Thursday
If Spencer thought getting up at the crack of dawn at Yellowstone was annoying, getting up even earlier to get to Yellowstone from Greenquest was a whole other beast. Grant had been kind enough to get up with Spencer, claiming an early start to his day would be helpful rather than hurtful. Spencer nodded, although she was pretty sure her eyes were closing once again as she did. It took everything in her being to not just take the coffee pot and dump the glorious contents down her throat.
And she had to be at the ranch exceptionally early to get her work done so she could get to Paradise Valley to announce her campaign and then get to the Stockman's Dinner to talk shop with voters. At least she would be able to support her father, with her other siblings likely finding excuses as she drove.
Rip watched on as Spencer parked her truck, chuckling as the girl practically stumbled out of the truck. He was pretty sure if she stood still enough she would fall back asleep.
"One day in and you're already spread too thin Darlin'," he warned as Spencer approached. His heart clenched at the drained expression she had on her face. "Why don't you just leave your truck at Sawyer's? Have Jackson drive it around in case Rainwater's watching."
Spencer shook her head, "No can do. I gotta sell it for all it's worth."
"You're no good to me or your father if you're exhausted, pretty girl."
"I'd say you like me just fine when I'm exhausted, thank you very much." Spencer sent Rip a goading expression, making the man roll his eyes as he laughed at the innuendo. "I'd ask you to be my date tonight but I know that would just cause more problems than solve any."
"I can certainly escort you to bed," Rip teased, winking at Spencer. And then he walked away, leaving Spencer with surprisingly more pep in her step as the ideas began to trickle into her mind.
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Somewhere along the way, Spencer must have pissed some higher power off because she had the misfortune of running into Walker. Now, she hadn't been there when Rip picked the sack of skin and bones up from the state prison, and she was sure as hell pissed about it. She was even more pissed when the fucker decided to keep going against the brand he wore on his chest. Everything about Walker irked Spencer, from his lack of work ethic to his incessant need to hit on her and Beth. And the fact that Beth actually seemed to be falling for it was even worse.
"What, no Secret Service today?" Walker drawled out the question as he walked up to Spencer's stall. She grumbled under her breath at the idea she needed any protection. "Sorry, what was that princess?"
Spencer huffed loudly, "I swear to all that is holy Walker if you don't get the fuck out of this stall I will cut your tongue out and feed it to you."
"Feisty for a little girl with no back up," Walker snickered as he pushed into the stall, closer to Spencer. "You actually got any bite to back up that bark sweetcheeks?"
There were a lot of things Spencer could've done in that instance. She could've shoved the lowlife wannabe cowboy out of her way and went about her day. She could've sucked it up and taken the high road. But she was tired and she was crank and, shit, Walker was clearly looking for a fight. And so she willingly obliged him. Spencer moved calmly, taking her hat off and placing it on the rack to her side before turning toward Walker, a lazy smile gracing her face.
"You wanna find out how much bite I got Walker?" Spencer smiled sweetly as she asked the question, Walker's head bouncing up and down quickly at what he thought was going to be a good time.
"Fuck!" Walker yelled, running from the stall clutching his bleeding nose. "You're a fucking psycho!"
Spencer laughed, "And you're a fucking creep Walker. At least I own that shit, but you? You're never gonna fucking change 'cause you're a lowlife coward."
Rip and Lloyd were walking in, mildly concerned at the commotion going on in the barn. The lack of hat on Spencer's head combined with Walker holding a clearly busted nose made the pair laugh.
"You gotta be careful with these Dutton women Walker," Lloyd laughed, clapping the younger man on the shoulder. "They can get nasty if you don't treat 'em nicely!"
"Do I really need to remind you about fighting Spence?" Rip asked Spencer, who groaned at the question.
"It's only a fight if the other guy hits back!"
"She's gotta point Rip," Lloyd continued to laugh as he called over his shoulder, taking Walker back to the bunkhouse for some ice.
Rip popped an eyebrow in Spencer's direction, causing the redhead to hold up her hands in forfeit. "Go to bed, I don't need your cranky ass hurtin' all my help for the day."
"But-"
"Go."
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It was a while later, the sun drawing lower over the horizon as time faded into late afternoon when Rip went to find Spencer.
"I thought I told you to rest," he said as he walked through the door into his living room. Spencer had propped herself up with her guitar, strumming through random chords as she fiddled with the notebook in front of her.
Rip must have startled her because she looked up in surprise at his words. "I did, for like an hour. And then I got hungry and started humming and got some ideas and here we are. Oops?"
Spencer sent a guilty look to Rip who looked less than pleased. Eventually the displeasure turned into laughter as he picked the girl up from the couch. "I'm just glad you're writing Darlin'. And you did actually get some rest?"
Spencer bobbed her head up and down as she settled her arms around Rip's shoulders, but not before tossing his hat onto the couch behind her. Her fingers found their way into the hair at the base of Rip's neck, smiling at the relaxed look that washed over his face with her movements.
"You have to get ready for that dinner," Rip warned as Spencer attached her lips to his neck, kissing lightly up and down from his collar to the base of his ear.
"You want me to stop?" she whispered, looking up with an innocent look on her face. Rip groaned, pulling her closer as he turned toward the kitchen table, shaking his head. "That's what I thought."
Rip leaned over Spencer as her back hit the table, trying his best to memorize the content look on her face. It had felt like ages since he had seen her so at peace, and he didn't know when the next time would come around.
Spencer shivered slightly as Rip tucked her hair behind her ear before leaning down to kiss her. Once. Twice.
