"To thine own self be true" Yellowstone fanfiction

chapter 22 "Maggie"

"come on boy! Get you some exercise!" I shout as I clap my hands. Waylon bolts past me. Waylon wasn't just a dog to me. He was almost like a child. I know animals are not children but this one was. He's been there though everything with me. I left a lot of tears on his coat. He was 16 years old and still wild and free. His diet and exercise keeps him alive. He has vet visits every month, never missed a single one. My boy wasn't just my boy, he was everyone's boy. He kept everyone in check, all the heifer's in line. I walked from the house down to the stables watching Waylon bolt across the dirt road. I tilted my head as I saw two large tractor trailers parked outside of the barns. A smile peeled across my face. "Hey cowboy! Where is my damn child support!" I yelled across the way. A familiar face turned around with a bright crooked smile. "Well looky who we have here! Must've been a prison break or something!" Travis slid his rear across the fence skidding to the other side of said fence. "Hell ain't you the sexist woman I've ever seen" Travis trotted over picking me up in a hug. I haven't seen Travis in years, even years before my sentence. He kisses my cheek. "Where's my fuckin child support huh?" I punched his chest before fixing the collar of his shirt. "Right here mama" he kissed my face once again. I pushed him playfully. "Speakin of that where is my boy?" He looked around, with a simple whistle through my fingers, out sprung the senior dog. He barked and screamed in happiness as he saw Travis. "Hey buddy! What are you doin buddy!!?" He baby spoke as he smacked the dog on the belly. "Damn baby you're going grey ain't you boy! Ain't you!" He kissed the dog more than the dog kissed him. I flicked Travis hat "yeah grey like his daddy!" I smirked. "Hell no! I ain't goin grey! Not yet!" Travis chuckled as he held the medium sized dog in arms. "I beg to differ" I pet back Waylon's ears before turning around at the sound of the boys yelling. I looked back at Travis. "You selling?" I questioned. He nods as he adjusted his hat. "yep. Your old man wants to buy. Says he's got more cowboys than horses" I walk beside him as he held his arm around me. "Believe it or not. We've been needing all the help we could get" I squinted up at him. "then leave it to me baby. Let me get you the best horses I got" Travis hopped the fence again put this time hopping on his horse instead of the ground. I leaned forwards on the fence between my father and rip. Rip watched me with slight confusion. I glanced at him. "What are you looking at?" I dug in my pocket fiddling out a cigarette. Rip held out a lighter lighting it for me, he then cocks his head towards Travis. "the hell is that about?" He questioned. I shook my head "old new baby. Old news" I looked back At Travis's men who were showcasing horses. Leaning over the fence Travis glances at me, back and forth back and forth. I could feel rips eyes. Rip releases a chuckle along with a slight scoff. "Don't look like old news" I climbed up onto the fence sitting on the top. I looked down at rip "what do you care?" I held in laughter. I liked the jealousy. I wanted it to continue. "How much for that one trav?" My father questioned. My father had his eyes on an American paint horse. She had white and brown splotches. She was gorgeous, talented too. Travis chuckled then shook his head "too much for you old man" my father huffed with a delighted chuckle. "How much!"
"One million John. Out of your price range" Travis twirled his fingers on his saddle reigns watching my father ponder. "How about 500,00?" My father offered. Travis nearly laughed off his horse. "Yyyeeahh! Right! You know how hard it is to train one of them son of a bitches!" Rip rolled his eyes. "It's just a damn horse" rip chuckled. Travis waved his finger "no way. If you're looking for JUST a horse go to the reservation! Get yourself a wild boy! These girls and guys are pure bred. Pure!"

"How bout 6?" My father offered once more. Travis shook his head again as he sucks his teeth watching the horses. "Can't do it Dutton. Sorry" my father grumbled. I put on a cute smile as I kicked my feet. I glanced up at Travis from under my sun hat. "How about 400,000" I smirked. I could almost see Travis eyes budge out of his sunglasses. His balls hit the floor. Chopping on my gum I gave him a beautiful smile. His face softened. I knew it would. He moved his horse close to us. He held out his hand. "You gotta deal twitty birdie" he grinned. I giggled as I hoped down off the fence to look at my father. My father shook his head laughing as rip did the same. "Psh!" My father waved his hand at me as he began to walk away "I'm leaving this up to you!" He shouted as he left. Travis got off his horse leaning his arms on the fence infront of where I continued to lean back on. "I was just kidding trav" I giggled as I faced him, I leaned my cheek on my hand. "I want you to have it. It's one of the best horses I've got"
"No way trav! I can't take him!" Travis laid his hand on my arm. "Please. He's a gift. I insist" he rubbed his thumb on my sleeve. "Waylon ain't gonna last forever"
"Don't you say that! You'll make me cry!" I laughed softly looking at the ground. "Hey, what are you doing later darlin?" He tucked my hair behind my ear. "Let's get some drunk or something'' he mentioned. I smiled softly at the ground shaking my head once more. "Can't. I'm on parole" I glanced up at him slightly "Don't pick at old scabs Travis unless you want an open wound" Travis grumbled "I know...I know.. it was worth a shot" he grazed this thumb over my cheek. "It was nice seeing you flower girl" I held my hand on his. "You too" I batted my long lashes at him. He gazed into my eyes as if we were kids again. I patted his arm before stepping away, I stopped in my tracks. "Say... What's the horses name?" I asked
"Hank Williams!" He chuckled. "Figured as much!" I stepped away as I picked up my hair tying it up. Behind me a felt rips presence. I glanced over with a bobby pin in my mouth. "Hm?" I grumbled. "The fuck was that about?"

"Rip ask me that one more damn time" I chucked as I took the pin from my mouth pushing it through my hair. "Never knew you were close to him like that"

"Don't start asking me about my past rip. I don't ask about yours"

"What is there to ask? You know everything about me. I don't know a damn thing about you apparently"

"Maybe we should keep it that way rip." I shrugged my shoulders as I clapped at Waylon who wandered over to my feet and sat. "What are you on about?" Rip held his thumb in his belt as he stood with his hip out. "I'm talking about the little fun you have with my little sister. Thought you were done with that" rip rolled his eyes. "I ain't talking about this anymore" he turns to leave before I say "don't you even love me rip?" I dropped my hands at my sides. He stays quiet for a moment as I watch him watch the ground. He scratches the scruff on his face then replies with "alot. More than life it's self" he walked away leaving me speechless.....