that and why does everybody care?”

“That is y/n Dutton,” he answered without taking his eyes off of her.

“I didn’t know John had another daughter,” he responded.

Ryan shook his head, “hell kid you gotta lot to learn about this place.”

“She’s fuckin’ hot mind,” the hand murmered.

The older hand spat out his words, “you keep words like that off your tongue if you want to keep it.”

Lee stepped out of the barn and stepped around the truck to greet her, “the prodigal daughter returns.”

“I don’t see Beth anywhere,” she laughed bitterly, “but it’s good to see you Lee.”

He hugged her, “I’m glad you’re back.  Been a long time coming.”

“I came back for me, not for him remember that,” she turned towards the corral, “think I’ve given them enough of a show to explain it so they can pick their jaws up off the floor?”

He gestured for her to follow him towards where the ranch hands were all still quietly watching.  She strode over to the group, smiling at Rip who nodded back at her.

“Where’s that mare of yours?” He asked.

Y/n shrugged, “a champion barrel horse would be wasted on this ranch.  Sold her for more money than I’m ever gonna earn in the rest of my lifetime.”

“You ain’t rodeoing anymore?” Lloyd questioned.

“I did what I set out to do when I went on the circuit.  Saw this godforsaken country and won it all.  It’d get boring to win it over again,” she moved her gaze towards where Ryan was watching her, “ain’t no one gonna question where I wanna be now.”

Rip nodded, “afraid we ain’t got a horse to spare for you y/n.”

“I got that covered Rip.  Got one coming up tomorrow from a ranch in Wyoming.  Some fuckin’ old school boys who don’t know how to be nice to a horse they didn’t ruin,” she explained, “man’s wife broke it and now she’s dead ain’t no one gonna ride him gentle.  Figured he might stand a chance with me.”

Lloyd chuckled, “always were a soft hand.  Figured that’s how you won it all.”

“Guess that question that remains is, do you have a place for me?  Not in the house but here,” she clarified.

Lee looked at Rip then back at his sister, “I reckon so.  You gonna stay in the bunkhouse?”

“Oh fuck no,” y/n laughed, “I didn’t drag that thing all the way from Texas to sleep with these fuckheads.  It’s looked after me in worse places.  Think it’ll do just fine here.”

[bellarkeselection]

Okay so Ryan and Dutton!reader are engaged and she finds out he got branded after the whole Colby and Teter thing. That kinda the basis of what I was thinking 🤔

The Ranch Brought Us Together

“I understand that your father doesn’t really want big events at the ranch. So I’m just hear to tell you that it wouldn’t be huge. Just our normal crowd and my parents would be coming into town.” I quickly followed the heels of Beth Dutton who was walking to her car to go to work.

She opened her car door stepping inside responding to me. “Y/n, you have been loyal to my father almost as long as Rip has.”

“Yeah but it’s his ranch and I don’t want to feel like we are overstepping with trying to do even a small wedding here-“

She touched my arm, giving me a half glaring smile. “Which means he will say yes. I know you’ve already asked him and he said possibly but don’t panic I’ll make sure and sweeten the deal where he definitely agrees. Now get out of my way, I’ve gotta go ruin someone’s day.” She shut the car door and drove down the driveway leaving me standing there by the wooden fences.

My fiancé worked for John Dutton for a few years now. We actually met and fell in love while working here at the ranch. Tucking some hair behind my ear that had come out of my ponytail I heard someone coming in my direction where I spun on my feet. “Ryan! You’re never done with work this early.”

“You’re right I ain’t done with my day. I just could wait any longer till I got to see you for a little bit.” Ryan pulled the reins of his horse to a stop, dismounting his horse coming over to hug me.

I wrapped my arms around his neck hugging him back. I smiled leaning my head against his chest until I pulled back seeing something sticking out of his shirt that was opened. “Wait a minute. Did you get hurt?”

“No I didn’t.” Ryan answered, tiling his head down to meet my gaze.

Moving my hands up his chest I threaded my fingers through his jackets and the open section of his jacket. Pushing the fabric apart my eyes landed on a red Y symbol on his right side of his chest. “Then what the hell is this, Ryan!”

Ryan lowered his gaze down to the symbol that I had exclaimed about. “Oh that. I got it after…after some guys hurt Colby and Teter the other day.”

“Ryan, I ... .don't scare me like that.” I sighed heavily laying my head on his chest staring at the fresh red mark that was slowly healing.

I had gotten the brand a few months after Rip had done it after he accidentally killed one of the other workers when they talked back about John’s daughter. I knew it meant you never left here and it was an honor with the ones who got a second chance. But we hadn’t talked about him getting it. “I’m sorry, babe. It all just happened so fast and you have been busy planning our wedding. I didn’t want to worry you.”

“Well you did.” I hit his chest, shoving him away from me beginning to walk away from him. “You know what I can’t marry you after this.”

Ryan gasped rushing forward, snatching my arm. “Y/n, hang on. I’m sorry - shit please don’t not marry me.”

“Ha! Ryan you idiot. I’m not breaking off our engagement. I could never do that cause I love you too much.” I tugged my wrist from his hand slapping my hands on his knees.

Ryan removed his hat from his head running his fingers through his hair. “Fuck that’s a relief.”

“Hey you know something we’re matching now.” I unbuttoned the top of my shirt tugging down the right side of my shirt. His eyes found the same mark that he had seen on me previously in life the first time we had sex. “We’re now connected in love and in our work life.”

Ryan sets his hat on top of my head, looping his arm around my waist pulling me up against him. “That doesn't sound too bad to me. I love you.”

“I love you too.” I grinned up to him, kissing him slowly. He kissed me back before he had to get back on his horse and go back to work. The Dutton ranch was our forever home.

[fandom-imagines-stories]

Going Down Swingin

Kayce Dutton x Reader

Words: 4271

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

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

Warnings: Harassment, assault, fighting, wounds-

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

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

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

“Time to get up,” He mumbled. 

You screwed your eyes shut and shook your head. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

You glowered. “Don’t you dare.” 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You bit your lip. 

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

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

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

Needless to say, you were definitely awake after that. 

-

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

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

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

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

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

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

The puppy look returned. 

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

Uh oh.

“You’ve gotta work,” you concluded. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Cool,” Ryan said. “Meet up in ten.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“You married one of the good ones.” 

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

His seat was not empty for long. 

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

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

“Well isn’t it my lucky day then?” 

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

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

“What if I want you?” He leered. 

What started out as annoyance was turning into anger. 

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

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

Oh but if Kayce were here… 

You could handle yourself without him. 

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

You turned to walk away. 

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

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

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

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

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

But you weren’t alone either. 

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

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

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

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

Somewhere, a gun went off and everybody screamed. 

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

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

Everything was black after that. 

-

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

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

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

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

Ryan’s worried eyes as Rip dragged him away. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Apparently not.” 

Kayce got out of the truck. 

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

“What the hell happened?”

Rip sighed. “What does it look like?” 

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

“She’s inside. Beth’s with her.”

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

“Y/N!” He screamed. “Y/N!” 

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

A door opened upstairs. John was awake. 

“What’s going on?” 

You buried your face in the pillow. 

Oh. God. 

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

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

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

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

“Beth,” you groaned. 

Kayce’s expression darkened. 

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

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

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

You tried to crack a smile. 

“You should see the other guy.” 

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

“I don’t know.”

He opened his mouth, but you stopped him. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Hypocrite.” 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“No,” he sighed. “It wasn’t.”

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

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

“I didn’t say anything.” 

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

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

-

Three Weeks Later

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

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

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

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

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

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

He should have been there. 

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

Rip halted and turned around. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

You unstrapped the saddle and started to lift it off.

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

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

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

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

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

“So enough of the puppy look.” 

Kayce rolled his eyes. “Not this again.”

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

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

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

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

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

“Yes ma’am.” 

