From Ranchhands To Soulmates (A Yellowstone Fanfic)

Chapter 17

@MarandaCook514 is dedicated and serves as a motivation for this book she portrays the character of Maranda in this book, and she's my biological cousin :) I decided to shout her out for all her hard work giving me ideas on where the story goes and I wanna thank her so much! 

Chapter 17

Caroline's POV

*The next morning*

"Angel... Wake up, my love," Jimmy whispered, kissing my cheek, and cooing me awake. I stretched and sighed happily. "Good morning, my love..." I replied, rolling over to face him. "How are you feeling, baby?" Jimmy asked me, stroking my cheek. I smiled and bit my lip before nodding. "I feel amazing. Last night was so fun. Thank you, love!" I say, stroking his cheek with a grin. Just then, there was a soft knock on the door. "Come in," I shout. The door creaked as Rip and Kayce walked in. "Good morning," I said to them with a smile. "Good Morning, darlin," Rip says sweetly. "Good morning baby," Kayce says, sitting beside me on the bed. "What's the plan for today?" I ask sitting upright in the bed. "Well, Lee and Lloyd are going to be on their way back from the auction by 8 or 9 this morning, then doctoring those new heifers and babies, then you're free to do whatever your heart desires," Rip answered me with a smile. "Okay," I say with a nod. "Are Ryan and Teeter home?" I asked, wiping my eyes. Kayce nodded and smiled. "Yeah, they're downstairs making breakfast," Kayce answered with a chuckle. That's all he had to say before I shot up outta bed and ran over to my closet. "I'm starving," I groan, throwing on some shorts and a tank top. "We figured you would be," Rip chuckled as Jimmy, Kayce and himself got out of my bed. "We'll see you two downstairs," Kayce says, smirking at me. I giggled and nodded as I headed into the bathroom to brush my teeth and hair. "Our girl wants a baby, and she wants one fuckin bad," Jimmy said to Kayce and Rip before they left the room. "We know," Kayce and Rip answered together. "Well, if you two wanna be the daddy, then y'all better get to work," Jimmy said, patting their shoulder before pulling on his underwear and jeans. I finished my business in the bathroom and exited the bathroom. "Ready?" I asked with a smirk. "After you, baby," Kayce says, playfully smacking my ass, earning a giggle from me. I nodded and left my room and headed downstairs. "Breakfast is ready!" Teeter hollered from the dining room as we all reached the end of the stairs. "Mornin' baby," I say, running over to Teeter, hugging her tight. "Mornin' Mama," Teeter grinned, hugging me back tightly. "Did you two have a good time?" I asked, smiling over at Ryan before looking back at Teeter. "The best time," Teeter confirmed with a blush. "Good, you deserve it," I say before sitting down at the table.

