Turned into your worst fears, Crossing out the good years
Pairing: Rhett Abbot x Fem!Reader
Synopsis: After years of sneaking around with your neighbor, Rhett, you ask him to leave Wabang. He turns you down. It doesn't end well for either of you.
Warnings: Angst, Swearing, Lots of implications of a relationship that isn't actually labeled but exists and is a secret, Reader and Rhett are both assholes, my horrific grammar needs a warning in itself, this is 100% unedited
Word Count: 929
There are few things that hurt like the sting of something so familiar being the very thing to strip you of all sense of belonging. But tonight, under the same star-studded sky she’d laid beneath a million times with the same rough around the edges cowboy she’d spent the last four years of her life chasing, disappointment and regret were the only familiarities and a bone deep ache had long since settled over her entire body until she somehow felt less than hollow.
When she’d asked Rhett to leave with her, she thought he’d jump at the chance. It wasn’t as if they hadn’t talked about it before- skipping town for somewhere new where the people were none the wiser to the triviality of their relationship and the mess it left in its wake. In her mind, they’d run away together a thousand times over, each time better- more fulfilling than the last.
There was nothing fulfilling about those thoughts now.
“People like us- what makes you think we’re ever gonna leave this? I mean, c’mon girl. There’s not a damn place out there for you or me. Much fuckin’ less us together,” Rhett said, trying every bit to keep his anger in check as she questioned him.
He drug a hand over his mouth and let out a deep exhale as he tore his gaze from her for just a moment. If there was a time to start a fight, it definitely wasn’t now. But starting a fight was the one thing Rhett was best at. He just had always done a shit job at finishing them.
“And there’s a place here?” She asked, words biting and sharp. The hurt dripped off her tongue like venom, giving way to the severity of his rejection.
If he couldn’t get a read on her expressions or get a good look in her eyes, he could always figure out exactly how she felt by the way her words spilled from her lips. Tonight, though, he was privy to all three reactions, and it only proved to push his own feelings up into his throat until he felt like he was choking on them.
“What? Gonna start taking me on dates around town? Dedicate your rides to me? You could’ve been doing that for years, but you haven’t and you won’t,” she sneered in a way that made his body grow even more rigid than it already had been. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could even get a syllable out, she was starting again. “You think you’re gonna take over the ranch? Cause it’s pretty clear to everyone in town that no matter how much of a piece of shit Perry is, the ranch, the land, every last damn bit of the Abbott name is going to him. It doesn’t matter how hard they work you, doesn’t matter how many wins you get under your belt at rodeos, and it sure as hell don’t matter how many times you come runnin’ to help them- you aren’t their first choice-”
He cut her off, anger boiling over like a pot of water forgotten on the stove. His eyes had never looked darker- never looked more cloudy.
“Was I ever anyone’s? At least here I can pretend I’m doin’ somethin’. You can’t even say that much. You’re just runnin’ away from one shit life to another.”
She could see how tightly his jaw clenched, teeth gritted in a way that couldn’t be anything short of painful. She only ever saw this sort of anger directed at his family. Now on the receiving end, with her own emotions running rampant, it felt like every single good moment they’d ever shared had been stripped bare and left broken on the ground at their feet. It was like watching a fire engulf the last remnants of anything tying her to Wabang.
“At least it's my choice! I’m not being complacent in my own fucking misery!” Her voice was higher now, more desperate to watch him burn to ash alongside her.
He took a step closer to her and leaned down enough to fully meet her eye in the moonlight. The last time he’d been this close, he’d been kissing her. Now, that felt like a distant memory.
“Then go,” he said, tone deadly even for the first time in their entire exchange. “Don’t know why you had to come here and make it my problem you’re leaving. Just fuckin’ do it.”
She took a step back and then another, steadily growing the distance between them until just a few feet felt cavernous. “I will.”
She paused for a moment, eyes darting to the fence line separating their properties. Careful to avoid the barbs still sticking out, she slipped through the large gap in the barbed wire and stood back up on her family’s own land. With one last look at Rhett, she delivered the killing blow in this verbal warfare before leaving him standing alone in the dark.
“For what it’s worth, I would’ve picked you. Every god damn time.”
She was gone by the next morning when the regret had finally settled in. Even then, he didn’t bother trying to get in touch with her. She was never coming back, and that was that. A clean break- though there was really nothing clean about them in any capacity- was necessary to forget any of it ever happened. And forget her is exactly what he planned to do.
He pretended like he kept to that plan until he saw her again three years later.