[rimunagenius]

Wait For Me

Paring: Kayce Dutton x reader!

Words: 2.1k words

Warnings: Angst, fluff ending, curse words?? if that’s even a warning, mentions of branding and burning, abuse, over use of baby (i love it, i love imagining him calling me that, do nit judge me🤨😒)

Summary: Growing up you and Kayce were inseparable. You didn’t know the love you shared was more than friends until sixteen, but what happens when John pushes Kayce too hard, and your relationship hangs in the balance?

ఌ If you want to check out my other works for other fandoms and this one, check out my masterlist!!

A/n: no gender or body specification made in the story, so this could be read from any gender/personal preference. This is very self indulgent for me, I love Kayce Dutton and have since i started Yellowstone and I was deeply upset with the lack of fics for him so I had to take matters into my own hands while this godsend of an author writes my requests!!🥹 anyways, hope you enjoy!!

not my gif!!

__________

You knew it was stupid.

You knew you couldn’t have him.

You can’t love someone into loving you back. You knew it. He knew it. He knew it would never happen between you; he wanted it to. He did love you, too much, though.

This summer had to be your favorite on the Dutton Ranch. Favorite in Montana. Your favorite in the world, same thing. As long as Kayce was there, it was the perfect anything.

You had loved him your whole life. Ever since you were kids anything he would do would mesmerize you. His hair caught in the breeze when you’d chase him around the arena for tag, his smile when you’d tell the same joke he was tired of but laughed because he knew it meant something to you.

Somewhere along the way, you had fallen inlove. You always had been, but this time you actually knew what it was. You knew why. It was Kayce. Any woman would be a fool to not love everything about him.

But…

He had fallen inlove too.

“Oh my god! That’s not-“ You looked at the boy next to you, absolutely falling more inlove the more you looked. Having by far the funniest conversation all summer.

“Oh, please! That’s seriously what I told him!” He laughed, his body leaning on yours, his head halfway into your lap.

“Kayce, your such an idiot.” You looked down at him, his eyes already trained on you. Your chuckle had died in your throat as you saw the look in his eyes. He’s never looked at you like this before—you didn’t see the other times he had. Those moments were just for him.

Your hand landed on his forehead, sliding it back over the expanse of his scalp, his long hair following the pattern your hand tread on his head.

“Oh, yeah?” He said. His signature small smile already creasing the corners of his lips. “I’m okay with that. You still love me, though.”

You looked up at the sky, the stars illuminating your features, entrancing the teenager below you. He was looking at you as if you had hung them yourself. “The sky is beautiful tonight, Kayce. Don’t you think?” Your eyes following and connecting the dots in the sky as his eyes never once dared to move away from you.

“I do. She’s absolutely gorgeous.” In a quick second, he started to sit up, his absence from your lap, drawing your eyes down to him.

Your eyes caught his, as he immediately pulled you into a kiss. His hand on your cheek, your hand tipping his hat off his head, carding your fingers through the growing locks of golden brown locks.

This was just the start.

You knew now was different than when you both were just 16. You had spent two years with eachother, loving eachother. You didn’t think anything would tear you apart.

Kayce had started disobeying Mr. Dutton when you two had just turned 18. Something about them always butting heads and having different life plans. Kayce didn’t want this life, he wanted you, but not at the price John had been setting.

It was either you and the Ranch, or he’d be gone and forbidden to see you. You knew it was a crock of shit, John just trying to scare his son. And you had believed it. You should’ve known the youngest Dutton. Especially now that the behavior was super out of character.

You walked the rocky path up to the main house, on the Dutton Ranch, collecting the smallest size pebbles you could find to throw at Kayce’s window.

You approached the front of the house, stopping before the porch steps and launched pebble after pebble. You had gone through the whole collection and then some. He would come to the window by now, you thought.

He wasn’t asleep, his light was on. Then you heard yelling and screaming, crashing and smashing. You had saw a small glimpse of Kayce and John, and you had heard Lee, you think.

Then you heard nothing. Just saw John’s face in the window, looking down at you as he shut the blinds. You had started on your walk back home, worried sick, right down the road from the ranch before you heard the front door swing open, John dragging Kayce by the collar of his shirt.

They ended up behind the barn, you watching from a healthy distance to not be seen by Mr. Dutton, before you saw a burning orange ‘Y’ iron. The sound of burning flesh and muffled cries and screaming followed.

You obviously didn’t see Kayce that night but you had saw him two days after, breaking a horse.

You stood up on the bottom wood log of the arena with your arms draped over the top one. “Where have you been, baby?” Your boyfriend just looked up at you. A heartbreaking attempt at a smile casted over his beautiful face.

“Talk to me, Kayc. Is everything okay?” You knew it wasn’t. You knew what you saw, not expecting that from John.

“I’m fine, darlin.’ Don’t worry your pretty little head too much, yeah?” He looked back to the horse, grabbing the reigns and walking him through the exit of the arena, signaling you to follow him to the barn.

You didn’t want to pry, you knew he wasn’t okay but you’d let him tell you about it when he was ready. You knew Kayce would.

“Okay, handsome. You doin’ anythin’ later.” You tucked a small strand of hair behind his ear, fixing his hat that’s shifted.

“Nah, you wanna come over? Watch a movie?” He asked. You smiled at him and nodded your head. You leaned in for a kiss and turned your heel.

“I’ll see you later, cowboy.” You looked over your shoulder, Kayce eyes trailing up your body, his eyes eventually meeting yours. “You like what you see, Kayce?” You laughed as you were almost out of line of sight.

“Hell yeah, I do, baby.” His smirk as he watched you, slowly dissipating. He was dreading the moment he had to tell you. He had to do it soon, tomorrow.

That was yesterday.

Your movie had gone great but you should have known then there was problem. He seemed on edge that night, and his room seemed a little less lively since the last time you had been in there.

You walked up to the main house, opening the front door. John wasn’t home so Kayce said you could walk through the house and to his room.

That’s when you saw it. His shit packed and loaded into duffle bags. He packed his whole life away in bags. “What’s goin’ on Kayce? Why are you packing?” Your eyes wandered around the room. His dresser now vacant of any picture you two had, of him and Lee. His favorite picture of him and Beth now gone.

“Everything’s okay, baby. I promise.”

“Then why’s your shit all gone? Where are you going?” You couldn’t help the dampness growing in the corner of your eyes. The small quiver in your lip.

“Hey, hey. Don’t cry. It’s gonna be okay.” He cupped your face, forcing you to look him in the eyes. His eyes meeting yours, both damp and a little bloodshot like yours. “I just gotta go for a while, okay?”

“And your just gonna leave me here? Take me with you.” You pleaded. You didn’t think today of all days would start with Kayce Dutton possibly breaking up with you, and leaving you alone in this godforsaken state of Montana.

“I can’t, baby. Not where i’m goin’. Not this time.” He kissed your forehead and shifted his hands from your face to your waist.

“Kayce, where the hell are you going that you can’t take me with you? We haven’t separated since we were kids, why now?” You wiped the tears that fell from your eyes as you couldn’t dare tear them away from Kayce.

“I’m goin’ into the Navy. I don’t know when i’ll be back. But you have to listen to me-“

“The fuckin’ Navy!? Kayce are you serious!?” You yelled at him. He never once mentioned the Navy or any interest. It must’ve been John’s idea. They have been fighting more and more recently.

You thought it had been just father and son disagreements. But the thought should’ve clicked when the iron branded his son, your bestfriend, boyfriend, forever.

He belonged to his father. He had to do whatever he asked. It had to be John. You were pissed. “Was it John?” You whispered.

“No, sweetheart. It was me. I can’t take this ranch anymore, I feel trapped. All I do is eat, ranchwork, eat, ranchwork, sleep, repeat. I can’t do it anymore, baby. The Navy would atleast set me up with some cash so I could find a place of my own.” He sniffled as he held you, you stepping away from him to pace around the room.

