booTravis loved to watch while Coralee nursed the baby. It was a ritual that he found secretly and guiltily erotic. Coralee was sitting naked in the bed from the waist up, holding the baby to her breast. He wanted to reach out and touch her, caressing the breasts that had become rounded from nursing, but held back afraid he would break the spell.

At last, Lucy fell asleep, her mouth half hanging on her mother's breast. Coralee picked her up and was going to change her diaper, but Travis said, "Let me and took her into the bathroom where they had set up the changing table.

He prided himself on being good at changing her diaper, as well as bottle feeding her. He didn't like the smell of poopy diapers, but he didn't complain. He wanted to be a part of every little thing when raising his daughter to compensate for the time he spent away.

He cleaned her off and changed her, then placed her in her crib. She was asleep almost before her little head hit the mattress. He stood momentarily, admiring the wonderful little creature that he and his wife had created, then bent over and kissed the top of her downy head.

Coralee was smiling, and he returned to their bed, wanting to take his wife in his arms and hoping she would not shrink away. If she did, today was the day they'd have "the talk". It was overdue and he wanted to remind Coralee that they were more than parents, they were husband and wife and loved each other.

He reached out for her and she shrank from his touch. He knew why, she was uncomfortable with her body and the aftereffects of her pregnancy. He felt badly for her, he knew she felt self-conscious but he wanted her to know his desire had not changed. He had talked to members of his crew, both male and female, who had babies to find out what he could do.

The advice had almost been universal. Be patient, he had been told, but talk to her. Now is not the time to play the stoic cowboy, let her know how you feel and that you understand what she's going through. Be patient with her but don't give up. You have a beautiful wife and a beautiful daughter; you'd be a fool if you lost them.

"Coralee, come here," he told her, and she answered, "No, I feel so gross, I'm bleeding and I'm leaking. No one, not even Mom, told me this would happen. How can you even want to touch me?"

He laughed at this, female vanity he could handle. "You let me decide that, y'hear? I know your body isn't back to normal, god knows I couldn't have gone through what you've had to endure." He took her, albeit a little unwillingly on her part, into his arms.

"I think you're beautiful, and having the baby made you more so, don't you realize I still want you? There are little things we can do for each other, I don't want to press you or make you uncomfortable but let me touch you. It's going to be a while before sex is possible, but I want that closeness, I want to feel you."

He could feel her relaxing; he knew that it had been rough for her too. Before the baby, they had an active sex life, but the final month of her pregnancy had changed that. Now he wanted to make sure they could have that again.

He bent his head down and placed his lips on her breast. She sighed, and then the sigh became a giggle as she told him, "Careful, you don't want my milk to come in again."

The absurdity of what she said made him laugh. He hugged her tightly and for the first time in days, she let him.

"Look, sweetheart," he told her, "I know we need to go about this slowly, but I want you to quit pulling away from me. We won't do anything that hurts, or you're not comfortable with, but I feel frustrated every time you pull away from me. Things will get better, we've just got to take baby steps. And speaking of baby, we made a beautiful one and I am absolutely in love with her mother, okay?"

They spent a half hour alone in bed, then got up and showered together for the first time in weeks. He didn't like to see the Depends in the waste basket but understood they made her feel more secure. He was going to claim his wife back, he wouldn't give up, but he wouldn't even suggest having another child unless it was her idea.

John Dutton knew how to throw a good party. Coralee called it organized chaos. Every little detail of the celebration had been planned; nothing was left to chance. Her uncle had hired one of the best local bands, and the stage was being set up in preparation for their arrival. The roadies and equipment would be arriving, and they would set up the equipment ahead of the band's arrival and it would be ready for when they prepared to take the stage.

Gator had a solid ally in Gemma. Gator took over the barbeque, but Gemma prepared the muffins, salads, and baked beans that were essential side dishes. Coralee and Monica prepared the family breakfast, both enjoying the chance to invade the sanctity of Gator's kitchen. At home in Texas Elena handled the cooking and cleaning, but every so often Coralee would make something special for Travis.

Monica longed to be back in her own kitchen and preparing her family's meals. Right now it was convenient for them to live at the Yellowstone, but for her the ranch represented loss. Loss for her people and loss for little John Kayce who lay buried in the family graveyard.

Monica had been surprised when Coralee had revealed to her that the family was often cash-poor, the family's wealth was tied up in the land the cattle, and now the show horses. Between the fickle prices of the cattle market and the way the land was vulnerable to the whims of Mother Nature, they were not as rich as people supposed.

Had she not been married to Kayce Monica might not have believed this. She had learned a lot from her husband, especially that a family who seemed so wealthy might not be. She was amazed at times at the way Kayce seemed untouched by this.

Were it not for Rip, Beth would be living a more extravagant lifestyle. The payments for her Bentley came out of her own pockets. Being a financier suited her, just as being attorney general suited Jamie.

