Author Note: I don't own Yellowstone nor any of the characters. I only own the plot to the story and a few characters which are my own.
Summary: Canon compliant till 5x08. John fights to save his ranch and political career. Jamie falls further into Sarah's trap but who's playing who here. Beth is well Beth. Kayce's trying to find a balance between his father and his family.
Lloyd steps back into his role as Foremen and Enforcer with Rip going to Texas. Jimmy's made a life for himself and a sense of peace away from the violence of the Yellowstone but the past aways catching up in the end
Rip and the wranglers' time in Texas will be anything but peaceful.
Playlist for Another Bullet playlist/1KPfITsfPFgceM52TTCa2z?si=119ac3a8a0674770
Chapter 2
(I Ride An Old Paint/Leaving Cheyenne: Colter Wall)
Four Sixes, Texas
The camp stirred to life before dawn. Gator was up putting the coffee on over the open fire. Gator cooked biscuits while getting a stew ready for the wranglers when they woke. One by one the wranglers woke to the smell of stew and fresh biscuits cooking over the fire.
The other wranglers talked and joked among themselves. Rip checked his phone for any missed calls or texts from Beth. There were none. Rip set aside his phone as he sat watching the sun come up.
The quietness was interrupted by a Sixes truck pulling into Camp. Former Yellowstone Wrangler Jimmy Hurdstram behind the wheel. Jimmy wasn't alone; Teeter's brother Connor was with Jimmy and two other hands from the Sixes.
"Morning Rip, Coffee on"Jimmy asked, removing his battered old black Cowboy hat the other Yellowstone Wranglers had given him when he first joined the Yellowstone.
"Gator's got stew there if you're hungry with biscuits."Rip answered before his phone vibrated in his 's name was on the caller's ID.
"Hey Baby what you doing up so early"Rip answered his phone.
"Oh just missing you cowboy"
Jimmy grabbed a bowl of stew and some freshly made biscuits. He sat with Walker, Jake and Ryan. Teeter was standing not far from them on the phone with Colby no doubt.
"So what's you got married without us Jimmy. Where was our invite?"Ryan asked, nodding to the ring on Jimmy's ring finger.
"It was just a small wedding at the registry. Just friends and family,"Jimmy explained between bites.
"So what we're not family or friends"
"It wasn't like that. We didn't want to wait to get married"Jimmy took a sip of his coffee.
"Well, Well is there going to be the pitter pater of little feet of baby Hurdstram" Ryan teased
"No, Emily's not pregnant. What about you Mr I'm afraid of commitment"Jimmy questioned
"He had a girlfriend before we left. He fell head over heels in love with her. Abby she was a musician playing at the party after Mr Dutton was elected Governor"Walker cut in
"What happened"
"She dumped me after I told her we would be down here for a year or more" Ryan answered the stig of Abby dumping was still raw.
" Sorry man"
"Ain't your fault Jimmy. Shit happens."Ryan turned to Connor next " So what is Teeter's first name"Ryan wasn't giving on his quest to find out Teeter's real name
"Its none of your fucking business is what it is Ryan"
(Next in Line: Ned LeDoux)
Helena, Montana
John sat in Jamie's office waiting for Jamie to come in. While he waited he had time to think reflect on how much he'd fucked up his life since Evelyne passed. He'd been a crap father to his kids after Evelyn died. '
Goddamn that fucking boy. He'd given everything to that bastard and now he would tear this family apart.
Why did he allow Evelyn to talk him into adopting her half sister now orphaned baby. Had he known how'd it would turn out all these years later. He'd let the boy go into the system.
John didn't hate Jamie, far from it. He loved that boy like he was his own. He'd failed as a father to him and Lee, Kayce and Beth. He'd been so wrapped in keeping the ranch going he'd never made time for them.
Had he really just been using his kids as tools to keep the ranch.
Jamie Dutton arrived at the office.
"Mr Dutton the Governor's here to see you"His secretary Lisa
"Was there anyone else with him?"Jamie asked.
"Not just the Governor, he's been here for an hour."
Jamie walked into his adoptive father John Dutton III sat in front of his desk.
"Governor Dutton, what can I help you with?"Jamie took a seat behind his desk.
