{WARNING SPOILER ALERT AHEAD} I think that the best show not on primetime these days isn't a streaming show. It's Paramount's Yellowstone. I watch it every week with my dad even though I am well into my adult life. The ten weeks it airs are the most entertaining on TV for my dad and me. He loves it because as he says, "Rip is a real man." I love the pathos of all the various characters. The strong, stoic, somewhat morally bankrupt family patriarch John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner, who is always fighting to hold on to his huge ranch in Montana. He has a son named Lee, who was his right hand on his ranch, his adopted son Jaime, who can cowboy, but he's a lawyer trained to protect his family's interest. Then there's Beth, the meanest of them all, his only daughter, followed by Kayce, the youngest and a former Navy Seal, married to an Indian, who bore his son, Tate. In episode one, Kayce's brother-in-law, murders his oldest brother Lee, fighting over cattle that was stolen from the Duttons. Kayce kills him. It's a bit hardcore with the violence. However, the humor and outrageousness of Beth is the most intriguing to me as she is clearly broken in so many ways. What made her so mean?
During season 3, episode 5 "Cowboys and Dreamers", we learn that her teenage romance with Rip resulted in a pregnancy when she was fifteen. She got her brother, Jamie, who is a year or two older (they never say) to drive her to an abortion clinic where teenagers were often sterilized after the unborn baby is terminated. I first toyed with writing a crossover with Buffy as the oldest son's daughter since Lee is dead on the show. Then I remembered an NCIS/BTVS story I read but don't recall which one that had a story of the council stealing Buffy from Gibbs by making him think his daughter and wife were dead. I'm sorry I can't give exact credit to the author, so let me know if you know which story that is.
In this tale, Buffy doesn't leave after killing Angel and go to Los Angeles, but goes to Montana, to Yellowstone. Sorry for the long author's note. Only chapter with one.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yellowstone as it's a creation of Taylor Sheridan, nor BTVS
Chapter 1: I'm Adopted
*****Broken Rock Reservation in Montana*****
Chief Thomas Rainwater opened the floor of the council to new business. He was the newly elected Indian Chief to the Confederated Tribes of Broken Rock in Park County, Montana.
"I had the dream again," Verda Stands Alone said.
"Tell us," Chief Rainwater said.
"The demons are attacking the res, and then the girl comes. Her face has the image of a lion over it, and she has long blonde hair. Somehow, she defeats the demons, and we are safe," Verda said.
"You are the third to have such a dream," Chief Rainwater said.
"What does it mean?" someone asked.
"It means that we have a new guardian coming who will not be one of us but will be our protector—the lioness," Chief Rainwater said. Several of the Council members nodded in agreement.
"How will we know when she comes?" another asked.
"We will know. There will be no mistaking her strength," he said.
As chief, though, he was more concerned with the demons in the dreams. What new threat was going to hit his people?
*****Sunnydale*****
Buffy was still in shock. She had to kill Angel even though it had been Angelus that opened the portal. It was her duty, her job. If she hadn't, the world would have been swallowed up. As soon as he returned, she could see it was him. His love, and not his hatred, filled his warm brown eyes. His confusion broke her heart. His hand reaching out to her even after she stabbed him through with her sword destroyed her.
Her mother didn't want her, and she had gotten expelled. She cautiously went to the library to see if Giles was there. The police were all gone, but the caution tape was up. Buffy went to his desk to leave him a note, but she saw a folder with her name on it inside a drawer. Curious, she opened it up.
There was a picture of a map in Montana. Dutton ranch-Yellowstone was written on it. Pictures of a man with a cowboy hat standing with two teenagers, a boy, and a girl. When she turned over the picture, she was shocked to see written in Giles' handwriting: Beth Dutton, birth mother. Rip Wheeler, birth father.
Then she read the typed paper that read like a report. Due to the growing influence and strength of the Dutton family it has been decided that the potential born to Beth and Rip will be removed from the family. The Council's investigators have concluded that John Dutton, the grandfather, will never allow a granddaughter of his to be trained as a potential. The memory spell will be performed on the mother. She will be placed with a Council family. Confused, Buffy read Giles' notes written in the sides. Spoke to Thomas. Mother made to believe she had an abortion. Father never knew. The watcher, who was to have her, died in transit with the baby in the car. DHS took custody of the baby, now known as Buffy Summers. She was adopted at six weeks by Hank and Joyce Summers.
