Oneshots - Kayce Dutton

We do not need a dog

Request - Reader is an animal lover and finds a dog on the road and brings it home

"But why do we always have to eat what Dad likes?" Tate asked you from the backseat.

"Until you start bringing home money for this place to operate," You glanced in the rearview mirror at Tate. "Then you can decide what we eat for supper...and what are you complaining about? We've eaten what you requested the past three days!"

"But I don't like deer sausage," Tate mumbled.

"You don't like it when it's spicy like your grandpa made it that one time," You rolled your eyes. "I won't make mine spicy...or I'll make you some that don't have jalapenos in it, okay?"

"Y/N! Look!" Tate pointed out the window.

You looked over and saw a dog running across one of the fields toward the highway. He didn't look sick, just a little dirty. Maybe he was a cross between a retriever and a cattle dog or something? You didn't want him getting hit so you pulled your truck over, turning on your hazard lights.

"Stay in here," You said to Tate and got out.

You walked around the front of the truck and saw the dog had slowed down, looking at you with caution now. You couldn't see a collar on him...and you knew ranchers out here didn't normally chip their dogs.

"Here boy!" You whistled, but the dog still just looked at you.

You kneeled on the asphalt and slapped your thigh. The dog took a few steps toward you but then stopped. His tail was wagging though, so you took that as a good sign. But you had groceries in the truck and a hungry ten-year-old.

"Look, boy," You called out. "You either come to me or you're on your own out here."

The dog seemed to think for a few seconds and then started to walk toward you again. When he got closer you could tell he'd been out for a while due to the dirt and mud on his legs and belly.

Slowly you reached out your hand and the dog nudged it with his snout. You patted his head and scratched behind his ears while he got closer to you.

"See?" You smiled at him. "I ain't your enemy."

"Does he have a collar?" Tate called out with his head out of the window.

"Doesn't look like it," You said, standing back up. "But he's dirty. Let's see if he can ride in the bed and we'll take him with us."

"To have?" Tate smiled.

"To clean up and see who he actually belongs to," You eyed Tate as you passed him, the dog walking right next to your legs.

You pulled the tailgate down and stepped right to see if the dog knew what to do. He immediately jumped up and sat down, looking at you.

"Don't look at me like that," You shut the tailgate and walked back around to the driver's side.

"What should we name him?" Tate asked as you drove off toward the ranch.

"He ain't ours to name," You sighed, knowing Tate was already attached. "We're just gonna clean him and then take him to the vet in town and see who he belongs to."

"But what if he doesn't have an owner?" Tate asked. "Or what if his owner didn't want him?"

"We have ranch dogs, Tate," You pulled under the Dutton's sign. "He might not get along with them."

"He could just be our dog," Tate mumbled.

"Your dad will not want a dog," You pulled into your parking spot by the cabin you shared with Kayce and Tate when he was with y'all.

You and Tate got out and walked to the back of the truck. The dog was still there, sitting and looking at you expectantly. You pulled the tailgate down and the dog jumped out, walking around and sniffing while you pulled over the groceries.

"Can't you talk to him?" Tate asked.

"Who?" You handed him a bag.

"Dad?" Tate and you walked to the front door. "He does what you say."

"Clearly you haven't been married," You giggled.

You and Tate got inside and put the groceries away. After that, Tate helped you bathe the dog outside, making sure to clean him off really well. You told Tate to run him around to dry off as you put everything away back inside the house.

You walked back out front and saw Tate and the dog walking around. The sight was nice to see but then you saw Kayce's truck pulling in from work and got a little nervous.

Kayce parked next to you, got out, and smiled over at you as he walked up. You watched his smile falter though when he looked over at Tate and saw the dog with him.

"Whose dog?" Kayce asked as he walked up the stairs to where you were standing.

"We found him this afternoon," You looked up at Kayce. "We just gave him a bath because he was dirty."

"Want me to take him to the vet?" Kayce looked down at you.

"Well..." You wrapped your arms around Kayce's middle. "It's after five, the vet's office in town is closed for the evening."

"Baby..." Kayce shook his head. "We do not need a dog."

"But look at your son," You nodded to Tate. "He's so happy and he hasn't bothered me once about being bored this afternoon."

"You gotta feed it, pick up its shit...if it gets sick or killed by cattle," Kayce sighed.

"Tate can learn some responsibility with all of that," You tried. "He's old enough for his own dog."

"Yeah, but why do I feel like I'll be taking care of it mostly?" Kayce rubbed up and down your back.

"Hey," You leaned up on your toes and kissed his cheek. "I'll help too."

You pressed another kiss to his chin, stepping around to wrap your arms around his neck as your lips found his.

"Please, baby?" You whispered, your lips brushing Kayce's.

"Ain't playing fair," Kayce's hands squeezed your waist.

"I promised Tate I'd try hard," You giggled, kissing Kayce deeply now.

"Dad! Dad!" Tate called and you and Kayce broke apart.

Tate was standing, holding a stick near the steps. The dog was a few feet away, watching Tate like a hawk.

"Watch this," Tate hurled the stick across the field as the dog took after it.

A few seconds later, the dog was running back to Tate, dropping the stick into his waiting hand. Tate smiled back at Kayce.

"This is the best dog ever," Tate then threw the stick again.

You looked up at Kayce who was smiling at Tate and you knew between the two of you, Kayce would agree.

Later that night, you walked past Tate's bedroom to say goodnight and saw he was already passed out. The dog was curled up at the foot of his bed, looking at you. Kayce came out of y'all's bedroom and paused next to you.

You nodded inside and Kayce saw the dog too. He sighed, rolling his eyes at you while he walked away. You smiled, turning off Tate's lights and leaving a small crack in the door in case the dog wanted to get out.

You found Kayce on the couch with a whiskey. You sat down next to him, resting your elbow on the back of the couch, your hand holding your head up as Kayce's hand rested on your knees bent over his waist.

"You just had to stop for it," Kayce mumbled, but he had a smile on his face.

"You love me because I stop for animals," You smiled.

"I do love you," Kayce eyed you.

"And I love you because you know what's best for your son and our family," You leaned in and kissed Kayce's cheek.