"I think we can cut that shit out Jamie don't you think"
"Alright what is it you wanted then Governor"Jamie countered
"You fucking impeaching me for one."John said through gritted teeth.
"If you come to get me to resign it won't work. Your attack dog already tried that"
"I didn't come here for that. I came to try and talk about this situation like two grown men to work out our differences. You're impeaching me, why to feather your own nest. Get the Governorship cause you feel hard done by that Senator Perry endorsed me instead of you to run for Governor."John questioned.
"No, this is about you unlawfully breaking the Airport Lease. That will not only cost the states billions of dollars, but jobs as well. You didn't do that for the good of the state or the voters, you did it for you and you alone.
On the level this is to heed off Market Equities who are threatening to sue the state. If they win, it will bankrupt the state. Every way you'd still be removed from office if that happens."
(Diamonds & Gasoline: Turnpike Troubadours)
Bozeman, Montana
Lloyd had sent Colby and Carter into town for supplies. They were running low on fence posts and wire. Colby had a few errands to run in town anyhow.
"You right to sort out the list of supplies."Colby handed the list of supplies to Carter.
"Sure, where are you going?"Carter asked, taking the list from Colby.
"Got a few errands to run."Colby got out of the truck, leaving Carter on his own.
Leaving Carter to sort the supplies. Colby headed towards town. He'd been thinking of doing this for a while. Saving his money till he had enough. For all the jokes he made about being forced into the relationship with Teeter. He did love her.
With her in Texas and he here in Montana. The love he had for her seemed to be stronger. As the saying went. Absence makes the heart grow fonder or something like headed to the oldest jeweller in Bozeman. The current owner of Fordham Jeweller was Sidney Fordham II. The Fordhams had been in Bozeman for as long as the town had been here.
"Can I help you son?"Sid Fordham II asked, his kind eyes and smile greeted Colby as he came in.
"I was ah looking for a engagement ring"Colby said nervously.\
"We can certainly help with that. So what price range where you looking at"
"Um I got about three thousand saved up"Colby answered.
"Three thousand is a good amount for a ring. These would be in your price range"Sid brought out a tray of rings.
Colby looked over the rings. They were all nice, but none of them really stood out to them. Somewhere just too flashy. She didn't need anything flashy.
"Do you have anything simpler or maybe make a ring for me?"Colby asked.
"Sure we can make a custom ring for you. What sort of metal for the band and cut of the stones for the ring"
"I anit got a clue"Colby sheepishly answered.
"That's alright son. I can help with that. Sliver Gold for the band I recommend as for stones. Can't go past diamonds. I could put a diamond in the middle and put some other stones on the other side. Tell me a bit about your fella or girl"
"Girl. Ain't too much to tell. She anit one for fancy stuff just simple stuff. She was born in Arkansa, raised in Texas"Colby trailed off.
"Well I could put a Arkansa Diamond in the middle with Topaz and Sapphires on a silver gold band. Topaz is a gemstone for Texas and Sapphires would go well with the Diamonds and Topaz."Sid did a rough sketch of the ring.
"You can do that for three grand"
"Sure can. What time frame will you be needing the ring done by?"Sid asked.
"She's down in Texas for the next year so no hurry. Do I pay now or when the ring done"
"We can take a deposit today. Pay the rest when the ring is finished. If the ring doesn't fit just bring it back we'll fix it"Sid explained.
Colby paid the deposit on the ring. Sid would call him when the ring was finished. Colby checked the time on his phone. He'd better be getting back. Carter would be wondered where he was.
Coming out of jewellers Colby bumped into someone.
"Fuck I'm sorry I was watching where I was going"Colby apologized
"No damage done. Colby"The woman he bumped into knew him somehow.
"Tessa what are you doing here"Colby was surprised to see the girl who had not only broken his heart but shattered it well over a decade ago.
"I live here with my Fiance Ethan. We moved here from New York. What are you doing here in Montana"
"I work on a ranch around here,"Colby answered.
"Cowboying that's a surprise"
"It's my job. I'd love to stay and catch but I gotta get back to work"Colby lied about loving to catch up. Even a decade after everything that had happened between them. Time did little to heal the wounds on his broken heart back then.
