Chapter IV:

Rip said, "I went by his office but his secretary said had left a few hours before."

Kayce asked, "Did she say where he went?"

Rip replied, "She didn't want to but eventually she told me he went to meet with Roarke Morris."

The room was engulfed in a tense silence for several minutes then Kody asked in a dark voice, "So he's made his choice huh?"

Beth had an equally infuriated look on her face as she spat, "I never did trust that fucking traitorous coward."

Kayce asked, "What should we do?"

Rip said, "We kill him."

Kody locked eyes with the larger man as he said, "If Jamie needs killin' I'll be the one to do it."

Rip held the gaze and tried to intimidate the younger smaller man but knew it was worthless to try. Kody feared nobody and if he were to go against what Kody had said; Kody would track him down kill him very brutally. He finally relented and said, "Alright."

Then he added if they come after the family again all bets are off."

Kody's lips twisted into a smirk as he said, "Brother if they hit us again I'll kill every mother's son of em."

Even though Rip feared no man Kody sent a slight chill through him for he knew the utter ruthless shear carnage the man was capable of. Kayce said, "I'll go talk to Jamie and see where he stands."

Beth spat we already know where he stands. Why do you need to go talk to him?"

Kayce replied, "Because he's, our brother."

Beth scoffed, "You heard what Dad said he tried to sell our land."

Kayce argued back, "We need to get his side of the story we don't-"

Beth cut him off, "We don't need his side of the story he betrayed us. Look I think it's sweet that you're always trying to find the good in people but it's time to grow up and face facts. And the fact is our dear brother Jamie betrayed us and we need to make him pay."

Kayce went to argue but he was silenced by Kody; who yelled, "Both of you shut the hell up."

When Beth went to protest, he shot her a look and said in a hard voice, "It's my turn to talk you and the boy wonder there have had yours,"

Rip was very impressed; the only other person that could do that was John Dutton. Kody continued, "As I was sayin' Kayce go talk to Jamie and make sure you tell him of the failed attack on the ranch as well as the attacks on y'all and Dad. But and I cannot stress this enough do not I repeat do not tell him I was wounded and layin' here on my back defenseless in a damned hospital bed."

Rip said, "You're never defenseless."

And with he handed him a two shot .357 derringer and his throwing knife. Kody said, "thanks brother."

Rip nodded as he said, "It was Beth's idea she said you didn't like to be without weapons. But I've seen you fight barehanded you're deadly."

Kody asked, "Can you get me a smoke?"

They all laughed as Beth said, "We'd all be kicked out of here."

Once they all quit laughing Kody said, "Kayce; you go talk to Jamie, Rip get back to the ranch there's horses and cattle to feed, Beth you do...whatever it is that you do."

They all nodded.

Several days later Roarke Morris was fly fishing in the river when Rip hollered at him, "Hey is this yours?"

Roarke looked up and saw Rip walking down the steep incline carrying a blue and white cooler. Roarke yelled, "No that isn't mine."

Rip paid no heed as he got within a few feet of Roarke and said as he reached into a cooler and threw the Timber Rattler at Roarke, "This is for the Duttons,"

Roarke recoiled in fear and half ran half stumbled up the bank and finally collapsed as the poison coursed through his veins. Rip had followed and put a foot on his chest and emotionlessly watched as he took his last breath. Then he gathered up the cooler and got in his truck and drove back to the ranch.

Kayce walked into Jamie's office unannounced and told him of the attacks on the ranch and the Duttons. Jamie was astonished and asked, "How is everybody?''

Kayce told him but like Kody had told him he left out the part about Kody being wounded. Jamie asked, "So you think I'm involved like Beth?"

Kayce replied, "I don't know what to think; I mean you didn't ever call to check in on Dad or any one of us for that matter."

Jamie sneered, "Like I told Beth I did call I just didn't call any one of you. Now you can go or do you want to threaten to kill me like Beth?"

Kayce just wordlessly left the office."

Caroline Warner was in her office contemplating their next move when Malcolm Beck came striding in and sat down on the luxurious leather settee. Warner asked, "And who exactly are you?"

Beck replied, "I'm Malcolm Beck and I have a debt to settle with Yellowstone Dutton Ranch; more specifically John and Kody Dutton."

Warner asked, "Why should I care?"

Beck replied as he took off his white Stetson, "Because I know how they think and more importantly they killed my brother and tried to kill me."

Just as he finished talking her phone rang and she was told of the death of Roarke Morris and the decline of her offer by Chairman Thomas Rainwater. She he hung up the phone and said, "Mr. Beck; I think we can help each other."

He nodded slowly as he said, "Mrs. Warner that's Music to my ears. Let us begin"