Voice/music claim: Bradley Cooper in A Star is Born
a worn stetson hanging from the back of a chair, soulful almond eyes, worn wranglers and dusty boots, a smile that would make you think twice about being mad, a quiet weariness, wasted talent and promise, a heart of steel turning to rust
trigger warnings: war, ptsd, abuse
Born into a vast kingdom that spans much of the midwest, Silas found himself the heir to a throne he discovered he didn’t want as he grew older. The history of Kendrick Ranches goes back into the time of the western expansion, staking claims in Colorado and Montana that eventually spanned south to Texas and as far west as Arizona. There’s even some land in Florida owned and operated under the name. As the second oldest of four children, Silas didn’t think much of the weight of the legendary name would eventually rest so heavily on his shoulders. As a kid he enjoyed ranch life; riding and training horses, roping, herding, and cutting. Most of his time was spent in the company of the ranch hands that kept the massive operation of the multi-million dollar business of cattle and horses going. From the dawn of rodeos kicking up dust in the US, the Kendrick’s had a play in it. Sometimes it was the rodeo stars shining before a crowd under the ranch name, but mostly it was the supply of cattle, bulls, and horses that truly had made them a powerhouse.
The majority of the income for the ranches comes from the cattle, beef sales. It made the Kendrick’s powerful and put the family next to the movers and shakers through history that shaped the states and even the federal government to some degree. However, in the world of the cowboy, the fame and glory attached to the ranches were the quality of bulls supplied at rodeos along with the competitiveness of the horses in their competitions. A glamor that lured a young Silas from the time he could ride.
With the majority of his formative years spent in the company of cowboys, rodeo veterans, and ranch hands he picked up much more than skill when it came to the cowboy way. It was also where his love of music had been born. Sitting around a fire or outside of the houses the hands lived in with guitars playing and men crooning at the moon had been his teacher, the encouragement of a passion that had seemed innate. Silas was merely six when he began playing guitar, and by the time he was a teenager he was writing his own songs and singing at festivals and rodeos wherever they traveled to. Everyone would say that he was a natural, that it was something he was born to do, but it wasn’t that easy when he was actually a prince with his destiny already laid out for him. Throughout his entire youth, his father allowed him to cowboy, to rodeo as long as he worked the ranch and learned every bit of how it operated. Silas had a special way with horses, they connected easily, and took to just about anything he did with a grace that his father hadn’t seen in anyone since his grandfather.
The pressure cooker in the Kendrick household eventually sent Silas flying from the nest the moment he turned 18. He was quick to sign on the dotted line and became a Marine, sent off to bootcamp where he was often made an example of because he was not only stubborn but he was country strong. What he learned quickly was that the military was about breaking someone and then rebuilding, and since that wasn’t easily done with someone like him the entire contract and service was hell on many fronts. Not only was he thrown into a war where he was forced to do unspeakable things, he ended up damning himself for the fact that he was prized there as well. He was a superstar because he could hunt and shoot better than anyone else he’d enlisted with. He could take a beating. He could carry the wounded. He wasn’t fazed by anything. Or so they all thought.
When he returned back to Colorado and to the family ranch Silas was different. Battleworn and traumatized, he threw himself into rodeo and cowboyed harder than he’d ever done before. The music he wrote and sang became darker and the nights became wild and mystical the more whiskey he drank. He’d signed up to ride the baddest bulls on the circuits with no fear of how they could possibly shatter his bones or end his life, and that was when his father realized that Silas had a death wish. That was when he and his family turned against each other. A father worked to save his son and continued to force a way of life on him that Silas didn’t want. There were knock down, drag out fights and warfare within a family rarely seen outside the lines of an opera.
Every part of what Silas does for the ranch, for his family, his done with reluctance and bitterness. If it weren’t for them finding the exact thing to hold over his head then he would’ve been long gone, off rotting away somewhere. At least he would be free and not a prisoner to a life he never wanted for himself. The fealty makes him sick. The duty. The honor. The brand. If it wasn’t for what had been burned into his skin then he could’ve likely made it out. If only he hadn’t been the cowboy they’d always dreamed of.
