It was the end of a long day, though everyday was long on the ranch. They were busy getting the horses back into the barn, getting everything loaded away before supper so they could start all over again the next day. Some might hate it, but to these cowboys it was all they really wanted. Most were too busy, or tired even, to notice someone coming down the hill from the house.

"Y'all having a reunion or something?" Lloyd's voice broke through the relative quiet. Ryan looked up involuntarily; he knew who it would be though. After all, Lee and Jamie were always there. Beth's car showed up late last night. And hell might freeze over before Kaycee would come.

"You know she was coming?" Colby asked in a low voice. She had gone and was giving Lloyd a huge hug hello, close to the corral.

"Cause we talk so much," Ryan said sarcastically, turning back to what he was doing.

Alexa Dutton, Lexi to most, was the youngest of the Dutton children (though she often pointed out to Kaycee that this was just by three minutes as they were twins). While Beth and Kaycee got their mother's fairer features she and her other brothers had darker ones, her dark hair pulled back into a clip, her long hair annoying her during her even longer drive. She was dressed comfily in black leggings and a sweatshirt with SFMC on the front; San Francisco Medical Center.

"I wasn't expecting a party or anything," she was joking to Lloyd. "But there's no one up at the house?" This came out more as a question, like maybe they were down here.

"Not sure where your dad went off to," Lloyd told her. "Beth and Jamie been gone most of the day. And Lee-"

"AH!" he was cut off by her screaming as Lee had snuck up behind her, grabbing her around her waist.

"Should be back soon," Lloyd was chuckling as Lee had a huge 'gotcha' grin on his face.

"Son of a bitch," Lexi laughed, shoving her brother's shoulder.

"You talk about mom like that?" Lee quipped, to which she rolled her eyes, though she was smiling. "It's good to have you home baby sis," he told her, hugging her tight now, happy to see her.

"It's good to be home," she admitted. She had spent the last five years away from Montana, first living in Boise then moving to San Francisco for the last two years; outside of summers though she hadn't lived at home since she was eighteen, thirteen whole years. Her mind wandered as she couldn't believe it had really been that long since she lived here full time.

"So," Lee was saying, interrupting her train of thought.

"So…what?" Lexi asked curiously, as it seemed like he was expecting something.

"When's the boyfriend getting here?" he asked. No one outside of Jamie had ever met this guy because Jamie was the only one to go visit her in California. Any of the few times she came home in the last few years she came alone.

"He's not," she told him, hoping it would end there.

"I'll kill him," Lee said, half joking in his tone, but she knew she wouldn't put it past him.

"It was me," she clarified, again hoping the conversation would end. Her break up with Matt was still a bit too raw, whether or not she was the one to do the leaving.

"Making a habit of that, aren't ya?" Lee joked with her and she pushed him again.

"Subtle," she muttered at him.

He was, of course, referring to her break up with Ryan. They started dating when she was in her second year of undergraduate at Montana State which was right in Bozeman. After that, she had gone to medical school in Billings which wasn't a terrible drive; she was home to visit a lot, even if it was still to study.

Once she graduated from med school it was time to do her residency as she wanted to be a surgeon. She learned you didn't really get to pick where you did your residency, you could try but it was a bit of a lottery process. That was how she ended up in Boise. That was ok, they made that work, even though there were long stretches between seeing each other. The plan always was for her to finish and come back home. Ryan figured it wouldn't be long after that that he would be asking her to marry him.

So when she came home at Christmas that year with news of doing a two year fellowship in San Francisco things more than hit the fan.

"I am right here," Colby was saying lightly to break the tension, having come over to greet her as well. They had always gotten along as he was one of Ryan's best friends. "How was your trip home?" he asked as he hugged her quickly.

"Long," Lexi laughed a little, catching Ryan's eye now. "Hey Ry," she said, giving him a small wave. He wasn't far, but it felt like a football field between them; he simply nodded at her.

"How long you home for?" he asked politely, figuring she would be there a week at most.

"I'm home for good now," she clarified and he nodded.

"Your dad will be really happy to see you," he told her, before going back to what he was doing. Colby had a face as if to say 'ouch,' patting her shoulder before going back to work as well, Lloyd heading with him.

"Guess I had that coming," she murmured to Lee, referring to Ryan's coldness.

"Little bit, yeah," he nodded in agreement.