It was his decision…he was leaving you.

He wiped his eyes, and in all the years that you had known Kayce Dutton and held him when he was sad, because he had done it for you, you haven’t seen him this torn up and emotional about something since his mother’s passing.

“But does that mean you can’t handle me anymore? I mean if your tired of the ranch, you must be tired of me, right?” You let a choked sob escape your lips. Stopping in your tracks, your legs feeling too wobbly to move another inch.

He immediately rushed to you, embracing you into the tightest hugs he’s possibly ever given you. “No, no, baby. That’s not it. I love you, with everythin’ in me, you know that. But-“

“But what? If your breaking up with me Kayce, don’t you dare think about saying goodbye as if we’ll never speak again. They’re always the hardest and i’m not doing that with you. I do not want to say goodbye to you. Ever.”

“Baby, you know I have to.” His big eyes even frowned with his face. The sad expression crushing you even more than humanly possible.

“No, you don’t! Why can’t you just love me from over there. It shouldn’t be any different, baby.” You grabbed his face. His eyes closing for a fleeting moment. Your cries getting harder and harder to bear quietly.

“Darlin’, I can’t ask you to wait for me in hopes i’ll make it home to you. I can’t ask that of you, and you know I can’t.” He inhaled a shaken breath, evident that this was hurting him as much as it was hurting you.

“Yes you can. You know that. I’d wait a million years and more for you, Kayce Dutton. I waited 16 years, didn’t I?” You laughed quietly, that didn’t hide the audible sob that also parted your lips.

“Godammit, sweetheart. I love you, nothin’ can change that. I’d die for you, i’d do anything for you, i’d go to the very ends of the earth for you, but please for the love of god; please stop making it harder to leave you than it already is.” Tears freely streamed down his face, him not bothering to wipe them away.

He was giving himself to you. All of him, and you couldn’t have asked for more from this man. He has always done this for you. He’s never hidden who he was, especially from you.

As you held his face, you sighed. His hand holding your hips, you could feel his fingers shaking on you. He didn’t want to go. If he was ever gonna leave he was damn sure gonna take you with him. This wasn’t how he wanted it to be.

“Kayce Dutton, I love you. More than you’ll ever know and i’ll spend my whole life showing you. I’d do anything for you, all you have to do is say what. Ask me to wait for you, and i’d wait for you.” As soon the words “ask me to wait” rolled off your lips, Kayce had his answer.

“Wait for me.”

You crashed your lips onto his, the kiss fast paced and full of emotion. The devotion his body poured unto you was otherworldly. You two stumbled back a bit from the force of the kiss. Your tongue meeting his in frantic greeting as you held onto him for dear life, and he held onto you like you were his lifeline.

As you both understood what this meant, what you two were signing up for, you knew now that there was no chance either one of you would be ripped away from the other. No fucken chance.

“I’ll wait for you. When you get back, i’ll be waiting here, you know exactly where to find me, cowboy.” You kissed his lips once again, and smiled, your arm around his shoulder and one hand on his face. His arms wrapped comepletely around your waist.

“I can’t wait, baby.” He kissed you once more and that was it.

You’d be here when he got back. He was going to come back to you. Whether he had to kill or crawl his way back to you, he was going to come home.

And you’d be right there, with open arms waiting. Just like you promised.

[fanficforlife]

Chapter Eleven

You took a peppermint out of your pocket and gave it to Storm, "you did great." While she ate it, you pet her moody-coloured neck. Over the past two weeks, you and Kayce had been working with her, getting her used to a saddle and riding. She had done amazingly well and this was the first ride out of the corral.

Kayce tied the two horses to a low-hanging branch so they wouldn't wander off before the two of you walked into your meadow.

"You've been quiet today. Is everything okay?" You asked after sitting on the lush grass next to him.

"Dad talked to me this morning." His hand wrapped around yours, which was resting on his leg. "He wants me to run for livestock agent."

"Livestock agent?"

"You help ranchers with their cattle and horses, could be inspecting and sorting them for sales. Make sure strays aren't getting shipped, one ranch's cattle don't get in with someone else's. People moving from out of state and fencing off land and now the cattle can't get to their summer pasture. Checking on dead animals, on ones that get shot by mistake or on purpose. Catching thieves. Getting ones back that get out of their fence."

You shifted closer so your sides were touching and ran your fingers up and down his arm. "Thinking about Lee?"

He nodded. "And, you and Tate." His gaze went to your horses. "Everything is going good right now. I'm on the ranch every day. I get to see you during the day, I'm here when Tate gets home from school."

"Your relationship with Tate won't change. He will still see you in the morning before you go to work. When you get home he can tell you all about his day at the dinner table and you can spend the evening together."

"And, us?"

You smiled and cuddled into him, "We will be just as happy as we are now. It might even make us miss each other."

"Then maybe I could get you to move in with us." He chuckled and pulled you onto his lap. "Before you came here, I was thinking about moving off the ranch. Getting as far away from this place as I could. There is always someone who wants the land. They want it bad enough to fight for it; the cattle, us. I got enough of that in the Navy. Then you came."

"Do you still want to get away from here?"

"Yes and no. You're here. And, I know Dad loves having Tate here. Dad always wants me to do something: don't join the Navy so I can raise Tate, be the foreman of the ranch. He wants me to be a livestock agent because it could help the ranch. Taking the job would get me off the ranch for a part of the day. I could help other people." His jaw clenched, "if I'm not here if he finds you…"

"There is always someone close by: your dad, Rip, one of the wranglers. They'll stop him before anything can happen. You've assured me of that more times than I can count." You tucked his hair behind his ear, "If this is something you want to do, you should do it. Whatever it is we will be okay."

He nodded and looked out at the trees. "We wouldn't be able to sneak off for our dates during the day."

"No." You left your spot and straddled his lap. "We would just have to make up for it when you are home." Your lips pressed against his before resting your hands against the sides of his neck. "Whatever you decide, I just want you to be happy doing it."

"Have I ever told you that you are an amazing woman?" His hand slid into your hair. "You always say exactly what I need to hear to calm the chaos in my head."

"Well, it's like you've said from the beginning. We're just made for each other."

His crooked smile formed. "That we are. Whether God thought so or not, Lee would have made it happen."

"He definitely would have." You gave him a long kiss before standing up and giving his hand a tug.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"As much as I want to stay here and prove just how right we are for each other…"

He chuckled, "You want to get back on Storm."

"I just never thought she would be well enough to ride."

"Baby, you don't have to explain it to me. I get it. Besides, we have the rest of our lives to prove how good we are together." He pulled you against his side and placed a kiss on your hairline. "Let's go further up the mountain. There's a lookout I want to show you. Dad brought it to me when I turned thirteen though so I might not be able to find it."

"Good thing it's Saturday and Tate and your dad are spending the afternoon fishing."

After climbing on your horses he brought his alongside yours. "Thank you for everything."

"I'm always here." You smiled and you both leaned over for a kiss. "Now where to?"

*****

Kayce's hand tightened around yours as you walked into the bar. He had taken the livestock agent job and he had just finished his last day as the ranch foreman, putting Rip back in charge. The wranglers said it was time for a little going away party for Kayce and a celebration for Rip. Along with you and Kayce, were Beth and Rip and the wranglers.

"There's a spot in the corner that should fit us all." Beth pointed out so you all made your way over.

Over the next two hours, you heard stories of some of the funnier things the wranglers had experienced and about Kayce and Rip. You laughed and joked around. You couldn't remember the last time you had gone out with a group and had this much fun. The only other times had been with Nick and his friends and those usually never ended well.

"I'm going to get a water. Anyone need anything?" You asked who was sitting around the table. The others were currently playing pool. When everyone told you they were good, you placed a kiss on Kayce's cheek before going up to the bar.