Alicia was always glad to see a reaction that did not involve frowns around Cooper. He was too positive for his own good, and getting people upset with him because he dirtied their jeans by being excited was not something she particularly felt like dealing with. But luckily the targeted person was fine with it. "Are you sure? I've got wipes to clean them up if you want?" She offered before nodding at the question. Cooper was calm around the man, if anything wagging his tail excitedly, and she knew he knew how to behave with strangers. "Yeah, of course. Go ahead. He's very friendly and loves pets way too much so he definitely would love that."
A smile twisted his lips at the offer of wipes. He wasn't sure he'd ever used those before in his life but the cowboy shook his head and watched the dog give him a good sniff over. "I'm all good. I don't think he could get me any more dirty, anyway."
Attention turned to the dog briefly, "lots of interesting smells on me, huh buddy?"
With permission, Silas smoothed his hand over the dog's soft head and gave some gentle scratches behind the ears. "Aw, that's a good boy, huh." Then his doe eyes glanced up at the owner, "what'd ya say his name was?" / @aliciamillergarcia
Characters: Alicia Miller-Garcia & OPEN
Location: Deja Brew
Open Starter @providencepeakstarters
Days when their town was blessed with a beautiful winter sun coinciding with her days off were a rare occurrence indeed. It was a no-brainer that this specific day would be spent outside, enjoying whatever rays of sunshine she could with Cooper and Hazel. The little girl was busy playing in the small playground nearby with her grandmother, allowing Alicia to just enjoy a hot cup of coffee in peace and quiet. Cooper was just as glad to bask in the sun, lying down next to Alicia and digging his nose in the pup cup she had gotten him. Being the goofy dog he was, he lifted his head only to sniff at the person walking past, with cream all over his nose. "I'm so sorry if he's gotten any cream on you!" She exclaimed, realizing how close Cooper had gotten to the person.
Typically the cowboy wasn't much of a coffee drinker and the type of coffee he was used to wasn't this fancy stuff at these shops in town. However, with Parker making a stop a few doors down, Silas had made the decision to grab something warm to stave off the cold.
"Ah, that's alright," he smiled, pushed up a little on the underside of his brimmed hat as he looked down at the pooch. "Can't really do much damage to these," he said of his dirty jeans from working on the ranch that morning.
"Is he friendly? Ya mind if I give him a pet?" It was hard to resist, especially when the dog seemed just as interested in him. / @aliciamillergarcia
— characters: silas & remi
— setting: kendrick ranch, main barn
—partner: @remiwilder
It hadn't really mattered just how often Remi Wilder told him that she wasn't a large animal nor equine vet, he still called her when he needed some attention for anything animal related.
Partly, it was due to him just liking her spirit and grit. He'd also noticed a bond between the veterinarian and his girlfriend, Parker. Mostly, the cowboy knew she was a single mother that had worked really hard to get anywhere in her life.
For a time she was close with his younger sister back in high school and Silas liked to be annoying. It was unforgettable though when Remi had become pregnant and was ditched by the man that should have stepped up.
Naturally, the fiery brunette wouldn't take any handouts, so the rancher got creative in finding ways to help.
"Thanks for comin'," he said as he approached her truck. "I'm hopin' it's not bad enough that she'd gotta be put down. She's a good workin' horse." When a leg went out on a horse it usually meant game over. The mare had a limp and when standing wouldn't put full weight on the leg.
— characters: silas & parker
— setting: kendrick ranch, main barn
—partner: @parkerlcwis
It had to have been one of the best rides to their spot, or one of the best rides he'd ever taken. The whole way, riding and chatting over snow scattered hills, nerves had turned and twisted his stomach.
There were things he wanted to talk seriously to her about. Silas had something to ask her. His feelings regarding her had grown faster than he'd ever expected or experienced. It was wild how they'd gone from a relationship of nothing but bickering and bitching to knowing he cared for her more than he'd ever cared for anyone.
They'd gone across states for each other. The ranger wore his shirts. On nights where the world was too much and his demons from the past, from wartime came for him, Parker had been right there.
Somehow she'd even weathered his family and still chose to stay on with him.
Not only had he needed to get his feelings out in the open, the cowboy couldn't take anymore hiding or keeping it from the world. She needed to be his and his only, and he wanted to be the same for her.
