「 wild + free 」

'Cause you belong where your heart can be out in the open, wild and free. Like a sweet summer rain passing through, I ain't never seen anything wild as you. thirty-five // big bister // country mouse // horse whisperer // madison belle // head of rescue ops @ oakdale ranch

[lou-dunn-archived]

「  l o u + d u n n  」

Hey y’all! I’m Laura and, because I have no control, this is my new kid, Lou! As always, you can hit me up in the DMs or on Discord [ldawg#9812] to talk plots/connections for her as well as the other two beans.

[tw: none] + @madison-intros

35 years old and works as the head of rescue operations at Oakdale Ranch

Oldest sibling of @jacksdunnit + @julsdunnit and the two other sisters

Has always been considered either a “wild child” or a “space cadet” because she’s usually getting distracted by animals/nature in just about every possible situation. Is actually not very “wild” or “spacey” just really freaking loves animals and wild flowers!

Has a weird habit of finding horses (and dogs and cats) that need homes/rescuing so good news is that if you need help finding a pet, this girl knows every rescue in this county and the next two. Finally figured out she can’t bring home any more dogs or cats but the horses are still coming to Oakdale, sorry Jack

Came home from college with a boyfriend who turned out to be a real jerk so they broke up after about 4 years together (which was about 4 years too long for her to keep him around tbh)

She lives in an old one-bedroom ranch hand house on the ranch

Protective of her siblings!!! Would literally do anything for them, even if it meant hiding a body or slashing some tires but please find someone who is a little more skilled at either ‘cause she’s not going to be as helpful as she wants to be

Tends to see the best in everyone even if they don’t deserve it

Has two dogs (links on full bio page) and is constantly taking them anywhere she can (esp. on the ranch)

Is found in boots and jeans 98% of the time but when she has to clean up, she cleans up really freaking well.

Has a really big goofball side to her that you’ll see if you stick around long enough, and trust me, she’s worth sticking around for

Full bio // RP bio

[wyattxtucker]

“She’s psychotic!” Wyatt waded through Lou’s living room with an erratic gait. “I don’t know why the hell I married her in the first place.” Yes you do, you buffon. It’s the same reason you won’t divorce her. “I don’t know what’s up with the ladies in this town. One minute they’re in ya lap and the next they’re unloading nails into my truck. I need some sort of guidance before I end on some cheesy network airing Snapped.”

@lou-dunn​

[lou-dunn-archived]

“Jesus, Wy,” Lou said with a shake of her head as she shifted her spot on the couch to watch the man walking through her living room. “Maybe if you weren’t screwin’ around tryin’ to piss her off all the time, she wouldn’t have to use a nail gun on your truck. By the way, do me a solid and make sure she murders you off the property? Oakdale doesn’t need a scandal like that on our otherwise spotless record.” Lou couldn’t help herself. Teasing Wyatt about his ex was just too much fun. Besides, since she was letting him park his trailer on her land, he pretty much had to let her get away with murder. “So, you two goin’ on a date or anything? It sounds like she likes you, like playground style.” 

[ahuxlcy]

closed starter for @lou-dunn​

“Okay, we’re back!” Audrey said in a sing sang voice as she joined Louella carrying Angel in her arms. “Changed and smelling nice again and ready for you to hold her if you want to.” She offered her friend. “Oh, wait, hold her anyway, I’m gonna get something for us to drink. What do you feel like? Coffee, tea? Something stronger?” It was relatively early to start drinking, though Audrey really nvere paid much attention to those social constructions and she only changed her habits after having her baby. “Come with me to the kitchen so you can still tell me what happened next.” She ushered Lou with her hand.

[lou-dunn-archived]

Lou adored Angel only the slightest bit more than she’d come to adore Audrey. She didn’t spend a lot of time around babies, but this one was one of her favorites. “Yes please!” She reached out and took Angel in her arms, making faces at the girl as she held her in her arms, nearly missing the question. She followed Audrey into the kitchen, humming to Angel. “I’ll take some sweet tea if you’ve got it. I know you’ve been off in California so you might not even be a sweet tea kinda gal anymore, though.” Shifting Angel onto her hip, Lou tickled the tiny girl’s side. “So, then we ended up goin’ home together after the ball and had a round two through four. I took him to breakfast the next mornin’ over in Jessup ‘cause I’m a lady. We’ve been seein’ a lot of each other since.” 

