Lucy got out of Beth's car the next morning. "Pretty sure they're going to call you." She said looking in to the car.
"Let them call." Beth said before driving off.
Lucy walked in to the hallway to the sea of students. Many of whom were whispering amongst themselves before glancing at her. She ignored the people, opening her locker. Ella came by and lent against the locker next to hers.
"What's going on?" Lucy asked.
"Everyone's talking about yesterday. With you, Ollie, Sam and Nick Adams."
"Oh fucking fantastic." Lucy said closing her locker door.
"Hold on Lucy. Nick's coming in with his Dad is what everyone is saying."
"Figures."
"Aren't you worried?" Ella asked.
"For who?"
Ella laughed. "You're one brave woman."
"Come on El, he's all bark no bite." Lucy said pulling on Ella arm to the classroom. On the inside, Lucy was not feeling as brave. She knew who Nick Adams father was and knew there would be someone getting in trouble today.
The class was quiet as everyone filed in, taking their seats. The teach started the lesson with most people taking notes. Lucy felt someone tap the back of her chair before she was passed a note.
'Nick Adams and his Dad just got here.' It read.
Lucy turned to see who passed it and could t see anyone looking at her and she couldn't recognise the handwriting. She turned back to her work before class was interrupted by an announcement. "Could the following students please come to the principal's office, Oliver Anderson, Lucy Wright and Samual Fleet."
"Oooh." Was heard throughout the class before Lucy was excused by the teacher. She put her books in her locker before turning towards the principal's office.
"Lucy. Wait up." Sam said jogging after her. "What's this about?"
"I'm guess yesterday." She said with a shrug.
"Damn. My folks are gonna kill me."
"Sam. Chill. You didn't do anything." She told him, shutting him up. Ollie was already waiting outside, with his parents by his side, his eyes cast down.
"Hi Mom, Dad." Sam said seeing his parents who didn't look impressed to be there.
The principal came out of his office before calling them inside. "Lucy, I've called your parents. They're on their way. We can wait if you'd like?"
"It's fine Mr Lang. We can start." She said following the others in to his office, finding a seat.
Nick Adams was sat on the other side of the room with a smug look on his face. Behind him stood his father dressed in a suit looking like someone had put a pole up him Lucy thought.
"What's this about?" Sam's Dad asked.
"There was an incident yesterday involving all of the students here and we need to get to the bottom of it." Simon Lang told everyone.
Lucy kept her eyes looking ahead while each of the parents present looked at their sons. The door suddenly opened and in strode Beth and Rip.
"Started without us, I see." Beth said.
"I said they could." Lucy said turning to Beth. Rip cast his eyes over her seeing she was fine before extending a hand to the principal.
"Rip. Lucy's Dad."
The principal nodded shaking his hand, looking at the man who was clearly a cowboy through and through. The smug look on Nick Adams face faltered seeing what Lucy's Dad looked like.
Ollie looked between Beth and Rip each offering him a curt nod of approval.
Beth dressed in her office attire took a seat next to Lucy while Rip stood behind them both with a hand on Lucy's shoulder.
"As I said. There was an incident yesterday and that's why I've called this meeting." Simon said. "It's come to my attention that Oliver pinned Nick down and then punched him after words were exchanged in class yesterday."
"Is that true son?" Ollie's Dad asked.
"Of course it is. Look at my boys face!" Nicks Dad said loudly. A bruise now very apparent.
Ollie nodded. "It's true but only after he called Lucy all sorts of words I won't repeat and threw a punch at me first." He said calmly before looking at Sam.
Sam looked at Nick. "Sorry Buddy but it's true. We told you to stop once before this and you didn't and then you threw a punch when Ollie's back was turned."
"That's a lie!" Nick spat.
"All right. Enough. I've already got your story Nick. I want each of you to tell me your version separately."
Sam went first telling Mr Lang how Nick was an idiot at a party a while ago and that started everything but this time he called Lucy a few things before making a move to grab her. "And that's when Ollie stepped in to stop him. We both had told him to stop already."
"Oliver." Mr Lang said prompting him.
"Nick's got an issue with Lucy sir. He persists on calling her the wrong name and she's told him not to. As I said, he called her some awful names and said awful things about her in front of everyone for no reason and when he went to grab her I stopped him and told him to stop. I let him go and he tried to throw a punch with my back turned and I ducked before throwing my own to stop him any further." He finished. Ollie's mum was looking slightly mortified at Ollie while his father was looking at Nick, Nick's father and Lucy's parents.
Throughout this Nick had managed to keep a relatively straight face.
"Lucy." Rip said before the principal could.
"Well Nick drugged me at a party so there was that but I think we've dealt with that except now he feels the need to make comments consistently. I don't know why he feels the need to sexualise me. Ollie and Sam were just trying to defend me and if they hadn't have been there I would have done it myself." She told everyone looking Nick in the eye.
"You're such a bitch Lucy. All you do is tease all the boys so they do things for you." Nick said, knowing it was three against one.
"Enough!" Mr Lang said loudly.
"Son, allow me." Nick's father started. Beth could see Rip bristling with anger not far from wanting to throw in his own two cents. "This girl has done nothing but provoke my son and now look at his face. This could cause permanent damage."
Simon rubbed his brow.
Rip laughed getting everyone's attention. "Permanent damage. The only permanent damage that boy has is the lack of brain cells and knowing when to shut up. If you haven't taught your boy any respect and need other people to, then that's on you."
"How dare you-".
"How dare we!" Beth said standing up going over to him. She looked at the hospital tag attached to his suit."Board member and pharmacist. Interesting. I'm sure that would allow a lot of access to drugs for your son. You are lucky our daughter is a better person that we are because I would have made sure the book had been thrown at him for what he did."
