Oneshots - Kayce Dutton

Fathers get scared too

Author's Choice

"I'm sorry, Y/N," Tate said for the twentieth time.

"I'm not the one you're gonna have to explain yourself to," You took a deep breath as you watched the nurse stitch up Tate's cheek.

You had told him five times to be careful. Five times, you told him to watch his step and to not jump from boulder to boulder over the river. You had even warned him that it would be his father he would have to answer to if he slipped and hurt himself.

But Tate was just like Kayce. He was a daredevil and fearless for the most part. So, creating a game where he would hop from rock to rock across the river while the two of you went fishing just made sense.

But here you both were now, no fish and a clinic bill coming soon that you knew Kayce would moan about later. Tate was off school this Friday, but Kayce still had to go into the office. So, you had promised Tate to take him fishing, just the two of you. It had been a great day of donuts for breakfast and then riding out to your favorite spot on the ranch.

"Alright, I think that'll do it," The nurse said, smoothing over some gel to protect the cleaned-up stitching. "He'll had to come back here in two weeks, and we'll take them out, but it shouldn't leave a bad scar."

"Thank you," You smiled at the nurse.

Tate hopped off the table and you both walked back out to the reception. You were signing some papers when the door opened, and you felt Tate shift into your side. Looking over your shoulder you saw Kayce walking up to you, a large frown on his face. He looked down at Tate.

"I'm sorry," Tate squeaked out.

"We'll talk about it at home," Kayce snapped, his eyes finding yours.

"I don't know why you're looking at me like that," You raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm supposed to be making a fish fry right about now but here I am...making sure Tate gets taken care of."

Kayce relaxed his features some at your words.

He nodded, looking back at Tate. "Let's go."

The three of you walked outside but both of your trucks where there. Tate walked over to get into yours.

"Do you want to take him?" You asked Kayce softly.

"You still scared?" Kayce asked Tate.

You frowned at how harsh Kayce was being. Tate slowly nodded his head, looking at the ground.

"I'll see y'all back at the ranch," Kayce walked over to his truck.

Driving back with Tate you glanced in the mirror to see how upset Tate was.

"You okay back there?" You asked.

"Dad hates me," Tate mumbled.

"He doesn't hate you," You sighed. "Tate...your father was just scared."

"Scared?" Tate looked up at you.

"When I called him to tell him you were hurt and we were at the clinic, that scared him," You explained.

"Why did that scare him?" Tate asked.

"Because his biggest fear is something happening to you," You pulled into the ranch. "He never wants you to get hurt, and when he doesn't know the full story...he's going to expect the worst."

"Then why is he being mean?"

"Well," You pulled up next to Kayce's truck already parked. "Your daddy isn't the best at showing his feelings...so while he may come across like an old goat, he's really just trying to cover up his fear...does that make sense?"