"Never a damn minute of peace," Rip groaned as someone knocked on the door, interrupting the couple. They waited in silence for a moment, hoping the nuisance would simply walk away. But when the knocks continued Rip finally pulled himself away from Spencer to answer the door.
"What do you want Beth?" he asked as he opened the door, surprised to see the woman. Spencer bristled as she sat up from her position on the table. She walked over, peeking her head around the door to in fact see her sister standing in the doorway.
"Did you hit Walker?" Beth directed her question toward Rip, causing Spencer to scoff.
"No but I fucking did," Spencer started to laugh, "What did he have to send his mommy to scold us?"
Beth flipped Spencer off before turning back to Rip, effectively refusing to talk to her sister. "Keep your fucking cowboys in line Rip."
Rip nodded once, feeling very much vulnerable to the two women surrounding him. The last place any man would want to be is between two pissed off Dutton women, no matter what any of them say. He could feel the comeback ready to leave Spencer's mouth, so he turned quickly, putting a hand over her mouth and closing the door in Beth's face. His hand didn't leave Spencer's mouth until he was sure Beth had left the porch.
"I know, I know," he started in before Spencer could. "I'm sorry Darlin', alright? Last thing anyone needs is the two of you going at it right now. You have to look presentable in two hours, and Rainwater ain't going to keep supporting you if you show up with a black eye now will he?"
Spencer opened her mouth, then closed it. She knew Rip was right, a very rare occurrence in her mind, but she knew he was nonetheless. So instead she pouted, huffing as she did, earning a chuckle from her boyfriend.
"Once this is all over I'll be the first one buying tickets to that match up," Rip chuckled as he pressed a kiss into Spencer's hair. "Now go get ready, I'll make you something to drink."
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It had taken Spencer longer than she anticipated to get ready. Although she was sure it was because Rip couldn't keep his hands to himself as he sat and watched her get dressed. So when she arrived at the Stockman's Dinner, she wasn't surprised to have missed her father's speech. She collected her breath, trying to push the fluster feelings from her mind as she walked over to her father.
"Hi Daddy," she smiled as her father stood to hug her. "I'm sorry I'm late."
"Tiny," John nodded, a brief wash of a smile overtaking his face. "It's alright, I'm just happy one of my kids came. Even if it was to steal my votes."
It was then that Spencer finally looked around, shocked to not see a single one of her siblings around the room. She knew Kayce would never come to one of these unless he had to, but Beth and Jamie were good about these things. Beth would do anything to support their father, and Jamie needed to gain some love in the ranching community if he was going to win his own election.
"How are you feeling?" Spencer asked as she sat down next to her father. She could see the fatigue radiating off her father.
"You don't need to worry about me, Tiny. You can't get rid of me that easily."
Spencer nodded, trying her best to stay positive. It was hard to watch her father getting older in front of her eyes, although she was sure he felt the same about her. And she knew if her siblings only knew how little time their father may have left, they might have been there sitting with them.
John placed a hand on his daughter's knee as he spoke. "Stop that, I can see all the thinking going on up there. We have plenty of time to deal with all the logistics of everything."
"Logistics?"
"Livestock Commissioner, the houses, the ranch itself," John continued on. Spencer's look must've made him think that was her concern, not her father's condition.
"I thought the ranch was split between all of us?"
John nodded, looking around before turning back to Spencer. "Well with everything that's been going on, I've been thinking. Tiny, I'm gonna give the ranch to Kayce."
Spencer didn't hear much after that as her father continued to speak. Something about splitting it evenly but one in charge, but her brain refused to process any more of his words. A ringing started to sound in her ears, growing louder as her father continued to talk.
Of course. It always came back to fucking Kayce. Between Beth, Jamie, and herself, Spencer had always been seen as the favorite. But what her siblings didn't realize was that her father only saw what he wanted to see. He was more than happy to let Spencer work the ranch, hell run the show with Rip. But she would never be equal to her twin. She may be her father's favorite, but Kayce was their mother's favorite. And it seemed that held more sway over her father than she had thought.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Spencer whispered, stopping her father in his tracks.
"Tiny?" John asked cautiously, shocked at her response.
"He has done nothing but give us all grief for years," Spencer chuckled coldly, her eyes starting to sparkle with unshed tears. "He wrote you off Daddy. Kayce left and never looked back. And now? What, you want to reward him for bringing Tate around? That's fucking bullshit! Can you seriously look me in the eye and tell me Kayce of all people deserves this?"
John stuttered for a moment, "Spencer it's not that simple. He asked-"
"Oh my God, he asked! Well in that case, can I have the ranch? Pretty please?" Spencer stood as her anger started to skyrocket. "God this is why Lynelle wants Jamie in office! She can't trust you to make decisions anymore. And I guess I can't either."
With that Spencer stormed out of the dinner, no longer feeling up to getting belittled by the men in that room. She had walked in, fully prepared to deal with skeptics about her trying to beat her father in the election.
Spencer wasn't looking as she stormed from the room, all but bouncing off someone who had been walking in.
"Dustin?" she asked as she looked up, "Shit, I'm so sorry I wasn't looking."
The blond laughed as Spencer tried to apologize. "No sweat Spencer. Looks like you weren't having any fun in there."
"You could say that."
"Well I was just about to head out, care to join me for a drink?" Dustin asked. "I swear I'm not trying to come onto you, I was gonna meet Jackson in town with everyone anyway."
Spencer paused, looking up at Dustin as she pondered his invite. There was still something nagging her about him, but she couldn't figure out what. Maybe it was just his cockiness that reminded her of Jamie.
"Lead the way."
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author's note. is it me? am i the drama??? ð