Finally Home to Yellowstone: Yellowstone Ranch Series

12

The rodeo had the most energy I had seen at one in a long time. This was my first one since I came back home. And everybody wanted to say hi. Which I didn't mind. I had missed everyone. But everyone also wanted to buy me a beer. And I couldn't say no.

"Mary, how the hell are ya?" Wes, a boy I went to school with grabbed my shoulder when I was standing by one of the gates.

"Hey!" I turned around and gave him a quick hug,
"I'm alright. You? Heard you got fucking married?" I elbowed him. Then looked around him. A tall man stood behind him, with a light brown short beard and a big cowboy hat. He was cute.

He chuckled,"Yeah, I can't believe it either." I was still looking around him, up the the stranger. "Alright then. Mary, this is Johnathon." He stepped out of the way.

Johnathon smiled at me and tipped his hat with his hand,"Howdy."

"Texas." I smiled softly.

"Pardon?" He leaned down a little to hear me over the roaring crowd.

"You're from Texas. Ain't nobody else do that hat tippin' thing." I gestured to the ten gallon on his head.

He chuckled,"Yeah, you're right."

We just stared at each other for a few seconds. A peaceful stare.

"Well, that was easier than I thought it was gonna be. I'll see ya around, Mare." Wes patted my back and walked off.

We both laughed awkwardly.

"You want a beer?" He asked.

Fuck. Not really. I've already half a fucking semi full.

But I smiled and nodded,"Yeah. I do." He bought me a beer and we stood behind the gates of the bronco riders, watching his younger brother.

"So, Johnathon, what do you do for fun? I'm assuming rodeo?" I teased. "Let me guess," I turned around and put my back to the cattle panel fence. I looked to my right and up to look him into the eyes,"Bull riding?"

He chuckled and took a long drink of the bottle beer, then he looked down, with taunting eyes,"No. Actually I think these things are a waste of time and money."

I nodded,"Well... you caught me off guard. That's a hell of an answer." I took a few slow blinks.

He smirked. "Just being honest. I don't have time for any way. And after working all the day, the last thing I wanna do is ride a fucking bull."

I chuckled,"I understand. What do you do for work?"

I took a drink out of my beer. I was expecting he would say construction or pipeline welding, maybe even lineman work.

"I break horses at a place called Four Sixes in Texas."

I choked on my beer.

"Are you okay?" Jonathon put his hand on my back.

"Fucking hell, man." I coughed. "You work at the Four Sixes?" I asked my eyes wide.

"Yeah, you heard of it?" He rubbed my back for a second then dropped his hand. I wish he wouldn't have stopped. It felt nice.

I laughed,"Wes didn't tell you my last name, did he?"

Johnathon looked confused, as he would be.

"My names Mary Dutton."

His eyes then went as wide as mine were. "Yellowstone, Dutton?" He asked. I nodded and laughed. "Damn, small world." He laughed too.

Then we were just staring at each other, smiling. The beer was making my head spin so I leaned back against the gate for support. He put his hand on the gate beside my head.