Yellowstone

Chapter 49 - You Should Be Sad

Elisabeth and Beau didn't return to the ranch until the sun began to rise.

Ryan and Kayce had waited up all night for them, sitting on the porch.

Elisabeth stepped out of the truck as Beau parked, prompting the two men on the porch to stand.

Ryan stepped off the porch and met Elisabeth halfway, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close to him.

She hid her face in his shoulder as her eyes glossed over.

"You're ok, Izzy..."

She pulled away from her cousin, inhaling sharply.

"Where's he at?"

"He's sittin' in the barn. Why?"

"I wanna talk to him."

"Elisabeth. No."

"Ryan. I'll be ok. I just want to talk to him."

The brunette huffed and placed his hands on his hips.

"Alright... just be careful."

She gave him a curt nod before turning and walking into the barn to face her now ex-fiancé.

She slipped into the stable and glanced about, finding him sitting against the wall in an empty stall.

"What?" He asked gruffly.

"Nothin'." She answered, analyzing his appearance.

His face was bruised and swollen with some increments crusted over with dried blood.

His shirt was torn in certain places on his back, showcasing even more bruising.

Without another word, she sat down next to him.

He glanced at the gash on her cheek.

"I didn't even hit you that hard."

Her chest tightened at his words.

"Ryan and Kayce fucked me up bad. I coulda done that to you. But I didn't. It ain't fair."

"I know."

He scoffed softly.

"I meant it."

She paused for a moment.

"Meant what?"

"I meant to hit you. I love you, but fucking Christ. You're nothing but a pain in my ass sometimes."

Elisabeth bit the inside of her cheek.

"So why didn't you leave me?"

Walker scoffed again.

"Shit, you've been unstable since Ava died. I woulda left you if I wasn't afraid you'd kill yourself. I ain't tryna have that cloud over my head."

She hummed.

"I see."

They both fell into silence before Walker spoke again.

"You're not really done with me... are you?"

"I am."

"Oh please. You're just saying that to piss me off."

"No. I'm not. Especially not after what you just said."

Walker furrowed his brow as reality began to set in.

"I don't deserve to have to live in fear of what you think of me or what you could possibly do to me."

"You're a fuckin' talker. You gotta be corrected sometimes."