Back at the Yellowstone, Gator had breakfast made. Gator had always been a sucker for Bella so he made all of her old favorites not realizing she ate cleaner now."Hey my girl, got all your favs ready for ya. I've missed ya." Bella looked at the plate full of eggs, potatoes, and bacon. "Oh um thanks Gator,"she said as he walked out. Kayce came to sit next to her and she placed her plate in front of him. He chuckled as John noticed, "Bella you okay? Ya gotta eat." Bella smiled and lowered her voice,"Yeah John, l just don't eat this stuff anymore."she said as she reached over to the fruit bowl. Lee and Jaime laughed."Ah yes, the diet change that gave her the greatest ass in Montana," Jaime said. Bella's head snapped towards them, and Kayce started in."It was always great. Even better now," and laughed. Then he got serious, "Wait how'd you know she changed her diet?" Fuck. He figured it out. Lee and Jaime realized it and gave each other a look. It took him two seconds to realize they never left my life, they just didn't tell him that and he lunged across the table at them furious. "You motherfuckers. You knew I'd been looking for her for years. We've talked about it! And you lied to my face!" Kayce yelled. Tate ran to Bella scared and threw himself in her lap. Lee yelled back," You didn't deserve to know. You were fucking married too when you were first looking!" Kayce hit Lee, Jaime pulled him off, "She asked us not to tell you that we hung out. She asked us not to Kayce, she didn't want to be apart of your life anymore." Jaime said loudly. "I'm your brother, you knew how much I love her and still kept her from me. You know it was always her for me," Kayce screamed.
Lee screamed louder, "Then where the fuck were you when she lost your baby then Kayce and almost fucking died? Huh? I'll tell you where! You were playing house with Monica, after you through Bella in the trash because you wanted a family with someone else. But I was there in the hospital, so was Jaime. We took care of her. So fuck your feelings. We did it for her." John got up, "That's enough. Sit the fuck back down. All of you."
Kayce looked like he was in pain, looking at Bella."You were pregnant?" he asked. Bella got up and left the table, Kayce running after her along with Lee and Jaime. "Fuck B, I'm sorry it just came out." Lee pleaded. "It's okay Lee, I have to go." Bella said getting to the door. Kayce came in front of it and blocked it, "No, answer me. I deserve an explanation," he said. Bella pushed him away from the door."Ha, that's rich, you don't deserve anything."
Kayce-"Was the baby mine?"
Bella-"Fuck you, you don't get to call me a whore."
Kayce-"I didn't.. That's not what I..."
Bella-"Yes Kayce, the baby was yours. I found out two weeks after class started."
Kayce- "Why didn't you tell me?"
Bella-"Why would I tell you when you told me you knocked up a random girl and you were marrying her after I begged you not to, telling you I'd help with your child? After you broke every promise you'd ever made to me. After you ripped my heart out and stomped on it?"
Tate-"Isabell...I'm sorry you lost your baby."
Bella forgot he was there. She kneeled down and said, "Thank you Tate. I'm sorry about all you've seen and heard today. I'm gonna go. It was so nice to meet you, I'm sorry I didn't have a gift for you for being quiet but here's some cash okay?" She reached into her pocket and handed him a $100 bill, then walked out the door.
Kayce ran out after her,"Bella wait..!" She didn't listen, she got in her truck and left. She didn't look back, she went home and crawled into her bed. About 2 hours later, there was a knock on the door. It was Luke. She pulled him in for a passionate kiss immediately. Her body was on fire. "Hey baby,how are ya? "Luke asked softly."I need to talk to you Luke" Bella said. Luke sat on the couch as she held him everything about yesterday and today. When she was finished, he pondered the information for a minute, and then asked her questions which she had answered truthfully. Bella wasn't a liar."I'm not mad or upset with you babe, thanks for telling me."Luke said as he kissed her. Luke then said, "But if l ever see him again, I'll beat the shit out of him." With that, all the weight disappeared from her shoulders. Luke carried her into her bedroom where they spent the next two hours enjoying each others bodies.
Luke fell asleep soon after the afternoons activities. Bella had gotten up, showered and dressed, shutting the bedroom door so she could start cleaning up. A few minutes later, there was a light knock on the front door. She opened it, expecting a wrangler. To her surprise, it was Kayce. Bella looked back at the bedroom door, and walked outside."Please leave."she said with a sigh. "I wanna talk about it." Kayce pleaded. "We will, I'll come down tomorrow and talk. I have to still help John. We can talk then, please go, now." Bella whispered. Kayce's eyes lit up, "He's here isn't he? Did you tell him about our shower?" Kayce flirted."I did, now go," Bella warned. "Come back tonight. Or I'll stay here. And wait for him to see me." Bella pushed Kayce, "Fine tonight go!" Kayce laughed but turned towards his truck. "See ya later baby, l love you."