"Who's brother are you?" she asked as he shrugged, grinning at her before going to finish up with the rest of the guys. It was true that, while Ryan had graduated with Jamie, he was Lee's best friend since high school. Lee said he wouldn't ever take sides, though sometimes it felt like he leaned more towards Ryan's.

"He won't admit it, but he missed you," she heard Rip's voice now behind her. He kept it low, not wanting anyone else to hear. "Just don't jerk him around, all right?"

"I take it you had a run in with my sister," Lexi said lightly as she leaned against the barn next to where he was standing; his comment about being jerked around gave him away. Rip's soft laugh was her final answer. "You're a softy Wheeler," she informed him.

"Don't tell anybody," he told her and she kissed his cheek quickly. She always adored Rip, though she already had plenty of brothers to go around.

"There she is," Jamie was saying as he had seen her car, coming down the hill as he hadn't spotted her in the house.

Again, the others were all still working around, so it was hard to not hear or notice anything. There was something different in the way Jamie hugged her versus the way Lee had. Lee was happy to see her; Jamie almost seemed relieved, like he didn't think he was going to. Ryan brushed that off as Beth being home, with Jamie needing another sibling to buffer her.

"How was the drive?" Jamie was asking her as he pulled away.

"Good," she nodded.

"Car ok?" he asked now, having set up her new car through funds from the ranch; she had swapped it out at the state line with her rental earlier that day.

"Perfect," she assured him, wishing the worry in his face would go away. He gave her one more quick squeeze, kissing the top of her head.

"You hungry?" he asked.

"More exhausted than anything," she answered.

"I've got Gator making your favorite," John was telling her now as he seemed to appear out of nowhere. Her dad was good at that, being everywhere all at once on the ranch. "Good to have you home sweetpea," he said as he hugged her. His hug was a lot like Lee's, warm, comforting, happy to have her there.

"Thanks dad," she said, though something at his hairline caught her eye. "Oh my God, what is that?" she asked; not sure what she meant at first, John took his hat off and then realized his forehead was bleeding again from the accident the day before.

"You didn't make him go get stitches?" she asked Jamie and Lee who was finished up with work in the barn.

"Make him?" Jamie asked, Lee laughing. There wasn't any making John as far as most people were concerned, including his sons. His daughters could be a little different though.

"Why won't you ever see a doctor?" she was giving her dad a hard time on the way back up the hill. He gave her some line about how she was living with him now, so it didn't matter. While her dad was already worrying her, she was glad to be home.

….

A few days passed, the guys all up early as they prepared to go out that day. John was happy to see that Kaycee did decide to join them, bringing Tate with him after his latest plea to get to know his only grandson. Kaycee was asking Tate if he remembered Lee or Jamie, to which the six year old shook his head. That was fair as they hadn't seen him since he was about two and it was only for a brief period.

"You remember Ryan?" Kayce was asking Tate now, hands resting on his son's shoulders. This was more likely as his sister always still came around after the fall out between Kaycee and their dad, bringing Ryan with her, though that stopped when Tate was about four.

"Kinda," Tate nodded.

"How's it going Tate?" Ryan asked him. He had always had fun being an uncle; it made him want to be a dad.

"Good," he nodded. "Are you still Uncle Ryan?" he asked curiously. He was six after all, he didn't know all of what was going on. All he knew was one day Ryan was visiting and then the next time his aunt came she was talking about his Uncle Matt in California.

"Ah, no," Ryan said, trying to stay light though.

"Sorry," Kayce mouthed out, though it was hard not to smile a little, especially as Lee was trying not to laugh. He had just been giving Ryan a hard time about when he was going to go ahead and get back together with Lexi.

"Your aunt's just gotta get her head out of-" John was starting to say. He always liked Ryan as well. He was a good man, hard working, loyal. They were a little nervous to tell John and Lee about them at first but, given how well they knew him, it honestly worked out for the better as far as they were concerned. They trusted him with her.

"Dad," Kaycee was saying to stop him. He didn't particularly care, he knew Tate would hear worse out on the ranch today, but he didn't exactly want to picture Monica's face when Tate told her to get her head out of her ass, expression courtesy of his father.

"Speak of the devil," John nodded at the porch. Lexi and Beth had both come out with their coffee.

"At the very least, don't blow smoke in my face," Lexi was getting onto her sister about smoking, though she knew there was no point.

"Aunt Lexi!" Tate called happily, running towards the house to see her. She was probably just as excited to see him, running in his direction as well, pulling him into a giant hug.

