Yellowstone

Chapter 24 - Fake It

"Start pushing them cattle to the field above the new barn. Cool heads, got that?" John instructed Rip, who nodded.

Rip turned to the hands and repeated the orders. Colby, Teeter and Ethan set off on their horses with Rip leading the pack.

Ryan, Kayce, John and a livestock agent called Steve Hendon were all guarded with their bulletproof vests and pistols.

Carefully, they walked their horses over to the fence that Wade and his son, Clint, were patrolling.

"Long time, John." Wade laughed.

"Not long enough for me, you son of a bitch." John snarled in reply.

Kayce gave his father a slightly shocked glance. "What happened to uh... cool heads?"

John huffed indignantly and adjusted himself in the saddle. "I didn't mean me." He specified.

He cocked his head towards Wade. "What scam are ya runnin' today?"

"No scam. We're babysitting them bison for the resort."

"Resort's in the buffalo business now?"

"They're in the tourist business. Charge six hundred dollars for people to ride up here on a dude string and take pictures of 'em."

"They been tested for brucellosis?" Kayce asked, threading the reins through his fingers as his gelding began to shift impatiently.

Wade gave the younger Dutton a glare before outstretching a hand towards Clint.

Clint took a leather bound envelope out of his jacket and handed it to Steve, who had dismounted.

"Got a whole army now, I see." Clint spoke with arrogance.

"He's always got an army. Don't you, John?" Wade taunted.

"Papers are good." Steve announced.

"Now why didn't you just show him that the other day?" Kayce sighed, referring to Ryan.

"'Cause I didn't like the way he asked." Wade squinted one eye with a smirk on his wrinkled face.

"I don't wanna see them things on our side of the fence." Kayce hissed, his voice attaining a rather firm tone.

"The law says it ain't our job to keep 'em from getting in." Clint said, resting his hands on the saddle horn.

"It's your job to keep them from getting out." Wade finished. "You should know that, Commissioner." He pointed to Kayce.

"Oh, I'll keep them out." The Dutton muttered, turning his horse towards the fence. "But you're gonna fucking hate the way I do it."

Without looking back, Kayce's gelding set off into a canter and loped away with Ryan and Steve not far behind.

"We're a little long on the tooth for old feuds, Wade." John murmured.

"Eh, without old feuds I ain't got any at all. And where's the fun in that?"

*~*~*~*~*

Up at the house, Beth sat at the dining room table, working on her computer.

The sound of footsteps made her look up.

"Are you going to a funeral?" She asked monotonously as Jamie walked in, fixing the sleeves of his suit jacket.

"Helena, actually. I have work to do." He puffed, pouring himself a cup of tea.

"Mmm... you won't work Saturdays for us but you'll sure work 'em for yourself." She growled.