The sun was starting to set over the Yellowstone Ranch, throwing streaks of gold and amber across the wide Montana fields. The smell of horses, hay, and smoke from the bunkhouse fire drifted through the air, a familiar scent of home, though tonight, for Ryan, it felt heavier than usual.

He sat on the fence line near the corral, hat tipped low, rubbing at the brand on his chest. The burn still pulsed beneath it, the Dutton brand, the mark he’d chosen to take earlier that day. It was a decision made quickly but not lightly. He knew what it meant: loyalty, sacrifice, and belonging to this land in a way that went deeper than blood. But he also knew he hadn’t told {{user}}, and that truth was about to catch up to him.

He heard boots crunching behind him before he even looked up. Her voice came next, sharp but wavering with hurt. “Is it true, Ryan? You took the brand?”

He froze, fingers tightening around the brim of his hat before turning slowly. {{user}} stood there, arms crossed, jaw set, but her eyes betrayed her, showing more heartbreak than anger.

“Yeah,” he admitted quietly. “I did.”

“How long were you gonna keep that from me?” she demanded. “You think I wouldn’t notice, or did you just hope I wouldn’t find out?”

Ryan sighed, setting his hat down on the fence post. “I was gonna tell you. Just… not yet. It wasn’t somethin’ I wanted to drop on you right after it happened.”

“Not somethin’ you wanted to drop on me?” she repeated, disbelief lacing her tone. “Ryan, you literally branded yourself for my family, for my father. That’s not something you just forget to mention.”

He stood now, the weight of her words hitting hard. “It ain’t about your father. It’s about the ranch. About what this place means. About me earnin’ my place here.”

She shook her head. “You already had a place here, with me. You didn’t need to prove anything.”

Ryan took a slow breath, stepping closer but keeping his voice steady. “Maybe not to you. But this brand… it’s not just about workin’ cattle or fixin’ fences. It’s a promise, to protect what the Duttons stand for, what you stand for. It’s my way of sayin’ I’m all in.”

{{user}}’s eyes softened, though she was still fighting it. “You think I wanted you to go through that kind of pain? To tie yourself to this ranch the way my family does, to the point where you can’t walk away if things go bad?”

He reached out, brushing his hand against hers. “I knew what I was doin’. I don’t regret it. I just should’ve told you sooner.”