[lou-dunn-archived]

laciecooper​:

“I know, I know. But I wanted to tell you in person.” Lacie admitted, reaching forward and adjusting a piece of Lou’s hair as she listened to her. She was so thankful for a friend like her that she knew had her back all the time and was always in her corner. Girls could be so petty and jealous but that was never something between the two of them. “I love that. You deserve it baby. And Nick is so hot and probably amazin’ in bed so good for you Lou Lou.”

“I’m glad you did,” Lou said with complete honesty. She’d much rather get this kind of news in person. This was the sort of celebratory discussion that Lou couldn’t imagine having over the phone or via text, and she was so glad Lacie had told her. “Oh, god, Lace! Nick’s incredible in bed, yeah. Like the best I’ve ever had or somethin’ crazy like that. We’re not datin’ or nothing, but it’s real nice just the way it is.” 

[nicholasxxgates]

@lou-dunn​

Nicholas and Lou had been seeing  a lot of one another over the last few weeks. They had been hanging out at his place, her place, the bar. Wherever the night may have taken them. And yet, it wasn’t enough for the man. He wanted more with her and he hadn’t found the right way to approach it. It didn’t matter what he was doing, his mind rarely let up on thinking about Louella Dunn. It was baffling to him that he could think about someone so much, someone he hadn’t expected to think about in this manner. And it’s what brought him to inviting her over for dinner. Dinner was the next big step for him. They had meals at his place, take out mostly, but it was nothing that he had made and well, for Nick, this was going to gauge if she was going in the same direction as him. For a man with such charm and confidence, he was far too nervous to even ask her about their relationship. This was the easiest way to see how things were going. 

He had told her to come on into his home when she arrived, knowing that he might not hear her knock if he was wrapped up in cooking. “I hope you came hungry.” He called out, hearing the door open as he was pouring a glaze over the steaks he cooked. “Not that I couldn’t eat all of this myself,” he stepped back from the counter, wiping his hands on the towel before tossing it over the edge of the sink. “I’m glad you could finally come over and experience the cookin’ by my hands. You won’t regret it.”

[lou-dunn-archived]

Lou wasn’t quite sure what to expect when Nick invited her over for dinner. Honestly, it’d been a little more confusing than she was prepared for considering they’d eaten together a couple times when she’d been over already. It wasn’t ever a whole thing, but this? This was a whole thing. A whole thing and a bag of chips, or whatever the kids said these days. She stood outside his front door for a few minutes, not wanting to barge in before she had a chance to muster her own confidence up enough to, hopefully, fool Nick. Lou wasn’t nervous often, but Nick Gates made her nervous.

When she finally came in, she couldn’t help but smile broadly at the sight of Nick in the kitchen at work.”I’m sure you could,” she said as she made her way into the kitchen. Lou looked down at the steaks he had been cooking and rested her hands against the counter. “These look amazing, babe,” she said. Lou reached out and put her hand on Nick’s chest before she leaned up and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “And let’s be honest, we both know how big of a fan I am of the work those hands of yours can do. The fact that they make delicious food? Just a massive bonus.” 

[lou-dunn-archived]

jacksdunnit​:

Lou’s little fib caused Jack to narrow his eyes at his sister. As if he didn’t know when she was spouting bullshit, yeah right. As she sighed he rose his brows in a way to silently say “yeah, out with it” and tilted his head as she said that it had happened again. “Again?!” He exclaimed and sighed dramatically at her as she continued to explain her not-so-vague-and-hypothetical situation. “More than a decade ago,” he said quietly and glanced away from her to avoid whatever look he was guaranteed for even bringing up a number correction like that. “Alright, look - if you’re screwin’ aren’t you already one step ahead of datin’? Just be normal or something, I know that’s tough for you, but try.” He stifled his amusement for a moment, “No, but really… I mean, just see where it goes, I guess. What do you got to lose? I mean who is this guy anyway?”

“Yeah, I said ‘again,’ don’t judge me. I know for a face that you get around plenty so keep your opinions to yourself.” Lou’s mouth popped open at Jack’s correction, her hand reaching out to smack his arm. “Nobody asked you, twerp.” Jack had a point, in a sense, but Lou hadn’t done the dating thing in ages, and she’d done plenty of the hooking up thing since. “I don’t really think sleeping together comes after dating, Jack, at least not for me. Fine, I’ll give it a shot and try not to spaz too much, lot of help you are...” Lou turned away from him and popped the last bit of Twizzler into her mouth as she held up a finger in his direction. “Uh uh, you’re not gettin’ that outta me this easy.” 

