Rip and the Dutton clan decide to have a very rare night out. John Dutton treats them all to a country music festival. What happens when Rip comes face to face with one of country music's biggest stars??
Miranda's POV "No, not yet." Beth says before she throws her drink across the table at me. "Dammit Beth!" John yells from the head of the table. "What has gotten into you?!" "She comes parading in here with a giant smile on her face. Rip has been in love with me for years. He is supposed to be mine." Beth says with tears in her eyes. "Beth, I told you I gave up on the thought of us a long time ago." Rip tells her and turns to look at me. "I think I'm just gonna go. I clearly walked in to a situation I knew nothing about. Monica, will you take me to the airport?" I say, looking at Rip and turning and walking out the door. I see Monica get up out of the corner of my eye and follow me. "I think that's a smart move. You aren't wanted her anyway!" Beth yells as I walk out the front door and I hear John tell her to sit down.
Rip's POV Everyone looks at me as Miranda walks out. "I promise to explain everything to all of you, but right now I have to catch her. "Beth, I'm not done with you yet." I say as I run out the front door to catch Miranda. "Miranda, will you listen to me?" I ask as I catch up to her. "Rip, I think I've heard enough. Why didn't you just tell me that you were in love with her?" She asks, as she starts walking again. "I used to love her, yes. I fell in love with her as a teenager when John took me in. I tried for years to make it work with her and she never gave me the time of day. I told her a while back that I was done and moving on. I swear on my mama's grave that I have no feelings for her anymore. I know I should've told you, but I wanted to wait until we were alone and you were here. I didn't expect this." I tell her, looking down at the ground, trying to prepare myself for her to leave. "Monica, can you give us a sec?" I hear Miranda say, and I look up.
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"Rip, I don't care that you have a past with her. We all have a past. It bothers me that you live on the same ranch with her and I was ambushed with all this. She is not going to let me have you without a fight." She says walking closer to me. "Well, what do you wanna do?" I ask nervously. "I guess it's a good thing I like to fight and I think you are worth every fight I have coming." I look up and meet her eyes an she gives me a smile. I place my hands on each side of her face and kiss her. "I guess we should go back in. I owe everyone an apology."
Miranda's POV We walk back in to the house and to the dining room. Beth is no longer in the room and everyone looks over at me. "I'm sorry for causing a scene and ruining the evening. I'm a Texas girl and tend to have a temper sometimes. If you'll still have me, I would love to have dinner with y'all." I say, looking at everyone, but mostly John. "Miranda honey, we all have tempers around here. That's nothing surprising. I don't care what goes on between you and Beth, but as long as you are with Rip, you are welcome here. I told my daughter the same thing and as you can tell, she left the room. Now, sit down and finish your dinner." John says with a smile. Rip leans over and kisses my temple before pulling my chair out for me. The rest of dinner was spent with laughs and good conversation.
(The Next Morning) I couldn't sleep to save my life. I finally go out of bed about 4:30 and got dressed and went down to the barn. Lloyd was already there with the horses. "You're up early darlin." He says as I walk in. "Yeah, I couldn't sleep. Too much on my mind." "I heard about what happened at dinner last night. Beth can be a lot to deal with sometimes. Rip cares a lot about you. Don't ever doubt that." I nod my head with a slight smile. "You mind if I take that one out to the corral?" I ask Lloyd, pointing to the new horse Rip and Kayce were riding yesterday. "That one ain't broke yet and Rip will kill me if something happens to you." "Just tell him I held you at gun point." I say with a laugh. "I won't let him hurt you." I reassure him. Lloyd gets the horse for me and I walk him to the corral.
Rip's POV I wake up about 5 and notice that Miranda isn't in bed with me. I get out of bed and shower and get dressed. I walk downstairs and don't see her anywhere. I decide to walk down to the barn to see if the guys have seen her. As I'm walking I try to call her phone but it goes straight to voicemail. I get closer to the barn and I see someone sitting on the fence of the corral with a horse. I finally realize that it's Miranda and she's got the horse that Kayce brought here yesterday. "What are you doing out here baby?" I ask as I walk up behind her. She turns and looks at me. "I couldn't sleep. When I'm at home and I can't sleep, I go out to my barn to be with my horses. It's my peace and happy place." "What's going on in that pretty little head of yours?" "Just all the stuff from last night. Everything you said and everything Beth said." I go to say something, but she holds her hand up and finishes what she was saying. " I trust you Rip. I believe that you don't have feelings for her anymore. But I also know that she is not gonna let me have you without a fight. Eventually, Kayce, Monica, and John and everyone will have to pick a side. I just need to know that you will be on my side, that you will choose me."
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"Baby, there is no one else I want. We haven't known each other long, but there is no one else that I can imagine spending my life with. I will always choose you no matter what. I promise." I tell her as I climb up on the fence to sit next to her. She leans over to kiss me and pulls back with a smile. " I want to ride this horse." Miranda says. "Baby, this horse ain't broke yet and I don't want you getting hurt." "I won't get hurt baby. Please?" "Fine. Let me go get you a saddle." I tell her with a smile as I hop off the fence and head towards the barn. I get the horse saddled a few minutes later and Miranda climbs on him with ease. She whispers to him and he trots around the corral. I look up at her in shock. "That horse threw me and Kayce off yesterday. What the hell did you do?" I ask with a smile. "I showed him some love. Plus, I have the magic touch." She says with a wink. "Yeah, I bet you do."
