"Avery, I can't have you in a bunkhouse with a bunch of lonely cow punchers."
1 year earlier
Rip and Lloyd strolled through the swinging doors of the bar as they chatted about the shit they had gotten into that day on the ranch. Their eyes quickly adjusted to the neon lights and the slight fog of cigarette smoke that seemed to accompany places like these. The pair made their way to the bar and grabbed a couple of stools to order.
Looking around the joint, it could be described as a typical Saturday night in Boseman, MT. The place was packed with wranglers, men and women, ready to release a week's worth of hard work. They were ready to let their hair down so-to-speak and the two Yellowstone men were no different.
They didn't often occupy the bar scene, preferring instead the solace that the ranch had to offer when the sun went down. However on occasion, the Ranch Foreman and his trusted right-hand, joined the rest of the boys for some good natured camaraderie and fun.
At the bar, Rip sat with his back against the scratched wood of the used surface and scanned the crowd as they waited to get the bartender's attention. There were plenty of folks that he recognized although none that he would describe as friends. Mostly men that had some dealing or another with ranch work but a few that he'd interacted with in these situations.
He noticed the dark hair and skin of Avery in the far corner. She was surrounded by women that were associated with the local strip joint. He offered her a obligatory nod when their eyes connected but no other real sign of acknowledgment or affection as he continued his slow perusal.
For the past year, he and Avery had enjoyed each other's company in the most casual of ways. They never sought the other out but when they shared the same space, they ended up in the back seat of his truck more often than not. It was an arrangement that worked for both of them, for now, and he was fine with that.
By the time the stoic cowboy had finished scanning the barroom, the rest of the Yellowstone cowboys had made their way inside and commandeered a pool table in the back. Rip and Lloyd stood to join them with a bucket of beer each to get everyone started.
As the night progressed, Rip found himself drinking and cutting up with the boys at the pool table. They'd played several games already and were currently battling Avery and a couple of the women that were with her.
Rip hiked the right side of his jeans up higher on his hip and adjusted his hat while his left arm was thrown across the shoulders of the dark haired woman beside him. He chuckled at her antics and watched the game being run on his guys.
Avery was needling Ryan and Colby, calling them every raunchy name in the book, and laughing at their twin expressions of shock. She was in the middle of cutting Ryan down for scratching on the eight ball when another female voice split the night.
"My, my, my. What do we have here?"
The woman was shaking her head, her short strawberry-blonde hair waving with each movement, as she made her way to the back table. She raised the bottle in her right hand in a respectful salute to the ranch-hands.
"Looks like the boys of the Yellowstone are trying to get lucky, lettin' the pussy run the table."
She slowly walked around the table, meeting the eyes of every man from the Dutton Ranch. Her high heels clicked as she walked and they all watched the tight sway of her hips in the blue dress she wore as she passed. She stopped near Rip but directed her next statement to Lloyd with just a touch of an ornery gleam in her eye.
"Seems to me, the way to a lady's heart used to be to impress her. Woulda thought your foreman woulda taught ya'll that trick."
She cut her eyes to Rip and made a show of looking Avery up and down.
"Then again, maybe he's lost his touch."
A few of the guys snickered and the woman raised an eyebrow while she waited for Rip's reaction.
Rip looked down at the woman now standing in front of him and slowly let his arm fall from Avery's shoulders. He reached up to the worn brown hat on his head and clenched his jaw as he tried to remain stern.
"Damnit Beth Dutton. You always did have to make a scene didn't ya, woman?"
Rip smiled then and winked as he stepped toward her. He stood toe to toe with her and looked directly into her eyes as she defiantly looked back, unblinking.
"What do you want me to impress you with first, huh darlin'? A dance?"
Beth chuckled prettily and nodded once. She finished her beer and took the one Rip still held. She handed them both to Avery as she stepped around Rip. Before she passed, she paused momentarily at her side and quietly stated, "I got it from here hunny."
The daughter of the Dutton legacy strode confidently onto the dance floor and didn't even have to turn to know that Rip wasn't far behind. He hesitated for a moment as he walked by the angry eyes of his companion.
Even though they both understood there was nothing exclusive or special between them, it still stung to have the fact pointed out for the whole bar to see and Rip wasn't trying to alienate the company they had been to each other. He offered her a nod that she returned before he joined Beth and all but forgot there was another person in the room.
When Beth reached the center of the dancefloor, she turned around and crossed her arms over her chest as she waited for Rip to take the last few steps to her side. She looked up expectantly and waited for Rip to make the next move. She didn't need to wait long.
The weathered hand of the tall man in front of her landed at her hip with a grip that spread excitement throughout her body. She shook her head and looked down as he pulled her in close. She was almost embarrassed at the feelings he was able to evoke so quickly but she allowed her arms to encircle his neck and settled into his familiar embrace.
"Who the fuck was that?"
Rip chuckled at the blunt question. He was not the least bit surprised by her brashness and he pulled her closer as he connected his hands at the small of her back. They swayed to the slow beat of the jukebox.
"She's just a friend, Beth."
Beth nodded and looked up into his face.
"A friend. Is she a friend like me, Rip?"
"No darlin,' there ain't nobody like you. You already know that."
Beth acknowledged his statement with a wink but said nothing as she laid her head on his shoulder and he continued to hold her. He pressed a subtle kiss to the hair on her head, content in that very moment.
"You fuck her?"
The question came from his shoulder and he knew Beth was not going to let this go. She had never been faced with him in the company of another even though he'd been witness to her friends plenty of times.
"Beth."
