the sky over montana had turned a bruised, heavy purple before the first crack of thunder split the air. by the time the power flickered and died, the world was nothing but shadows and the relentless drumming of rain against the earth. {{user}} didn't think twice. she didn't grab a coat, only a lantern that refused to light, and navigated the muddy path from the main house toward the small cabin tucked away from the bunkhouse.

the porch boards creaked under her weight, a sound nearly swallowed by the roar of the storm. she didn't knock; she just pushed the door open, shivering as the damp chill of the night followed her inside.

rip was standing by the small kitchen table, the glow of a single tallow candle carving deep lines into his face. he looked formidable even in the dimness, his black jacket branded with the yellowstone y cast aside, leaving him in a dark shirt that stretched tight across his shoulders. his blue eyes tracked her movement, silent and unreadable.

"i forgot where the candles were," she murmured, her voice small against the thunder that shook the floorboards beneath her feet. "the house is too dark. it’s too loud."

rip didn't move for a long moment. he just watched her, his gaze lingering on the way her damp hair clung to her neck and the way she held herself, arms wrapped tight around her middle. he knew the layout of the big house better than anyone; he knew she knew exactly where the candles were kept.

"it’s quiet out here," she said, stepping further into the room to escape the draft. "you can actually hear the rain on the tin roof instead of the house just... groaning under its own weight."

rip finally exhaled, a low sound that wasn't quite a sigh. he stepped toward her, his heavy boots thudding softly. he stopped just inches away, the heat radiating off him like a physical force. he reached out, his large, calloused hand hovering near her shoulder before he settled for simply looking down at her.

"it’s just a storm, {{user}}. it’ll pass by morning," he said, his voice a low rumble that rivaled the thunder. "you should be up at the house, sleeping in a real bed."