Yellowstone

Chapter 6 - Must Have Been The Wind

'It's 3:30 in the morning, we have to get up for work at 4 and I haven't slept a wink...' Elisabeth thought, staring at the top of the bunk. Her chest was tight with anxiety.

What Walker and Ryan had done to Jamie was deserved, but she was scared Jamie would report them, maybe even tell John. But in the end, she knew that it was deserved.

"You're awake." A soft, raspy voice mumbled.

Elisabeth turned her head to see Walker. His eyes were still closed but the slight smirk on his face let her know that he was awake.

She shut her eyes tightly, silently scolding herself.
"Sorry. Did I wake you up?" She asked.

"Nah. I woke up a few minutes ago. What are you doin' awake?" He asked, turning his head to look at her.

She shrugged. "Nothing. I'm just thinking."

"About what?"

"I think you know what, Walker."

"Oh come on. You know damn well that he deserved it."

"I know he did... I'm just worried he might say something. He's a lawyer, so he knows how the legal business works. If he says something and brings us to court about it then his odds are already ten times better than ours. On top of that-"

"Woah, woah, woah. Slow down, sweetheart. You're overthinking this."

"I know... but-"

"Listen, honey. Say he DOES snitch, who's the family gonna believe?"

"....Probably me."

"Exactly. Plus they have the money to get you a kickass attorney. So in the end, you really have nothing to worry about."

She relaxed a little at his words. "Now close your eyes. You need your rest."

"We already have to get up soon though."

"Eh. I'll have Ryan tell Rip to go a little easy on you."

"You're too good to me." She mumbled, turning to lay her head back down on his bare chest.

Walker stayed quiet and held her a bit closer to him. "I think it's the other way around, sweetheart..."

Elisabeth and Walker laid with each other in silence. She eventually managed to drift off with Walker gently running his hand up and down her back.

Once she fell asleep, he didn't want to leave her. For a person that always seemed so sure and headstrong, it was odd to see her like this. All tired and anxious, curled up in a ball.

When the clock finally struck 4, Walker slid out of his bunk and pulled the blankets up to her shoulders. He dressed himself for work and headed out.

Ryan stopped to check on her on his way out. He looked at her for a brief moment.

Though he had no regrets for what he did to Jamie, it hurt him knowing that he had caused her this much anxiety. He sighed and left the bunkhouse. 'I'll make it up to her when she wakes up...'

When Elisabeth didn't walk out of the bunkhouse to go to work, Rip got worried.

"Where's Lizzie at?" He asked Ryan.

"She's still in bed."

Rip furrowed his brow. Now he was even more concerned. "Why?"

Ryan looked down. "She uh... she had a rough night."

Rip nodded, staying quiet.

"Just... go a little easy on her today."

Rip nodded once more. "I will. I know she gets anxious."

Ryan dipped his head to his superior and headed off to grab his horse.

Lloyd ended up asking about Elisabeth as well. It was understandable, considering that he was almost like a grandfather to her.

Seven o'clock rolled around and Elisabeth finally woke up. "Ah shit..." She hissed under her breath.

'Them fuckers let me oversleep...' She thought, getting dressed and heading out to get Milo. She headed into the barn to take him out of his stall. "You little turkey..." She muttered.

Milo was covered in wood shavings, indicating that he had rolled in his stall. She huffed, opening the stall door. "What am gonna do with you?" She murmured, running her fingers through the gelding's black forelock. The horse only snorted and nudged his head into her torso.

"Ah... c'mon now. Don't get me dirty." She clicked her tongue and the horse took that as a cue to follow her.

"Hold still now." She grunted, swinging the saddle over his back and doing up the girth. She bridled him in no time and got up on him, heading out to the fields.

Ryan looked up and saw her silhouette approaching the pasture. "Lizzie's up." He told Rip, narrowing his eyes to see her better.

The sky was barren and the sun was already up. "Don't let me oversleep." Elisabeth muttered to her cousin as she passed him.

"You were tired. It was kinda obvious you had a rough night." Ryan answered.

"But still. If I'm not out here then that means one less set of hands to work."

Ryan huffed at her. They didn't talk anymore and followed Lloyd out to the cattle. By the time they reached the cattle, everyone was soaked in sweat.

It was uncomfortable for both the hands and their horses. The summer heat also brought flies, and so far, the horses had been irritated by them nonstop.

Ryan patted Andorra's neck, feeling her slick, sweaty fur under his hand. A few little strands of it stuck to his palm.

"Fuckin' hell." Walker huffed, tugging on the collar of his flannel shirt, panting.

"We're gettin' this over with and then we're done. At this rate we'll all get dehydrated and tired and the horses will too." Lloyd called to everyone.

"Good god." Jimmy muttered.

"Hush it." Rip snapped at him. Rip didn't particularly like Jimmy. Or Walker. He didn't like either of them, really.

Jimmy was as dumb as, if not dumber than a piece of wood and Walker... Well, Rip had his reasons with him.

Everyone took their places around the herd and eventually separated the cattle that John had requested. They were all herded into a smaller pen where they didn't have as much room to roam, but they weren't cramped either.

Once everything was done and double checked, they headed back towards the main barn to give they horses nice, cool showers. Elisabeth hopped off of Milo, taking her hat off and fanning herself with it. Her hair was sticking to the back of her neck, and she hated the feeling.

"Fuck summertime." She hissed under her breath. Milo snorted after her statement, seeming to agree. She chuckled. "Yeah. I understand, bud."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thanks for caring, sir, that's nice of you
But I have to go back in
Wish I could tell you about the noise
But I didn't hear a thing