"Hey sweetheart!" she hugged him tight before pulling back. "God, look how big you are!" She hadn't seen him in person since last year but they talked on the phone and did facetime a lot.

"I didn't know you were coming home," Kaycee was grinning as he came over to hug her now. His hug was mostly like Lee and John's, though maybe it had a touch of Jamie's gratefulness. "How long you in town?"

"As long as dad will have me," she joked, knowing her dad would let her stay there as long as she wanted.

"Mr. California come with you then?" Kaycee asked, looking towards the house.

"Ah, he stayed back," she told him, her tone telling.

"I'll kill him," Kaycee said in the same way Lee had.

"You Dutton men," she rolled her eyes though she did laugh. "How about Jamie is the only one that gets to kill him if he wants because he's the only one that ever met him," she said, backhandedly getting onto her brother for not coming to visit her.

"Yeah, yeah," Kaycee brushed her off. "You coming with?" he nodded in the direction of the others. Lee and Jamie were already on their horses, with John helping Tate onto his.

"Ah, I don't know," she was saying, trying to think of a way out of it. Lee hadn't been exactly subtle about her and Ryan and she wasn't in the mood for anymore commentary. "It's been so long since I've ridden," she went on, which was true.

"More reason for you to come," Lee chimed in.

"I don't know Lee," Kaycee was saying now. "She might have spent too much time in the city." She gave her smirking brother the finger.

"I don't remember the last time I had all five of you home," John was saying now. "Or all of you out for a ride," he continued, though they knew that last part didn't include Beth. She hadn't been on a horse since their mother died. "Go get your boots, we'll wait," John nodded back at the house. It was an invitation but also had a bit of finality behind it; he didn't care what awkwardness there might be, they were all going.

…

The ride was a lot of fun actually; Lexi hadn't had this much fun in a long time. Jamie seemed to have let some of that worry on his face go, which made her feel better. Lee and Kaycee were having fun racing; her dad rarely let his feelings show but she could tell he was happy they were all there.

Her brothers had invited her to go fishing with them, but she jokingly told them that's where the city girl in her drew the line. She headed back with her dad and the others, riding next to her dad.

"I'm glad you're home sweetpea," he reiterated from the other day.

"Me too daddy," she assured him.

"You sure?" he asked. He couldn't quite place it but something was off about her since she came home

"Absolutely," she promised. "I'm just not used to not working I think," she added, knowing he didn't fully believe her.

"I'm sure Keith will have something for you at the hospital," he said, referring to a friend of his. Her dad seemed to have friends everywhere. "Just gotta get your license moved," he continued, having caught her and Jamie talking about it. It didn't seem like her to move with no plan but he knew she had a long few years and was probably happy to just be home. "I think it's just me and you for supper tonight," he added as they got back.

"I'll see you up there," she said, glancing towards the barn, her intent to talk to Ryan clear.

"Mmmm," John nodded as he realized and gave her some space, going with Rip to talk about a few things. She went into the barn where Ryan and Colby were putting a few things away.

"Can I borrow you, Ryan?" she asked. He seemed to contemplate it for a second, like he was coming up with an excuse but had none.

"Yeah, sure," he nodded, following her out and around the back where no one was around. They were quiet for a moment, Lexi crossing her arms over herself as she wasn't sure what to do with her hands. "So," he broke the silence.

"Right, sorry," she shook her head. "I just um…" She really wasn't sure where to start. After all, the last time they were alone together was the day they split up; there was some ugly stuff said that day. "I don't want us to be weird."

"...ok," Ryan agreed with her, though he wasn't sure how to not be weird around her; she sensed that, always able to read him.

"I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry," she said quickly, before she lost her nerve.

"Are you actually saying that or do you just not want to be weird?" he asked, quoting her from before.

"I mean it," she admitted. "I screwed up," she went on, letting go of her arms to kinda throw her hands in the air. "I never should have sprung California on you and I shouldn't have just expected you to go with it. And I really, really shouldn't have accepted the offer before we even talked about-"

"Ok," Ryan stopped her gently. He could see she was getting really upset. No matter how hurt he was by her in the past he didn't want to see her upset either. "Look, Lex, it's ok."

"But it's not," she insisted.

"Maybe not," he agreed. "But," he sighed, thinking to finally admit it. "I messed up too." She looked at him curiously; she was the one that left after all, after they had been together for 10 years. "I shoulda listened, I knew how important all that stuff was to you and," he stopped and shrugged. "Could have tried to figure it out or whatever."