Now back from their ride, a couple, he began removing the saddles and brushing out the horses. He kissed her a few times and wrapped his arms around her, wanting nothing more than to get back to his place so they could celebrate on their own. Then maybe get dressed up and head out on the town.
The phone buzzed in his pocket and seeing that it was a call from the main house he reluctantly broke away from the park ranger, assuming importance. When he walked back over to her an apology was in his soulful eyes. "I gotta get up to the main house for a few minutes. Wont take too long, pop just needs some paperwork signed." Silas leaned in and kissed her. "Mind puttin' the horses out," he gestured to the small pasture on the left, "I'll be back in just a bit."
Another kiss and the rough hand of the cowboy pat her hip just before he went off to his truck.
— characters: silas & parker
— setting: kendrick ranch, main house
—partner: @parkerlcwis
Perhaps the reason he'd been staying at Parker's residence so much the last week and a half rather than them sleeping in his own was because too many parts of the bull rider were putting patience in reserve. After leaving the ranger's place and arriving at the ranch's main house, the big one, Silas opened the passenger door of his truck and offered a hand to the woman inside.
"It's not too late to back out," he reminded, no hint of a smirk on his face as his gaze held hers. "These people are savages," a quick glance at the front door with a welcoming wreath on it, then back to the woman that held him in a bit of a vice grip when it came to long forgotten emotions, "try not to make eye contact with my mother or you'll be tethered and grilled all evening."
Then there were his siblings but they weren't all that bad. His older brother was bitter and surely his envy would seep out throughout the gathering, he just wasn't the one that could turn everything ugly with only a few words.
That special talent belonged to the patriarch— Joseph Kendrick.
Once her feet were on the ground and Parker was at his side, the door was shut and his hand was sliding into hers, for comfort and for support. This was Silas's biggest battle in his lifelong war. The cowboy led his girl to the front door knowing that her meeting his family would change everything. Perhaps she'd understand him a little more, or maybe she'd realize she needed to cut and and run.
Before he reached for the knob the bull rider glanced over at his partner, "means a lot that you're here. Whatever happens in there just remember that you mean a lot to me." / @parkerlcwis
“We can’t all be riding bulls, partner. Some of us are stuck with boring jobs.” A pathetic try at a thick southern accent was laced through his words as he attempted to maintain a serious expression. Although repetitive, he didn’t find teaching boring by any means. Dallas just knew that a cowboy was the kind of person his students would flip out over if he were to ever pay them a visit on career day. Their own teacher, not so much.
“How am I supposed to stop thinking about you when you’re my soulmate?” An exaggerated sigh escaped him before he took a few more sips of his beer. “I fuckin’ knew it!” Shaking his head, Dallas leaned forward in his seat. “I’ve been telling Austin for years that it was really me you were into. Always knew you couldn’t resist these baby blues.”
“Three,” he repeated, initially just as taken aback by the scenario as Silas. “Gonna be trouble for his parents as soon as he graduates first grade.” Dallas had been surprisingly shy until the age of ten, taking a few years to navigate what it meant to be his own person outside of being a Cartwright twin.
Brow raised, his attention quickly shifted from his drink and focused in on Silas. “Parker? Ah come on, is that how you’re going to describe her to me? At least throw in a ‘lovely’ or ‘amazing’ in there…don’t you want my blessing? How on earth did that end up happening? And define seeing…”
The last thing Dallas wanted to do was move on to discussing his own life, especially what Silas just dropped an update on his life that was deserving of at least a good few minutes of discussion. “I’m just trying to settle back in, really. Trying to balance two jobs and still having time for my own stuff. Just uh…glad to be back in the same place as you, my family and Hana.” Of course there were others, but Hana seemed to always make the cut when it crossed his mind. “Now back to you and Parker…when did you start seeing each other?”
"Look, it ain't my fault I chose the easy way out an' am workin' with bulls rather than kids," he joked, though Silas wasn't entirely sure he was all that off base. The man across that table did a job that was likely one of the most important out there.
Were teachers rockstars? No. Should they be? Hell yeah.