[lou-dunn-archived]

jacksdunnit​:

Jack’s schedule for the past month had been hectic, stressful, and inflexible. Horses didn’t trailer themselves to shows nor did they get themselves prepped and ready to get in the ring. Students also didn’t get themselves warmed up, on, and in the ring by themselves either. The payoff had been outstanding, though. His students had placed in all of their classes, some even rising to the top to take home some larger earnings for themselves and their mounts. Jack had also brought home quite a haul of ribbons and awards that would put points towards finals. So while it had all been a stressful season it had also been successful. 

However, when he returned home and got to sit down with his sister things felt a bit more normal and less hectic. However, her little hypothetical had him raise his eyebrows at her. “That seems specific,” he said, watching as she gnawed on a Twizzler. “It implies that he likes you, I guess,” he offered in the least helpful manner. Jack’s typical play was never having dinner if you were just hooking up unless you wanted it to be something else. “Why are you screwin’ your friends?” He asked then with a sigh before leaning forward, “You know I don’t screw my friends,” Jack followed up quickly and shook his head at her. While that wasn’t totally true, it was at least 87.3% true. “But, I mean.. If y’all are just screwin’ and doing that friends-with-benefits shit and he actually invites you for dinner… I mean, I guess maybe he’s seein’ if you want it to go further.” Jack shrugged, “I know that I would never invite someone over for dinner who I was just screwin’ unless I actually liked ‘em.” 

“Not specific, just a random hypothetical I pulled out of thin air,” she said as she waved the Twizzler in her hand in a circle. Lou knew better than to try and lie to Jack, though, and so after a second of trying to hold a straight face complete with nonchalance, she sighed and let her feelings show a little. “Okay, so it’s extremely specific. I didn’t mean to, Jack, I swear. It just happened one night, and then it happened again and now I think I’m feelin’ some kind of way.” Chewing on the candy rope, she nodded at what her brother had said. “Yeah, so he might want to see if it can be more than just sleepin’ together. Like, maybe we’re goin’ to start dating or something. That’s fine, people date. I dated once...” Lou paused, doing some quick math in her head. “Like, a decade ago. Oh hell, I’m screwed, Jack.” 

[lou-dunn-archived]

andrewnharper​:

“I’m sure the casserole would be appreciated but it’s not necessary. My mama just likes havin’ people around so even if ya showed up drunk outta your mind, she’d still welcome you with open arms and probably force feed you butter rolls” Andy rolled his eyes jokingly as he talked about his mother. “Also, please tell her about this reputation she’s got. I think she’s laugh for hours and I need to hear it.”  It was easy for him to tease her about her easy-going nature and willingness to be open and honest with anything that came to her. “Maybe reach out to Lacie, y’all can come together since I’m sure my mama will have me cleaning or sorting out the grill so I’m not sure if I can pick her up yet or not.” Maybe it would have be nice for Lacie to have some time alone with her best friend before formally meeting his mother, knowing she was still nervous about the whole thing. “You won’t hear me complainin’ because I’m sure it could be worse.”

“Okay, well, I’ll keep that in mind. You never know when Lou Dunn’s gonna show up drunk off her ass.” She nudged Andy’s arm playfully. She would, without a doubt, be on her best behavior. “Oh, you’ll be workin’, then? I’m sure Lacie and I can appreciate the view together.” She knew she’d touch base with Lacie and sort the details out, but it was too much fun to tease Andy. “Besides, what fun is puttin’ a man to work if there aren’t girls around to share it with?” Without a doubt, she was glad that Andy was the man Lacie had fallen for. “Well, thanks for the kind words, Harper. I’ll be sure to pass along that I think you’re a keeper, you can quit blowin’ smoke up my ass.” 

[lou-dunn-archived]

ximenaortega​:

Ximena couldn’t stop the smile from breaking out on her features as she lifted her eyes up towards the woman. “I’ve been rootin’ for us too.” She exhaled happily as she put her hands together behind her back, chewing on her lower lip to keep her smile from getting too wide. “So, you’re practically runnin’ the event… Hey, just because you’re runnin’ around doesn’t mean you can’t find time for a few dances.” She smirked at her words. “I mean… there’s no one here you could see yourself leavin’ with?”

Lou was a sucker for a good love story, and she knew Ryan and Ximena would be one. Something about them just felt right, like the way she always felt when characters in a movie would end up together. “I mean, yeah, somethin’ like that,” she said with a wave of her hand. Lou hated admitting just how much of the night was her doing, she felt like it took away from the magic of the event. “No, I definitely could squeeze in a few dances, but I don’t like bringin’ a full on date.” Lou couldn’t hide the way she bit her lip at Ximena’s question, blushing slightly. “Yeah, there’s someone I wouldn’t mind takin’ home.” 

