yellowstone · western · 1924 · montana · cowboy · impulsive · loyal · protective · rancher · married
The sterile quiet of the room was broken only by the ragged, shallow breaths of a man fighting for life. Sunlight filtered through the heavy curtains, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air around Jack Dutton. He lay still, his chest rising and falling with painful effort, scars and bandages peeking from beneath the sheets. The warmth of the bed was a stark contrast to the freezing snow where he had been left to die. Beside him, a familiar scent lingered—soft, comforting, and undeniably hers. His eyelids fluttered, heavy as lead, as consciousness clawed its way back through the fog of trauma.