"You an' Aus have the same eyes, numbnuts." With a chuckle rasping in his throat, the bull rider shook his head at Dallas's antics. Always amused. "I kept hopin' ya'd notice me one day but nahh ya never looked my way. Ya really sure we're soulmates, my guy?"
Charm had been something that always came easily for the ranching heir. There may have been many factors to it but the bottom line was that it was his personality, plus the cowboy way did a lot to help his image when it came to the way he was romanticized. "Have ya given his parents a shout? A lil warnin' that they might wanna slow Casanova down?"
After a few swallows of his beer, the man with dirt permanently imbedded in the cracks of his fingers leveled his doe eyes at his friend. Amusement played on his lips while his brow furrowed a little. "Lovely? Amazin'?" Head shook a little as he laughed. "If ya really knew her then ya'd know she'd kick me in the shins if she heard me say any o'that." he shrugged then, "blessin' for what?" Once more his smirk formed. "She's got a plot a'land that borders the ranch an' she'd come over yellin' all the time 'bout the cattle passin' through. Loved t'drink all our beer in the process but... I dunno." For a long time nothing but arguments flew back and forth between him and the ranger, then something shifted and they were free falling into whatever they were doing now.
"Ya ever thought of givin' one up?" Though, as someone that had like a thousand jobs, Silas got it. "It's good t'have ya back. Really back. Convenient that Hana's here, uh? Ya know she's friends with Parker right?" He'd heard bits about their girl's night where they'd gotten a but drunk. "I dunno man," the cowboy said of him and the ranger seeing one another, "it's been months. I dunno when, we haven't talked about it, jus'... seein' each other, ya know?" / @dallasxcartwright
"I'll take that as the burger being the cherry on top but me being the main attraction." It wasn't like she felt rejected or even any sort of emotions towards not receiving a call or sign of life after the time they shared together. Anyone who met at a dinner and ended up at the others didn't tend to keep in close contact. At least not in her experience.
Her gaze moved to the drink in front of her, wrapping her hand around the rim but not lifting it to her lips just yet. "I should have made sure to stay long enough for breakfast. I've never had some professional cook for me - but I get the family thing." She got it, but right now, she would do anything to see her little sister.
"I guess not." She couldn't help but laugh, watching as he ran his fingers through his hair. He wasn't her usual type, but damn if he wasn't attractive "Is this where I find out you've been here every night waiting for me?" Amara teased.
"I know. I think he must have lost his sanity somewhere down the road and I never noticed until that night." Amara couldn't help but laugh, especially since the story was worse than she was letting on. Her ex-fiance hadn't broken up with her due to some grand betrayal but because of what he'd made up in his own mind. Now she was the one who was left at a loss and unable to figure out if she could forgive his mistrust and ability to walk away so easily. "It's becoming clear that you work too much. You've got a cook but you can't afford some employees? But let me guess, it's a case of being a bit of a workaholic and being unable to walk away?" Another thing she could understand. "One day you'll let me pay you back." She told him, not as a question but a statement because she'd tire him down at some point. "I'm always in the mood for something sweet."
"How could ya be anything but?" This was why the cowboy enjoyed Amara's company. She was as uncomplicated as they came and he thought that in the best of ways, not just for how she seemingly let him off the hook he was never really on. There was just an assuredness about her that was admirable. Lines had been blurred between them yet she was as cool as ever.
While it wasn't necessarily a surprise to him, the rancher's brow shot up despite that. Most people didn't have a cook, especially not one that lived and worked full time at the ranch making sure everyone, including the hands, had meals each day. "Well damn— ya gotta come 'round for dinner then sometime. Ya up for it?"
Family was always incredibly complicated. At least in most instances for most everyone he'd come across in life, so when Amara had uttered as much Silas only nodded his head. "Never really heard ya talk 'bout family before. Must be a big bad."
A laugh rolled out of him at her tease and he nodded, "ayy ya might be catchin' me red handed here." The sun stained, permanently wind burnt cheeks of the bull rider turned a slight dust of pink.
