Now this is a different kind of fucked up Lee" I curse at my future husband as he sits across from me at our dining table.
"He's almost here Jessie just play nice and hear him out" Lee sighed taking his hat off. Fucking easy for him to say. But maybe he was right. I shouldn't let Kayce see that what he did got to me so bad.
"If he says anything that tips me off i'm killing him Lee" His eyes darkened slightly "But I will do my best to listen to him. Not his sake though but yours" I grabbed his hands from across the table right as Kayce walked into the foreman's house.
"I see you have a type" Kayce glared at his brother and my hands interlocked.
Promise broken.
I jumped up from my chair and started toward him but Lee grabbed me and held me back. I struggled against him "Let me fucking go" I pummeled my fists into his chest. Lee obliged but not before shoving me back down into a chair. Kayce took his time circling the table and sitting in the chair across where I was sitting before hand.
He looked almost the same as yesterday but he had ditched the vest and just wore a button up.
God damnit and he aged like fine wine. That's what I get for choosing the cheater.
"Alright fucker start talking" I spit at him not being able to help myself. Lee kicked my shin fucking hard. Kayce wasn't fazed and slowly wiped it away with his sleeve.
"I just wanted to start out with I'm sorry and that it was a mistake J" He started with those puppy dog eyes and I knew I had to stand my ground before it crumbled beneath my feet because he had that fucking effect on people.
"Jessie is fine" I stated clearly and Kayce furrowed his brows. He wasn't used to this kind of treatment.
"That night with Monica will forever be my biggest regret but she's my family now. Her and Tate are all I got" I chuckled and he raised an eyebrow.
"So you fucking came here to rub in my face that you have a family now and that everyone else left you? You know better Kayce Dutton. You act like you were shunned out of our lives but no. You were the one that fucked up and make no mistake I would have forgiven damnit because I loved you. But you ran off with her and left me and your family." I slammed my fist into the table causing the glass vase full of wild flowers to tip over and spill all over the floor.
"She was pregnant with my kid Jessie what did you want me to do? Leave her? You know I couldn't do that" Kayce tried to defend himself but he was saying all the wrong things.
"Jesus Kayce you're just not getting it. I don't know what the fucking point of this was" I scoff looking iver at Lee who was pleading with his eyes to try to get me to listen. "What made you do it?" I asked simply.
We sat there in silence for a few minutes waiting for his answer. I could tell he was finding the best way to word his fucking mistake. No matter how he worded it though I know I won't take it well.
"I thought you were cheating on me with one of the ranch hands. I mean what was I supposed to think. You being the only girl in the bunkhouse and around those boys all day. I knew nothing good could come out of it so one day I hadn't seen you all day and I got jealous and Monica was just there and one thing led to another."
"That's one fucking lame excuse Kayce. You know how much I loved you. Way more than I could have ever loved one of those fucking ranchhands. It was my job, I had to work because your father saved my life. but you got to grow up in a rich house with a rich father. You have no idea Kayce. None." I stand up from the table and walk right out of the house and sit on the steps.
A few moments later the door creaks open and someone sits next to me. I was truly hoping it was Lee but I knew better.
"I just want to put this behind us Jessie. What's done is done. I've already built this life with Monica but I still want you to be a part of it. As my friend please" He begged and I refused to look at him because of I did I would surrender there. He had a point under all his words, it happened so long ago and he had already married the girl I resented and raised a child with her. I had to let bygones be bygones. For John and for the ranch.
"Hi my name is Jessie Wheeler and you are?" I held out my hand to him.
"What happening?" Kayce questioned looking at my extended arm.
"Starting over. According to the new me i've never met you in my life" I shrug my shoulders playing it off.
"Kayce Dutton" He takes my hand and shakes it.
Maybe this friendship could work out someone in one way or another.
[][][]
I stood in the bunkhouse buckling up my Livestock Agent vest getting ready for the coming events.
Some of the Rez men had stolen Johns cows and we were going to get them back even if we all fucking died. Lee walked in just as I had fastened my hat to my head and was ready to leave. I tipped my hat to him and smiled.
"You ready for tonight darlin?" Lee asked frowning a bit. Tonight's mission was gonna be a dangerous one. We didn't know who was waiting for us on that side of the fence.
"Ready as i'll ever be I guess" I played with the velcro on the bulletproof vest.