A rejected marriage proposal and a desire to leave Wabang leaves Rhett in an interesting situation.
Outer Range MasterList
Directory
You were awoken by pounding on your front door. A low wince came from your throat as the pounding intensified. “I’m comin’... I’m comin’...” you groaned as you got out of bed, draping your quilt over your shoulders as you walked out of your bedroom into the open, free-flowing vibe of the rest of your small apartment. You paused before opening the door. You should take that picture frame down…
As you peered through the peephole, a mix of fear and resignation gripped you. “Com’on Sunshine- I know you’re home.” you sighed, your mind filled with weariness, as you opened the door to reveal none other than Luke Tillerson. “You gonna invite me in?” His voice, laced with a hint of charm, sent a shiver down your spine. You wanted to slam the door in his face and go back to bed, but as he towered over you, you knew he could force his way into your apartment if he really wanted to. You stepped aside and allowed Luke into the foyer. He removed his hat and set it on the small table you had beside the door.
You watched as Luke looked around your apartment. He scoffed slightly before putting his hands on his hips and turning his attention to you, “Why’d you say no?” he huffed. You took a shallow breath and watched Luke’s features harden. He was never your biggest fan, but when you’d told your now ex-high-school-sweetheart the infamous William “Billy” Tillerson ‘no’ to his incredibly romantic marriage proposal two weeks ago, Luke’s general dislike turned to hate.
-
Billy had been the perfect boyfriend in high school and was really great when you’d gone away for college while he’d opted to stay home due to Wayne’s dwindling health. He was patient with you; he would drive from Wabang, Wyoming, to Vermillion, South Dakota, for every sorority event every softball game, and practically became your sugar daddy so you could focus on your studies. He was supportive in every way possible. He was proud of you and was content just sitting on your dorm room floor, staring at you as you did homework. As long as he got to spend time with you. After you’d graduated and moved back home, Billy thought it was time to ‘make an honest woman out of you,’ as Wayne would say. He didn’t want to rush anything; the two of you had been together for eight years, but he could wait another eighty if it meant being with you forever. You worked at the police station to get real-world experience before applying to either law school or the FBI- you still hadn’t decided what you wanted to do with your future, but you felt Billy wouldn’t be in it.
You knew Billy was planning something. He was never really the subtle type; the bells rang when he’d asked you on a picnic one warm spring afternoon. You’d been back home for a few months and were officially independent from your parents. You were itching to get out of Wabang again. Billy drove the two of you out into the Northern pasture of the Tillerson Ranch, a vast expanse of green that stretched as far as the eye could see. In the spring, a large patch of wildflowers would bloom just outside the woods, adding a burst of color to the landscape. It was beautiful and secluded. Billy pulled out all the stops- it had been a great afternoon until he got down on one knee and presented you with a goddy diamond ring. He made a speech about how you were the love of his life, and he wanted the entire world to know. You watched the hopeful boyish smile leave his face as you started apologizing- “You don’t wanna marry me?” “No, Billy- I’m so sorry I just… I don’t know what I want.”
You got up, wrapping your cardigan around your body tightly before running away from Billy. Your dress was riding up, but you didn’t care. You needed to get out of there. You weren’t sure how you’d managed to get to the road between the Tillerson and Abbott ranches before dark, but as you started the daunting walk back to the city, you’d absolutely shattered Billy’s heart, and you didn’t know if you’d ever forgive yourself. A horn honked behind you; as you looked over your shoulder, you paused in your step as none other than Rhett Abbott pulled up beside you. “Shouldn’t your guy be drivin’ you home?”
When you burst into tears, Rhett stared at you like a deer in the headlights. He put his truck in park before hopping out and guiding you to the passenger’s side door. He helped you into the cab while you continued to sob fat tears, your body wracked with uncontrollable sobs. You didn’t care that Rhett saw you ugly crying- he didn’t know what to say or what to do. He thought about how he’d comforted Amy the first time she’d fallen off a horse, he figured since you were crying in a similar way- maybe it would help. You retracted when you felt his large, calloused hand pat your shoulder. He pulled his hand away, shifted his truck back into drive, and slowly made his way down the dirt road that led back to the city. He let you cry, unsure of what to say or what to do. He turned on the radio and drummed his thumbs along to the song that filled the cab.
When Rhett pulled up to your apartment complex, you whimpered out a ‘thank you’ and reached for the door handle. “Do you want me to come inside with ya?”
