Oneshots - Kayce Dutton Book 2

I'll help you rebuild

Request - Middle of winter. The neighbors had to call the fire department because they woke up to smoke in the house and the wranglers were near the fence between the properties Rip calls Kayce because they were childhood friends who hadn't seen each other since Kayce was overseas. turns out to be the furnace broke. Rip offers to take her back to the ranch with them but she says she has to wait for her son who was at his father's that weekend. Kayce and the father are both at the end of the driveway but Kayce beats him to it and just flies down the road or something like that sorry.

You wanted as the thick, black smoke still lingered in the air. Your parents had built this house before you were born. You grew up in this house...and for the past year, you have been raising your son in this house. 

It was going to take weeks, maybe even months, to fix the damage done but the fire. Luckily for you, your neighbors had caught it and called you. Your family's ranch bordered the infamous Dutton Ranch to the south and west. John Dutton and your father had been...cordial, to one another for the most part. 

You remember growing up with a few of the Dutton kids for some of the years. All that stopped though with Evelyn's death. You couldn't even remember the last time you saw anyone other than John or a wrangler. 

Speaking of, it was the wranglers who saved your home. You looked over to where Rip was standing and explained something to the fire department's chief. Walking over, you watched Rip shake the man's hand and then look at you. 

"I don't know how I'll ever say thank you," You told him, wrapping your arms around yourself. 

"You just did," Rip nodded. "Glad you or Henry weren't home." 

"He's with his dad," You told him. "I called and left a message, but my ex doesn't really...well, we ain't on good terms." 

"Do you need someplace to stay?" Rip asked. "I know Mr. Dutton would tell us to bring you back." 

"I need to wait and see if I can get a hold of my son," You smiled though. "He's supposed to come back tonight." 

You heard a diesel truck and looked over your shoulder. 

"Might be him," You muttered. 

But another truck flew past the bend in the road. It had a Yellowstone logo on the doors as it came to a stop near where you and Rip were standing. Kayce Dutton got out fast, Commissioner's badge, gun, and all. You could have sworn you heard Rip snort under his breath. 

"You alright?" Kayce asked you, almost out of breath himself. 

"Fine," You looked confused. 

You hadn't seen Kayce in a few months. You ran into him occasionally in town and knew he had a son from his own previous marriage, but that was about it. He looked concerned though, almost scared as he looked you over. 

"I-I wasn't home," You told him as Kayce stood in front of you. 

He looked over at your house. 

"Damn," Kayce whispered. 

"Yeah," You sighed, hearing another truck. 

Looking over you saw your ex-husband's truck come to a stop behind Kayce's. Your five-year-old son came running out. 

"Momma!" Henry called and you bent down to pick him up, feeling your eyes water as your arm wrapped around him. 

"Hey, baby," You squeezed him. 

"What the fuck happened?" Your ex asked, slowly walking over. 

Your eyes narrowed at him. 

"What did you do?" He looked at you. 

"Think even an idiot could see it was a fire," Kayce snapped from next to you. 

You looked up at him. 

"Jesus," Your ex sighed. "I'm headed to Laramie...I can't take him with me." 

"I didn't ask you," You pulled Henry closer to you. 

"I don't have an extra key for you either," He looked annoyed. 

"Don't think she asked you for that either," Kayce said. 

"Who are you?" Your ex looked at Kayce. 

"Neighbor," Kayce answered. 

"Y/N," Your ex looked back at you. "I don't have-"

"Time, I got it," You snapped. "You can go...don't worry about us." 

He shook his head but turned around. The anger left your body as you watched his truck back up down the driveway. When he was out of sight you let a long breath out. 

"You can stay with us," Kayce told you. 

"It's okay," You shook your head. "We can stay at a motel or something." 

"Y/N..." Kayce blinked. "My son will be at the house, they can play around while you have some space to figure this out." 

"Momma? I wanna play," Henry looked up at you. 

You sighed, glancing back over at your house. It was getting dark now and a few flakes of snow were beginning to fall. Your head was nodding before you spoke. 

"Can you watch him while I go see if some of his clothes survived?" You asked Kayce. 

"Rip?" Kayce looked at the older man who nodded. 

"Come on, Henry," Rip nodded. "Let's go find Tate." 

Kayce followed you over to where Henry's room was still standing, even if it was a skeleton of a space now. You tried to look around but things were burnt to a crisp. You knew they were just things, but seeing it all in front of you was too much. 

Warm tears started falling down your cheeks as you wiped them away. You sniffed, smelling the burnt wood around you. 

"Hey," Kayce touched your shoulder, making you look up at him. "It'll be okay." 

"This was my home," You told him, feeling miserable. 

"You'll rebuild," Kayce told you with comforting eyes. "I'll help you." 

You glanced around and bit your lip. Suddenly, Kayce's arms were around you, holding you against his chest. You felt yourself have a moment, crying into his chest with the weight surrounding you right now. 

"Thanks," You told him after a while when you pulled back. 

"You'll be okay," Kayce told you and you believed him. 

One of his hands moved to hold your cheek. His palms were rough, but warm as you looked into his brown eyes. They were comforting to you. 

"You ain't alone," He told you. 

A small smile broke out on your lips. The two of you made your way back over to his truck and Kayce drove you to his ranch for the evening. He did everything to distract you, making you laugh with Tate and Henry. You felt yourself feel better as the evening went on and you found yourself thinking that maybe Kayce would be the one to help you rebuild your life.