Oneshots - Kayce Dutton Book 2

Ranch Snow Days

Request – The reader and Kayce wake up to a foot of snow outside the cabin. He's all "cowboy" and has to go help the wranglers. The reader stays cozy, cooks lunch for the wrangler because the cabin is closer than the main lodge, and then when the work is done, she cuddles Kayce by the fire. Just sweet and loving, please!

Your eyes hadn't left the window for the past five minutes. Kayce was still asleep in bed, taking the last two minutes before his alarm would go off. You woke up early for some reason, but when you walked back out of the bathroom you saw it. It had snowed fourteen inches during the night. It was literally a winter wonderland outside on the Dutton Ranch. It was beautiful to you and the smile on your lips was huge. A groan behind you made you look over your shoulder to see Kayce stirring.

Like clockwork, his alarm started. Kayce rolled over and hit the phone. You bit your lip to keep yourself from laughing as you watched his hand pat along the mattress as he searched for you, his eyes still closed. Slowly, he blinked his caramel eyes open.

"Good morning," You said softly, your voice still low from the sleep.

Kayce leaned up on his elbows with a lazy smile on his face.

"Morning, baby," Kayce yawned. "Why're you up?"

"Come here," You nodded your head. "Come look."

Kayce sat up and stretched before he stood and walked over behind you. His arms wrapped around your waist as his chin rested on your shoulder. The two of you looked out the window at the snow. You rested your hands over Kayce's.

"Isn't it beautiful?" You whispered.

"I'm already cold," Kayce chuckled, kissing your cheek. "But I know you love the snow."

"I do," You nodded. "They said we'd get a lot."

"Gonna be a bitch this morning," Kayce sighed. "Until we can get some pathways out from the stables."

"You're going out there?" You turned around and looked up at Kayce.

"I am?" Kayce laughed as if he didn't realize why you'd question him.

"But...you're not a wrangler?" You tilted your head.

"But I'm their boss," Kayce tucked some of your hair behind your ear. "It'll be good for all of us if I help them today."

"Rip can do it," You mumbled. 

For the past few weeks, Rip and Kayce had been at each other's throats. You had defended Rip, thinking Kayce was just being his normal hot-head self. Until you heard Rip bitching about Kayce as a man, or lack thereof when you were behind the barn. 

It had rubbed you the wrong way and ever since you hadn't defended the wrangler once. Kayce had picked up on it and for the first part, he enjoyed the loyalty. But now he was getting nervous that there was a serious problem between you and Rip. 

"One guy can't do that task alone," Kayce shrugged. "It'll only take a few hours...then we'll make sure the wood is stacked and air out some of the horses, by mid-afternoon we should be done pretty much for the day."