"To thine own self be true" Yellowstone fanfiction

chapter 31 "ol Waylon"

"hey Twitty bird" his voice called sweetly from behind me. I turned around to see the man I once adored. Travis took his hat off placing it into his chest as he stood beside me. I kneeled in the long waving grass of my father's land. I ran my fingers through the freshly dug up dirt. I sniffled to myself as glanced down at his boots. "Hey darlin" I wiped the tears from my cheeks. Travis kneeled down beside me stroking my long dark hair. "I should've called you sooner when I noticed his health declining" I say softly. Travis shook his head. "I think you may have saved me from a lot of sorrow" he chuckled slightly. "Wanna tell me what happened?"
I sighed as I ran my finger through the dirt. "He was doing alright...for a long time... I noticed almost a year ago he went deaf. For the past week he wouldn't eat...wouldn't walk... Wouldn't drink...he wouldn't even talk to me. He sat on the porch and slept..." I wiped my eyes once more as I sniffled into my dressed sleeve. "18 years is a long time Twitty bird" I nodded. "I know... I know.. he's the only person who truly wanted to stick by my side" he placed his hand on my thigh rubbing it to soothe my sadness. "He was the best damn kid" He says. I nodded again. "Man.. time flies" I laughed sadly as I looked at Travis aging face. "Time flies and you're still as beautiful as the day we met" he placed his big rough hand on my porcelain cheek. "Just a lot more tired and mean" I snickered. Travis leaned over and kisses my head. "You were the best mama to him. You know that?" I nodded. "I tried to be. He was the best damn boy" I glanced behind me as a small voice cried in the breeze. I stood up making my way to a shade tree where a stroller stood still. "Guess your nap is over hm?" I gently placed my hand underneath the childs head picking her up then rubbing her back in comfort. "Who is this?" Travis says with a bright smile across his face. "she ain't Mine right?"he joked. I swung my open hand at his chest as he chuckled. "This is my daughter Jennings" I smiled with pride. Travis took his finger into the palm of her teeny hand. "How old?" He asked. "Six months yesterday" Travis watched with glazed over eyes, he was speechless. "I never thought I'd get another opportunity" I say as I watch his amused face. "Told you it was me. I was the problem" I shook my head again with a small laugh. "She's my first and my last. Doc says she destroyed my body during the birth" he looked up "what went wrong?" He asked with concern. I smirked. "I get this-" I laughed loudly "I was too tight! How many bitches can say that!" Travis smirked "didn't I also tell you that when we're were together too?" I smacked his chest once again. "Get away from me you pig!" I smiled as I laid my daughter down in her stroller. Her blue eyes glistened at the light sparkling through the trees leafs. "Hey!! Quit getting a quicky and lets go! We've got work to do!!" One of Travis men called from yards away. Travis tossed up his finger at his man before turning to me placing his hands on my arms. "You take care of yourself mama. Waylon will be watching over Jennings for. Sure" he kissed me gently on the lips. I glanced up at him. "You too" I said with no other word. He made his way back up to the barns. I looked down at my small child before pulling the strollers hood up. "Come on baby. Let's go find your brother. Make fun of him for a little bit" I pushed the baby through the tall grass making my way up the gravel drive. "I was wondering where you went! Went up to the house and you weren't there!" My father called as he joyfully walked up to the stroller with no hesitation. "There's your papa!" I smiled as the baby squealed in excitement. My father reached down to pick up the baby with so much warmth in his heart and pride in his eyes. "That's that sweet face I've been waiting for" he smiled as we walked to the front porch of his home. I followed him up to the steps admiring his love for my daughter. "So. How are you and rip?" My father asked. I released a long sigh then sent a look out into the land. "We're... Fine" I say. We weren't fine. We weren't in the best shape. "What does that mean?" He frowned a bit agitated. "Well Daddy, you know. Things are kinda tense right now" my father shook his head "how tense could things be? You both just had a child. You should be in a happy stage" he ran his thumb over my daughters chunky arms as he looks back at her. "There is just a lot of disagreements".
"Stop beating around the bush Twitty" I huff. "I want to go back to work but he doesn't want me to. I run this ranch too" my father shook his head again. "I'm sorry Twitty but you gave up the cowgirl life when you got knocked up. This baby needs her mama" he slightly bounces the curious child as she goos over a bird flying in the air. "I told you there were going to be issues when you're messing with a man who was once messing around with you know who" he says with strength. "I'm not talking to you about this" I sat up from leaning on the wall. "I'm just saying Twitty" I rolled my eyes. "You worry about you, I'll worry about me okay?" I stepped down the porch looking back at him. "Now watch your granddaughter for a minute" I smirked as I walked down the gravel drive to see what the loud yipping was about.