Rip ran his hand up her back and squeezed her neck tenderly.
"Let's not get into this, ok? I'm dancin' with you, ain't I? Can't that be your answer?"
"You must like her. You're not one for public displays but you looked awful comfortable standing there with your arm wrapped around her, all possessive."
Beth stood back a little to look at Rip. She let her arms rest on his biceps as her eyes traveled over him. His brown hat was pulled low over his eyes. He had shed his customary black jacket but the black button down shirt he wore under it fit snuggly and was tucked into his blue jeans. He was sexy and Beth couldn't blame the girl for relishing in his attention but she could blame him for giving it to her if she wanted.
Her light eyes reconnected with the dark irises of his as she waited for him to respond. It wasn't very often that she let the green-eyed monster in her surface but the level of her annoyance with what she had seen surprised even her.
Rip sighed when he saw the determined look on Beth's face. He'd recognize that look anywhere and there was no getting out of the conversation she wanted to happen.
"Alright Beth, where do you wanna do this? Here? Outside? Let's get it done so I can get to enjoyin' havin' you home."
"Maybe I just want my own public display, Rip. Ever think of that? Or would that hurt your little girlfriend's feelins'?
Rip chuckled at the challenge on her face. In any other woman, he'd have walked away at the first question. But this woman, this woman made him crazy. Half the time he didn't know if he wanted to shake her or kiss her. Kissing her won out every time.
The music swirled around them as Beth and Rip stood almost still, starring at one another. Finally, the rugged cowboy brought his calloused hand to the side of her face and stroked her smooth cheek. He tipped her chin up slightly as he bent lower to reach her lips. Their lips connected in a tender caress and Beth followed him as he attempted to draw back.
She brought her hand up to the back of his neck as she anchored him to her. She applied more pressure to their kiss and slid her other hand back up to slip through the slightly curling hair under his hat. She started a slow sway to the music that was still playing and was pleasantly relieved when Rip didn't hesitate. His hands fell to hold her low on her back as his tongue begged for entrance at the seam of her mouth.
Opening for him, Beth couldn't believe that she was allowing her father's ranch hands to watch her make out with their foreman. She was powerless to stop it. Who would have thought that seeing Rip with someone else was all it took for Beth to want to declare him, hers. She moaned low at the thought and the feelings coursing through her hot blood.
"Rip, I'm ready to get outta here, baby."
He stepped back and nodded. Interlocking their fingers, Rip led Beth back toward the cowboys. He wasn't surprised to see Avery still playing pool with the guys but it didn't bother him. He grabbed his jacket from the hook by the table and looked to Lloyd.
"Hey, Lloyd. I'm gonna drive Beth home, take the truck fer me, ok?
He nodded in agreement and smiled at seeing the pair together. He had seen the comings and goings of Beth Dutton since she was just a teen and he couldn't help but root for a happy ending for Rip.
Outside, Beth never let go of Rip's hand as she led him toward her Mercedes. She backed him up against the car as her arms circled his waist. She leaned up to join their mouths once again. As their tongues danced together, Rip's hand fell to Beth's ass and he squeezed her closer.
"Get in the backseat," she demanded as she pulled away, panting for air.
Rip shook his head as he took in his own oxygen. He ran his fingers through her hair.
"No, darlin.' We're going home. This isn't gonna be some quick fuck in the back of your car. I haven't laid eyes on you in almost three years. This is gonna take a while."
He winked and led Beth to the passenger seat where he tucked her away and pulled the safety belt across her body snugly. Before he stood back up, he paused again to kiss her with enough passion to tide her over til they got back to the ranch.
Beth couldn't believe the pile of goo she was melting into at the sweet attentions from this big, burly man. Ordinarily, she'd have called him on his shit, insulted him for being so soft, told him in no uncertain terms that she wanted to fuck now and that she could get herself into her own goddamn car. As a matter of fact, she should be driving the fucking thing, not sitting there making eyes at the driver and entertaining butterflies in her stomach simply because he was holding her hand across the console.
Shit, was she getting soft? Had she been away too long? Maybe the influences of city living had lured her into some cone of domesticity. She looked at Rip, concentrating on driving them home safely with her small hand cradled in his at his thigh. His thumb softly rubbed circles where it lay against her skin and she just had to say something.
"You know, I can drive my own fucking car. You better not be thinking that just because we're going home to fuck, you can treat me like the little lady that should be back home, barefoot and pregnant."
Rip was laughing before she even finished her statement. Big belly laughs that split his whole face in half with the smile and it was contagious. Without her permission, Beth began laughing and continued to watch the happy silhouette of the man beside her.
She laid her head back against the seat as they sailed down the black ribbon of pavement and reflected on her actions qt the bar.
In the past, things would have gone down so much differently than they had tonight. She would have strolled into that honky tonk, taken one look at Rip enjoying someone else's company, and retaliated by hooking up with someone just to throw it in his face.
Sitting here, being driven home by the only man she'd ever, dare she say, loved, Beth was pleased with the results of her more mature decision. She smiled at the thought of her growing up and rolled her head to the side to watch Rip.
Of course, they had grown up together and perhaps with this latest request from her father, she'd manage to stick around the ranch long enough reap the benefits of a real relationship with him.
She leaned over to kiss his neck and slid her hand to the inside of his thigh where she brushed the tips of her fingers against his manhood and felt him twitch in response.
Smiling smugly to herself, Beth decided that ruminations about relationships could wait for the light of day. There was still a little immature left in her and she knew she could lure it out of Rip too.
Maybe they wouldn't make it all the way back to the Yellowstone after all.