Hell's Coming with Me

Daybreak

The name Dutton means everything within the state of Montana. Everyone knows the name because our ancestors claimed the land during the Westward expansion. When Americans pushed West, my ancestors did too. Some of my ancestors perished, but that was to be expected, during those days. Those that survived the West, settled the Yellowstone Valley.

Today, it's 2018 and we still own the land our ancestors claimed. Daddy still raises cattle on the ranch as we have always done for decades as our fathers have done before us. Daddy is also the Livestock Commissioner which means that he is an important man.

Livestock Agents are a type of Law Enforcement agency in Montana. Their focus is usually on protecting livestock, but basically, Livestock agents are police. Daddy is the Livestock Commissioner, much like a Police Commissioner. That makes him an important man who can protect the Dutton land. It also means he has political influence in the area.

He has the ear of the governor, the support of the local sheriff's office. Some of the transplants who move to Montana whisper about the corruption prevalent in the Dutton household. But I've never seen or heard of any lawbreaking or law bending that my family are rumored to have committed. If anyone asked, I could just state that my father's ranch kept the family fed every winter. We never had to worry about where our meal was coming from.

Daddy and Mom had five children during their marriage. Three boys and two girls. My only sister's name is Bethany Dutton. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her job has something to do with acquisitions and mergers. Beth is good at her job, she knows how to be cut-throat and ruin the lives of men.

I often missed being able to speak with her face-to-face. She was my protector when I was younger. Beth made sure that anyone who had words to state about the quiet and gentle Dutton girl, ate their words by the time she was through with them. Beth helped me pick out clothes for school, helped me learn how to fix my makeup. But she hated being on the ranch; as soon as she graduated Beth was gone. She went to college far enough away from Montana that she didn't have to hear the Dutton name for over six years.

My three brothers are named Lee, Jamie, and Kayce. Lee is my oldest brother. He lives to work on the ranch and also being a livestock agent. Lee will inherit the ranch when Daddy dies. Its why Lee is considered the foreman of the ranch. He lives to work on the ranch.

I can always count on Lee for any type of help needed with an outdoor activity or horseback riding. Lee taught me how to ride after Mom passed. He is also the only brother, besides Kayce, that I have trouble beating in a fair race. But Lee is also the brother I can come to and discuss anything with. He keeps his mouth shut and doesn't tell a soul any of my worries or stresses. He was the only sibling I could count on to keep quiet, except maybe Kayce.

Jamie is my middle brother. He is a lawyer who graduated from Harvard. Jamie had the brains of the family and was a brilliant lawyer. Yet, Jamie struggled with being forceful. Where Beth and Daddy had an abundance, Jamie wanted to be nice.

Jamie also lived at home since he was the lawyer for Daddy, the family, and the ranch. It was due to Jamie that I managed to get into Advanced Placement courses and pass with an almost perfect GPA.

Finally, there's my brother Kayce. He was only older than me, so he was the baby boy of the family. Beth liked to state that he was Mom's favorite kid since he could ride a horse as if he was born riding. I don't really remember much about Mom, being only two and a half when she passed.

Kayce and Daddy had a disagreement about the woman he is married to. Kayce left the ranch and joined the military. He hasn't come home in over a decade. I missed my brother so much. Lee wouldn't clarify what the disagreement between Daddy and Kayce was – just said they had a difference in opinion. His wife is a Native American, so he lives on the reservation with her and their child. Kayce and I kept in contact via phone.