Coralee lived a comfortable life with Travis. They were constantly making improvements to the new ranch, making it their home. She was arranging the construction of a greenhouse that would not be vulnerable to the Texas heat. There was a waffle garden that she had started that protected the plants from the sun that was borrowed from a Native American technique.

She lived a life blessedly free from politics, and Travis was a cowboy, not a politician. They'd campaign for the candidates they supported but that was it. They were happy to be ranchers and lived a good life.

Monica watched from the porch as Travis and Coralee walked hand in hand to the corrals. Travis kissed Coralee on the lips, then released her hand and headed off to the barn. It was sweet how much they were in love. She and Kayce were no longer in the honeymoon stage of their relationship, but she loved her man and knew he loved her. It was just that after almost twelve years of marriage sometimes the romance seemed to be left behind.

Coralee turned and saw her, then waved. She gestured to her and Monica walked down the steps and joined by Coralee in the pasture.

"Have you seen my dog?" she asked Monica, "I haven't seen her since food preparation started yesterday. I'm going to get her away from Gator, I don't want her under his feet while he's trying to cook."

"You better watch it, I think Gator will try to steal her when you're not looking. I even see Rip sneaking her treats and petting her once in a while, and he hates dogs!" Monica smiled at the memory of seeing the dog-hating Rip scratching Shelley's dark head.

"Well, when she's not begging she's a great stock dog and she warned us the night intruders tried to invade the ranch. It'll take time for her to get used to the baby, and Lucy needs to grow some more, but she'll be guarding her too."

She paused for a moment then went on. "One of the reasons for this party is supposed to be the baby, but I don't believe it. Travis did well on the road—he made a lot of money. He also sold a few horses and acquired better ones. You know, Monica, I don't want to leave the Yellowstone, but there's a part of me that wants to get back to our ranch. I want my body to heal so I can start riding again, then when I'm back on my feet I want to compete. How do women just do nothing? I'm going crazy."

"Well, most women would say you're not just doing nothing, but that's your temperament. You're a horsewoman, it's in your blood. Just be patient, girlfriend, once these days are over they won't be back again. Lucy's only going to be this little once, once she really starts growing you're going to miss it." Monica put her arm around her shoulders.

"I dunno, I miss and I mean I really miss, riding. At least there's a party today, and Uncle John knows how to throw a party. The band will be here in a couple of hours, and Gator will open the smoker and there'll be barbeque. I know Mom thinks I should be with her helping to cook, but I feel like playing hooky. Hey, where's Tate?" Coralee looked around but couldn't see him.

"John, or was it Rip, hired a kid, I think he's an orphan that Beth found. Anyway, Tate has been showing him the ropes and helping him out with the chores. I don't know where he came from but he seems like a little lost soul. Maybe that's just the mom in me." There was a wistful tone to Monica's words.

"Come on, Monica, I'm going to have to go up to the house and play milch cow soon. I want to watch Travis and his crew show off. Wait until they get their uniforms on and go to the main arena. Travis to me is the sexiest man who ever rode a horse, I could watch him all day."

"That's how I feel about Kayce," Monica told her, "Except he doesn't go for showing, He's strictly a cattleman. There I see both our husbands, let's go and surprise them!"

The sound of cheering and whistles came up and Coralee said, "I know where they are." They went to the paddock in front of the barn and saw Travis and Rip lining up their horses. In one hand they held their reins, in the other, each held a can of beer.

"Already?" muttered Coralee, "Those two couldn't wait for the barbeque to start drinking! Oh well, boys will be boys I guess. Who do you think is going to win this one?"

Lloyd, the grizzled old ex rodeo cowboy dropped his hat and Travis and Rip took off. They were equally matched horse-wise and when it came to riding and cowboying, they were evenly matched. Rip began his horse slightly earlier, but Travis, the old reining expert, slid his horse further. After some debate, it was decided that yes, Travis was the winner and he watched as Rip had to chug his beer, wiping his beard when he finished, and then they decided to go again.

"Damn," said Coralee. She had applauded her husband but then noticed that her milk had come in. "Monica, I've got to feed the baby, thank god for nursing bras, you know? I'll be back in a little while, make sure my husband stays out of trouble, okay?" Both girls laughed.

Katie was surreptitiously watching Ryan, half wanting him to see her, but also possessed of a desire to stay hidden. The Yellowstone hands had put on their dress uniforms, and he looked handsome in his brown shirt, pants, his black hat, and boots. He had shaved his beard that morning and seeing him freshly groomed like that woke the desire she had for him.

"Talk to me," she wanted to tell him, "Forgive me, please. I was no angel but remember, neither are you. I'd throw myself on my knees and beg you to forgive me, but I know that's not what you want." She started to cry, silent tears flowing from her eyes. She started to turn to walk away so he wouldn't see them, then heard a voice say her name.

Okay, guys, should we let Ryan give Katie another chance? Should we do it now or should we make her wait?