Yellowstone

Chapter 31 - Wolf

Elisabeth, despite her stubborn nature, had ended up obeying Walker and Ethan had been sent out in her place.

They laid together in Walker's bunk that night, and Elisabeth had never felt more at peace.

She fell asleep with one arm tucked under her and the other draped across Walker's branded chest, her face buried in his collarbone.

Walker couldn't bring himself to wake her when the sun rose, so her left her tucked in and headed off to work himself.

"She's been slacking." Rip hissed to Ryan. "If you don't get on her ass about it then I will."

Ryan clenched his jaw. Elisabeth not only had the ranch on her mind, but she also had an issue that had been weighing on her for roughly a week.

Elisabeth had missed her last period, and the fear of pregnancy was constantly eating at her.

"Don't go near her." Ryan spoke bluntly, causing Rip to flinch.

"Excuse me?" The brunette asked with raised eyebrows.

"You're excused. And don't act like you didn't hear me. This ranch isn't her whole life like it is yours, Rip. She has her own individual issues. So, just to make sure it's through your skull, don't go near her."

Rip curled his lip at Ryan's newfound attitude. "Keep talkin' to me like that and see where it gets you." He snarled.

Ryan cocked an eyebrow. "Hm... isn't it your rule that a branded man isn't to be touched?"

Rip's chest boiled with anger, realizing that he had backed himself into a corner and that Ryan was right.

He simply scoffed and cantered away on his horse.

Jake fell in beside Ryan and their horses walked steadily together.

"Where the hell did that come from?" Jake asked, seeming bewildered.

"I'm tired of his attitude, Jake. He's become a spoiled primadonna ever since the attack. His rank doesn't give him an excuse to speak to us and treat us the way he does." Ryan answered.

Jake nodded in agreement, knowing that Ryan had a point.

"I mean, think about it. Elisabeth has been here longer than he has and she works as much as she can until her body can't handle it. Yeah, she gets treated with respect, but it's not on the same level as him. Rip falls in love with Mr Dutton's daughter and boom, he sleeps in the house with her, he eats dinner with the family every night. Shit, he had his own cabin that Mr Dutton gave to him. He hasn't been on night watch, ever. But Elisabeth is the slacker?" Ryan finished his tangent with a deep breath to keep himself from getting heated.

"Hell... guess I never looked at it that way. Come to think of it, everything was better when Kayce was our foreman. He treated everyone equally and he actually worked with us instead of just telling us what to do." Jake huffed, taking off his hat to run a hand over his hair.

"Yeah. I'm about done with all of Rip's bullshit. If he doesn't get an attitude adjustment soon, all of us are gonna crack." Ryan pushed Andorra into a canter and Jake followed, catching up with the group.