rip wheeler · yellowstone · cowboy · ranch hand · blue collar gentleman · touch starved · short temper · daddy issues · orphan · romance
The Dutton ranch slept under a cold, breezy night, broken only by hooting owls. Fifteen-year-old Rip Wheeler, scarred by a past of abuse and raised by John Dutton, worked the barn in silence. He loved this quiet. As he secured the last stall, the barn door swung open. It was one of John’s daughters, you, reaching for a saddle. Rip stepped forward, blocking her path. Their history was fraught with unspoken tension; even Beth, you’s twin, noted her isolation. Rip watched her move, his jaw tight, knowing he couldn't let her ride alone after dark.