Thank you so much for 10k!
"My side looks good." Kayce called to Rip, trotting his horse to meet the brunette right in the middle of the fence.
"Mine too." Rip added, halting his horse and squinting behind his sunglasses.
"You think we should turn the cattle back out?" The Dutton questioned.
"It should've clovered up this last rain." Rip muttered, sighing frustratedly. "I think we oughta wait until July."
"We're running out of hay." Kayce admitted. "And feeding cows all summer isn't a way to make a living."
"Shit, why don't we just do it like the old days?" Rip suggested. "Just grab a wagon, bring it out here and we'll babysit them all summer."
"Not the worst idea." Kayce huffed, squinting one eye as he looked around. The chattering of unfamiliar voices filled his ears. "The fuck?"
Rip followed the Dutton's line of view, realizing what had made him think out loud.
Men and women dressed in rather dark and proper attire were up on top of a grass hill not far from the duo. One man in particular seemed to be leading them.
The two men cantered over, stopping at the base of the hill as the group's leader began to approach them.
"Y'all lost?" Rip called.
"Uhm... it's a possibility." The strange male replied, an awkward grin on his face. "Is this part of the Paradise Valley sporting club?"
"Wrong side of that fence." Kayce answered, jerking his head back the way the group had came.
The stranger chuckled. "I told you." He spoke over his shoulder at the people behind him.
"Y'all stayin' at the Sporting Club?" Kayce asked.
"Uh, they own it." The man in the suit responded, gesturing to the group behind him.
"Who are they?" Rip questioned flatly.
"Providence Hospitality Management. I'm Ellis Steele and my firm is representing Market Equities." The male on the ground replied, taking a few more steps toward them.
Rip and Kayce glanced one another, shifting uncomfortably.
"We don't know what that is." Kayce deadpanned.
"Well, they manage resort properties and we watch out for interests." Ellis simplified. "Is this your land?" He glanced about.
"It's incredible. I didn't uh... I didn't catch your name." He directed the statement towards Kayce.
"That's 'cause I didn't offer it." The Dutton responded, keeping his voice rather monotone.
Ellis dipped his head in understanding. "Fair enough." He turned to walk back up the hill but stopped after just a few steps.
"I understand that you may be wary. You know, with a bunch of city folks wandering into your field. I apologize. Why don't you swing by the resort and have dinner, on us? After all-" Ellis stopped when Kayce turned his horse and trotted off.
Rip followed just seconds after, an odd feeling beginning to stir in his gut.
*~*~*~*~*
Later in the afternoon, all the wranglers had traveled seven miles from the bunkhouse to the other half of the ranch to work on building a new barn.
"What's wrong with the old barn?" Jimmy huffed, wiping his brow.
YOU ARE READING
Yellowstone
FanfictionBeing practically raised by the Duttons seems like a dream for some. But Elisabeth had it rough. Her dad was a runaway and her mom was never around. When she turned 12, she found work all the way up in Montana at the Yellowstone Ranch. Not only did...