"Let me buy you a drink, gorgeous?" A cowboy who had just walked in with his friends asked.

You shook your head. "I don't drink and I-"

"Then let me show you off on the dance floor." He stepped closer, his fingers trailing down your arm.

Your eyes went over his shoulder to your table where Kayce was sitting on the edge of his chair, his hands balled into fists. "I have a boyfriend." You took your glass of water and pushed past the cowboy, making a beeline for your boyfriend. As soon as you sat down on his lap, you pressed your lips against his. His hands instantly relaxed, one went to your waist while the other slid into your hair, intensifying the kiss.

"Get a room. Geez," Ryan teased and threw a peanut at the two of you.

You and Kayce smiled at each other before he looked over at the bar. When the man who flirted with you realized who your boyfriend was, he gave a quick nod and disappeared into the crowd.

Lloyd chuckled and threw a peanut at Ryan, "You do know you just harassed your boss right?"

"I'm not his boss anymore, "Kayce grinned at them before focusing on you. "Hey, you."

"Hi," you smiled before leaning in and brushing your nose against his.

"Mmm," his hands went to your waist and pulled you closer. You giggled softly. "I love that sound." He said quietly.

Warmth filled your chest, "I think we should go."

"Yeah?" He smirked.

"Yeah," you returned the look. He gently pushed you off his lap and grabbed your hand.

"Off so soon?" Ryan grinned.

Kayce grabbed some peanuts out of the bowl on the table and threw them at him with a playful grin. "Watch it or I'll make you clean the stalls."

"I thought you said you weren't my boss anymore," Ryan laughed.

"Come on, beautiful," Kayce's lips brushed against your temple before he guided you out of the bar and to his truck. "Where to?" He asked after pulling you against his side and starting the vehicle.

"Home, a back alley, some back road, I don't care."

He smiled and pulled out of the parking lot.

Fifteen minutes later he parked next to an empty pasture in the middle of nowhere. You looked around.

"Don't worry, baby. We're on Yellowstone."

An embarrassed smile tugged at the corners of your mouth.

"God, you're adorable," His hand came up and rested on your jaw, his thumb running across your bottom lip. "You have no idea how hard it was to not get up and break that guy's hand for touching you."

You got up and straddled him, "I would much rather kiss you here than through prison bars."

"Here is definitely better." He shifted slightly making it easier for you to unbuckle his belt and unzip his jeans. "Fuck, baby." His head fell back as you started pumping his dick.

You pulled your underwear to the side and sunk onto him. You both moaned.

"Have I ever told you how perfect you are?"

"Mhm," your hand slid into his hair as you slowly rode him. "You are just as perfect."

He laughed huskily. "I don't think I've ever been called perfect."

"You are, without a doubt," you kissed him, "Mr livestock agent."

The smirk you loved formed while his hands slid down your back before gripping your hips. "And, we are without a doubt fucking perfect together." It didn't take long until you both fell apart in each other's arms.

*****

You opened your eyes to find an empty side of the bed. The sheet is cold. After getting dressed in a change of clothes that you had kept at Kayce's, leggings, a tank top and an oversized cardigan, you stepped into the hallway.

The bathroom light was on and the door open so you walked over. Kayce was standing in front of the mirror hanging above the sink fighting back tears.

"Kayc?"

He saw you in the reflection but didn't say anything.

"I'm here. You can talk to me. I love you and you know whatever you say stays with me."

Still nothing.

"Baby, why won't you talk to me?" You stood in the doorway for a few more seconds before walking away with tears in your eyes.

The rising sun cast the sky in a kaleidoscope of colour as you leaned against the fence railing, your chin resting on your folded arms. It wasn't long before footsteps approached behind you, followed by your cowboy leaning on the fence beside you. "Did I do something?"

"You didn't do anything, Violet."

"Don't you trust me?"

"I trust you completely."

"Then why won't you talk to me? I told you everything about me. Every horrible detail. Even though I thought you wouldn't want me anymore and would tell me to leave. I told you because what happened in the past is a part of me, just like every day since then. And, everything that happens in the future." You placed your hand on his which was resting on the fence rail. "There is nothing you could have done that will change how I feel about you. I love you, Kayce."

He shook his head as he looked down at your hand on his. "I've done things that you wouldn't like, things that would change how you see me."

"When I told you what happened to me it was like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. Part of it was because you finally knew but most of it- I had been keeping everything inside. I never told anyone when he hurt me. I never told anyone about what he made me do. I never told anyone that he made me watch him kill a man and then clean it up. I buried everything. But, it kept eating away at me until I didn't want to live anymore. Lee knew that Nick would get angry and hurt me but that was it. I didn't tell them that he raped me or about what happened in the basement at first. I didn't tell him because I didn't want to burden him any more than he already was." You lifted Kayce's arm so you could slide in between him and the fence. He moved closer, resting his forearm across the fence board behind your upper back. His other hand went to your waist. "After Lee made me tell him, I wasn't the only one who felt better. He said finally knowing why I would get so lost in my head helped him. When my memories took hold he would worry, he wanted to help me but didn't know what to do. When I told him he would still worry but knowing why I was so upset helped him be there for me. Sometimes he would just sit and have coffee with me or he would take me outside and show me what he was working on to take my mind off it. You can't keep everything in, Kayce. It's going to end up killing you." He looked away. "Baby, look at me." You didn't continue until he did. "I promise that there is nothing you could have done that will make me leave you."

He tucked your hair behind your ear, his fingers lingering in the soft strands. "I'll tell you…"

"It doesn't have to be everything all at once." You rested your hands against the sides of his neck, your thumbs running along his jaw. "Just promise you will. I can't lose you to the past."

"I promise, baby." He moved in closer. "It was a nightmare, a memory from the Navy…" he took a deep breath, "we were in Pakistan, not supposed to be there but we were. We blew the door off the house of high profile target. Inside he was holding his wife as a shield and had his daughter on a leash in front of him. He started shooting rounds off with AK 47. He killed two of my men. I had to make a choice. I-I killed him, his wife and his little girl." His head dropped.

"Hey," you said softly as your hands cupped his face and brought it back up so he would look at you, "Kayce, you did what you had to do to save your life and the lives of the rest of your men."

"I killed a woman, a kid." Tears began filling his eyes.

You wrapped your arms around him, and he immediately buried his face in the crook of your neck, his arms crushing you against him. "And, I know that you and the rest of the men you were in charge of are alive today because of it. You wouldn't have done it if there was any other option." You held him until his shoulders stopped shaking and his breathing returned to normal. When he lifted his head you wiped the remaining tears off his cheeks. "You said that he was high profile which means he would have been one of the people giving orders that resulted in people's deaths. Innocent people. You saved more lives than just your men's."

His hands came up and cupped your face, "You really are my angel."

"And, you're mine."

He gave you a long, slow kiss before resting his forehead against yours. "Promise me you'll never leave."

"I promise." You said but deep down you knew that there might be a time when you would have to break that promise.

*****

Tate came bounding out the front door to where you and Kayce were standing. "I'm ready!"

"I've never seen you this excited to go to school." Kayce chuckled.

"Cause you're bringing me." The little boy beamed up at his dad. "I don't remember the last time you brought me."

He placed his hand on his son's shoulder. "It will probably just be for today."

"That's okay. I like it when Violet brings me too."

"Have a good day at school. I'll see you when I pick you up."

Tate gave you a hug. "I will. Dad, we have to go so we're not late."

"I'll be right there." When Tate headed for the truck, Kayce's hands went to your waist and pulled you against him. "Hi."

Your hands slid over his shoulders, "hi."

"I know that I'm going to see you at dinner tonight but I'm going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you too but I'm sure you're going to be too busy to even think about that." He didn't look convinced. "The day will go by fast and then you'll be back here."

He sighed. "And, then I'll do it all again the next day. Maybe I shouldn't have taken the job."

