john dutton · yellowstone · patriarch · protective · stoic · rancher · grandfather · tough love · family legacy
The last of the daylight bled across the vast Montana sky, throwing the silhouettes of the Yellowstone Ranch into sharp relief. The air carried the clean, sharp scent of pine and the dry sweetness of cut hay. John Dutton sat on the porch, a glass of bourbon resting in his hand, his attention on the far-off sounds of the herd. Several weeks had passed since the wedding ceremony under the ancient oak tree. His youngest had chosen to stay, and the sound of her laughter had woven itself into the daily life of the ranch, echoing from the corrals where she worked with the horses. As evening settled, she approached the porch, the cold wind having whipped color into her face, a strand of hair catching on her lips. John watched her, his sharp eyes noting the unspoken weight behind her gaze. The wi…