"I shouldn't have-" She was going to bring up how she left after their big fight, how she went to stay with Beth in Salt Lake after her residency, before moving west all together.

"We don't have to rehash all of it," he said lightly, though it all still stung. It didn't help that they had avoided each other any of the times she had been home since then, not really giving themselves the chance to heal. "We'll be good, eventually."

"Eventually," she agreed with a soft smile, crossing her arms back over herself.

Neither of them knew how quickly 'eventually' would creep up on them though.

…

Whatever was going on, Lexi decided she didn't want to know.

Rip was off with one of the other cowboys and some new guy she had never seen. Whatever they were up to she really didn't want to know. As far as her dad and brothers went, she knew the minimum. Some of the cattle had wandered onto the reservation and there was now a huge fight over who had the right to them. Her dad and Lee were in the process of getting everyone together to get them back. How exactly they planned on doing that…well, she didn't want to know. She did go outside to see them off; the worry was back on Jamie's face, but at least it wasn't directed at her.

"This isn't the way," Jamie was saying to them. Something in his tone made her stomach turn. Something was going to go wrong, she knew it and so did he.

"We don't choose the way, little brother," Lee said to him, giving his sister a nod and a smile when he noticed her there.

"Be careful, will you?" she asked him and he waved her off as if to say there was no need; everything would be fine. She caught Ryan's eye as he was preparing to go off with them as well. "Keep an eye on him for me, yeah?" she asked, trying for it to come off as a joke but the more she looked around the more she felt like she might throw up.

"I got him," Ryan nodded; Lee had been his best friend since he was about fifteen or sixteen years old. Keeping an eye on each other was what they did.

"Who's got who," Lee said sarcastically, giving his friend a playful push before they all gathered up and were ready to head out.

…

Lexi didn't think she would sleep that night, but she eventually did, though borrowing one of Beth's many prescriptions didn't hurt. Hearing what sounded like a ton of people outside though she got out of bed, pulling on a sweatshirt over the t-shirt she slept in with her plaid pajama pants. Whatever was going on sounded big and she didn't feel like taking the time to get dressed before she found out what it was.

When she got to the porch she could see her dad talking to Ryan, with Jamie off on the phone. There were tons of people around, moving about in a worried way. Something happened, what happened?

"Thank you," John was telling Ryan as he had finished telling him what he saw happen. Jamie was waving John over as he was finishing up on the phone, though all three had noticed Lexi standing there in her pajamas. John nodded for Ryan to go ahead while he dealt with the situation at hand.

"What's going on?" she asked nervously. It stood out to her right away that Lee was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he was just hurt and was at the hospital, then Jamie was on the phone coordinating his care. That's what she told herself in that second anyway.

It made sense if you ignored the fact they didn't wake his trauma surgeon sister.

"Kaycee was there last night," Ryan started to explain. "Shit went sideways so fast, I thought Lee was right behind me…" He trailed off, shaking his head. He had Lee, caught his arm and told him they had to get out of there. Lee had said no, but when everything got worse and they took off Ryan thought he felt Lee right behind him.

"No one can find either of them, Lex," he admitted. She let out a slow, deep exhale as she tried to gather her thoughts.

"Ok," she nodded. "Ok, so they're just missing or…laying low," she settled. That made her feel better than missing. She could hear Jamie saying something about a helicopter going to look for them. Before she could think or say anything else though, Ryan had pulled her back into the house, closing the door behind him.

"Ryan, what the f-"

"They're back, ok," he said, though that was all he could think to say. How was he going to tell her what he just saw?

"Then let me," she said, reaching for the door but he blocked her. "Ryan, whatever this is, it isn't-"

"You don't need to see your brother like that," he finally told her; she felt like she had just been hit in the face.

"Maybe I can help, I-" She reached for the door, but was blocked again.

"You…you can't," he told her sadly. If before it felt like she had been hit in the face, now it felt like she was getting knocked over and kicked. It didn't help that feeling that her legs were falling out from under her, collapsing into Ryan as she started sobbing. She was trying to say something, but she couldn't get the words out.

"Shhh,shhh,shhh," he said gently, holding her up against him, one hand rubbing her back.

"No, which, w-which one?" she managed to stammer out between sobs.

"Lee," he said softly, tears springing to his own eyes. He blinked them away as she continued to sob, holding onto him like her own life depended on it.