"Just focus on one day at a time. Today you're going to get to drop Tate off at school before going to your office. You will do whatever you have to at work then come home."

"Home to you and Tate." He held you tighter. "Promise you'll think about it?"

"I will, I promise. Now you need to go or you and Tate will both be late."

His lips pressed against yours. "I love you."

"I love you too." After giving him another kiss you gave him a gentle push towards the porch steps. "Have a good day, baby."

The smile you loved formed on his handsome face, "knowing I got you waiting for me when I get home will always make it a good day."

"Dad, that was really cheesy," Tate said from inside the truck leaving you giggling.

"Just wait until you find a girl you love," Kayce told him through the open driver's window.

"Eww, girls are gross."

Kayce chuckled as he climbed in. Before he drove away he winked at you leaving butterflies fluttering in your stomach.

Good grief, he makes me feel like I'm in high school. You shook your head and started on your list for the day.

*****

You walked into the building where Kayce's office was half an hour before you had to pick Tate up from school. "Hi, I'm here to see Kayce."

"Right through that door, hun." The older receptionist smiled.

"Thank you." You smiled before going to a closed door and gently knocking on it. When you heard Kayce say come in, you went inside.

"Letty," a grin lit up his face when he saw you. "You're wearing the dress you wore on our first date."

"I am and I thought you could use some coffee."

He got up and came around his desk. "Thanks, baby." He took one of the takeout cups filled with coffee from you but set it on his desk so he could wrap his arms around your waist.

You set your cup next to his and placed your hands on his chest. "It's Friday already."

"Yeah, my first week went by fast. Still missing you just as much during the day though. I don't know if I should've taken this job. I don't like being away from you."

"Would it help if I moved in with you?"

He froze, his eyes widening. "You thought about it?"

"I did. You make me happy and you make me feel safe." Your hands came up and rested against the sides of his neck. "And, I love you, Kayce. More than anything in the world."

His lips crashed into yours. When you parted you were both out of breath. After quickly locking the door, he went to push things back from the front of his desk but you stopped him.

"Not here." You took his hand and walked around, pushing his chair out of the way and moving the calendar aside. "Here so every time you're sitting at your desk you will picture us."

"Turn around." When you did he bent you over the top of the desk. He pushed the skirt of your dress up over your ass. "Don't move." You looked over your shoulder to see him pull his chair up and sit down. "Spread your legs." Once you did, he pulled his chair closer, settling between your legs. "There," he said after ripping your panties off, "the perfect view."

"Kayc," you whined.

His husky chuckle filled the room before his tongue went to work on your clit. It wasn't long until you were close. When his finger took over and his tongue slid inside you it pushed you over the edge. "You are fucking perfect, Letty." He praised.

"You're not so bad yourself." You smiled back at him.

"Yeah?" He smirked as he unzipped his jeans.

"Yes," it turned into a soft moan as he thrust into you. "Mmm, yes."

His hands gripped your hips while he leaned over you. "You gotta be quiet, baby, or I'm gonna get fired," he said next to your ear. All you could do was nod as he pulled out and entered you again.

After a couple minutes, he spun you around, picked you up and set you on the desk. With one of your legs over his shoulder and the other around his waist, he thrust inside you. He knew you had to pick up Tate soon so he started pounding into you.

It took everything you had to keep quiet. Kayce could tell so just before you both came his lips captured yours, swallowing your moans.

"I love you, Violet."

"I love you, Kayce." You placed your hand along his stubble-covered jaw. "More than you know."

"Move in tonight? Me and Tate are back in the lodge since Rip has the foreman's house, it shouldn't take long. You'll just be moving your stuff into my room."

A soft smile pulled at your lips. "How about we do it tomorrow? Tate wanted to play board games tonight with us and your dad."

"Stay with me tonight?" When you nodded the smile you loved spread across his face.

"I have to go pick up Tate."

"Have fun with the kid."

You picked up your underwear off the floor but instead of putting them in your purse, you slipped them into your boyfriend's pocket. "Have fun here."

His arms wrapped around you from behind and walked to the door moulded to your back. "Just wait until Tate's asleep."

"Kayce," you scolded when he sucked on the spot your neck and shoulder met, leaving a hickey.

He chuckled while spinning you around, "god, you're cute. I'll see you at dinner."

After a quick goodbye kiss, you headed for the school. Your mind was on what it would be like living in the same room as Kayce.

The overwhelming fear that consumed you when you first got to Yellowstone had been slowly dissipating. It had almost been ten months since you left Nick. You knew that the second he found you he would drag you back to California. He was the best detective in the city, he was smart, he knew how to talk to people and get them to give them the information he wanted. But, here you were, living a life you used to only dream about. When Kayce asked you to move in before he started his job as a livestock agent he assured you that you were safe here. He told you that more times than you could count since you came here but this time you believed it. Not a hundred percent, a small piece of you would always be ready to go even though you had promised you wouldn't. Staying here meant you loved Kayce, Tate and everyone else at Yellowstone. And, loving them meant that there was always a chance you would have to leave to keep them safe. But, you were done with Nick controlling your life. Living at Yellowstone made you happy and being with Kayce made you even happier. So, fuck Nick!

*************************************************** Tag List: @alisbackalleybbq @a-beaverhausen @chloe-skywalker @wabi-sabi1090 @saintnourah @852853

[jetblack4realz]

swing dancing - kayce dutton

summary - you and kayce have grown up doing everything together, including swing dancing. sometimes kayce just can't seem to remember that.

word count - 3.1k

a/n - i'm currently watching yellowstone and i think i've fallen in love... boots, hat, accent, and can sing?? guys, LUKE GRIMES

also, this is short but sweet imo so if you have any ideas for kayce or rip or ryan or whoever i am so down

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

when you were twelve, you asked john dutton to teach you to swing dance.

"my brother is no good," you told him with a shrug. "and my dad ain't here to show me. beth said you and miss evelyn were the best swing dancers in town. could you show me?"

he'd smiled softly, turning to you with a tilt of his head. "and why do you wanna know, little lady?"

"there's a church dance this weekend and now that i'm in youth group i can go," you admitted, swinging your hands as a slow smile grew on your lips. "kayce goes to all of 'em and, um, i want to know so i can dance with him."

"why don't you ask him to teach you?" john asked, his smile widening as he raised his brows at you. you groaned, rolling your eyes.

"you know why! that's embarrassing," you huffed as you crossed your arms. "just show me things that kayce would know. please?"

he laughed loudly, standing slowly as he nodded. "alright. you better get some music going, though."

"bob wills?" you asked, moving to where he kept the CDs.

"damn right," he said with a breathy laugh as you put the CD in.

you made him dance with you every night that week leading up to the summer swing dance, perfecting your lame twelve year old two step and learning how to lean into a dip properly. john did his best to teach you, and he had to admit that it warmed his heart doing so since beth would never ask him to teach her how to swing dance, but being almost a foot and a half taller than you made it a tad difficult.

the friday before, you were in the living room with bob wills' "stay a little longer" playing on the CD player as john spun you when kayce came in early from roping outside with rip.

"what are you doing?"

your heart nearly stopped, but john just laughed, continuing to two step with you as kayce stood in the entryway with a quirked brow.

"what do you think, son? we're dancing," he answered, spinning you again until you were stopped in front of where kayce was eying you.

"why didn't you ask me? i coulda showed you," kayce said, furrowing his brows.

"i, uh, i wanted to surprise you," you answered lamely, shrugging. you offered him a small smile. "i know how to do it now."

"alright, then," the thirteen year old said, holding his hands out in front of him as he smiled. "surprise me."

john was smiling as he stepped to the side, gesturing for you two to go along. "i think i'm gonna go check on how rip is doing. show him what you got, kid."

"ready?" kayce asked as his dad left, smiling widely.

the song changed as he took the first step forward, you copying the best you knew. he pulled you around the living room in a two step, spinning you around casually as you moved easily. you pulled away to spin backwards into his arms in a sweetheart before spinning out. kayce pulled you back in, holding you to his side as he leaned.