Fingers caked with dirt wrapped around the neck of the bottle in front of him, doe eyes dropped down the woman's figure and in all honesty it was no surprise a man would lose his sanity over her. He was for sure headed down that rabbit hole with the park ranger. But everything he'd learned about the pharma rep up to this point left Silas completely confused on how someone could mess up that bad. Good women weren't hard to find but apparently men were. "Mind if I ask what happened there?" There was something pointed in her words. "Especially with the mention of that night?" Rough hands went up, "only if ya wanna talk 'bout it."
A shrug of his thick shoulders conveyed his indifference to his work ethic. "Its the only life I've known. When you're a rancher you often start before the sun's up and don't stop til it's long dipped in the horizon." Partly that was why he wanted something else for himself. There was no interest in him for so long to carry on these traditions. Time was funny though. "We got a whole operation, so... plenty of employees. Still, just plenty to do."
It was nice that she wanted to pay and to treat him, but he had more money than he knew what to do with so he wanted to share it in big and small ways wherever possible. "Alright, lets order up that dessert but ya gotta finish your whole plate yourself this time," the cowboy teased, "and ya gotta understand your company is more than enough." / @amaraobi
After months of harboring a gut wrenching truth, it had all finally been aired out to the woman who'd created the mess thirty-four years earlier. The anger in her eyes and the annoyance tethered into her tone, it had all stood as proof as the only thing she'd regretted was that he'd ever found out in the first place. He had waited for an apology, for some sense of empathy, but he'd only been met with more questions that at the time, he couldn't stand to answer.
Broken and out of sorts, the construction worker had called off work and had sent a text to his younger brother letting him know that he wouldn't be dropping by for his morning errands. Instead, he'd reached out to Silas, the man's line of work being the kind of physical reprieve he needed. No bullshit, no coddling, just a day of hard work with no room to question a goddamn thing.
"I don't care where you put me, Sy. Just put me to work and don't give me a second to myself," he exhaled in defeat, his desperate plea evident in the unevenness in his raspy tone. It was the ranch or a bottle of whiskey, and for the time being, the latter sat untouched in his liquor cabinet a couple of miles down the road. "And thanks... for letting me come out. I really appreciate it."
If anyone could understand family troubles it was likely Silas Kendrick. His own was a mess with him being problem child number one in his father's eyes. The man had his heart set on the bull rider eventually taking over the entirety of the empire and it was the last thing the free spirited Kendrick wanted to be chained to.
However, fealty and guilt, not to mention the knock down drag out fights had a way of keeping the wandering soul somewhat close.
When his friend, a brother for all intents and purposes, rang up and needed some physical work to load himself with the answer was easy. Come on down and wear yourself out. It was easy to see that Atlas was bothered. Something tormented him deep inside. With that, Silas knew exactly what the man needed.
"Got about ten cows an' calves needed to be separated. The hands will get them into different pens and you'll hang in one where we'll release the calves one by one," he started, no big greetings or focusing on rasp in his friend's voice and strain in his gaze. "We'll have two ropers in the pen with you. They'll tie 'em up, you grab the calf an' get 'em flipped onto their side. Put a knee into their neck so they don't get up, one of the guys will brand an' vaccinate an' if it's a boy they'll be snipped right quick. You let 'em up when it's all done, only a few minutes really, an' make sure he gets back into the pen with the mamas."
These were late births that missed the massive branding round up more than a month ago, and needed to be taken care of before the snow got real heavy and they got too big.
Later on, they had about a mile of fencing to mend. It was going to be a long, hard, physical day, but one he felt would give Atlas what he needed. "No worries, man," a hand clapped onto the back of the big guy's shoulder, "the cook will haul lunch out to us later wherever we end up. Either way, you'll sleep good tonight."
Then, the heir pointed off to the blond standing by the pen where they were setting up. "Del's over there he'll get ya some gloves an' all that." / @atlaswilliams
The flannel hidden beneath her thick jacket belonged to none other than the smiling cowboy that made every inch of the world fade away around her. What little time she had put into composing herself within the comfort (and warmth) of her truck hadn't held up against his frustratingly apparent charm. When paired with the cologne that still lingered from the material beneath, she countered with her own wide grin and flushed cheeks.
