No Easy Way Out

Chapter 20

Author's Note: I know that part 2 of Yellowstone's fifth season has already started airing, but to let everyone know who's been reading this: this story & Turn the Page take place after part 1 of season 5. Everything that has happened in past seasons has already happened.
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For the next few days, Jamie was on guard due to the bad feeling he had that he may be Thomas Hendricks-Smith's next target.

Everyone in his life understood why he was that way. However, Isabella became worried about him.

Everything had been going well for them personally. Thanks to regular weekend visits, Jamie & JJ had bonded beautifully, & JJ even called him daddy. After a good & productive conversation, Jamie & Christina had agreed that JJ's last name would be legally changed back to Dutton, which made everyone happy.

Now Isabella was worried about her husband. He may have been happy that he was JJ's dad again & that Kayce had been cleared, but she could tell when something was wrong.

She saw how tense he was, & he wasn't always like that.

Isabella knew that she had to talk to Jamie.

"Are you all right, mi amor?" she asked.

"Do you want me to be honest?" he asked. She nodded.

"I feel like the walls are closing in on me, Izzy," said Jamie. "I'm afraid that Thomas Hendricks-Smith is going to go after me next."

"He has no reason to," said Isabella. "You don't want the ranch, & he probably knows that."

"That's not going to stop him, Izzy," said Jamie. "He's trying to hit my father where it hurts the most, & that's his heart. For everything he's done wrong in his life when it comes to the ranch, my father's love for his family has never been in doubt."

"And yet you hate him," said Isabella who took Jamie's hand in hers.

"I hate the fact that he allowed me to be treated like a fucking outsider," said Jamie. "He forced me to be a lawyer, which I never wanted to be. He allowed Beth to abuse me. I've always felt like no one in that family loved me or appreciated me."

Isabella listened with tears in her eyes. As someone who came from a close tight knit family, she could only imagine the pain Jamie had had to endure growing up.

"Look at me, Jamie," said Isabella. "You are loved. You are appreciated. Look at what your life is now. I love you so much. You are an amazing husband. You're also an amazing father. Your children adore you, & I know that you will do anything for them."

Jamie smiled at her & squeezed her hand.

"You don't know how much that means to me, baby," he said as he turned to look at her.

"Te amo(I love you)," said Isabella.

"Yo tambiem te amo(I love you too)" said Jamie who then passionately kissed her.

As they made their way to their bedroom to make love, trouble was lurking around the corner.

However, Jamie was going to be ready for it.