[lou-dunn-archived]

nicholasxgates​:

The left corner of his lips was slowing rising, smirking at her words. He imagined that their minds were thinking the same things, or pretty damn close to it. “I certainly hope so.” Nicholas whispered, pulling back to look into her eyes. “I really certainly hope so.” The man didn’t break his gaze from Lou. He wasn’t letting her go this time around.

Lou wasn’t sure that she’d actually thought he’d dive in so quickly. She was honestly disappointed in herself for doubting Nick. Sighing as her head fell back against the wall behind her. Lou’s eyes shut as she reached out to grab ahold of anything the wasn’t her own dress. Her hand wrapped around a metal bar as part of a shelving unit and she thanked God it was there. The feeling of his lips on her thighs had Lou breathing heavier with each passing second, and she couldn’t stop herself from lifting one of her legs and hooking it over Nick’s shoulder. “I should’ve known you wouldn’t, you know your way around pretty well by now, huh?”

[lou-dunn-archived]

sadie-rae-james​:

Sadie knew that Lou rarely gushed over someone like this. That’s why she was curious for more details but, to be polite, she didn’t ask much. Plus, all the couples were making her feel bitter. The Belle Ball was so damn romantic. She put on her best cheery grin – genuinely happy for Lou – and nodded. “Yeah, but he’s got…. plans. I can take your truck.”

“Wait, Deac’s got plans?” She lifted her brows and immediately forgot why the topic had even come up, suddenly very curious as to why her friend’s brother was sneaking off with some girl. Not that Deacon wasn’t hot, because Lou absolutely thought he was. She was just shocked, mostly. Deacon James didn’t seem like the kind of guy to settle down or even date. Besides the rumors Lou had heard, which were probably not even true, she’d assumed the guy was married to his job and his kids. “Are you tellin’ me your brother’s tryin’ to ditch you to get laid? Do I need to kick his ass?” 

[lou-dunn-archived]

location: oakdale ranch barn with: @jacksdunnit​ | closed

Lou wasn’t necessarily frantic, but she absolutely had busted into the emergency bag of Twizzlers in her desk when she’d been upstairs and gotten a text from Nick about coming over. It wasn’t entirely unrealistic for him to text her, considering they’d been spending more and more time together lately. If she didn’t have Huck and Clem taking up space in her bed at home, she probably would’ve been more bothered by spending the night at home without him. 

The thing about Lou was that she was very laid back, and that worked in her favor almost all of the time, but something about Nick had the wheels in her head spinning. So being invited over for dinner was the sort of thing that really just made her wonder. Were they dating? Were they merely friends with benefits? Lou needed to break this down with someone, and her first thought was her brother, Jack. Jack was a guy, he would understand what the texts meant, what inviting a woman over for dinner was supposed to mean. “Okay,” she said as she finished chewing on the Twizzler rope she’d just bit off. “Say you’re hookin’ up with this girl, and you and her are pretty casual people but you’re friends. Like, old friends. If you invite her over for dinner one night, specifically dinner and not just a ‘hey come bone me’ kinda thing, what does that imply?” 

[lou-dunn-archived]

laciecooper​:

“Well it gets better than just dinner and sex.” Lacie cooed, leaning against the bar and resting her head in her hands. “He also asked me to make things official between us so it looks like your girl is officially off the market.” She knew that being a couple didn’t guarantee anything about their future but she couldn’t help the feeling in her gut that told her the two of them were destined for more. “You just fucked him in the supply closet? Here? At the ball?” Lacie covered her mouth and squealed, smacking Lou playfully in the arm. “God I love you.”

“Lacie Noelle Cooper, you’ve been holdin’ out on me! You, off the market? What the hell?!” Lou’s voice was definitely louder than it needed to be, or so everyone would say, but Lou found it to be exactly the appropriate level. After all, it wasn’t every day that Lacie Cooper was a taken woman. That was a huge step in itself, but having it be with a guy like Andy? Lou couldn’t ask for a better surprise. Lou blushed at Lacie’s question, knowing full well that what had unfolded was entirely out of the norm for most people. But it was Lou, and honestly, somehow it felt entirely right. “You know how stressed I get at this thing, it was just a little blowin’ off some steam!” 