Buffy read the note a few times, and then she took the entire folder. How long had Giles known this? Why didn't he tell her? Feeling betrayed on top of everything else she was feeling made the rage build inside.
Her plan to go to Los Angeles disappeared, and she bought a ticket to Livingston, Montana, the largest nearby city. She didn't know how she would get to the ranch as the state was huge, but she would find her birth family. The trip would take her three days. Luckily, it wasn't winter, so the clothes she packed would work.
Exhaustion filled her as she finally slept.
*****Livingston, Montana*****
Buffy had never felt so grungy. Three days on a bus was a new type of hell. She had grabbed the emergency credit card her dad gave her, knowing she could easily spend a thousand on it without him noticing. Getting a shower and good meal was her priority, so she decided to find a hotel before looking for the Duttons.
She found a place that wasn't too bad called the Livingston Inn. It had a rustic look that Buffy liked. Luckily, she still had her fake ID from nineth grade. Since she had a credit card in her name, they didn't look very closely at it. The first thing she did was order a pizza to be delivered, and then she hopped in the shower. By the time she was clean, the pizza was ready.
As she ate, she thought of her friends and felt a stab of guilt. Willow had no other girlfriends but her. However, Buffy knew that she had Xander, and she had Oz. When she began thinking about her mom and the fact that she wasn't her real mom, Buffy's eyes filled with tears.
"No wonder she didn't want me anymore," she mumbled. Then she thought of Angel and what she did to him. She cried and cried until oblivion took her.
The next day, she debated what she should wear. Her best three-inch boots were a must since she was headed for horse country. Should she try for a skirt or a pair of her favorite leather pants? Would leather pants say tramp? Horse people were probably super conservative, so she opted for a pair of black jeans. Of course, she might not even see the Duttons today. Her first plan was to go to the library and get on a computer and do some research. The guy at the front desk drew her a map to the library. It was about a mile walk.
As she walked, she looked at the cars and people. Lots of pickup trucks, which made her smile. The place was very different from California. Men wore cowboy hats or caps of some kind. It was so cute! She laughed when she saw a sign for Livestock Agency. An entire building devoted to livestock. Well, she supposed it was necessary in a state that had nothing but ranches and Indians and a portion of Yellowstone National Park.
Two or three guys walked out, dressed like cowboys. Of course, they probably were cowboys! She smiled at her silly thoughts. One of the guys had a beard and was talking animatedly with the two other guys. When they got near the road, he turned and stepped into the road without looking. Buffy saw the double cab pickup barreling down the road.
Why she didn't simply call out a warning was unclear to her later when she thought about the scene. Instead, she came barreling toward the guy as he stepped into the road, knocking him down just as the truck drove by.
"What the hell?" one of the guys exclaimed while the other called out, "Lee!"
Scrambling, Buffy quickly stood up and held out her hand to the man, who looked surprised that she was strong enough to pull him to his feet.
"Who the hell was driving that truck?" the beardless younger man said.
"I don't know," the older man said. "Rip, go see if the cameras caught anything."
"Your name is Rip? Rip Wheeler?" Buffy asked, stunned. How did she manage to run into her father so quickly? Did the PTB want her here after all?
"How do you know my name?" Rip asked harshly. "Who are you?"
"Hey, watch the tone, Rip. She's the girl who just kept me from getting run over!" Lee said.
"He's right," the older man said. He held out his hand to Buffy. "I'm John Dutton, and I am very grateful for your quick reflexes. That's my oldest son, Lee, and Rip is the foreman at my ranch."
"The Yellowstone?" Buffy asked.
"Yes, now tell us how you know that," John said.
Buffy knew she could not blurt out her full truth, or they would think she was a total nutjob. "I found out from a reliable source that I was taken from my birth mother at birth, and she was hypnotized to think I died," Buffy explained. "My name is Buffy."
"Buffy?" Lee asked grinning. "You must be from California."
"How did you guess?" Buffy said, smiling.
"Cause that's where all the fruitcakes and tree huggers live," Lee said.
"How did you know my name?" Rip asked.
