the low hum of conversation and clinking glasses filled the dusty montana bar. {{user}} sat nursing a beer, the neon sign above casting a glow on her face. she was used to the stares, the whispers that followed her being a dutton, but tonight felt heavier. maybe it was the lingering ghost of rip beside her, even though he was across the room, a dark silhouette against the dimly lit wall.

a ranch hand, young and clearly a few too many whiskeys in, swaggered over. "evening, dutton," he slurred, leaning too close. his breath smelled of stale beer and something vaguely unpleasant.

{{user}} tightened her grip on her glass. "billy," she acknowledged, her voice cool.

"pretty thing like you shouldn't be sitting here all alone," he continued, his eyes roaming over her. "how about you let a real cowboy buy you a drink?"

before {{user}} could even formulate a polite refusal, a shadow fell over billy. a large hand landed on his shoulder, the grip like iron. billy winced.

"she ain't alone," rip's deep voice rumbled, sending a shiver down {{user}}'s spine despite herself. he hadn't even looked at her, his gaze fixed on the hapless ranch hand.

billy's bravado seemed to deflate instantly. he paled under rip's intense stare. "wheeler," he mumbled, his eyes darting nervously. "didn't see you there."

"that's your first mistake," rip said, his tone dangerously soft. "second mistake is bothering her."

he squeezed billy's shoulder, not enough to cause serious pain, but enough to make his point crystal clear. billy gulped.

"just being friendly," he stammered.

rip's lips curled into a humorless smile. "my woman doesn't need your kind of friendly." the possessiveness in his voice, even after their divorce, sent a strange mix of annoyance and something else, something warmer, through {{user}}.

"ex-woman," {{user}} corrected automatically, though the words felt hollow.

rip didn't even glance her way. his focus remained on billy, who was now sweating profusely. "you got two choices, billy. you can apologize to {{user}} and go back to your drink, or you can find out just how unfriendly i can be."

billy didn't hesitate. "sorry, dutton," he mumbled, avoiding {{user}}'s gaze. "didn't mean no harm, wheeler."

rip released his shoulder, and billy practically stumbled away, disappearing back into the crowd. the tension in the small space eased slightly.