"I'm sure if I had, you would have eventually found me." As much as she'd complained about his version of a prank, on the nights he wasn't around, she found herself missing the times she'd peeked out through her curtains to see him and one of his steer trekking through her yard.
The wink sent a jolt of electricity through her chest, but as her arms curled around his waist to accept the greeting in full, she felt what little composure she'd held onto snap. "You can just say you missed me," she hummed against his jawline before she stepped back, gaze trailing over to the horses he'd saddled up for the two of them.
A nervous laugh rolled off her tongue, work nearly forgotten about in his presence. "It's... going. We have a few more trainings coming up. Can't ever be too prepared, I guess." She understood the importance, knew the risks of traveling up mountain sides in feet of snow, but the training never failed to drain her of life, no matter how many years she went through it. "Think I'd come all this way just to bail? Please, I've been looking forward to this."
Everyone knew the Kendrick ranch was large, but to see it firsthand? "Besides, I want to see what you see." She enjoyed hearing him speak on the ranch and it's beauty. A beauty that she'd imagined a thousand times before. "And you know, you on a horse is never a bad view."
It was true. No stone would go unturned if she somehow got lost along the way. Any way. This connection he shared with Parker was changing the solo rider in ways he'd never truly been touched before. For a man built on thrills and adventure, that looked danger in the face and winked with his particular grin in place, it was saying a lot.
"Alright, you're right," he conceded, a breathy chuckle bubbling up and rasping near her ear as they held one another, "I missed ya." They may have only parted that morning with them each having things to tend to but her presence had become a need for the bull rider.
"Never know," Silas teased, "you're lookin' a little beat between last night and them trainings. Wouldn't blame ya if ya needed a little rest." Before he completely moved away to finish saddling up the horses the cowboy pressed a kiss to her lips. "You're right," another wink, "can't ever be too prepared."
While he'd learned tracking and the ways moving about the earth early on in life, Silas was every bit intrigued in Parker's line of work. It was something she was passionate about and dedicated her time to, so he wanted to know what her days were like. "Ya think they're learnin' well enough? They gonna be a problem for ya down the line?"
As he put the bridle on the first horse Silas stuck a hip out and looked over his shoulder at the ranger, "you checkin' me out in my Wranglers?" It wasn't what he wore but he knew country. As he set to work on getting the bridle on the second, Parker's horse, the singer-songwriter took a glance out in the direction they were headed. The morning fog had burned off pretty well but he knew she should probably go grab his rifle anyhow.
"I'm gonna take ya a different way this time. Show ya one of my favorite vistas. You eaten recently or ya wanna grab somethin' to bring along? Pretty good ride." Meaning it would be a longer one. A few steps toward her and the rancher's hand rested on her hip as his lips pressed affection one more time onto her cheekbone. "Be right back a minute, gotta get my gun." / @parkerlcwis
Daniel drove his truck along the path that cut through the Colorado ranch with the majestic Rockies casting a jagged silhouette against the twilight sky. He was intentional about pulling up at what he figured was the close of work day, but now he wondered if an extra set of hands might have been more useful. Stepping out of the cab he breathed in the mountain air a change, from the stale air of his dad's trailer home that had already become all too familiar to him.
The ranch, with its spirit and expansive skies offered Daniel a needed break from his heavy responsibilities. Here surrounded by natures embrace and in the company of a friend he found solace from lifes impending challenges.
As Daniel approached Sy, a small but genuine smile crossed his face—a sight these days. "It has been far too long, my guy, " he called out with relief evident, in his voice. "I hope you have an extra stiff drink around here some place..."
Doe eyes pulled up from the few pairs of mothers and calves in the corral and narrowed at the sight of a truck leaving a trail of dust as it approached the main barn. At first the cowboy didn't recognize it but the driver became clearer and something akin to a smile tickled his lips.
The rancher pushed off the wooden fence and made his way toward the truck being thrown into park and held out a hand for the fellow Marine that got out and headed his direction. "Shit, Torres, what's goin' on, son?" Once their hands clapped together, Silas pulled the younger man in for a half hug and pat him on the back of his shoulder.
"Ah, we got plenty o'beer in the cooler over there," his thumb jutted to just inside the barn. "But I can scrounge up somethin' stronger if ya want," he added with a grin.