Buffy decided to just pull out the photo that she had in her back pocket and handed it to her grandfather.
John looked at the photo of him, Beth, and Rip from years ago. "Where did you get this?" he asked.
"From that reliable source," Buffy said.
John turned it over and saw the back of it. His eyes widened at the note written on it. "You believe that you are my granddaughter?" When she nodded, he looked at Rip. "You got my baby pregnant?"
Rip couldn't believe it. Surely, Beth would've told him. "Beth never said a word, sir, so I couldn't say," he said.
"But you could say if it was possible," John said.
Rip nodded. "It's possible. You know we were each other's first," he said.
Buffy smiled. How sweet.
"There's a lab around the corner," Lee said. "Let's just go take a DNA test and find out."
Buffy shrugged. "Sure," she said.
The group walked toward it. "So Buffy, when did you get in town?" John asked.
"I arrived last night after three days of torture on a bus," Buffy said. "I'm staying at the Livingston Inn. I was on my way to the library to see how I could track you down. It's an amazing coincidence that I literally ran in to you."
"It's fate," Lee said, flashing her a grin.
Buffy smiled, liking her uncle, who wasn't nearly as intense as her father. The man never smiled and carried an air of menace about him.
"I've never been on a bus," Lee said.
"You don't ever want to," Buffy said.
"How old are you, Buffy?" John asked. "You look too young to be on your own."
"I turned seventeen in January," she said. "I finished up my junior year, and my boyfriend died. I wanted a change of scenery for the summer."
"Does your mother know you are here?" John asked.
Buffy didn't like his too penetrating gaze and shook her head. "Not exactly. We got into a fight, and she told me to not come back if I left. I left," Buffy said.
"I'm sure that she didn't mean it," John said.
"There's the lab," Lee said, pointing.
They went inside and spoke to the technicians. John requested he and Rip be tested against Buffy.
When it was done, John asked, "How long?"
"It takes about a week," the technician said.
"We can't speed it up?" John asked.
"No," the technician said.
"Fine," John said, clearly not used to his will being ignored.
Buffy found the man amusing and didn't hide her grin.
"What's so funny?" Lee asked her.
"Nothing really," Buffy said. "Just amused at Mr. Dutton. He isn't used to being made to wait, is he?"
Lee smirked. "Never," he said.
"When you get to be a certain age, you hate to wait," John said, flashing her a smile.
"Well, Buffy, have you had breakfast?" Lee asked. "We were about to grab some coffee."
Rip gave him a sharp look but said nothing.
"I did eat, but I have a high metabolism and can always eat again," Buffy said.
"That's what I like to hear," John said, smiling at the girl. He'd always wanted a granddaughter. His Evelyn had anyway, and now that she was gone, he did for her.
They went to the diner nearby, and Buffy ordered pancakes and bacon. The men all ordered coffee.
"So, where does your daughter live? Do you have a wife?" she asked John.
"My wife passed away before you were born, unfortunately," John said. "She was an amazing woman, and I'm sorry you won't get to meet her."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Buffy said.
"It's okay. It was a long time ago," John said. "Beth lives in Utah where she works in finance."
"You know she's not a nice woman, right? If you're expecting baked cookies or thoughtful gifts, you'll be disappointed," Lee said.
"Lee," John said with a frown.
"What, Dad? I'm just trying to prepare the girl," Lee said.
"That's okay. My adopted mother is all that, so that's fine," Buffy said with a shrug.
"What Lee means is Beth is contentious at times. Intolerant. Strong minded," John said.
Rip finally smiled. "Is that how we're framing it?" he asked.
"She was the only girl on a ranch full of ill-mannered cowboys, and her mother died when she was a young girl," John said. "She is strong, loyal, and fearless."
"That's good. I'm that way, too," Buffy said with a grin.
"You look awfully scrawny," Lee said.
"I'm tougher than I look," Buffy said with a smile.
"Good to know," John said, enjoying the girl. How would his daughter respond if she found out?
"So, what does a livestock agent do?" Buffy asked.
John shared with her what his job was like, and she listened as it was very fascinating to her. It was like a whole new world in Montana.
