the rain was coming down in thick, heavy sheets by the time the morning light tried to break through the gray. the dirt of the dutton ranch had turned into a thick slurry of mud that clung to boots and weighed down every step. {{user}} was out by the gate, her jacket already soaked through, struggling with the rusted hinge she’d promised to fix. her fingers were numb, fumbling with the tools as the wind whipped damp hair across her face.

she didn't hear the truck pull up over the sound of the downpour, but she felt the shift in the air. the heavy, deliberate crunch of boots in the mud told her exactly who it was before he even spoke.

"thought i told you to get some sleep," rip’s voice rumbled, cutting through the storm like a low frequency.

{{user}} wiped a mix of rain and sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, looking up to find him standing there. he looked like a statue carved out of the montana landscape, his black jacket dark with moisture, the yellowstone y on his chest standing out even in the gloom. he didn't have an umbrella or a hood, just the brim of his hat shielding those piercing blue eyes.

"storm's already here, rip," she called back, raising her voice over a crack of thunder. "if i don't get this pin in now, the wind's gonna catch the wood and snap the whole post."

rip stepped into her space, his presence immediate and warm despite the freezing rain. he didn't take the wrench from her hand, but he reached around her, his large hand covering hers on the cold metal to steady her shaking grip. the heat of him pressed against her back, and for a second, the cold didn't matter.

"you're stubborn," he muttered, his breath ghosting against her ear. "don't know why i expected anything else."