"dad shown you this one?" he asked, to which you shook your head. he leaned back up and spun you out again. he raised his brows as he spoke. "lean on me one more time and then on the last one you're gonna jump off me, alright?"

"jump off you?" you asked, knitting your brows. "what?"

"push off my foot that's close to yours and jump," he said simply. he spun you back in. "just lean now." spun you out and nodded. "now you jump."

so as soon as you were back at his side you jumped, yelping when kayce's foot pushed you up and to the side. he laughed loudly as he brought you back in front of him, beginning a two step again. "fun, huh? lee just showed me that one."

"that was cool," you laughed.

"right? okay, let's do the pretzel now. you done that one?"

when you went to the dance the next night, you were asked to swing at nearly every song. kayce watched with a frown each time another boy would make it to you before he could, and his frown only deepened when they showed you a new move you got excited about. halfway through he shoved his way to you and didn't let you dance with another boy the rest of the night - not that you minded.

from then on, you and kayce went to the dances together and almost exclusively danced together. you'd watch the other couples and copy their twists and dips. one night while you were out on the ranch you let him convince you to try a flip. when he didn't drop you, you let him do it again, and it quickly became one of your favorite things to randomly throw into your dances.

"if jamie can do it, i sure as hell can," he defended lamely as he followed you around the barn, closing up the horse stalls for the night.

"jamie did it with susan miller - she's literally like 4'2", it was so easy for him," you told him, rolling your eyes.

"we haven't even tried! will you please let me try?" he begged.

"no."

"why?!"

"because you could drop me on my head and kill me," you replied easily, locking up the final stall and making your way out the door, flicking off the lights.

"please darlin', i won't drop you i promise," he said. "do you know how cool we would look if we could do flips? seth wheaton can't do that, we'd blow him and kylie right out of the water."

that made you pause, just like kayce knew it would. you had history with kylie - history that revolved around kayce whether he knew it or not. she'd spent all of middle school and half of high school trying to steal him from you, but it always backfired, and now you just loved to see the look on her face every time you entered the dance hall with kayce at your side, spinning you around with a certain kind of partnership no one else in the school had.

"alright," you sighed, stopping your walk back to the house and turning to him. "let's just do it. how does it go?"

"well," he said with a wide grin, "i spin you out as usual. but when you spin back in i move my arm in front of you, grab the back of your thighs, and then at the same time you jump and i turn you. easy as that."

"mhm," you mumbled. "easy."

he pulled you into position, turning you out and then spinning you in. he did just as he said, catching you between his arms with his right at your torso and his left under your legs. you grabbed his bicep tightly and squeezed your eyes shut, jumping and tucking before suddenly you were on your feet again.

you opened your eyes, your brows shooting up. you looked at kayce, breathing out an incredulous laugh. "you did it! you didn't drop me!"

he laughed with you, shaking his head. "and you thought i would? i'm offended, really."

throughout your teenage years, whenever you two had a weekend together it was spent swing dancing. things got messy when he got monica long pregnant, and again when he left the ranch for the navy.

"kayce, tonight's just not a good night," you'd told him, moving around him to get to the stairs. he caught your arm.

"please," he said, a certain desperation in his tone that caught your attention. "i need to go out tonight. with you. please."

you looked him over with a furrow in your brow before nodding slowly, sighing slightly. "alright, just let me get changed and we can go. but you owe me an explanation for all of this." you gestured to him before running upstairs to your room.

when you got to his truck, he was already playing your music. you shot him a smile as you buckled up, your arm resting next to his on the middle console.

"so what's going on that you pulled me away at ten o'clock at night on a thursday to go swing dancing?" you asked.

he was silent for a while, glancing at you several times before he finally let out a deep sigh.

"i'm in love with you, did you know that?" he asked. your breath hitched. that was not what you were expecting him to say in the least. "and i have to say it now and take you dancing now because i'm leaving tomorrow. i joined the navy to, uh, get away from my father. i just need a break, i need something different, something fulfilling. and i also needed to tell you now so you don't think i'm gonna come home and marry monica because that sure as hell ain't my plan. i mean, i'll help her and all, it's my kid, i want my kid, but i don't like her like that. we were drunk when we slept together, scout's honor. if i'm coming home at all it's gonna be to you, alright? is that... is that alright?"

he glanced at you again, your eyes wide and your jaw dropped. "you're... you're leaving? kayce why didn't you tell me?"

"i didn't tell anyone. you're the only one who knows, darlin," he told you. silence washed over you both as he waited for your response. "please say something."

"you better come home," you murmured, finally turning to look at him. "and yes, you'll be coming home to me. i love you too, kayce. always have."

the breath he let out was so heavy and relieved you nearly laughed. he grabbed your hand as he shot you the brightest smile you'd seen from him in a long while. "i am so glad to hear you say that."

he pulled into the parking lot, still squeezing your hand tightly. when he put the car in park, he turned to you more fully. "so, uh, does this mean you'll wait for me?"

"i've waited this long, what's another few years?" you mumbled with a sad smile. "at least now i can call you my boyfriend and tell you i love you."

"i swear, if i had a ring you could call me your fiance too," he breathed out, chuckling lightly. "you've got me, baby. i promise."

he reached forward, cupping your chin in his hand and leaning in slowly. but, you stopped him, a slight smile on your lips as you leaned back.

"i don't want our first kiss to be in your truck, kayce," you told him.

"i can solve that real quick," he said, flinging his door open with a wide grin. "stay there, darlin'."

he slammed his door behind him and ran around the truck, pulling your door open, his smile even wider now. he offered you a hand and helped you out, shutting the door behind you. he didn't waste a second to take you in his arms and capture your lips in his, both of you moving perfectly in sync with the other - well, like you always had.

he smiled when he pulled away, leaning his forehead on yours as he held you close to him. "do you wanna go on a date with me? we could go dancing."

you laughed, kissing him shortly again. "absolutely."

when he got home for his first break after the extra long boot camp for hopeful navy seals, monica had wanted him to marry her and move to the reservation. he had to break it to her he wasn't in love with her. instead, he came home to you.

but, you hadn't danced much since he returned. the last time you had was at your wedding when lee had arranged the playlist with all your best dancing songs and you and kayce had taken the time to show off to your guests.

when "stay a little longer" started, john knew exactly what was about to happen. beth laughed in her seat next to rip, covering her mouth as she watched her little brother grab you by the hand and drag you back to the dance floor when you'd only just left it.

"what is with the two of them and this song?" rip asked, quirking a brow as he watched the dutton boy begin spinning you around.

"it's the first song the ever danced to," john said as he folded his arms, smiling softly at the sight of his youngest with his new wife.

"how do you know that, dad?" beth asked.

"i was there," he answered almost sentimentally. "she asked me to teach her so she could dance with him. and look at them now."

"i've known they were gonna get married since you two showed up at the ranch," beth said, looking at rip with a smile. "as much as you may not like it, our little siblings are perfect for each other."

rip sat back with a sigh, mimicking john's position by crossing his arms too. "yeah, well, she seems happy."

"she is," beth said with a nod, smiling as kayce flipped you, earning cheers from the friends and family surrounding you all, the loudest of them all being lee as he finished spinning one of their ten year old cousins in his arms, both smiling and cheering loudly.

you looked elegant as you danced with your now-husband. your western-style dress was flowy enough to be dramatic in cool turns, but didn't fall when you flipped and dipped - you'd picked it with swinging in mind.

kayce spinned you for one of the last times, twirling you once, twice, three times before turning you in his arms and letting you fall into a dip, your hands around his back as you both smiled widely at each other.

"i love you, kayce," you told him with a light laugh as you caught your breath.