"Well in case we don't make it back I wanted to give you this" Lee pulled a brow leather box out of his pocket and handed it to me.
"You got me a box" I grinned "Awh Lee you shouldn't have" Lee rolled his eyes at me.
"Open the damn box Jess" I smirked and slowly took the cover off the box. Inside was a beautiful silver loop with little pebbles worked into the metal.
"I didn't feel like a store bought ring was the right way to go" He explained as tears welled in my eyes "So I took some wire and collected only the best pebbles from your favorite stream on the property and wove them together. As our engagement ring of course because i'm making sure to get you a big stone for the wedding band" I stared down at the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever gotten for me and quickly slipped in on my ring finger and jumped into his arms.
"I fucking love it Lee." I kissed his cheek and he set me back down. I fitted it to my finger perfectly and we walked into the barn where John and Jamie were already talking.
"Both in one night" Jamie said to his father as we all walked out of the barn.
"Everyone's forgotten who runs this valley" I mean when you own 700,000 acres I feel like it's though to forget.
"So this is how you remind them?" Jamie argues as the boys load up the trailers for tonight.
"We choose the way little brother" Lee comments leaving Jamie in shock at what our plan is. He never understood the cowboy way that one. I get into the yellowstone branded truck and we head on our way.
***
We get to a field just before our vantage point and start unloading all the horses. I bring May out of the trailer and climb onto her trotting to catch up with Lee. We follow where John is up in the chopper to a small hill just before the cows. We can hear them in the distance.
"We hold up here" Lee declares stopping hide horse.
"Hold up" I call back to all the other wranglers. I can hear gunshots coming from the direction Johns helicopter is in. Jesus what are we getting ourselves into.
"We're in position" I radio to John and set in back onto my vest. This could be my last night.
"I love you" I blurt out to Lee. I just wanted him to know that he's my best friend forever no matter what happens.
"We'll make it out Jess" He promises from beside me patting my thigh with his hand.
"Lee..Jess get in there" My walkie crackles and I start off without Lees word toward the fight. Out of no where Tribal Police start flashing there lights and our wranglers on wheelers start to shoot at the men.
"Pull back" John comes through the radio again. The wranglers stop shooting but John goes over the police with his chopper so we can round up the cattle. I pick up speed and start pushing the cows toward our side of the fence.
"We gotta get the fuck out of here" I shout over to Lee.
"We ain't going anywhere without our beef" Lee continues to push forward with the cattle.
"Alright we're through" I walkie to John as the shooting stops. Me and Lee stay behind the herd in case anything happens.
Two shoots ring through the air as one hits the ground next to me.
Shit.
"Keep 'em moving" Lee turns to follow the shots and I follow him. No way am I letting this fucker die.
"Stay back" He looks behind him.
"No" I say simply and he stops.
"You want 'em back come and get 'em!" Lee yells into the dark night. He looks into his scope at a man in the distance. He pauses for a second as another shoot rings out and Lee collapses to the ground causing his horse to run. I jump off mine and fall to the ground next to him.
"Lee" I cry out as blood fills his mouth. Monica's brother approaches us and holds his gun to my chest. I put my hands up and beg him to stop.
"I want them back" He grunts talking about the cows before I can respond Kayce comes out of nowhere on his horse and kicks Monica's brother to the ground. I scramble back over to Lees side and stroke his hair. He starts to choke on the blood in his mouth.
"Hang on ok" Kayce rushes over "I'm gonna get you out of here"
"He's bleeding out Kayce we have to go now" I sob and grab onto Lees hand.
"Look at you, you're a man now" Lee coughs and smiles slightly at his little brother. Robert starts to stand up again grabbing his gun.
"Kayce behind!!" I call out and he turns pointing his pistol at the man and shoots. Robert drops to the ground and I turn my attention back to my future husband who was lying here dying.
"I fucking love you Lee please stay with us" I cry into his shoulder.
"Shh sweetheart you'll be ok" He whispers "Kayce'll take care of you" He sucks in one last breathe. My stomach drops. Kayce flies back over and shakes his brother.
"Hey" He checks his pulse and his hand falls.
I shakily stand up and scream into that dark night sky. I scream until my throat is raw and can't take it anymore. Kayce pulls me into him and we both sob over his dead body in that fucking field.
"Damn you Lee" I mumbled into Kayces chest. He pulls me closer and stroked my hair.
Fuck this fucking world.