Yellowstone

Chapter 37 - Something's Gonna Kill Me

Rip and Elisabeth's month in Oklahoma went by quicker than they'd both expected.

After that night with Beau, he and Elisabeth had exchanged numbers and were keeping in touch.

They'd even met up and gone to the Myriad Gardens to walk around and catch up even more without a time constraint.

Turns out he'd dropped the rodeo circuit completely and gotten into boxing, having won a few matches locally.

When he figured out that boxing wasn't what he wanted for the rest of his life, Beau found his closest friends and they formed a band.

They were rather well known around Oklahoma, playing shows all over the state and even opening for big names such as Corey Kent.

Every night and every morning, Elisabeth and Walker phoned each other and talked till they either couldn't or fell asleep.

When the day finally came for the duo to return, Elisabeth drove the first half all the way to Colorado, and then Rip drove the second half, pulling into the ranch.

Elisabeth had obviously dressed herself in baggy clothing, her excuse being that she was 'tired' and 'wanted to be comfy'.

Knowing that Walker was still working in the pastures, she plopped her duffle bag down in her trailer and crawled up in the queen size bed, nestling in the sheets.

Walker's scent was prominent, indicating that he had slept there every night she had left.

Unbeknownst to her, tensions were high in the bunkhouse between Walker and Lloyd.

The old man's prideful ways had been getting the better of him, and he had been shooting snarky comments and sneers Walker's way every chance he got.

Laramie was still traipsing around Walker like a mare in season, but he'd paid no attention to her. He found her attempts rather pathetic.

Elisabeth was now three months pregnant, and her belly was no longer just a small lump in her torso.

Her stomach was showing enough that it could no longer be excused as bloat, jeans were fitting a little tighter, and their baby was now roughly the size of a lime.

She sat up to lift her head when the door opened, a lazy smirk crossing her face.

"Hey cowboy." She murmured, watching as Walker's face softened.

"Oh honey..." He whispered, crawling up into bed with her, relief clear in his hazel eyes.

She lifted her jacket just enough to expose her bump, and Walker lovingly rested his head between her breasts and stomach, closing his eyes.

Elisabeth ran her fingers through her hair, trying not to cry as she realized just how amazing of a father Walker was going to be.

"I missed you." She told him, earning a tired groan from him as he continued lying with his head on her torso.

"I missed you too."

"Prove it." She said with a giggle.

"There she is..." Walker grinned, just barely pressing her down into the mattress as his lips met hers.

His kiss was tender and full of affection, and it made Elisabeth's chest burst with pride of the man she'd chosen.

While she would always love Beau, he had simply been a teenage dream of hers that would never come true.

Beau was older. He was exciting. He was spontaneous. He was fun. But that's all he ever was.

Elisabeth knew that he'd likely never be a man to settle. He'd always be a ramblin' man, simply drifting and popping in when he felt it was convenient.