-
Luke stared at you, waiting for a response. You sighed and wrapped yourself tighter, “Luke- I… uh, I just-” you stared before Luke cut you off with a loud scoff. “Billy has treated you like a goddam princess since high school! Just fuckin’ marry the poor kid!” he yelled, stepping closer to you. You shuttered at the sudden movement. Luke noticed and pushed a hand through his hair, “Look, Billy stopped singing. Don’t get me wrong- I like the quiet, but the crying… just tell him you’ll marry him.”
You shook your head, “I’ve hurt him enough, Luke… please leave.” you instructed as you opened the door. Luke huffed one last time before taking his hat from the table, “You should take that picture down.” he retorted before slamming the door behind himself. You sighed and looked longer at the picture frame by the door. It was a simple silver frame engraved with 9/2/16 at the top. In the frame was a collage of pictures of you and Billy from high school and a few from when you were in college. You couldn’t take it down but couldn’t look at it.
It had been a long week at work; you were tired and lethargic and absolutely did not want to go out with your friends that Saturday night. Walking into the bar that night, you saw Trevor Tillerson trying to cozy up with Maira Olivares. One Tillerson was one too many for tonight, you just hoped that Billy stayed home tonight. You followed your friends over to a booth in the back and quickly put in an order for drinks.
After a couple of hours, you’d begun to enjoy yourself- your friend Sara was indulging the group with a story about some guy she’d been hooking up with as the five of you were throwing back shots when a waitress walked up and handed you a drink and handed it to you. “Guy at the bar sent this for ya.” she winked before walking away. A choir of ‘oooooo’s filled your booth, making you roll your eyes. “50 bucks; it was one of the Tillerson boys.” your friend Amanda laughed.
“Fuck off, Amanda- Trevor and Luke both hate my guts, and I don’t think Billy is here.” you craned your neck over to the bar and felt the air leave your lungs when Rhett tipped his hat in your direction. “I need some air,” you said abruptly as you got up and quickly headed toward the exit. You weren’t looking where you were going when you bumped into the last person you wanted to see right now, “Hey, Sunshine…” you winced at the low voice of none other than Billy Tillerson. You didn’t respond to his greeting as you exited the bar.
Rhett watched you from the bar. He’d always thought you were pretty back in high school. He was a couple of years older than you, and you’d been practically inseparable from Billy Tillerson since the two of you had gotten together during your freshman year- Rhett’s senior year. Since that night he drove you back to your apartment and hung out inside for a few hours. He couldn’t get you out of his head. When he saw you walk in with your girlfriends, he felt it was safe to make a move. He and Perry had come out to get a beer and unwind. Perry knew about his little crush on you, before a few weeks ago he’d thought it had gone away. Rhett had told him about a date he’d gone on with Maria, but it was like a light switch went off when he found out about you and Billy breaking up; he was over Maria and now head over heels with you. Perry found it amusing; he figured his brother would never tie himself down with a wife or kids, but when he saw how Rhett was looking at you, he was second-guessing himself.
You pushed your hands through your hair as you took a deep breath outside, you were trying to ground yourself, but all of that went to shit when Rhett walked outside. “Hey.” he greeted you with his crooked smile. You groaned and walked in the other direction, “Rhett, please just leave me-” Rhett cut you off midsentence with a deliciously sweet kiss. His lips tasted like the beer he’d been drinking. With one hand on your waist and the other on your cheek, he pulled you close to his body as he pushed his tongue into your mouth. You kissed him back and looped your arms around his neck as the kiss raised in intensity, Rhett was the one to end it. “Let’s go somewhere. Anywhere,” he mumbled.
“Rhett- I - I can’t.” you studdered as you tangled your fingers in his hair. “Runaway with me, Sweetheart. Anywhere you wanna go, we’ll go.” Rhett said as he ran his thumb against your cheekbone, “Anywhere you want, Baby. Anywhere.”
“You fuckin’ whore.” Trevor howled. He’d come outside to smoke but to discover you in Rhett Abbott’s arms was a slap in the face. “My brother isn’t good enough for you, but this fuck up is? You broke his fuckin’ heart, you fuckin’ whore!” his yells got louder, and you pushed Rhett away before wiping the corner of your mouth to wipe away your smeared lipgloss. You looked between the men and felt shame crash over you. Rhett walked up to Trevor and pushed him back, “Don’t call her a whore.” he spat. Trevor rolled his eyes as he chuckled, “Well, she shouldn’t act like one then.” he pushed Rhett back. The two stared each other down as the bar doors opened.
