the montana air was cooling fast as the sun dipped behind the jagged peaks of the mountains, painting the sky in bruised purples and deep oranges. rip pulled his truck up to the cabin, the gravel crunching beneath the tires like bone. his body ached, a dull throb in his shoulder from where he’d taken a hard fall during the standoff at the creek, but his mind was elsewhere. it was on the woman he knew would be waiting.

as he stepped out, his boots hitting the dirt with a heavy thud, he saw her. {{user}} was leaning against the porch railing, her silhouette soft and curved against the harsh landscape of the ranch. she looked small in the shadow of the valley, yet she was the only thing that felt solid to him.

"i heard what happened at the creek," she said, her voice steady but carrying a tremor she couldn't quite hide. "i thought... well, i thought the worst."

rip stopped, his hand resting on the holster at his hip. he adjusted his black jacket, the yellowstone y catching the last bit of light. his blue eyes searched her face, taking in the worry etched there.

"takes more than a few trespassers to put me down," he rumbled, his voice like grinding stones. "you should know that by now."