Short missing moment from Season 4 Episode 5
Rip Wheeler sat in his easy chair in the living room of the foreman's cabin. The TV was playing some insignificant infomercial on low and the burly rancher dozed lightly as the night ticked away.
When a noise outside startled the cowboy awake, he all but leapt from his chair to get to the window. Peering outside in his white t-shirt, Rip hiked his unbuckled jeans up onto his hips and sighed in disappointment. He curled the toes of his bare feet against the floor before stretching them back out and ran a hand through the hair on his hatless head. Sweeping his eyes across the landscape in front of him, Rip confirmed that only blackness starred back at him. The night's stillness mocked his lack of ability to sleep.
"Damnit Beth," he whispered to himself and returned to his chair, pulling the soft quilt up from the floor and back over his lap.
He tried to focus on the television once more but his head hurt and he was cold.
"Damnit," he thought once more to himself. When had he let this happen?
Beth had spent the night before at the lodge, keeping her father company and he'd spent the time tossing and turning in their bed. He had been cold without her warm body draped over his and he'd had nothing to lull him into a peaceful slumber without the sounds of her even breaths to match.
They'd only been spending every night together for the better part of a year and he was already falling apart when she wasn't there. It was hard to believe how quickly he'd come to rely on her presence in his life when in the past she'd only blown in and out of it, not to be counted on.
He'd easily fallen into a blissful pattern of waking up to her lustful encouragement, seeking her out the moment he walked in the cabin after work, and holding her close while they both drifted off. Now, after only a night apart he was more exhausted than any of the toughest days on the ranch and he was not looking to make it two days in a row.
Beth had driven to Salt Lake City to handle some business with her former employee but she'd insisted that she would be home before the morning. Rip had worried that she would be too tired to pack all of that driving into one day but she seemed determined that they'd only spend that one night apart. Now, here he sat. Tired, irritated with himself, and worried about her.
He watched the clock near the television flip to 11:45 and knew he'd need to be getting up in a little more than four hours.
"This is ridiculous." He spoke out loud to himself and flung the blanket from his legs. He rose, intending to grab a drink of water and suffer the rest of the night in their bed. As he made it to the kitchen, he heard the distinct sound of gravel crunching and pivoted to the front door.
He opened it just as Beth turned her car off and they starred at each other through the windshield. Finally Beth gave him a sympathetic smile and reached for her door handle. The movement kicked Rip into gear and he quickly descended the porch to lend her a hand as she stood from the sleek, black car.
"Darlin,' you sure are a sight for sore eyes."
He pulled her to his chest in a crushing embrace and sighed in contentment when she wrapped her arms around his middle and snuggled her face into the crook of his neck.
"Is it just me or has this been the longest two days of our lives?" Beth asked as she snuck a glance up at Rip's face. She took in the tired lines around his eyes that contradicted the happy smile of having her back in his arms.
"You have no idea, Beth. Who knew that I couldn't sleep without you home anymore sweetie?"
She started to chuckle but stopped when she saw the serious look on his face and understood immediately the level of commitment they had placed in each other. She had also struggled to sleep without his calming presence by her side.
She squeezed his middle tightly before she took a step back and started for the front door with one arm around his waist. His had fallen to her shoulders and he leaned down to kiss her head. She smiled at the gesture.
"Let's get you to bed then baby, shall we?"