sunrise to sunset (ryan yellowstone).

who the fuck is laurel?

"Alright you assholes, I got one," Ryan said as he put down his hammer. He turned to the others  working their separate tasks in the new barn Rip had them assembling before the season kicked off into full swing. Well, everyone except Jimmy but Ryan didn't blame him for not really doing anything, it was probably safer for everyone if he didn't.

At least that's what Ryan thought after he watched Jimmy try to pry a bent nail out of one of the wall studs with a screw driver. He probably would have been at it for the rest of the day too if he hadn't almost stabbed Colby in the shin.

"Y'all hear about the guy that goes to see a doctor?"

Everyone stopped what they were doing to turn and look at him. It was hot out today, especially for the Spring season and the group was more than ready to take a break. 

Once Ryan thought he had a big enough audience, he leaned against the wooden support beam behind him and cleared his voice to start his joke.

"So a man goes to the doctor, and the doctor says, "sorry to be the one to tell you this, but you got cancer head to toe."

He gestured down his body to make his point before holding up one of his fingers.

"And you only have one week to live. So the man says, 'a week?! Well, that's not enough time! Doc, you gotta do something. I need more than a week!'"

He pinched his face into something akin to panic and looked to his best friend who already had a wry smile across his face. He'd heard this one before but it never got old when Ryan told it.

"And the Doc thinks, he sits down and he says, 'I'll tell you what to do: you go find yourself a barrel racer girl with two little dogs and you marry her. And the man says, "That's gonna make me live longer?'"

Ryan leaned forward and looked at the guys who waited for the punch line.

"And the Doc says, 'No but it'll make that week feel like a fucking eternity.'"

Ryan let out a loud laugh and the others immediately joined in. Colby rolled his eyes affectionately as he recalled when Ryan was the one chasing barrel racers. It was only a few years ago but man that ended up worse than a malfunctioning fireworks show on the 4th of July. 

Colby knew one thing about Ryan, when he found something he liked, he was relentless, whether it was good or bad for him. He was just happy that Ryan finally realized that barrel racers were as bad as they could come and they both made a pack to steer clear from that impending disaster.

Not worth the head ache and definitely not worth the heart ache.

"I don't get it," Jimmy said with just a hint of confusion. It was obvious to the others that he hadn't been around the block enough to find the irony of what Ryan just said.

"Jimmy," Colby sighed as he clapped Ryan on the back when he passed by. "When you're all growed up  and you've actually dated a woman, you'll think it's hilarious."

Llyod hummed and handed Jimmy a plank of wood to stop his jabbering. With Ryan's small distraction over, it was time to get back to work.

"Why are we building a barn out here anyways?" Jimmy asked as he moved to hold the board like Llyod indicated.

Llyod held a series of nails in his mouth. "Cause there isn't one out here..."

Ryan listened as Llyod continued to direct Jimmy into actually helping. The kid needed a firm and solid hand, and Llyod was the best and the only one to have enough patience to do so.

Hammers started to bang again in a rhythmic symphony as the boys turned their attention back to work. Rip had given them a deadline to have the foundation walls secured in place before sunrise.