Happy Cow Ranch

What Hurts the Most

"Uh, just a quick question... where are we going?" Weston pokes his head into the front seat, looking between Ryan and the solemn Dutton brother. Kayce glances back at Weston, then shifts forward, hunched over the small wheel.

"The Beck's have this old farm that they were going to tear down, because it's abandoned and in the middle of nowhere. If there's anywhere to hide a feisty, kidnapped girl, that's where," Kayce responds, keeping his eyes firmly on the road in front of him. Ryan turns around eyeing Weston.

"She's gonna be okay," He says, his tone low. Weston nods but says nothing, his mind wandering shortly after. What could they be doing to her? She's so young, so small. It seems to Weston as though this whole 'mission' is hopeless. Despite what Rip had told him, he didn't believe she could last very long. The jarring of this new land, rediscovering hard memories, and pure fear she must be feeling... it would break anyone's spirit. She must be so scared, so hopeless.

"What the fuck is that?" Kayce's voice shakes Weston from his thoughts. Weston looks up with a frown to see what the other men are gawking at. When he trains his eyes on the speeding bullet of a girl on a paint horse, his mouth falls open as well. Wes swallows hard and gives a small smile as he recalls Rip's words.

"That's a cowgirl," He states with a cathartic chuckle. He looks between the men in the truck. "Well, don't just stare! Let's go help her!"

With a great amount of tumbling the agents file out of the vehicle, the other Yellowstone truck pulling up close behind. John practically leaps from the truck, marching over to the men.

"What's going on here? Why'd you—" He's cut off by his son pointing at Maisie, and his eyes widen ever so slightly. Who does she remind me of?
"Maisie!" He calls, cupping his hands around his mouth.

Maisie twists her body around, brow furrowed as she tries to make out the group in the distance. Blood, grime, and sweat cake her form, dirt finding a way into every crevice and wound. The crowd looks shocked, and maybe concerned, but Maisie can't tell. Her attackers notice this distraction, however, and use it to shoot a bullet straight into her stomach. She tumbles off her horse, rolling once or twice before trying to lift herself up. When she falls, Beth screams, setting the whole group in motion. Before any of them can reach her, however, she pulls herself up, spits blood, and wobbles to her feet. She turns around to see the two men still barreling towards her, the more burly one taking the lead.

Maisie's lip twitches into a snarl, then she opens her mouth to scream, storming forward, gun in hand. As she fires off shot after shot, curls blowing wildly around her face, some sticking to her bloodied lips, John Dutton makes a revelation as to who the girl looks like. He chuckles slightly, before grabbing a gun and marching to her aid. The rest of the group follow suit, and the leaner man turns his horse away, slipping out of reach before a single shot can reach him.

"Go after him. Get him. Bring him back alive," John orders to one of the livestock agents, his gruff voice colored by subtle rage. The man nods and leaps into a truck, quickly overtaking the horse and rider.

The other horseman, however is still making his way toward Maisie, excitement playing in his wild eyes. Maisie crumbles, unable to harbor anymore strength, her body stretched out, face-down. Blood mixes with the dusty earth below her, and her gun falls just out of reach. Her eyes angle up as she feels a shadow blanket her, and hears the pawing of a horse.

Kayce can see the lone rider's mouth moving through the scope of his rifle, but all it takes is Maisie's flinch to make him pull the trigger. The man falls dead, and Kayce packs up his gun, shoving it back in the truck before following the others to Maisie's side. Rip scoops her up, but she insists that she can stand, so he sets her on her feet, still supporting her left side. Kayce takes the right and the two bend at the waist to hobble her towards the truck.

"Take the horse and follow us back to the ranch," John snaps at Wes as Beth climbs into the backseat next to Maisie. When Weston opens his mouth to argue it only takes one look from John to shut him up.

"Right, okay. Yes, sir," Weston grovels before mounting the paint horse. With negotiation and harsh kicks the horse begrudgingly zips off, Weston, never having to have worked that hard for a horse to go before, frowns.

Inside the car Maisie is quickly paling. Her long golden eyelashes flutter desperately, those sharp hazel eyes now dull, the once rich chocolate brown a dust color. Ryan is attempting to staunch the bleeding with his own shirt, applying as much pressure as he can without making her cry out.

"D-Don't worry ab-bout me. P-Press harder," She spits out every word, wincing from the effort. A trickle of blood rolls from her mouth when she hangs her head, so she quickly throws it back. Ryan looks at Beth who nods quickly, and with a grimace he supports her back with one hand and uses the base of his palm to push down. He freezes, eyes coming up from her wound. With a frown he moves the hand on her back around.

"What?" Beth demands. Ryan slowly meets her confused stare.

"There's no exit wound."