Finally Home to Yellowstone: Yellowstone Ranch Series

13

It was 3am when I checked my phone and neither of us had slept. Not all from sex, mostly because we just kept talking. I rolled over back to Johnathon and rested my head on his chest.

"My brother and I gotta leave for Wyoming by 5." He kissed my forehead.

"It's a Sunday. I don't work Sundays." I stretched and snuggled down deeper into his and the blankets.

He rubbed my naked back,"Lazy bones." He chuckled. "I still gotta take you home."

"Yeah." I sighed. Not really wanting to leave my intended one night stand man.

"Or you could come to Wyoming." He said quietly.

I sat up and stared down at him,"What the fuck am I gonna do in Wyoming?"

He sat up too,"Break horses with me. You'll be good at it. Don't act like you don't wanna leave Yellowstone. You said it yourself, it's hell." He rubbed my shoulder.

I sighed and thought hard about it. "Maybe some day." I kissed his cheek.

"The offer will always be there, cowboy." He teased me.

We ended up falling asleep together and left way later then we intended. But we pulled up to the ranch around 6 and I gave Johnathon a last goodbye kiss and jumped out of the red Four Sixes truck. I opened the door to the bunk house and assume everyone would be up.

But no one was.

I grabbed a quick shower as quietly as possible the changed into fresh clothes. I normally didn't work Sundays but there were things I needed to get done. And I knew if I crawled into bed now I wouldn't be up until late this afternoon, wasting the day.

I heard someone stir and get up. It was Jimmy. He did work Sundays.

"Why are you up early?" He whispered, hoarsely.

"Couldn't sleep." I shrugged and slipped into my boots.

"You working today?" He asked and pulled a thermal shirt on.

I pulled a baseball cap on and my damp hair into a low bun. "Yeah, at least for this morning," I mumbled through the Bobby pin I held between my teeth. I pinned back some of the stray hairs. "We're getting new cuttin' horses next week and we need new corrals put up."

He buttoned up his shirt and put his carhart coat on. "Where we gettin' 'um from?"

I did the same with my jacket and we headed out the door as Walker and Lloyd were getting up.

"I don't know," It was a cold day and I regretted immediately washing my hair. I'll be sick with a head cold here soon. "Rip said Texas. Not sure where exactly."

Jimmy nodded and we got to work.

*****

It started raining around 4 so we quit early for the day. I took another shower and curled up in bed. When I was about to doze off over all the noise of the guys, I felt someone tap my shoulder.

"Let's go." It was Kayce.

I rolled over and stared at him. He looked nervous. "Go where? Kase, I'm tired. I didn't get home until late-"

"I'm serious, Mary." He mumbled under his breath then took off.

I rolled on my back and stared up at the ceiling, not wanting to get up. "Ugh." I sighed loudly and pulled myself up.

I jumped out of the bed and starting changing into real clothes.

"I think you gon have to start changing in the bathroom, girl. You gonna cause problems." I heard an unfamiliar voice speak.

Disgusted I turned around, with only jeans and a bra on,"Fucking pardon you?" I asked the ragged looking guy in the corner. He was maybe 30 and wore the same thing we all wore, jeans and a button down, dirty boots and a hat. He had a wad of chew in his mouth. He looked even worse than the last time I saw him.

"Names Keith." He spit the black liquid into an old Mountain Dew bottle. My stomach flipped. I knew exactly who he was.

"I know who you are perv," I pulled on a long sleeves and a hoodie,"Keep your dick in your pants this time or I'll rip it off like I promised." I stepped into my boots. By now, some of the guys over heard everything. Ryan was walking our way and so was Walker.

"As long as I get what I want first, I don't care how you play with it, baby." He smirked.

My blood boiled. I started to go after him but Ryan grabbed me by my waist.

"Hey, hey, hey not worth it!" He said while carrying me out the door.

"You fucking piece of shit! I swear to God I'll fucking kill you!" I was cussing the nasty man but I could still hear the jackass laughing.

Ryan sat me down outside. I was breathing hard and pacing. He was trying to calm me down. "He's an ass, I get it. But we need the help right now. And he's all Rip could find that knows what he's doing and won't rob us all-"

As soon as he said Rip I stopped. I opened my mouth then I saw Rip walking towards us from the barn.

I made a v line for him.

"Cowboy." Ryan said nervously. "Mary, don't!" He followed me quickly.

"What the hells going on-" Rip spat towards us.

He barely got it out before my fist connected with his jaw. "Fucking Keith?! I know we need the help but him?" I nearly screamed at Rip. I got ready to punch him again but Rip grabbed my arm. But not roughly.

"Hey, I know. I'm sorry." He whispered as blood ran out of his mouth. I wasn't expecting this.

I felt my whole body shaking. "You know what he did and who he is." I whispered back.

I heard Ryan walking away, back towards the bunkhouse.

Rip let go of my arm and wiped the blood from his mouth. "I know." He nodded. "I told him if he went anywhere near you he was dead. And I mean it." His eyes changed to dark colors.

I shivered, realizing I wasn't shaking from nerves, but from the cold. I only had my sweatshirt and long sleeves on. Not a coat or vest or anything. And the temperature was way lower than it was this morning. Rip must have noticed. He pulled off his coat quickly.

"I have to sleep next him." I said softly while slipping my arms into the coat.

"No you don't." He held up the jacket for me.

I crossed my arms once I was in it,"I can't go back to the house." I whispered.

"I know." He nodded. "You're gonna stay with me."