With a nod of his head the bull rider led the way toward the open doors of the big barn and kicked a dirty boot at the captive beer. "You're stayin' for dinner then, yea?" / @dtorres
— characters: silas & parker
— setting: kendrick ranch, main barn
—partner: @parkerlcwis
Two horses were posted outside the main barn and had just been brushed down when the cowboy heard the tires over gravel approaching and parking. A little smile crept to his lips at the good fortune that he'd get some quiet time with Parker in the form of a horseback ride off into the hills.
While the rodeo season had wound down for him it seemed her schedule had picked up a little, and though they saw each other too frequently to continue to lie to themselves about what was going on between them, they were still able to carve out this quiet late morning with one another.
"Ah, ya made it," the rancher teased, righting himself after being bent over cleaning the horse's hooves, "was beginnin' t'think ya'd forgotten the way." A wink was sent the ranger's way as an arm opened up to welcome Parker in for a spot of affection.
These days it was difficult to see the line they'd once silently agreed to keep in order to have privacy. Most anyone with eyes could easily discern that something was going on between the two of them. Even if they still bickered and frequently rolled their eyes at one another.
"Everythin' goin' alright with all the work that you've been doin'?" One of his favorite things had become just laying there in bed with her tucked at his side and his arm around her as Parker went on about her day. "Hopefully you're not here to cancel on me," the bull rider joked. It wasn't uncommon for people to drive up for a conversation since Silas was notorious for not paying much attention to his phone.
"I would hope that you avoiding me wouldn't deter you from going back to the same place. I didn't think I was that horrible." Amara teased, though it was a secret fear of hers that maybe the reason why some of her dates hadn't called back was because they'd gone in avoidance mode. Not that she had a particular interest in any of them.
"I'm starting to think that you're not much of a cook since I keep finding you in these places. No place to judge because I'm not much of a cook either. More a baker."
Her dark gaze rose to look over his hair with a pointed look before she shook her head. "I think it's the lack of dirt and desire for the day to end."
"I actually came back from a quick meeting with my ex so you know I had to make him regret ever dumping me. What's your reason for looking so good?" It was the truth. She always got dressed up that much more when seeing Omar. "I was hoping you'd let me buy food since you paid for it last time." Unlikely, but she figured it was worth a try.
"Nah," a bit of smirk broke through as his doe eyes remained on Amara, "never really found much use in avoidin' people. 'Specially not when a good burger is on the line." It was a tease through and through, he'd had a great time with her Silas was just a busy man on most days and never one to pay much attention to his phone. "It's good to see ya again." Had he gotten her phone number?
The observation shared brought about a chuckle and the cowboy nodded slowly at first then shrugged his thick shoulders. "We actually have a cook on the ranch. I jus' like to limit family time as much as possible." He and the old man didn't necessarily see eye to eye.
"Hey," the bull rider ran a somewhat clean, dirt permanently lodged around his fingernails, hand back and forth over his hair, "the day don't end until we lay our heads down, right?" Silas smirk sunk in deeper as he added, "maybe I jus' had a feelin' I'd run into you here again."
Curiosity colored his expression at the mention of her ex. Somehow they never touched on personal things such as that whenever they spent time, and now he was ever the more intrigued about her life beyond the little he knew. "Well, in my humble opinion," hand laid over heart, "ya definitely made him suffer. How on earth could he dump you? Who is he— let's check his sanity." While a chuckle spilled past his lips and he was clearly being playful, Silas meant it. "My excuse? Well, nothin' as good as yours," even if Parker and seeing her later had cropped up in his mind, "I jus' wasn't workin' much on the ranch today." At Amara's offer to pay, his grin went lopsided again and the rancher shook his head. "N'aw I can't allow that. Get whatever ya want and this time lets get dessert." / @amaraobi
AUSTIN: you'll never believe who texted me today
AUSTIN: rhett barlow! he acted like he wanted to catch up but he was fishing for some interesting information...
AUSTIN: said he saw you with a "hottie" at your last rodeo and wanted the details
AUSTIN: and, y'know... now i'm curious, too 👀 / @syweston
SILAS: when did rhett butler turn into a high school gossip queen? people really do change as they get older.
