This Far Gone | A Kayce Dutton Love Story

Chapter 1: Somethin's in the air

A golden, Montana morning awakens the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch and its wranglers. John Dutton, with his slightly-more creaky joints. Beth Dutton having gin with her juice. Jamie Dutton already pissing off Beth. Kayce Dutton, the Foreman of the ranch, still figuring out ways to gain respect from his wranglers, and thinking of his boy, Tate. Rip Wheeler holding his head above the resentment for Kayce. The wranglers, all trying to get over pounding headaches and bad backs, as they fall out of their bunks. It was a normal morning for all, it seems.

A regular breakfast in the bunkhouse— Ryan and Colby throwing all kinds of crap at Jimmy, one of the newer ranch hands, ragging on him for his baggier taste in jeans. Lloyd just trying to have a peaceful cup of coffee in the morning, eventually saying hell to it, seeking refuge in the showers. Walker crooning out in the fields, avoiding contact with the cowboys, especially after Cowboy's warnings before he skipped town. Jake, Teeter, also new, and the other ranch hands all cracking jokes, being beyond rowdy, annoying an already groggy Rip Wheeler. 

Rip was looking out the kitchen window, drinking his coffee, imagining he just woke up tangled with Beth, and not in a room of strange smells, and foghorn-snores. He relishes the sweet daydream, as he watches the sun slowly rise over the Montana hills, spotted with cattle rising for the day. The view of Walker sulking in the field with his shitty six-string soon shakes back his grouch. He stares out into the field at the fresh ranch hand, who rejects all points of loyalty and respect that Rip holds dearest. Sure, he works hard, but even branded, Walker stays true to his name, and walks away from anything that could pay his time, making it an easier ride for him. Rip's grip on his coffee cup switched his knuckles from tanned and worn, to smooth and paper-white.

The hollering from the breakfast table, breaks his laser focus.
"Goddamit, will you bunch of morons, cut it out. To damn early for your bullshit," he gruffs, turning around to face the overgrown children that were grilling each other over burnt toast and cement-like oatmeal, and the equally as shitty coffee.
Ryan pipes up, "Ahh, come on, Rip, if you're gonna live back here in the bunkhouse, you gotta get used to us again."
Rip shoots back, "oh, I'm used to you, dipshits. Some may say TOO used to your level of fuckery."

He walks out to sit on the benches to close his morning off.
Teeter gets up and goes to scrape the remaining chunks from her bowl. "Aaawwwhh he's goin' get used to us agayan. An' if he don't , man's  goin' quit or run cryin' ta daddy yellerstone"
Ryan scrunches his face. "Did you just refer to THE John Dutton as," with air quotes, "daddy Yellowstone?"
"Furk yersh I did, ya pale bayastard", she shoots back.
"Goddam, can someone translate her yet?" Colby says, as Ryan and him start giggling.
"Awh, you two fuckin' schoolgirls is pissin' me awf. Just be glad that it ain't just Lloyd's saggy ass in tight denim, walkin' round!" She slaps her ass and wanders out into the showers, as Ryan and Colby grimace.

Over at the big house, breakfast was also normal. Gator bringing out piles of eggs, bacon and perfectly browned toast, with a pot of freshly-brewed Colombian roast. With breakfast kicked off by John, as the first one down, with Kayce following soon after. Jamie, leisurely strolling down about a half hour later, and then hurricane Beth arrives. Beth kisses John on the cheek with a gravelly "Morning Daddy,"  takes her seat, and begins making her coffee a little Irish. Jamie and Kayce, keep their heads down, Kayce focussing on the last of his eggs and Jamie with his face in the paper, reading about some kind of stock exchange going down in Bozeman.
"We have to talk about this extension. With the new money guys piling into Bozeman, Dad, it's prime time to make a—" Jamie is cut off by Beth laughing. John rolls his eyes, sitting back and putting his napkin on his plate, anticipating her early departure after mentally scarring her brother for the thousandth time in her life, but first time today. Kayce keeping his head down trying not let Beth see him holding in a laugh.
"My god, Jamie. It's always fuckin' business with you. I mean, Jesus, can't we have a peaceful breakfast, devoid of your painful attempt at brown-nosing our Father. God, you're just so fuckin' desperate for a little pat on the head, some validation from Daddy, as you can't get it from any two dollar whore you pick up at your old campaign office." Beth ends her monologue and promptly makes her exit, storming past her father and brothers, as Kayce snorts and breaks into uncontrollable giggles.
John lets out a deep breath he was holding. "Well shit. She's on a warpath today, boys"
Kacey continues to laugh, covering his eyes, to avoid Jamie's fed up huff of annoyance.
"I love your sister. But, I pity the man who manages to marry her and piss her off."
All three look at each other, catching Kacey's fit of giggles, start laughing, as they hear the front door slam shut, and heels clipping down the porch towards her truck.

As Beth, screeches out of the drive and down the road, past the bunkhouse, out of the ranch grounds, a greyhound bus pulls into town.

Note: Thank you for reading ! The next chapter will be up as soon as I can publish again! ;)