*****The Next Day*****
Buffy had let her family walk her to her hotel with the promise that she would visit the ranch tomorrow. John would pick her up after his shift. She was very excited as she hadn't been on a horse since sixth grade. They were so huge and scary. Now that she was a slayer, she hoped she would fare better than she did in sixth grade.
John was impatient to get the test results back, as he didn't wish to call Beth until he knew for sure. However, he didn't want to wait to get to know the girl. Since she was underage, he didn't know how long she could stay. Lee agreed that bringing her to the ranch wouldn't hurt anything.
"At the very least, the girl will learn a bit about horses and ranching," he said.
Rip remained unusually quiet even for him. John knew not to press him, as he would speak when he was ready. Although he had known that Rip had a crush on Beth when they were younger, John didn't know that Beth ever felt the same way. It was clear that the news Buffy might be their child had sent Rip reeling.
As they drove, John asked, "What do you think of Montana?"
"I have never seen so much land without buildings on them," Buffy observed.
"Ranching and cattle are the two biggest things in Montana," John said. "You know that our ranch borders Yellowstone National Park."
"I saw that. I read that it's the biggest ranch in the United States," she said.
"It is," John said. "We're constantly fighting to keep it, as many of the Native tribes feel that the land should be returned to them."
"How long has your family had it?" Buffy wondered.
"Over a hundred years, since 1883," he replied.
"And they still think it's theirs? Sheesh. I guess they don't get the idea of spoils of war, huh?" she said.
John laughed. "I guess I should mention that my youngest son Kayce is married to a Native American, and they have a son, Tate. He's four, and so far, my only grandson," John said.
"Thanks for the heads up," Buffy said. "Where do they live? On the ranch?"
"Kayce spent time as in war as a Navy Seal," John said. "He's not quite ready to be back with our family, and he's staying at the res."
"Res?" Buffy asked, confused.
"Reservation—Indian Reservation," John answered.
Buffy nodded. This was a very different world. When they pulled onto the ranch, she stared at the large house in awe. Horses and stables were nearby.
"It's so beautiful," Buffy said.
"My grandfather built the house," he said. "My dad and I both made some improvements."
"Have you ever ridden a horse? Would you like to?" John asked.
"I rode once when I was 11 or 12, and I would love to again," Buffy said.
"Let's go get Rip to find you a horse," he said.
"Do you have any in my size?" Buffy asked with a grin.
"Not exactly," John said, smiling.
Rip braced himself as the teenager approached with John. To think that Beth got pregnant and didn't tell him was eating him up. That she believed she got an abortion and never said a word was even more upsetting. He knew that she wouldn't stay in Montana, but he thought they were closer than that. What would he do with a nearly grown daughter anyway? There was no way he could ever be father material.
"Rip, let's find her a lazy horse," John said as they approached the stables.
Buffy eyed the other cowboys with interest as she'd never seen any cowboys in person. They all seemed tough but not unfriendly.
"Yes, sir," Rip said. He hadn't said anything to Buffy, and it was starting to bother her.
"Don't let Rip's silence bother you," John said, sensing her discomfort. "He's not one to talk unnecessarily. He and my son, Kayce, are both like that. Beth and Lee speak enough for everyone."
Buffy smiled, really liking the older man. He was a far cry from any grandpa she'd ever met, but his obvious strength was only a good thing. If he ever found out the truth about Buffy, she'd need him to be strong.
When Rip brought the horse out, it was already saddled and seemed huge to Buffy. Unfortunately, when the horse sensed Buffy, it tried to pull away from Rip in fear. That's when Buffy realized that it was sensing that she was a predator. Keeping her eyes locked with it, she spoke in soft tones, hoping to cajole it.
"It's okay. Don't be scared. I'm not going to hurt you," Buffy assured it as she slowly approached and put her hand carefully on its nose.
"What's its name?" Buffy asked.
"Tabitha," John said.
The horse was still noticeably shaking as she neared it, so she kept talking in soft tones and petting it. Finally, it calmed enough for Buffy to pull herself over it and sit on the saddle.
"I don't get why Tabitha is acting so scared. That's not like her," Rip said.
"Well, we don't get many strangers on the ranch," John said.
"The horse is shaking, sir," Rip pointed out. "There's clearly something we're not seeing wrong with the girl."
"That's nonsense," John said.
"They are a good judge of character," Rip countered.
