Rancher's Daughter

Conflicted

Emmett smiles at Shiloh before speaking again, "Can I buy you a drink?"

"Oh, umm..."

"Shiloh, go ahead, Rick and I have a few things to discuss," John orders, dismissing her. Shiloh frowns at her father, not pleased that he is dismissing her off with a stranger.

"Sure, thank you, Emmett," she speaks cordially. Emmett offers his arm, and Shiloh slides her arm through it and allows him to lead her to the bar.

"What'll it be, Shiloh?" His husky voice is deep and quiet, and pitched for only her to hear.

"Rum and coke, please."

"One rum and coke and a whiskey, straight," Emmett tells the bartender, passing over a black credit card.

After receiving their drinks, Emmett leads Shiloh over to a high top table. Shiloh glances around for her father, and finds him chatting with some older men across the room.

"So, tell me a little about yourself, Shiloh."

"Not much to tell, I guess, I just work on our ranch," Shiloh replies shrugging and taking a sip of her drink.

"Now, that's not true. You're also a hell of a barrel racer."

"Oh, well, umm...thank you," she feels herself blush slightly. Emmett smirks and brushes her cheek with his thumb.

"Yes, they really couldn't have chosen a better little fiancé for me," he speaks, bringing his own drink to his lips.

Shiloh, who was in the midst of taking another drink of hers, chokes. "Wh-what?"

Emmett pats her back gently. "Your father didn't tell you?" At her blank look, he sighs and continues. "Our fathers have worked out a deal that will be beneficial to everyone. Don't worry, I'll treat you like a princess."

"I'm sorry, but you're insane. My father wouldn't do this. And even if he did, he would have to know I wouldn't agree to it."

Emmett catches her chin with his thumb. "Then you will lose the ranch," he says simply. Shiloh gulps.

"You're lying."

"Princess, one thing I promise you now, I will never lie to you." Shiloh looks over at her father, who is giving her a hard stare. "Listen, you can talk to your daddy later. For now, we need to make our rounds. The more public this is, the better." And lord help her, Shiloh can't find the courage to ask why that is.

...

That son of a bitch father of hers left her at the venue, forcing her to catch a ride with Emmett. He pulls his black Audi up in front of the house and parks, before coming around to open her door.

"Thank you for bringing me home," she grits out, eager to go inside and tear her father a new asshole.

"No problem, Princess. I'll see you soon. Your daddy gave me your number, so I'll call you tomorrow, ok?"

"Sure." She opens the door, closing it as he leans towards her, and she swears she hears him laugh as she locks it. Taking a deep breath, she kicks off her shoes, gathers every bit of oxygen in her body, and yells, "PAPA!"

She hears a mumble of "Shit." from the other room, and she stomps in that direction. John, Beth, and Jamie are all in the kitchen having a glass of scotch.

"Would you like to explain to me what the hell is going on?!" she demands. John gives her a stern look, and it almost tamps down her tirade, but not quite.

"Well, I guess he told you then," John sighs, leaning against the counter.

"I won't do it." Shiloh folds her arms over her chest defiantly.

"Yes, you will," Beth says. Eyes blazing, Shiloh whips around to face her sister.

"You marry the motherfucker then! I'm sure one Dutton pussy is as good as any!" Beth smirks at her.

"Oh, no. They asked for you, especially."

"What the fuck is happening around here?!"

"Shiloh," John grabs her shoulders. "The ranch is in trouble. Big trouble. And the only way to keep it in Dutton hands is to take their help. This was the nuclear option, but I've ran through all the others."

"But, the cattle...and..."

"The last few years herds have been bad, you know that. Shiloh, I'm just trying to keep our home, Honey."

"UGGGGGH!" she growls, stomping out of the kitchen, out the backdoor, and across the backyard. Her bare feet take her to the one place that she feels like she can be heard.

The footfalls on his porch alert him to her presence, and Rip opens the door. "Shi..."

"Rip, I won't do it!"

"You won't do what, Darlin'? What's goin on?"

"Rip, they want me to marry that...that...ugggh!"

"Shiloh, Baby, I need you to slow down. Come in." He takes her hand and leads her inside, she plops down on a leather chair in his living area. "Now, what is happening?"

Shiloh takes a deep breath and steadies herself. "My father has sold me like a damn prize pig at the county fair." Rip's face hardens. "If I don't marry this Emmett guy, we lose the ranch."

"And John told you this?"

"No, he didn't have the balls to tell me. Emmett did. But Papa confirmed it." Rip sat across from her.

"We'll find another way, Shi."

"There isn't one, Rip. I have to marry him. And that really, really sucks, because the only man I've ever even thought about marrying was you." The silence is deafening, and Shiloh buries her face in her hands. "And now it's wei..."

Rip pulls her to her feet, arm around her back, one hand cupping her face. His lips are fierce on hers. And oh. Oh. Holy shit. Rip Wheeler is kissing her. Kissing the hell out of her. Moaning, she wraps her arms around him, tangling her fingers in his hair. She tugs lightly, making him growl. He gropes behind her, finding the zipper of her dress without ever leaving her lips. He lifts her, dress open but still on, and walks to his bedroom, when he sets her on her feet, he finally pulls away from her lips. He slides the dress off, exposing her braless breasts, which he is immediately enamored with. Cuz he knew they'd be perfect. But then he freezes. There, under her right breast, pink raised lines, he's all too familiar with. The Yellowstone brand sits on her beautiful body like a dark omen. He looks up at her, only to notice she had gone shy.

"Who?"

"Papa." Rip clenches his jaw. He's never hated John until his moment.

"Why?"

"I helped Kasey and Monica sneak off and get married. I wasn't loyal to the family." Rip breathes in through his nose, centering himself, and lifts her by her thighs, laying her gently on his bed, intent on showing her exactly how beautiful all of her is to him.