* * *

"Alright! Send the next one in," I say after injecting the vaccination into the heifer. Lloyd nodded as he lassoed the heifer and removed her from the arena. Colby and Teeter ushered the next calf in roping and got it pinned down, preparing it for me. "Ready, babe!" Colby hollered as I nodded and rushed over, injecting the heifer quickly. "Alright, next!" I say, wiping my forehead, ridding it of sweat before jumping the fence. "Care!" Maranda called out as she approached the arena. "Hey Maranda, what's the matter?" I ask, giving her my attention. At first glance, she looks fine, but after looking at her for a minute, you can see she's a little pale in the face. "I dunno, I just feel off today," she said worriedly. "Like what?" I asked worriedly. "Hang on, Colby! You take the next one please, I'll be right back!" I holler over to him, who gives me a nod before taking the injection from me. "Now, what exactly is it?" I asked her as I hopped off the fence. "I have this pit in my stomach like I can't shake it," Maranda explained. "Hmm, okay then, just stay by me and we'll keep an eye out. Go find Walker," I suggested. "Okay, why do we need Walker?" Maranda asked with a cocked eyebrow. "To keep his eye on you while I finish these cows duh," I giggle before hopping the fence. "Oh gotcha, I will. Be right back!" Maranda said, running off to find Walker. I shake my head as I jump back into the arena and get back to work. "Everything okay, babe?" Colby asked as called in the next heifer. "Yeah, I think so. Just keep an eye out, and be resilient," I say, nodding. "Yes, ma'am," Colby says with a nod, as they bring another heifer in. I continued to doctor the cows for another three hours until we finally were at the last heifer. "Alright, this is the last one, Care!" Lee hollered as he ushered the cow into the chute. "Thanks, Lee!" I hollered back before injecting the last heifer. "Babe, me and Maranda are going to go inside the house and check on the boys," I tell Colby and Teeter. "Okay, baby," Colby acknowledged me with a smile. "I love y'all be back soon," I said before climbing the fence. I whistle, grabbing Maranda's attention and heading towards the house. "Wait for me," Maranda exclaims as she runs to catch up with me. I slowed down and waited for her to reach me. "Now what's going on? How do you feel now?" I inquired as we made our way up the steps and into the house. "I'm feeling alright now. Trying to ignore it, mostly." Maranda says sitting on a barstool. "Still just the pit in your stomach?" I ask, walking over to the fridge and grabbing the tea pitcher. Maranda nodded and rubbed her head. "Go upstairs and take a shower in my bathroom. Use whatever you want. Then I'll see what to do next. How long have you felt that way?" I asked her, pouring us two glasses of sweet tea. "I woke up this morning in cold sweats, and the pit in my stomach. Feels like I have to keep looking over my shoulder..." Maranda said, shaking her head worriedly, before bringing her glass to her mouth. "Hmm..." I hum in understanding. "Well, the pit could be anxiety. Is there anything you're anxious about?" I ask, sitting beside her at the bar, sipping my sweet tea. Maranda shrugs from beside me. "We'll keep you safe and everything, don't worry. How are you and Walker?" I say, holding her hand. "I know and we're perfect, honestly. He's such a damn good man, and whew shit, that man's ass..." Maranda bragged, causing me to laugh uncontrollably. "Girl, my men too. Let me tell you what, I've never seen such a nice ass before I met these men." I say, winking at her. "I know that's right," Maranda said, laughing as she high-fived me. "Okay, well, just relax. I'm going to go check on the boys," I said, stepping down from the bar stool. "Okay, I'm gonna go shower," Maranda nodded as she got up and went to my bedroom to shower. I walked down the hallway to the office where the boys were supposed to be working on their schoolwork. "Carter? Tate?" I say, poking my head into the office. "Yes, Mama?" Tate says, first turning to me. "How's everything? Y'all okay?" I ask them both, smiling at my babies. "Yes ma'am, we're good. I'm almost done with science," Carter answered respectfully. "That's good, baby," I say proudly. "I need help with math, mama..." Tate says with a frown on his face. "Hold on, my love. Let me go get someone who can help," I said, before leaving the room quickly. I walk over to grab my cell phone before taking my phone out to call Jimmy. 'Hey baby' Jimmy says from the other end of the call. "Hey sweetie, are you any good at math?" I ask him quickly. 'Not precisely. I'm a dropout, but I think Ryan might be able to help!' Jimmy answered before yelling for Ryan to go to the house to help me. "Thanks, baby, Tate will appreciate this," I said sweetly to him. 'Anything for you and our boys, angel. Ryan's running up there now,' Jimmy replied, chuckling. "Thank you, love you, baby," I say, walking back towards the door of the office. 