Oneshots - Kayce Dutton Book 2

Dont let your mind win.

Request - Reader sees something like somone being killed or something she don't speak to anyone just goes to the bedroom , kitchen and bathroom kayce dutton comes to the reader and helps her through it.

You felt cold inside, and it wasn't the freezing January air either making you cold. You knew what was making you feel the emptiness, but you couldn't shake it. It had never happened to you before; you've ever seen it before. Sure, it had been two weeks now, but it was like it was yesterday.

You were a vet tech and had been called out to the Dutton Ranch to help with some sick horses. Your boss and you had begun your day normal. Got to the ranch, met their foreman who took you out on horseback to where they had been keeping the sick animals. You got the injections ready while your boss took note of each horse and wrote down his prognosis. You remember seeing a group of wranglers watching you...one in particular caught your eye. He was younger than the rest, but still aged by hard work and sun. You learned from your boss later the man was the owner's youngest son and heir to the ranch one day. But all your thoughts were short lived because another group of men came over the hill and started to fire at the wranglers.

It was pure chaos for about thirty minutes. You tried to run away but weren't sure where you were running to. The horses scattered from the noise and movements. There was gunfire and yelling all around you. Your boss finally pulled you down behind some of the trees and the two of you waited for a few minutes. When the noise subsided, you leaned up and looked around one of the trees. You weren't sure what had happened, who anyone was, but when you looked back at your boss...he wasn't moving.

A stray bullet hit his chest and he was gone in less than a few minutes. That was it. He was just gone. You had worked for him for only a year, but you enjoyed the man. He was kind and loved animals and teaching others how to care for livestock the proper way. You had sunk to your knees and couldn't remember the rest of what happened. You were brought back to the barn and your truck, the owner, Jon, met you. He said some words about if you had problems to talk to him and not the authorities. But then you left.

That was two weeks ago. You hadn't gone into the office; you didn't go to the funeral...you weren't sure there even was a funeral. You had stayed in your little apartment in town, only moving from room to room. You were in a funk but didn't know how to get out of it.

It was Saturday morning when there was a soft knock at your door. You never had visitors, so you were nervous when you looked through your peephole.

It was the guy you saw that day. John's son...you never caught his name though. Your hand was shaking when you opened the door and looked out at him.

"Hi," The guy nodded his head. "Um...not sure if you remember me?"

"Yes," Your voice was rough, so you cleared your throat. "I r-remember."

He nodded and then extended his hand slowly.

"Kayce," With his other hand he reached up and pulled his cowboy hat off. "Kayce Dutton."

"Y/N," You willed your fingers to not shake as you placed your hand in his.

Kayce's hand was rough but warm. A nice feeling to feel after the last two week. He held your hand slightly too long, but when he let go of yours, you missed it immediately.

"Did you need something?" You asked after neither of you spoke. "Did I do something?"

"No," Kayce shook his head. "I uh...I called the office the past few days and they said you weren't there each time."

You blinked slowly. He called your office and asked for you?

"Oh," You glanced down at your simple jeans and sweater. "I just haven't...been to the office."

"That's why I'm here," Kayce said.

"Did you need something at the ranch?" You asked, trying to figure out what Kayce needed and why he'd call your office looking for you. "I haven't told...I haven't said anything to anyone."

"I know," Kayce nodded. "You've been here. Alone."

"I don't really have many people to talk to anyway," You shrugged. "Moved here a year ago."

Kayce's eyes were surprised by that.

"And then you get dragged into our mess," He mumbled. 

"What?" You asked, though you heard him.

"Nothing," Kayce shook his head. "Listen...you don't know me, and I could understand how you never want to know me...but when I called to check on you and you hadn't been to the office I got concerned. So that's why I'm here."

"To...check on me?" You asked.

"Yeah," Kayce nodded. "What happened was...well, I'm sorry about what happened."

"What did happen?" You asked, opening the door up more. "You can come in if you'd like. It's kind of cold."

"Sorry," Kayce stepped in quickly and you shut the door behind him.

"Here," You led him over to your couch and the two of you sat down.

"Those men were..." Kayce sighed. "My father has a lot of enemies and those were some just trying to scare us. But what happened to Lawrence was inexcusable. He'd been our vet for over a decade and that was...I'm sorry he's gone."

"Yeah," You felt your eyes water but pushed it down. "I don't even remember most of it."

"That's your trauma taking over," Kayce told you. "It can happen...your mind is protecting you, so it just doesn't let you remember."

You looked at him curiously. Sure, you had taken some psych in school for your degree early on, but this was a rancher's son. Kayce was now watching you analyze him and then it clicked with you. He knew what you were doing.

"You're not just a cowboy, are you?" You asked him.

"Uh..." Kayce ran his hat's brim through his fingers. "I served for a while before moving back here."

"Oh," You were surprised. "So, you...know some things about trauma then."

"Some," Kayce smiled softly at you.

He was a little more relaxed now that he sat with you.

"You really are checking on me, aren't you?" You asked.

"I am," Kayce nodded. "You looked so...lost and helpless and I couldn't get your face out of my mind. But when you still weren't at your office after three days of calling...mind you it had been a week at that point...I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"But you don't know me?" You looked at him still.

"I don't," Kayce nodded. "But I couldn't get your face out of my mind."

The two of you stared at each other for a few minutes.

"I can't sleep," You said softly.

"That can happen," Kayce nodded. "Sometimes there's some acceptance needed by your mind. Sometimes a change of scenery is needed. Sometimes it just takes some time."

You nodded your head as you listened.

"Time is gonna be your friend," Kayce finished.

"I haven't left this place," You looked around. "I just have no desire to do...anything."

"That's normal," Kayce looked at you.

"This isn't normal, Kayce," You laughed a little.

"Well, no...it ain't for you," He smiled.

"So..." You sighed. "Time?"

"Time," Kayce nodded. "I brought your bag that you left at the ranch."

"Oh, I didn't know I did," You said.

"Let me grab it," Kayce stood up, putting his hat back on.

"I'll come with," You slipped on some rain boots and followed Kayce out to his truck.

You felt your heart skip a beat when you saw the Ranch emblem on the side of his truck. He pulled your bag from the backseat and looked at you. 

"The horses need their second injection," Kayce said. "Do you uh...know someone who could do that for us?"

"You don't want me?" You said before you really thought about what you were asking.

"Do you want to?" Kayce raised an eyebrow.

"I mean," You reached out and took your bag from him gently. "I think it's what my boss would want me to do. Finish the job, save the animals."

"I don't want you to be uncomfortable," Kayce said.

"They'll need them tomorrow," Your mind was back into familiar territory now. "I can come out there around nine and it won't take me long."

"Are you sure?" Kayce asked.

"Yeah," You nodded. "It's my job."

"I'll be there," Kayce said. "I'll ride with you."

You nodded your head, feeling better about it now that you knew Kayce would be who you would be with. It started to mist a little in your face.

"Thank you," You said softly.

"Don't thank me," Kayce shook his head. "You shouldn't have gone through what you did...but the least I can do is help you through it."

"Well, sounds like it wasn't you but your father," You shrugged.

Kayce gave you a funny look but didn't respond.

"I'm gonna go," You nodded behind you.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Kayce nodded.

You walked back to your door and stopped, turning to look at Kayce who was still watching you.

"What do I do if I still can't sleep?" You asked him, the raining becoming harder now.

"Think of nice things," Kayce said. "Don't let your mind win."

You nodded and smiled, turning around and walking back inside.