SILAS: hi to you too btw. how are you? how's the fam? dallas was hitting on my again last time i saw him.
SILAS: "hottie" could be a lot of things to rb. any other details he sprinkled into your more than happy to hear ear? / @austin-cartwright
"You know it's kinda bullshit to get someone excited about some secrets you're gonna spill and then make them wait a few days for it. If your tactic was to get me to come up with impossible scenarios, you succeeded." The two men had an interesting friendship that had them resembling somewhat of a bickering, retired couple who was going on their thirtieth year of marriage. It was what made their interactions exciting in ways. "You and Austin aren't dating again, are you? I've already told her a million times that you're trouble...plus If you were gonna date another Cartwright I really thought we’ve always had a will they won’t they thing going on." A smug grin took to his lips before he took a few sips of his beer. "Come on...let me hear it. And I hope it's better than first grade gossip, because right now you're up against a kid who's got three girlfriends."
The cowboy leaned back in his seat a bit and stretched out his legs, dirty boots crossed at the ankles while a beer was cradled in his hand. Amusement sat on his expression as his ex's twin rambled on. It was very much like being with the male version of Austin.
"Some of us are busy, Lassie," Silas replied as his smirk cranked up a notch. Their bickering friendship was one he'd managed to keep despite no longer being the man in his sister's life, which the bull rider was grateful for. "It's nice to know you couldn't stop thinkin' of me, though."
As he took a swallow from his brew a hand reached for the back of his neck and rubbed at it just before his head shook. "Not only am I trouble but you an' I both know she could do a helluva lot better than me. 'sides you were always the one I was really tryin' t'get to."
Brow raised, the rancher set his bottle back onto the table, impressed. "Three?" Silas chuckled, "well goddamn." After a moment of thought, twinkling doe eyes searched his friend's face, he tacked on, "boy's gonna learned the hard way jus' how much trouble that's askin' for. I ain't got any gossip for ya though that's not really my thing." A man like him was used to being talked about and that was reason why he kept away from it. "I've been seein' Parker," he finally let out. "Y'know, the ranger that frustrates and gets on my nerves all the damn time...?"
Rather than say anymore Silas reached for his beer again and took another swig. His dark eyes panned about the bar and when they landed back on Dallas, the tables were turned. "What's been goin' on with you lately? Aside from playin' hard t'get with me..." / @dallasxcartwright
closed starter for sy kendrick ! ( @syweston )
location ; kendrick ranches !
As a child, Erol had always imagined working on a house out in Bighorn Hills for himself and his family— that hadn't quite worked out, or, it hadn't as of that point in his life but it was a fond memory and that fondness tended to put him in a spectacular mood every time he made it out there. It wasn't a major project— helping to maintain the fencing at the ranch or fix up any areas that had been forgotten or inadvertently overlooked— it was relatively mindless work but Erol had always enjoyed working with his hands and there was little care for how monotonous the work might be. He was in the midst of a break— leaning against his truck with a bottle of water in his hand— when he caught sight of an approaching figure and straightened up. "Yo, boss," He greeted, raising a hand as Sy approached. "You need me to work on somethin' else? I'm just about done here so I'd need ten minutes or something to get the rest of my tools together. Unless you just wandered out here to make sure I'm not totally screwing the fence up," Erol said, fighting a smile.
Good help was hard to find and most ranches couldn't keep helping hands around for long. Either they couldn't pay well enough or the work would dry up depending on the seasons. This ranch, however, much to the heir's dismay sometimes was one of the largest in the country, perhaps the world.
Not only was there always work but it also paid well. Some of the hands even had their own houses spread throughout the vast expanse of the ranch.
At the acknowledgment Silas held up a smaller sized cooler and wore a grin on his lips. "Ah, my guy, jus' thought ya might want a break. Maybe some grub and a beer." The cooler was set on the tailgate of the truck and the bull rider gestured for Erol to help himself.
Doe eyes only briefly surveyed the man's work, it had always been good, he felt no need to micromanage. "Y'know I can't remember if we've ever had ya on the back of a horse. Can ya ride? We could use some help down at the main barn." / @eroltilki
