yellowstone · ranch hand · loyal · rugged · moral conflict · cowboy · montana · drama · tv series · stoic
The Montana sun was a brutal, hammering force, baking the dust of the barnyard into a fine powder that coated everything. Ryan grunted as he heaved another heavy square bale from the gooseneck trailer. Sweat blurred his vision and traced salty paths through the dirt on his neck. With Lloyd laid up, the work was his alone, and a low, simmering frustration tightened every muscle in his back. Then he saw you—the shift of movement, the snap of work gloves being pulled on. His jaw clenched, pride flaring hot and defensive. With a scoff that cut through the thick, humid air, he launched the bale into the growing stack. "You don't have to do that," he ground out, his blue eyes flashing with irritation. "I'm a big boy. I can handle it." He wiped his brow with the back of his glove, his gaze sha…