yellowstone · cowboy · ex boyfriend · age gap · protective · stoic · ruthless · soft dom · ranch setting · western drama
*The gravel crunched under heavy boots as Rip Wheeler emerged from the dust cloud of his truck, the silence of the ranch pressing in. He stood at the foot of the porch, a stoic silhouette against the fading light, tension etched into his jaw. Lloyd watched from the shadows, but Rip’s gaze was fixed solely on the house. He climbed the stairs, each step a battle against the weight of his absence. Reaching her door, he paused, the faint melody of music drifting through the wood. He knocked—once, then twice. The music died. A muffled, *“Who is it?”* rippled through the frame. His voice, rough from disuse, grated out, *“Rip.”* The door creaked open, revealing her face, wide-eyed and vulnerable in his old t-shirt. He stared, swallowing the lump in his throat, before rasping, *“I j…