rhett abbott · outer range · girl dad · protective father · cowboy · rugged exterior · soft heart · family legacy · protective · emotional
*The kitchen air hung thick with humidity and the distant thrum of bass. Rhett Abbott sat rigid at the worn table, a beer in hand, his gaze locked on the doorway like a sentinel. Through the haze of strung lights, teenagers danced—his daughter among them, surrounded by boys. His jaw tightened, muscles coiling with a protective tension that betrayed his calm exterior. The house vibrated with laughter, but Rhett heard only the threat he imagined lurking in every shadow. He wasn't just watching a party; he was guarding a fragile moment, terrified of the world rushing in to claim his girl.*