I leaned my arms on the fence watching the boys goof off with Travis . It seemed they were placing bets along with humorous insults. Standing Beside me as I glanced over stood Casey holding his arm around tate who also stood to watch the horses. Tate turns his head to look at me and then smiles. "How much longer until Jennings is old enough to wrestle?" Casey looks down at him then back up at me following a loud chuckle. "awhile buddy. She's just a baby" Casey patted his shoulder. "Soon enough honey. Let her build her muscles before she kicks your ass" I smirked. Tate shook his head. "No way! I'm not getting my as kicked by a girl!" Tate waved his arms as he wandered into the horses stables behind us. Casey smiled to himself before looking out at the competition. "How's the mom life?" Casey asked. I hummed a smile "it's okay. Could be better I'm sure" Casey crossed his arms. "It would be a lot better if the father were present hm? Maybe even a little loving towards the mother?"

"Jesus Christ! Casey not you too dad is brain washing you" I rubbed my face as I groaned in annoyance. "Twitty. I'm about this close to kicking his ass" Casey moved closer to me holding up his thumb and index finger. I shook my head "it's a rough patch. I'm sure you and Monica had a rough patch. I think both you and dad should bud out of my relationship k?"

"All I'm saying is I don't think there is room for a third person in your relationship" Casey looks a bit pissed off. I placed my hand on his arm. "Worry about yourself. Worry about YOUR family"

"I am twitty. You are my family"

"I really do appreciate it sweet pea. But I can hold my own" I patted his arm before stepping past him to the bunk house. I reached into the fridge grabbing a beer. "There you are" rip quotes behind me. I turn to look at him. He was his same usual self, just rough looking. Tired as always. "Yeah?" I twisted the cap off my beer tossing it into the sink. "where's my kid?" He questioned. "With my dad" I say as I suck the tip of the bottle. "Shouldn't you be with her?" He asked as he takes sthe beer from my hand. "Rip, she's been attached to my hip for 6 months. I could really use a break. Give me that back"

"I'm pretty sure that's what mother's are for. To take care for their children. You're also. Ot supposed to be drinking while breast feeding" I glared at him. "Who the fuck do you think you're talking to? I can take a fucking break. I don't you see you watching her" I shook my head as I walked to the door to leave. "the hell's that mean? I work! I'm always at work!"

"And when you're not at work you're where rip? Hm? Where? When our..may I repeat OUR daughter is screaming her head off where are you? Ooo that's right. May I dare say it" rip clenched his jaw then mumbled something under his breath. "I'll see you at home. If you choose to come come" I slammed the door behind me. "Twitty bird! C'mere honey!" Travis called. My frown almost instantly turned into a smile. "The hell you want now?" I hollered as I climbed up on the fence to reach his height of his horse he sat on. "You wanna take a ride around the pasture with me?" He tilted his hat as he held out his hand. I gently placed my hand in his palm. I turned my head as I heard the sounds of my daughters cries. I knew her cries. This was a lonely cry. I pulled my hand out of his palm. "Can't... Them are 'I want my mama' cries. But I'll take you up on that offer later. How about that?" Travis tilted his hat. "Of course mama" I slipped off the fence to follow the sound of her tears, Behind me followed rip who was also concerned of her lonely cries. Rip also knew his daughters sobs from one another. Gently my father bounced his granddaughter in his arms. He looked down at the both of us from the porch. "I've been a father to more than one kid. This ain't my first rodeo. Y'all didn't have to come running to the rescue" he chuckled. Rip and I both smile a smile of relief. "Here's your mama little lady" I took Jen in my arms as she already started to calm down. "I should probably get her inside. Starting to get a little chilly out here. Say good night papa" I waved her teeny little hand as my father kissed her small fingers. "See you in the morning" my father waves. I don't make eye contact with rip at all as he continued to stand beside me as I place the child I the stroller. "I'll walk you" he says softly. I didn't say a word. I just made my way home.