[lou-dunn-archived]

andrewnharper​:

“Yeah, it’s ain’t nothin’ big but just some family and friends comin’ over and cooking. Burgers, brisket, hot dogs. I know some kids from the neighborhood might be comin’ over too so it’ll just be kind of a close to summer for them,” Andy explained. Despite the Harper’s not having any younger kids around, the ones in their neighborhood sure loved coming over to Andy’s parents for popsicles or asking if any chores needed to be done to make some extra cash. “Awesome, I’m sure she’ll love havin’ you come too. It’s Saturday afternoon, so just come by whenever. It’ll start at around noon I think and go till later that night so no rush if ya got plans.” Andy was sure the night would end up going until long after the sun went down, the usual when his parents hosted. “You two are gonna be the death of me when you get together,” he joked, already picturing the chaos that would ensue.

“Should I bring somethin’, like a casserole or anything? I don’t want to let down Mrs. Harper, after all, that woman has a fierce reputation in this town. I can’t go lettin’ her think I’m not at the top of my game.” Lou was mostly joking, but there was part of her that needed to know if Andy’s mom was the kind who would expect guests to arrive with something, or if they’d offend her by doing just that. “Saturday around noon, got it.” Lou made a mental note to follow up with Lacie about the event, mostly to feel out what she’d be wearing and whether or not she wanted Lou there. After all, if Lou was going to ruin the moment somehow, she’d find somewhere else to be. “Oh, we absolutely will be, don’t you worry. Datin’ Lacie Cooper is like a two for one special, you get an extra side of Lou Dunn for free.” 

[lou-dunn-archived]

nicholasxgates​:

Nick couldn’t fight back a sigh as she pulled him closer by his tie, her teeth nibbling against his bottom lip. He hadn’t realized just how badly he wanted Lou and just how much he needed her. His lips grew, exposing his teeth at her question of him handling her dress. If there was one thing Nicholas Gates did not do, it was turn down a challenge. “You thing I’m goin’ to let a dress stop me from what I haven’t been able to stop thinking about?” His brow raised as his hands gathered some of the fabric in his hands. “There ain’t nothin’ about this dress that is going to stop what I’ve been wanting to do.” His tongue flicked against his lips as his knees quivered with the mere thought of finding himself underneath that dress. 

Lou felt something stir inside of her knowing that Nick had been thinking about this just as much as she had. “Oh yeah?” Lou winked up at the man before using his tie to pull him even closer so that her lips could find his earlobe. “Show me what you’ve been wantin’ to do to me, Nick,” she whispered into his ear while her other hand moved up to rest on his neck. “’Cause I have a feeling it’s probably real close to all the things I’ve been thinking about too.” Lou had spent countless hours searching for the perfect dress, and right now, all she could think about was how badly she wished she wasn’t wearing it anymore. There was plenty of time for that later, though. Right now, she would let Nicholas Gates work his magic.

[lou-dunn-archived]

dancersierraw​:

Sierra kept a smile on her face for a moment as she took a sip of the drink in her hand and nodded, “Yeah it is, eventually one day things might be better but for now it isn’t and we have to get on with our life.” She smiled and nodded, “You are right there and I am excited to get on the dance floor and show these people some amazing moves and have the most fun. Lets do this.” 

Lou wasn’t one to need much encouragement when it came to dancing. She slipped her arm through Sierra’s and pulled the woman to the dance floor with her, not caring for a single moment that they were probably catching the looks of numerous Belles across the room. She’d worked so hard for this night to happen, and right now, Lou wanted to have a little bit more fun. “Show me what you got, girl!” 

[lou-dunn-archived]

nicholasxgates​:

Nicholas could understand her reason to avoid him. Regret, well, it was not anything that someone wanted to feel. And the two of them had been friends for so long that if one night together ruined thirty years of friendship, he would be more than heartbroken about it all. With her hands now wrapped around his neck, her playful gaze was bringing a playful smile to his lips. The corners of his lips toyed with a smirk, “Your wish is my command,” Nicholas commented only briefly before moving his lips back up against her own where they so rightfully belonged. There was no place like the present and Nicholas was soaking up every second they were locked in this closet together. There would be no regret on his mind when it came to Lou. No, only hope that they could continue whatever this may be. 

Lou truly felt like a giant weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Knowing he wouldn’t regret this, knowing that he wanted this with her of all people, made Lou’s heart do a couple backflips. She smiled into the kiss while she held herself close to his body. Kissing Nick was something that felt natural, like she’d been doing it all these years they’d known each other, but still exciting. One of her hands moved down to grab his tie as she pulled Nick’s body even closer to hers, poofy dress be damned. She nibbled at his bottom lip, letting Nick know that she was absolutely ready to use this mishap to their advantage. “You think you can handle this massive dress, Gates?”