Yellowstone - John Duttons daughter

New beginnings

Tessa opened the front door, Molly had obviously heard the door handle click and came running. The ever growing puppy jumped around happily at Tessa's feet.

"Sit." the 13-year-old ordered, the border collie sat down waiting patiently for Tessa to give her a pat.

"Good girl." She smiles bobbing down to give her a scratch, "where's daddy?" She asked standing up, leaving her bag by the door she walked down the hall.

"just sign these two at the bottom, I'll have Beth fill them out." John tells Kayce handing over some forms. Kayce signs them before handing them back over to John, who stamps them. Tessa paused in the doorway, waiting to be acknowledged.

"Here." John says handing over a badge, Tessa knew exactly who it belonged to.

"That was Lee's." She said, Kayce and John both turning to face her. Based on Kayces face she knew he was thinking the exact same thing.

"Somebody needs to be able to protect the ranch." John tells her, Tessa sighed.

"When do I start training?" Kayce asked quietly

"Soon." John replies, "But let's... Let's get this bunkhouse figured out first." Tessa watched as Kayce got up and began walking out.

"You haven't mentioned her, Kayce." John says causing him to stop and turn, "Not once. Or Tate. Or why you're not with them."

"What's talking about it gonna do?" Kayce questions

"It'd help you form a plan to get them back." John replies

"Plans are not change the way someone feels." Kayce shuts him down.

"When Lee ran this place, he..." John paused, "he was honest and he was fair. With everyone. That's what I need from you. But you can't be that way with others, son, until you're that way with yourself."

"I miss them." Kayce admits

"What happened?" Tessa asks growing curious.

"You happened, Dad." Kayce says turning to John. "Then everything happened." Kayce walked away heading to the front door.

"Kayce." John stoped him yet again, "Send Rip up to the house."

Tess watches as both Dutton men walk away in seperate directions, she hopes off the table following after John.

"How are you feeling?" She asks

"You know." John muttered, opening up the fridge. "probably pretty similar to you after your shoulder?"

"Bored?" Tessa asks

"If that's what you think." John chuckled, "how was school." Tessa rolled her eyes,

It had been a while since she'd been, between Lees death, her shoulder, and a few days here and there to help with work on the ranch. Tessa had been to school 4 times.

"Don't even get me fucking started." Tessa muttered, "I'm not going for the rest of the week." She adds

"Well you are." John tries to stop her, turning to the sink.

"Take it up with my teacher then." Tessa replies, "suspended for the rest of the week."

"Well what did you do?" John questioned turning to face her.

"That answer your question?" Tessa asks as he sees the bruises on her face. Between a black eye, cut cheek and split lip, Tessa had done a good job at pissing someone off. "I won in case you were wondering?"

"Who started it." Was John's first question as he took a step closer rubbing a hand over her sore face.

"Not me." Tessa reassured, "I was getting picked on because people think we're gonna loose the ranch to Dan or Thomas. I told them to fuck off." Tessa pointed to her eye, "this was there reply."