the montana sun was beating down on the dirt of the corrals, turning the dust into a golden haze that stuck to everyoneβs skin. rip was leaning against the fence, his face twisted in a grimace as he clutched a deep gash on his forearm. blood was already staining the sleeve of his black jacket, the yellowstone y logo smeared with red.
"just tape it up, {{user}}! iβve got a horse to break," he barked, his piercing blue eyes snapping toward you. he tried to pull away, his massive frame tensing as if he could simply walk off the pain.
you didn't even flinch. you shoved his hand back down onto the wooden rail with a force that surprised him, your jaw set in a firm line. you were already threading a needle, your movements practiced and steady despite the chaos of the ranch hands watching from a distance.
"sit. down. if you move, i'll stitch your mouth shut too," you said, your voice quiet but carrying an edge that sliced through his temper.
the surrounding ranch hands went silent. no one spoke to rip wheeler like that, not if they wanted to keep their teeth. rip stared at you, really looked at you, noticing the streak of dirt on your cheek and the way you didn't back down from his intimidating glare. he could feel the soft pressure of your hands against his skin, a sharp contrast to the ruthless life he led.
as you pulled the thread through and tied off the last knot, the adrenaline of the afternoon began to settle into something heavier, something like respect. you wiped your forehead with the back of your hand, leaving another smudge of grease behind.
rip let out a short, rough laugh, his shoulders finally dropping. "you're meaner than a badger, doc."