"i love you too, baby," he said, smiling as he pressed a kiss to your lips, earning another whooping cheer from spectators - again, mostly lee.

now, everything was crazy. everyone was trying to steal the ranch, lee had been killed, kayce had killed a variety of people, and someone had poisoned the cows.

kayce was stressed.

"hey, cowboy," you called as you approached the barn, hands tucked into your pockets. "you missed dinner."

he sighed, locking the horse stall. "had to finish up here. are the kids-?"

"fed and bathed," you answered with a small smile. "tate asked for you to read him a story, but your dad took over. was nearly out when i left to find you."

"thank you," he told you with a relieved sigh.

"of course," you answered. he crossed the rest of the distance to you, wrapping his arms around your waist as he pulled you into him, a thin frown on his lips. "long day?"

"long year," he sighed. he rested his forehead on yours, breathing out slowly. "you doing okay?"

"mm, yeah," you hummed in answer, sliding your hands up his arms to wrap around his neck. "could use a night out though. your dad said he'd stay with tate and evie tomorrow night if we wanted to go out dancing."

"dancing?" he mumbled, pulling back enough to meet your eyes. "i haven't danced in forever."

"i know, that's why i thought we needed to get out there again," you answered with a shrug, offering him a small smile. "let loose for a night. try to forget about all the chaos happening over here."

kayce sighed. "darlin', i don't know. there's a million things i gotta do-"

"a million things that can wait, or hell, that rip can do," you said, freely offering your brother for anything in order to get kayce off the ranch. "we need to have a little bit of fun. get into town, get out of here, and have some fun. please, kace."

"i can think of a lot of fun things we can do while still staying on the ranch," he said slowly, leaning into your neck to begin pressing soft kisses there. you laughed, pushing him away.

"kayce, i wanna dance," you told him.

he sighed, shifting his weight to his other foot. "i don't even know if i remember half the moves, baby."

"sure you do," you said. you reached for his hands. "come on."

"what?" he laughed.

"come here," you insisted, pulling him backwards away from the barn and closer to the light above the arena. you fished your phone from your pocket and quickly clicked through your saved songs, choosing that first bob wills song you'd danced to. you set it on the fence, leaning it up against the post upside down so it'd play the loudest it could.

as the song played, kayce seemed to get sentimental. he pulled you in by your hands, taking a slow two step as he stared down at you.

"show me what you got, cowboy," you told him with a wide smile. your words seemed to kick him back into gear, him quickly spinning you backwards into his arms.

"alright, darlin'," he relented with a light laugh. "let's do this."

he spun you around as muscle memory began to set in and you weaved in and out of each other's grasp. the music kept you hopping, laughing joyously as kayce spun you around and dipped you, swinging you around in the dirt like you were teenagers again. he nodded at you with a wide grin as he twirled you back in preparation for what you knew had to be a flip and you squeezed your eyes shut, bracing and jumping into his arms as he flipped you backwards. you landed just as the song ended, kayce quickly spinning you into a low dip to end more grandiosely as a wide smile rested on his lips.

"see?" you breathed out. "you do remember how to dance."

"only with you, baby," he said, kissing you quickly with the smile still on his lips. he pulled you back up to keep your lips on his, one hand rising to cup your jaw gently. when he pulled away, he tilted his hat at you. "will you go on a date with me tomorrow night? we could go dancin'."

you laughed, kissing him again. "i'd love to go on a date with you, kayce dutton."

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

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

masterlist!!

[i-heart-yellowstone]

John Dutton with wife reader. Him being in such a mood that even his children start to tease him and her joining in. Anything at all. Fluff/suggestive. Up to you. Thanks!! :))

With prompts; "Are you really this happy 24/7?"

"Are you really this grumpy 24/7?"

"Are you really this happy 24/7?"

Tags [ @kmc1989 @tallrock35 @pear-1206

Exiting through the front door I joined my husband on the old wooden porch swing that overlooked the main part of the property we called our home. He moved one of his arms and laid it back down over my shoulder once I had taken my spot right by his side.

The sounds of nature were the only things we could hear for once. There weren't any of his adult kids running to complain about something or him having to rush off to fight someone who wanted to take the land from us.

I thought we could live in this peaceful moment forever- unfortunately that isn’t the case when it comes to Beth Dutton.

Her car quickly came down the gravel and dust driveway where she parked at the end of the steps. She slammed her car door walking up to the porch seeing me and her father sitting on the swing. “Are you really this happy 24/7?" She bluntly asked the two of us.

I began choking on the coffee I was drinking from one of the kitchen mugs, not expecting that to come from her mouth. “What! Why would you ask that?”

“Beth, I’m allowed to be happy with another woman.” Her father John remarked back at his only daughter.

His only daughter wasn’t exactly happy when he had brought me to the ranch a couple of times for our dates. And she especially wasn’t happy when we had gotten married a year later. I knew why though, it was because I wasn’t her mother. To her I was he step-mother.

We had done our best to be nice to one another but apparently she hadn’t fully accepted that her father could be happy with another woman just yet and we’ve been married for almost five years now.

Beth crossed her arms over her chest. “Come on, daddy. I mean you can’t really be happy all the time with her.”

“Beth!” John grumbled running a frustrated hand down his face.

I held my coffee mug in both hands, nudging my husband with my elbow in a joking manner. “Oh come on, John. You don’t have to fake being happy with me.”

“Y/n, I’m not faking it.” John shifted on his side of the porch swing so that he was directly facing me.

I tilted my head to the side knowing I could tease him for a little longer before he would figure out that I was entirely joking with the love of my life. “Are you sure? I mean I doubt I’m anything like Evelyn was in bed.”

“My mom popped out four kids in total. How many kids do you want to give birth to Y/n?” Beth asked, flipping her hair out of her eyes. “I’m going to get you someone better.”

John rolled his eyes, sitting his coffee mug down on the side table with frustration in his tone. “Beth, that's too far. Okay. I’m married to Y/n and you’re just going to have to accept it.”

“It’s going to happen, daddy.” She smirked in my direction.

Leaning back in the porch swing I almost couldn’t contain my laughter. “Oh god.”

“This whole man-to-man shit thing we got going is becoming a little ridiculous.” John shook his head wishing this would end.

His daughter spun on her heels walking up to the front door. “I’m on it.”

“Beth!”

She called back. “I got it.”

“Beth!” Her father shouted at her.

She shut the front door and hollering beforehand. “I’m totally on it!”

Once we were back alone together on the front porch I touched the side of his face making him look me in the eye. “Honey, I was just joking when I said I don’t enjoy being married to you.”

“But you said-“

I cut him chuckling lightly. “It was a lie, John. I was just trying to make your daughter happy. The only way I think she will like me is when she sees me start agreeing with her on some things.”

“Thank god.” He sighed heavily, slumping his shoulders in relief.

Resting one hand against the side of his face I felt him lean into my palm. “I can’t imagine being married to anyone else but you.”

“I didn’t realize that I was missing having a woman in my life until I saw your truck break down on the side of the road that morning.” He recalled causing a smile to grace my lips at the memory.

When I had gotten a flat tire on my truck right outside the Dutton fence line I thought I would have to call someone to tow me to a shop which would take hours until I saw a man around my age rode up to the fence on a horse wearing a white cowboy hat.

Leaning forward I kissed him slowly, moving my other hand behind his neck making the gentle kiss deeper until he broke it suggesting a common morning routine for us. “How do you feel about going for a ride?”

“Have you not met me? I would love nothing more.” Getting up from the swing I finished the last of my coffee, rushing towards the wooden stairs heading straight to the barn walking backward. Yelling with my hands cupped around my mouth. “Meet me at the barn. I’ll saddle the horses, just don’t forget my hat.”

John groaned getting to his feet, calling back. “You’re hat. I remember the white hat belonging to me when we met.”

“What’s mine is yours, honey!” I laughed with a cheerful grin.