"She is a teenage girl. We haven't had one of those around in two decades," John said.
"She is very pretty," Buffy said, stroking the horse's jawline and neck.
"Okay, let me go over the basics with you," John said. He went over each piece of the saddle before helping her up. Surprisingly, Buffy had no problems swinging her short leg over the horse.
"This is really high," Buffy said, looking at the ground.
"Are you afraid of heights?" John asked.
"No, I used to be the top of a cheerleader tower," she said.
"Now, why doesn't that surprise me?" John said, grinning at her. He explained how to speed up and slow down. "Are you ready? We'll take it nice and slow."
"I'm ready," Buffy said, smiling happily. This place seemed as far removed from the hellmouth as she could get.
John tapped his heels against the horse's side, and it took off at a canter. Buffy mimicked his actions and was right behind him.
Rip watched them go, feeling confused. How could he have a daughter? Deciding he couldn't wait to confront Beth, he pulled out his phone to call her.
*****The Next Day*****
Beth Dutton was beyond pissed. How anyone found out about the darkest secret of her life was beyond her comprehension. But whoever was dumb enough to manipulate a young girl was going to pay! If she found out the girl was working some kind of con, she'd make her pay.
Beth wasn't too prissy to hit a teenager.
John was smiling down at the girl that he already felt was his granddaughter. They had a connection that couldn't be faked. The test would show that she was his—he just knew it. Currently, she was practicing roping with Lee, and she got it on the first try.
"The girl is a natural cowgirl if I've ever seen one," John said to Rip, who was watching as always.
"It's probably a long con," Rip said.
"Do you think I'm stupid?" John asked.
"No, sir," Rip said.
"Although I didn't explain why, I had Jamie look her up the day we met her," he said. "She's had some trouble at school. A friend was murdered, and it appeared that the principal fingered her for it."
Rip's eyes widened. "You are harboring a known fugitive?" he asked.
"Of course not," John said. "She's innocent. The bolo was dismissed two days ago. She was adopted by Hank and Joyce Summers just like she said. Things have been rough for her. That town Sunnydale she lives in is full of some bad characters."
"So, she isn't lying?" he asked, surprised. He wouldn't let himself believe that she might be his. What would he do with a nearly grown daughter?
"No, I don't think she is," John said. "I think she believes what she said. She's in pain and was looking for a distraction. Finding out she was adopted threw her for a loop."
A car came fast up the drive, and John turned away from the corral where Buffy and Lee were practicing. "I recognize the angry driving," Rip said. "Beth is here."
"Did you call her?" John asked.
"Yes, sir," he said. "I had to ask her if she'd been pregnant."
"What did she say?" John wondered.
"Yes," he said. They watched as Beth got out of the car, fire in her eyes.
"Shit," John said with a sigh. "She's out for blood."
"Yes," Rip said. He hadn't seen her in months, and as always, the sight of her caused his heart to race and time to stand still.
"Hello, sweetheart," John said, greeting his daughter. "I'm glad you could make it."
"Well, when Rip called me, I had to come see the little con artist myself," Beth said, fire in her eyes.
"Now, Beth, she is not a con artist," John said. "Jamie investigated her. She is who she says she is. The DNA test will prove if she's yours and Rip's."
"I know she's not mine! Don't you think I'd remember being pregnant, Dad? That you'd recall me being pregnant?" she asked.
John realized that he hadn't considered that and was silent.
Buffy, though, noticed the new arrival and pointed her out to Lee. "Oh, that's Beth," he said. "Rip must've called her."
"You didn't?" Buffy asked.
Lee scoffed. "No way in hell," he said. "I love my sister, but she's a handful. Trying to predict how she'll react to any given situation is a fool's bet normally. But this? No way was I gonna touch it."
"I can understand that," Buffy said.
"She seems pissed," Lee said.
Buffy looked at the woman who gave birth to her with interest. She was nearly the same height as Joyce with long, straight blonde hair. She had model like cheekbones and was wafer thin, well dressed. Buffy followed Lee toward the corral gate.
Buffy was caught off guard, however, when Beth charged toward her. For some reason, it didn't look like a warm reception.
*****To Be Continued*****
I hope you're interested in more. I plan on this story being seven to ten chapters. I have 5 already written. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!