For Him, I Would

Chapter Twenty-Three - Line the players up.

"Oakley, do you have any updates for your district?" Sarah asked through the virtual meeting Monday afternoon.

"My district has all its inspections in, we're just pending the Crosby's, but I have full faith it'll get approval from Marshall by Wednesday," Oakley looked at her notes next to her laptop. "I've got one winter training at the end of October with the Montana Petroleum Association's division out here...and though we've all heard, we have a new Livestock Commissioner, so I'll be at the reception tomorrow night, I'll look for you Sarah, for that since he's from this district."

"Yeah, your update said Dutton though," Sarah leaned in towards her screen. "Who is the new one?"

"Dutton," Oakley looked up. "Kayce Dutton."

"I'm assuming he's related to John?" Sarah asked.

"His son," Oakley nodded.

"Gotta love nepotism," Sarah rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Oakley...Eric, are you ready with your district?"

Oakley didn't really listen in on Eric's updates as she sighed deeply. It was looking like her new boss wasn't the biggest fan of John Dutton no matter how hard Oakley tried to reason with her. But Sarah wasn't entirely wrong though about the awkwardness of the father-son swap for such an office.

"Alright y'all...thanks for today," Sarah closed her booklet in front of her. "Hey Oakley, could you stay on for a minute?"

"Sure," Oakley nodded while the other team members all signed off. "What's up?"

"I just wanted to check in with you," Sarah sighed. "How's everything out there going?"

"Things are okay," Oakley shrugged. "Getting a little back to normal."

"Are you still at the Yellowstone?" Sarah's eyes glanced around Oakley's screen.

"Uh, I am..." Oakley leaned up in her seat. "Is that okay? Should I probably look to move back home?"

"I just don't want to burden you," Sarah shook her head. "If you think you're done, I trust your judgment. I haven't heard back from Helena if there's anything else on the inspection so it may be just that...we're done."

"Feels weird," Oakley leaned on her fist. "For it to just be over."

"Yeah, there's a lot of red flags," Sarah agreed. "But there's something about John Dutton that makes them go away in the night. He's a lot of the talk around Helena."

Oakley felt an uncomfortable feeling in her stomach.

"For what it's worth, I think he's only trying to preserve something that's been in his family for generations," Oakley offered. "Sometimes people get defensive, and it can come across as guilty for those who might not...understand it completely."

"What do you know about his son, Kayce?" Sarah asked. "Have you seen him around at the ranch?"

"Uh," Oakley glanced around. "I went to school with him, we grew up together and we're...sort of friends?"

"Why are you being weird?" Sarah laughed.

"Not weird," Oakley shrugged.

"He's kinda cute," Sarah looked down at what Oakley could only guess was a picture of the new Livestock Commissioner.

"Um, sure," Oakley knew her cheeks were pink, but hopeful the screen blurred it out. "I guess he is."

"Do you know if he's single?" Sarah asked.

Oakley knew Sarah had been married before, maybe even twice, but never asked about it. She also knew Sarah was about ten years older than she was. Oakley recognized a feeling inside her though. It was the same one she got any time Monica came around her, the same feeling she got when they were at the horse show this past weekend. Oakley was jealous of anyone who might be interested in Kayce. When had she become that girl again?