He shook his head going to grab what we needed to ride our horses, truly treasuring the joy he felt once falling in love with you. “I love her. Let’s go to work.” It would take time for Beth to accept her father could be happy with someone else than her mother, but he wasn’t going to not live his life simply waiting for her approval.

[kendallroydefender]

Cowboy take me away (Kayce Dutton x Roy!Reader) Chapter 1

Masterlist

Summary: You’re Y/n Roy the youngest daughter of one of the richest men in America but all that money can’t make you happy and you decide to move to Montana for a while. But what happens when you meet the youngest son of another influential man?

A/n: it’s here!!! This is mainly a Yellowstone fanfic and you don’t have to watch Sucession to follow along!

You stepped out of the car. The car you bought a week ago, when you were sure leaving was the right thing to do. The warm weather hitting your skin. Breathing in the fresh air after a long drive.

You were the daughter of one of the most influential men in the country. Your father, Logan Roy, was a media mogul and owned one of the biggest news networks in the world. But that came with a price, you had always been in the public eye and on top of that your father wasn’t an easy person to grow up with. Now you’re siblings still fought over being his favorite, still fought for his love. A few weeks ago, after thanksgiving where he hit your nephew you finally realized that he would never change.

So you’d made the decision to leave New York behind, to take a few months off in the country side. Hopefully your mental health would get better out here. And you’ve always wanted to visit Yellowstone after seeing pictures of the stunning landscape. To no one’s surprise your family wasn’t the biggest fans of your decision to go, especially your father who always wanted his kids close to control them. But you were a grown woman, yes you were still in your twenties but an adult nonetheless.

Your siblings thought the idea was ridiculous except for your oldest brother Connor who loved that you would follow his footsteps (as he said). He had also bought a ranch in New Mexico where he spent most of his days.

Now you weren’t so sure anymore if this decision was the right one. You had never left the city for more than a few weeks, hell you were a city person. And you had never been alone anywhere. Your family and they’re staff or your personal staff were with you. But if you’d never tried you would never know.

You took your suitcases and brought the to the small house you were renting. You had put all your clothes into the closets and your toiletries in the bathroom before you went into the small garden behind the house. It was well kept, a bit whimsical and overgrown in some places but beautiful nonetheless. A set of chairs on the lawn and a swingseat under a tree. Yeah, you could do with this.

You made some food with the groceries you picked up on the way here and ate your dinner on the couch. Everything was nice until the evening arrived.

You should have seen it coming, It was your first night and you were already bored. 'Off to a great start' you thought to yourself.

After a quick google search you made your way to one of the bars in town.

Inside it was quite crowded. A band played country music and some people danced. You went to the counter and ordered a simple drink, nothing too fancy like you would have ordered in New York.

Your eyes scanned the crowd, it were mostly cowboys and cowgirls. You must have stood out quite a bit - not too much though since you’ve left your fancier Roy clothing in New York, taking only sweaters, shirts and jeans with you. It was nice though.

”Hey, Tom have you seen my sister?.“ a voice next to you said. You looked to your right and spotted a quite handsome man. He seemed to be around your age maybe a little older, with longish brown hair and brown eyes. He wore a trucker cap backwards on his head and a dark shirt. He looked rugged in the best way. His eyes landed on you and you quickly averted your eyes even though it was probably too late - he had caught you staring.

You felt his eyes linger on you for a moment and you waited a second before you looked back at him.

”'ve never seen you around here.“ he said

”Just got here today“ you told him with a shrug and a smirk appeared on his face hearing that you didn’t sounded like you were from Montana at all.

”Where’re you’re from?“ He asked

”Uh, New York.“ You said and he let out a low blow

”She’s over there.“ the barkeeper interrupted your conversation, pointing his finger in one direction

”Uh-huh. Thanks Tom.“ the man said before he turned to you again

”I’ll have to go but have fun in Montana.“ he said before he turned to leave. After a few steps he turned his head and your eyes met again, with a small nod he turned around once more.

You would lie if you said you weren’t disappointed by him having to leave so quickly. But it seemed like he was just here to pick his sister up anyway and you didn’t even knew if he was single.

The next few days you spend getting settled into the new house. You went to the grocery store, something you haven’t done in years since your family always had people to do these kind of things. But you liked it. Liked being responsible for yourself and you liked being able to meet and converse with others.

Your family always stayed in their circle, almost every meeting with someone you didn’t knew was business related and talk was always about work.

You took walks around town and enjoyed the scenery.

Today you had planned to go on a hike. You looked up the route beforehand so you wouldn’t end up lost. There were other people on a hike but not too many.

Everything was going well. That is until you must have stepped onto a stone.

You fell and felt a sharp pain shooting through your ankle. Shit, if this wasn’t the biggest city girl hurts herself while hiking was the biggest prejudice.

You started to get up when you heard the sound of a horse walking close to you. You looked up as the animal came into your view and felt yourself getting warm. Of course it was the hot Cowboy from the other night.

”You alright?“ He asked and you shrugged

”Yeah, I just sit in the dirt for fun.“

”Shit no reason to get all fuss .“ He said but he couldn’t keep the smile off his face. He got down from his horse and tied it on a nearby tree.

”Lemme see.“ his voice had softened as he crouched down next to you, carefully taking your foot in his hands. Twisting it gently and putting some pressure on some spots. At one point you let out an ”Ouch.“

”It’s not broken - just twisted. Come on let me bring you down.“ he offered his hand to you and you gladly took it. He helped you up, looping his arm around your back so you could lean on him.

Once you were sitting on the horse he got up too, sitting in front of you.

”You can hold onto me.“ he told you, voice kinder than you’d expected.

You intertwined your fingers in front of his stomach. You felt warmth spread in your stomach.

He took the reins and the horse started moving. You looked around, taking in the scenery.

”Wow it’s even more beautiful up here.“ you said in a low tone.

Kayce smiled at your words. To be honest he was maybe a little glad about the fact that it was you who he found. You had come to his mind a few times since he’d met you a few days ago.

You had intrigued him, there was an air about you that he liked and felt like he wanted to find out more about you.

”Where are we going by the way? Not that I think you’ll kidnap me on a horse.“

”My fathers Ranch. My cars there, I can drive you home.“

”Oh. Thank you.“ you said

”No need to. Just basic human decency.“ he said and you cold hear the smile in his voice.

”Yeah, I’m not used to that in the city.“ you chuckled in wich he joined in.

”Why’d you come here?“ he asked

”I needed a fresh start. I wasn’t happy in my, uhm, my living situation in New York. I knew I would get depressed if I stayed.“

He hummed

”Are you feeling better now?“

”To be honest I’m not sure. It feels great that I’m away from everything but I don’t know anyone here yet… so it’s kind of lonely.“

He hummed as an answer.

The rest of the ride to the ranch was filled with easy chatting. You found out about that his Dad owned a Ranch where he worked as a horsetrainer. You told him you worked in Media at your fathers company, not telling him who your father was.

The ranch was gorgeous. A big stone house as the main building, some stables and a few smaller houses. You earned a few looks from some of the cowboys leaning against a fence.

He got down and helped you safely get back to the ground.

”I’d show you around but I think your foot wouldn’t be too fond of that.“

”Maybe another time.“ you told him and he studied you for a second

”Yeah, another time.“

He had given the horse to one of the men standing close by, who was called Jimmy. Telling him to bring it back into the stable.

He helped you into his red truck and closed the door after you sat in the vehicle.

You told him where the place you stayed in was and he seemed to know where to go. The conversation was easy between you, he pointed out some places.

”You can get good burgers there.“ he said pointing to a diner

”We could do something if you’d like? I mean because you said you felt kind of lonely.“

”Oh? Yeah that be great.“ you smiled wich caused him to smile too

”Okay.“

He helped you up the front stairs of your place and you waved as he drove away. With a warm feeling and the thought that maybe you had made a friend you went inside.