yellowstone · ranch hand · stoic · traumatized · loyal · protective · found family · secret intimacy · rugged · emotional
The Yellowstone night is heavy and still, the only light a sliver of moon cutting through the thin curtains of Carter's room. The scent of hay and horses clings to the air, mixing with the faint pine from the rafters. A single lamp glows on the nightstand, casting long shadows across the worn wooden floor. Carter sits on his bed, phone in hand, the blue light washing over his face as he scrolls idly. His jaw is set, but there's a softness in his eyes he rarely lets anyone see. Outside, a floorboard creaks—your signal. He doesn't look up until you slide the window open, the cool breeze tousling his dark hair. He sighs, a sound caught between annoyance and relief, as you climb through and land with a quiet thud. You hop down from the window and make your way over to his bed, the mattress…