Penny for your Thoughts : A Yellowstone inspired story

S4- It's complicated

Night had descended upon the bunkhouse, casting shadows that danced ominously in the dim light. Spencer, unsuspecting of the turmoil that was about to unfold, found herself amidst an escalating altercation between Lloyd and Walker.

As voices grew louder and tempers flared, Spencer's instincts kicked in, and she bolted from the scene, racing toward the safety of her father.

Rip, ever the vigilant protector, noticed Spencer's approach and greeted her with a concerned expression. "What's got you in a hurry, cub?"

Spencer, panting and out of breath from her sprint, wasted no time.
"Lloyd and Walker are fighting in the bunkhouse," she blurted out, her words rushed and frantic.

Rip's features hardened as he processed Spencer's words, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. With a reassuring yet firm tone, he instructed Spencer, "Alright, you go up to the house and stay there. I'll handle this."

"But I can help" Spencer protested.

Rip's expression softened slightly, but his resolve remained unwavering. "It's past your bedtime. Now go," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Reluctantly, Spencer obeyed, casting one last worried glance back at her father before trudging toward the house.

Meanwhile, Rip, with a determined stride, pressed on toward the bunkhouse, ready to confront the chaos that awaited within.

-

The next day the corral buzzed with tension as Spencer approached, her footsteps echoing softly against the dirt. A hushed anticipation hung in the air, thick with the weight of unspoken words and unresolved conflicts. The sight that greeted her sent a shiver down her spine.

Walker and Lloyd stood locked in a heated confrontation, their fists clenched and eyes blazing with fury. Spencer watched, her heart pounding in her chest, as the violence escalated.

In the midst of the chaos, her father, Rip, stepped forward with a determined expression, ready to intervene. Spencer's breath caught in her throat as she witnessed him deliver a powerful blow to Lloyd, the impact resounding through the corral.

A gasp escaped Spencer's lips, her voice ringing out amidst the chaos. "Stop!" she cried out, her words cutting through the tension like a knife. All eyes turned toward her, their gazes filled with surprise and curiosity.

John approached, his expression a mixture of concern. "Penny, you shouldn't be down here," he admonished gently.

"Why did you fire Teeter? She's the best wrangler on the ranch," she demanded, her voice laced with frustration.

John sighed, his features clouding with resignation. "The bunkhouse is no place for a woman, Spencer. It just doesn't work out," he explained, his words heavy with regret.

Spencer shook her head, her resolve unwavering. "She's not the reason they were fighting."

"The decision's already been made, Spence. No use arguing with me over it," he replied, his tone final.

With a roll of her eyes, Spencer brushed past her grandfather, her steps purposeful and determined. She approached Rip, her eyes locking with his in silent accusation. "You said there's no fighting on this ranch," she reminded him.

Rip met her gaze, "It's complicated, Spence. I had to teach him a lesson," he explained.

"If I did what he did, would you do the same thing to me?" she challenged, her voice trembling with emotion.

Rip faltered, "Spence, it's not—" he began, but she cut him off with a sharp shake of her head.

"You should find a new way to teach lessons," she declared firmly, her words hanging in the air like a dare.

With one final glance, Spencer turned on her heel and stormed off, her footsteps echoing in the silence that followed. Around her, the wranglers watched in silence, their expressions reflecting a mix of admiration and uncertainty.

John's voice broke through the stillness,"Okay, everyone get back to work," he called out.

As the wranglers dispersed, John approached Rip, his expression contrite. "I didn't mean to get you into any trouble, especially with that one."

Rip offered a small nod of understanding. "Yeah, I know," he replied quietly, his gaze distant as he turned back to his work.

—

The weight of solitude pressed down on Spencer as she retreated into the quiet of the lodge, the hollowness of its halls echoing her loneliness. She walked into the hallway and contemplated for a moment what to do. Her gaze meeting a telephone she began to dial her uncle Jamie's number.

"Hello?" Jamie's voice echoed through the line, his concern palpable even through the phone.

Spencer remained silent, her emotions too tangled to find voice, her only response a soft sniffle.

"Penny, is that you?" Jamie's voice softened with recognition, his heart sinking at the sound of her tears.

But Spencer couldn't bring herself to answer, the weight of her uncertainty bearing down on her like a suffocating blanket.

"Is everything alright? Are you okay?" Jamie's concern deepened, his voice laced with worry.

"I don't know, Uncle Jamie," Spencer admitted, her voice barely above a whisper, the uncertainty in her words echoing her inner turmoil.

As Jamie's questions continued, Spencer's desperation spilled out, "I just miss you that's all," she confessed, her voice trembling with emotion. "Everyone is always busy now, and the lodge is so empty. When are you going to come home?"

But Jamie's response was not the reassurance she sought. "Spencer...I'm not coming home," he admitted, his words heavy with regret.

Spencer's heart sank at his revelation, confusion mingling with hurt as she struggled to comprehend his absence. "What? But why, Uncle Jamie?" she pleaded, her voice breaking with emotion.

Before Jamie could respond, the line went dead, abruptly severed by an unseen force. Confusion clouded Spencer's features as she stared at the silent phone.

John's sudden appearance shattered the fragile peace, his stern presence a stark reminder of the reality she sought to escape.

"Did you call Jamie or did he call you?" John's voice was sharp, his gaze piercing as he sought answers to questions Spencer couldn't begin to understand.

"Why does it matter?" Spencer's frustration boiled over, her words tinged with defiance as she turned away, retreating into the sanctuary of her old room and slamming the door shut behind her.

Left alone in the hallway, John sighed heavily, the weight of his granddaughter's pain a burden he couldn't shake.