Colby had moved on with his life. Tessa hadn't been just any old girlfriend. She'd hurt him pretty bad. Cheating on him with his brother of all people. That was one of the reasons he'd left California and hadn't been back since.
Colby's family was a story for another time. You'd think brothers would be close. Not the Richard boys. Colby and Damien had never gotten on. It got worse as they got older. Damien was the favourite son.
Damien who could do no wrong. Colby didn't hate his brother. Lord knows he had every right. Sleeping around with Colby's girlfriend Tessa at the time. Who Colby had been going to propose to and was in love with.
(Another Bullet: Randall King)
Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, Bozeman Paradise Valley Montana
John sat on the porch watching as a storm rolled down from the mountains in the distance. A glass of Whiskey in hand.
"What's troubling you Daddy"Beth joined John on the porch.
"I am losing this place Beth. I'm not talking about the Governorship. I made a promise to my father to not lose nor sell this place. Yet it looks I'll be the one to lose this fucking place. I went to Helena to talk Jamie"
"Why the fuck would you got talk to slippery little fucker Dad"Beth interrupted.
"Can I finish speaking please"John shot Beth a look "Right as was I was saying. I tried to talk to him today. "
"Fat fucking good that will do"Beth cut in
"May I finish, thank you. The impeachment is a smoke screen. There's a woman named Sarah Attwood working for Market Equities. Jamie's playing her. Give them enough rope to hang themselves.
If we play our cards right then we won't ever have to worry about people like Market Equities again"
"And you believe him,"Beth questioned.
"I have to for your Mama's sake. I made him swear on your mother's grave that he was telling the truth"
"I just hope for your sake and all of us that he is telling the truth. But there is a real possibility Jamie's into up to his neck with Market Equities. If he goes down he'll drag us all down with him Daddy."Beth squeezed John's shoulder before going back inside.
"I need your help sweetheart. Give me the strength to get through this"John reminisced looking at the photo of Evelyn he kept in his wallet.
(The John Dunbar Theme from 'Dancing with Wolves': The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra)
Four Sixes Texas
Matthew Christopher Evans pulled his car to a stop at the end of the long driveway leading into the Four Sixes ranch. The ranch had been in Evans' family for generations. Matthew had no idea this place even existed.
His mom never really spoke much of her family. Just that she came from Texas and they had a ranch. The place had been left to him by his great Uncle Andrew Evans. His mom's uncle.
"Are we there yet?"Sienna, his teenage daughter, asked , annoyed at having left LA to move to Texas.
"We are here, Sienna. Why don't you and Ollie have a look. This is going to be a home now"Matt answered his daughter.
"This is home now. They even have the internet, electricity or running water"Sienna scoffed looking back at her phone.
"What do you reckon Ollie?"Matt asked his son.
"It looks like those old westerns Grandpa watch with us"
"It does. This is a fresh start for all of us"Matt didn't miss Sienna rolling her eyes in the rear rear view mirror"
"I don't know why we could stay in LA with Mom,"Sienna whined again.
"Sienna the judge decided it was best for you and Ollie to live with me"
"Whatever"Sienna was acting like a two year old rather than her age of sixteen.
Matt pulled the car up a series of yards and barns.
"Mr Evans I'm Silas Anderson we spoke on the phone. I'm the Foremen"Silas extended his hand to Matt.
"Matt Evans, nice to meet you Silas. Where is the main house?"
"Up that a ways. I can show the way. After we get you settled I'll show you around"Matt attention was drawn from Silas as Emily came out of one the barns.
"Silas this the new boss"
"Emily this is Mr Matt Evans he's the new Boss. Mr Evans this is Emily Hurdstram she the head vet here took over from old Doc Blodgett retired last year"Silas introduced the pair
"Ma'am"
"Mr Evans, it was nice to meet you. Silas"Emily got into one of the Sixes's trucks driving off.
"Whatever you're thinking about her I'd forget it she's married to one of the wranglers"Silas it seemed could read Matt's mind.
"Right."
"When you're sister due in. She is moving here as well. Mr Tomkins said you where both moving here."Silas asked.
"The next week or so"