"Everyone please." Simon said stopping Beth from going any further. "We do not condone inappropriate behaviour, language and physical fighting at this school. As such, and per our school rules Nick you will be suspended from school for four school days. Ollie your suspension will be for two days, Sam and Lucy each of you suspended for one day effective immediately."
Lucy looked over at Beth before looking up at Rip. It was Rip who spoke to her. "It's fine sweetheart, I'm not mad and neither is your Mama." He said softly.
"MAMA!" Nick said laughing. "You call your Mom, Mama like the big baby you are."
"You don't respect your Mama either boy?" Rip said making the room go silent for a moment before the noise continued.
"This is outrageous Simon. My son is the victim here." Nick father said. "It's her fault." He said pointing at Lucy. Ollie and Sam's parents were talking with each other, not pleased about the suspension but the behaviour of Nick and his father explained a lot to them.
"Hey Buddy. You better put that finger you're pointing at her down before I come and teach you a lesson too." Beth said firmly.
Nick's father scoffed.
"Right. I want everyone to think about their behaviour and Nick when you return to school you are to leave these three alone. You can all go." Simon Lang said moving to open the door.
The other three families filed out before the Wheeler family.
"Good to see it hasn't changed a bit Simon." Beth said smirking.
"You were always a frequent flyer up here."
"You were no stranger yourself." She retorted leaving holding Rip's hand.
Each of the kids went to their lockers with their parents getting their books and bags.
"I'll be back." Rip said before walking away to Sam and Ollie's parents.
"I want to thank your sons for helping our girl. Rip Wheeler." He said holding his hand out. "My wife over there is Beth."
Each father shook his hand. "We know who you are." Sam's mother said. "You're from the Yellowstone."
Rip looked at his jacket with the insignia on it, having got the call from Beth about the school wanting them while he was working, having no time to change. "We are. If your boys need anything, let me know." He told them before going back to Beth and Lucy. He took Lucy's bag from her to carry himself before walking to the car, the Anderson and Fleet families behind and Nick and his father even further behind.
In order to get back to the car at the front of the school they had to walk passed all the classrooms where students were watching each of them.
"Damn. Lucy Wheeler's cowboy Dad is back." One student said.
"That's Beth Dutton too, her mom." Another whispered. Even the teachers weren't immune to watching.
"Oi cowboy. You better watch you and your wife and kids back." Nick father yelled out. Ollie's mom let out a gasp hearing that. Rip stopped turning around.
"Who the fuck are you to threaten us."
"You don't even know who I am, do you?" Nick dad said back.
Rip sighed. "I don't care who you think you are." He continued walking with his family nearly at the car when he heard someone running at him from behind before a war like cry. Turning he saw Nick's Dad running at him with a fist up, exactly as Nick had tried the day before. Rip side stepped it, frustrating the other man before he came back swinging again. Missing.
"God dammit." Rip said before another first was coming at him, he put his hand up to grab it before putting Nick's Dad on the ground. The students and teachers watching in the classroom made all sorts of 'oohs and ahhs.'. "You just don't know when to stop."
Nick's Dad turned to look at Rip seeing the Yellowstone jacket for the first time, paling slightly before taking a better look at Beth. "You're Beth Dutton aren't you."
"Damn fucking right I am." She said. Lucy looked at Ollie and Sam shaking her head slightly making them smile.
"Nick. Why would you mess with the Dutton's you idiot!" His Dad said.
"What's the big deal?"
Rip let him go so he could get up. He straightened his suit before grabbing Nick and walking off.
"Let's go Lucy." Rip said.
"I'll take her." Beth said unlocking her car. Before everyone went their seperate ways.
"Am I in trouble now?" Lucy asked.
"Not really. You sure did show everyone your more fiery side though."
"As if his Dad tried to punch mine." Lucy said with a laugh.
"Well we all knew that would never work out in his favour." Beth said turning on to the road home. Beth parked the car next to the rest of the Yellowstone trucks at the lodge.
"What are we doing here?" Lucy asked.
"I need to get a few things."
Lucy followed Beth in to the lodge while Beth went down the hallway she stayed in the living room. She heard the porch door open and close before seeing John.
"Shouldn't you be at school?"
"Got suspended."
"What for?"
"Some kid called me names and a friend punched him so we all got suspended." She told him. "His Dad tried to fight my Dad when we were leaving too. Seemed more afraid of Mom though."
John snorted. "Most people are afraid of her. Who was the kid?"
"Nick Adams. Mom said his Dad is on the hospital board and a pharmacist."
"Oh Jesus Christ." John said, turning to go down the hall.
"What?" Lucy asked.
"I'm going to find Beth." He said not looking at her.
"I'm right here. What did you do?" She asked John. Lucy thought Beth was asking what she had done before realising she was talking to John.
"Rip beat up Adams. You know that's asking for trouble."
"I think he's more scared of us than we are of him Daddy. Anyway, he threatened all of us before trying to fight Rip. You think he's going to sit down and take that?"
"No." John said with a chuckle.
The cowboys were coming in when Beth and Lucy were going back to the car.
"Heard you got suspended!" Jimmy yelled out.
"Uh-huh." Lucy said not wanting to joke about it in case Beth and Rip took it the wrong way.
Rip yelled at Jimmy before getting off his horse and striding over. "You both good?"
Lucy nodded. "We're fine baby." Beth told him.
"Go on home. I'll see you tonight." He told them before leaving them there. Lucy looked over at Beth who shrugged and turned the car on to drive to the cabin.