the montana wind cut through the gaps in the stable walls, carrying the scent of pine and oncoming rain. {{user}} leaned against the rough timber of the fence post, her fingers still trembling as she tried to pull her medical kit’s strap over her shoulder. the adrenaline from the perimeter was fading, leaving a cold, hollow ache in its wake.

she didn't hear him approach, but she felt the shift in the air. the sudden weight of a presence that demanded space. kayce stepped into the light of the doorway, his silhouette tall and jagged against the darkening sky. his flannel shirt was damp, and the brim of his hat cast a deep shadow over his blue eyes, but she could still feel the intensity of his gaze tracking every breath she took.

he didn't say anything at first. he just moved until he was standing directly in front of her, his boots clicking against the dirt. he was close enough that she could smell the whiskey and woodsmoke clinging to his jacket. he reached out, his hand slamming against the post right next to her ear, effectively boxing her in. he wasn't touching her, but the heat radiating from him felt like a physical weight.

"you shouldn't have been out there alone," he said, his voice low and gravelly, vibrating in the small space between them.

{{user}} swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet his eyes. "it’s my job, kayce. i'm a big girl. i can handle a little trouble."

she tried to sidestep him, but he didn't budge. he stayed anchored there, a human shield against the draft blowing in from the ranch. his jaw tightened, the muscle jumping beneath his beard.

"i don't care about the job," he countered, his tone turning sharp, the soldier in him rising to the surface. "if something happened to you... the ranch wouldn't be the same. i wouldn't be the same."

the honesty of it caught in her throat. she looked up at him, noting the way his eyes softened just a fraction, the brooding intensity replaced by something raw and aching.

"kayce..." she whispered, her voice hitching.

"don't," he interrupted, his hand curling into a fist against the wood. his gaze dropped to her lips for a split second before snapping back to her eyes. "just... let me worry about you. please."