Bella spent a few hours with Luke, cleaning the house, and helping the ranch hands. Around two, she got a text from an unknown number. Should I come sit in front of your house serenading you while lover boy tries to kick my ass? You know it was Kayce. First off how'd you get my number? Second,don't you dare. Bella let Luke know she had some work to do and he got his things. I may have took it outta Lee's phone, why you worried I'll send ya something you might like? You have 20 minutes to get here or I'm on my way. Bella was frustrated with his demands. I'll get there when I get there. Bella blew out a breath and said goodbye to Luke. She repacked her truck bag, hoping after the talk she could make it to Luke's to snuggle tonight. It had been 30 minutes since she texted him back, but she wanted to make sure she had everything to spend the night with Luke. Babygirl, I'm on my way. Bella didn't see the text as she was putting her bag in her truck. Next thing she knew, Kayce's Commissioner truck pulled in. Ugh. Why can't he be patient? She situated her bag and felt him come up behind her, wrapping himself around her, kissing her neck."Hey baby. I missed ya" Kayce whispered. Bella removed herself, "I said I would get there when I got there. I still have to talk to your dad." He smiled, "Now we don't have to be quiet. You know I've always loved hearing your moan." Bella was angry now."I'm not sleeping with you. I just fucked my boyfriend little while ago. I will meet you down there in a few minutes." Kayce looked like he was hurt. "I'll follow you baby. Don't need ya gettin' hurt." Bella sighed and went to turn the lights off inside, and lock up. A few minutes later, he followed her down to his house.
Bella went into the study and finally filled John in on his documents. After that, she asked if there was anything else needed to look at. He asked all the kids and came back looking sorry. Kayce was behind him."Can you do this for me Bella? I know it's awkward. But it's for me, and Beth, and Jaime and Lee. Not just for Kayce." John handed her the file and she opened it.
Monica Long vs. Kayce John Dutton for full custody of Tate Lee Dutton. Bella looked up at both of them, "Of course I will. I don't hate you Kayce, I can do this for you. Just give me an hour to read over and I'll call you back in." Kayce smiled and John patted her shoulder,"Thank you Bella." The two men started to walk out,"Keep calling me Bella, and I won't ever come back help you." Bella said firmly.
Thirty five minutes later, Bella yelled out to Kayce. Kayce walked into the study,"Yeah baby?" Bella sighed, "I'm not your baby. Sign this so I can call her attorney and be able to represent you. I also need her number. You can sit and listen if you'd like." Bella said calmly. He signed the contract, and wrote down Monica's number as Bella dialed the attorney. "Steven Mendez's office!"
Bella-"Hey Nancy it's Isabell. Is Steve around?"
Nancy- "He sure is, one second."
Steve-"AG?"
Bella-"Hey Steve, you ready to fight me again?"
Steve-"Ah fuck not a chance, what case is it?"
Bella-"Long vs. Dutton."
Steve-"What do you want me to do?"
Bella-"Call her and let her know I don't lose in the nicest possible way. I'll pay her fees for you. After the agreement is signed you endorse it. See if she wants to set up a meeting for you and I. Call me right back okay?"
Steve-"Alright, talk in a few." The phone disconnected.
Bella-"I have questions you need to answer."
Kayce- "Go ahead and ask baby."
Bella-"Again, I'm not your baby. How long have you been separated?"
Kayce-"Hittin' on me already huh?"
Bella-"Kayce! Answer the fucking questions so l can help you."
Kayce-"Sorry baby, was just trying to make ya smile. We separated May 2nd, last year. Divorced 2 weeks later. A little over 18 months ago."
Bella-"Why did you separate? Who initiated it?"
Kayce-"I left, but it was mutual. We weren't in love."
Bella-"Have you given her child support? Do you have support agreement?"
Kayce-"No agreement, I make more so I gave her $250 a week and bought all his clothes and stuff."
Bella-"Do you have documentation of that?"
Kayce-"Yeah, used a payment app. I still send it to her every Friday."
Bella-"What's your ideal visitation?"
Kayce-"I'd like him full time,but I don't wanna take him from her. What's normal?"
Bella-"Depends on the situation and lifestyle. Weekends, every other weekend, one week on one week off, you can switch every 3.5 days. It's up to you."
Kayce-" One week on one week off is good. Second best is switching every 3.5 days."
Bella-"Last question,is there any reason she doesn't feel safe with Tate being with you here or anywhere else?"
Kayce-"I don't think she doesn't trust me with 'em. She just thinks this place is evil because of us having to protect it all the time."
Steve called back right as the questions finished. They set up a meeting at 4:30 today in Bozeman off campus where she works. Steve asked that she didn't bring Kayce. Bella agreed that was fine and thanked him. She walked to her truck to get one of the suits she kept in the truck for times like these and headed in to change as she had to leave soon. Kayce followed her around, "So what's happening?" Kayce said, sounding worried. "I'm going to meet them to come to an agreement. Steve knows the only family court judge is Judge Tanner and knows even if he and I weren't friends, I'd still smoke him. As long as your a good father Kayce, even if we went to trial, it wouldn't take custody away." Kayce mumbled, " Wish I coulda gone. I don't want Monica to be an asshole to you. Call me as soon as you're done?" Bella looked at him as she took her pants off to change into her suit,"I'll call you once I'm in the car. Don't worry. I got this." Kayces eyes roamed her body as she changed, but she didn't have time to care, she had to get going. "I know you do baby and remember to come back here to talk after okay? We didn't have time today." Bella rolled her eyes,"Kayce, again, stop calling me that. We'll see what time I get done.." Kayce interrupted her," You said we could talk about it today. Please come back. We can all have dinner, Tate has been askin' about you all day." Bella huffed,"Because breakfast went so well right? Fine. I gotta go." Kayce moved towards her, "Alright baby, I love you," as he kissed her forehead. Bella just walked out angrily.