'I love you too, angel.' Jimmy said before ending the call. "Hey beautiful, where are you?" Ryan called from the front door. "In the office!" I called back, halting in front of the door, and waiting for Ryan to get here. "Okay, I'm coming," Ryan called before appearing in the hallway. "Hey baby, think you can help Tate with his math work? I'm terrible at math, honestly. I barely passed by the skin of my teeth," I told him honestly. "Yeah, no problem, sweetie. I'd love to help," Ryan said sweetly, rubbing his hand up my arm. "Thanks, baby," I replied with a smile before opening the door to the office. Walking into the room, I tell Tate, "Hey buddy, Ryan is here to lend a hand with your math." "Hey dude!" Ryan says high-fiving Tate. "Hey, Ryan!" Tate said happily as Ryan sat beside Tate. "What's up, Bud!" Ryan says to Carter, sending him a kind smile. "Hey, Ry!" Carter says, barely looking up from his English work. "Lunch is in a little while, babies, just waiting for Gator to call us." I say before walking out of the office. I decided to go upstairs and use Teeter's bathroom to shower while we waited for lunch to be served, and that's exactly what I did. I finished and quickly dressed myself, then threw my hair up into a messy bun. Just then, I got a phone call from Kayce. "Hey babe, what's going on?" I answered quickly. "Caroline, get the boys and Teeter to the bunkhouse! Tell the guys I need their help!" He said, sounding like he was in pain. "Why? What's going on? What's wrong with you?!" I ask him. "Don't worry about it right now, Care. I'll explain when I see you, okay? Just promise me, baby, that you'll take the boys and Teeter to the bunkhouse!!" He exclaimed over the loud noises in the background. "Yes, I promise!" I tell him, a tear falling down my face. "Okay, baby. Thank you, I love you," he says to me over the phone. "I love you too, Kayce," I say with tears falling uncontrollably, my fear overwhelming me for a second. "Maranda!" I yell, running towards my room from Teeter's bedroom. "What?!" She answered, swinging my door open, worry displayed all over her face. "We gotta get to the bunkhouse! Come on, run!" I said, running down the stairs. "Ryan!" I scream, running down the hallway towards the office. Suddenly, a masked gunman tripped me. "Motherfucker!" Maranda said as she snatched the gun out of the attacker's hand and hit him with the handle of the gun. "Get up, get the boys!" Maranda says as she shoots the guy in the thigh, rendering him unable to walk. I nodded and ran over to the office, swinging the door open. "We've got to the bunkhouse, now!" I screamed to Ryan, who immediately nodded, and the boys ran out of the office. "Baby, you've got a gun on you, right?" I ask worriedly. Ryan nodded before answering. "Yeah, I've got one baby. Let's move," Ryan says, cocking his gun. I nodded and ran out of the office to meet Maranda, who had the boys with her. "Let's go!" I exclaim as we all rush out of the front door. Outside was madness. Ranch hands were everywhere, doing their best to defend us. Horses were scattered, running free. "Teeter?!" I screamed out as we all ran towards the bunkhouse. "Y'all get to the bunkhouse, Caroline!" Ryan said as he shot the assailant that was coming up behind Jake. "Baby, go!" Ryan said again, snapping me into focus. "Come on, babies!" I say to my boys, leading them into the bunkhouse. "Where's Walker?!" Maranda asked after I closed and bolted the door behind us. "He'll be fine." I reassure her. "Momma, what's going on?!" Carter asked, with worried tears pooling in his eyes. "It's okay baby, we're gonna be okay..." I reassure him as best as I can. "I didn't see Daddy or Uncle Rip anywhere," Tate says, sitting on a bunk and pulling his knees up to his chest. I pull out my phone and immediately dial Rip's number. "Come on, Rip.." I say to myself as I wait for Rip to answer the phone. "Baby, get to the bunkhouse. John's been shot." Rip says as soon as he answers. "We are. I have Maranda and the boys here with me. Rip... baby, I don't know where Kayce is," I say, tears falling from my eyes. "Don't worry darlin, I just spoke to Kayce. He's got a care flight meeting me for John up in Hemmings pasture." Rip says as he speeds down the road. "Baby, shit is going down here. I don't want to sit here defenseless in the bunkhouse." I say, pacing the floor. "Oh, I know, darlin', but those boys need their mama, especially at a time like this," Rip says, trying to calm me down. "You're right. Where are the guns in here, just in case?" I ask him, looking around the bunkhouse. "Maranda knows where they are, but there's some pretty much everywhere. End table drawer for the handguns and the gun rack on the back wall for the rifles." Rip explained. "Okay..." I said, taking a deep breath. "I love you. I'm gonna get John to this chopper, then I'm going to help Kayce. You're safe, darlin," Rip reassured me. "I love you, Rip. Both of you come back to us." I say through my tears. "I love you, and I promise, I will," Rip says to me, before ending the call. I sigh and quickly try to gain my composure. "Alright, Maranda. Do not let my kids out of your sight, got it?" I said to her as I searched the end tables, looking for a gun to keep tucked in the back of my pants. "Why? Caroline, what are you doing?" Maranda asked me worriedly. "I've gotta go make sure my family is safe," I answer, walking over to grab a rifle off the gun rack. "No, no, you've gotta stay here, mommy! Please don't go," Carter begged immediately, rushing to me. "Okay, baby. I won't leave. But please, God, let them be okay," I agree, hugging Carter tightly. We all go sit with Tate on the bunk so I can hold both of my sons tightly. "You boys are so brave," I say in amazement to my boys. They hug me tighter and I sigh, kissing their heads. We sat there for the next two hours waiting for a sign that everything was over.