Perry joined the group in the parking lot. “Everythin’ okay out here?” he questioned as he adjusted his hat, “This don’t concern you, Perry.” Trevor spat in his direction. Perry shifted his gaze to you. You shook your head, hoping this wouldn’t become a parking lot fight. There was a moment of silence before the other Tillerson brothers came outside. You looked at Trevor and pleaded with him not to tell Billy what he’d walk in on. He shook his head and didn’t bother to stifle his laughter, “Your little girlfriend here is just a worthless whore, Billy.”
Billy shook his head. He didn’t want to believe what his brother said. “Don’t say that Trevor…” he stared at the ground. His stomach twisted as Trevor continued ranting about your supposed promiscuity. Billy wiped his eyes with the back of his hand before looking up at you. Your hair was longer than he remembered. Although they were filled with tears, you still had the prettiest eyes he’d ever seen. Billy wanted nothing more than to reach out and hug you until his arms fell off. “Guess you lucked out, Billy- she probably woulda tried passing off Rhett’s kid as yours.” Trevor laughed. He was trying to get a rise out of you, “Shut the fuck up, Trevor!” Billy yelled, closing the distance between the two of them before finally punching him.
Billy shook his hand out as Luke finally intervened in the situation. Billy pushed Luke away from him before turning his attention back to you. “Are you okay, Princess?”
You slowly nodded, finding comfort in the pet name. “Okay,” Billy sighed. He glared in Rhett’s direction before walking off in the opposite direction. You’d had enough for the evening. Rhett reached out for your hand only to be smacked away. “Just- just leave me alone, Abbott. Please,” you begged. Rhett took a step back, and you went back into the bar to find your friends and go home.
-
You couldn’t take it anymore. After weeks of gossip behind your back and judgemental stares from the older women in the community, you needed to leave Wabang. The day you’d gotten your acceptance letter to Texas A&M School of Law was the best day you’d had in weeks. You found an off-campus apartment and a job at a local law firm. Everything was set for the big move, but there was still one thing you had to do before you could run away to Texas for your new start.
“Hey.” you half-heartedly grinned when Billy opened the door. “Hi,” he said as he stepped onto the front porch. “I got into law school… I’m leaving tomorrow, but I wanted to say bye to you.”
“I knew you’d get in. You’re smart.” Billy chuckled as he rubbed his arm awkwardly.
“I love you so much. Thank you for everything you did for me. I couldn’t have done it without you.” you softly smiled as you reached out for one last hug. Billy smiled the goofy smile you’d loved since the day the two of you met in freshman biology. He wrapped his arms around your waist and rested his chin on your shoulder.
“If you love something, let it go…” he mumbled into the crook of your neck, making you giggle as you gave him a squeeze. “I love you Y/N. I’m always gonna love you.”
The two of you stood there longer than you should’ve; it felt nice and nostalgic. When he released you from his grip, it was freeing. “Just promise you aren’t movin’ to Texas with Rhett Abbott,” Billy pleaded as he walked you back to your car. You laughed and said, “No, Billy, I’m not moving to Texas with Rhett Abbott.”
While you hadn’t planned on moving away with Rhett, he had other plans. You didn't know what to say when he showed up on your doorstep a few weeks after you’d settled.
“I said anywhere, Baby, and I guess that’s Texas.”
description: rhett meets, then loses the love of his life in a matter of days. Based on the song Baby Blue by George Strait.
warning: angst, sad!rhett, reader and rhett are two idiots!! minor smut! dni if you’re a minor!
a/n: i hope this makes any sense lol i was just jotting down a plot quickly😅i’ve been sitting on this all day and it was driving me nuts. This is one of my favourite George Strait songs.
♫ She looked so much like a lady, but she was so much like a child.
The first time Rhett seen Y/N, he was smitten instantly. He was the town bad boy, known for his reputation of fucking girls, and not giving a fuck about anything but his family and riding bulls.
All that changed when he seen Y/N walk into a bar, one night after he won a championship. He was getting drinks passed to him all night from buckle bunnies, town folk who were proud of him, the whole 9 yards. A typical night after Rhett won of course. He always used alcohol to celebrate, and to cover up pain, physically and emotionally.
Rhett raked his eyes up and down Y/N when she walked in, your typical pretty lady, who was no more than 22. He thought about how innocent she looked, like she stepped down from heaven a few minutes prior. She wasn’t anything like the typical women he was into, or ones that would fall his feet for him.
You spotted the rider you had your eyes on at the rodeo earlier. He was staring right at you, like he was stunned. You had to look around to make sure he was really staring at you, sure as shit he was. You were warned about pretty boy Rhett Abbott. He didn’t have a good reputation and for someone like you, he was bad news. You were visiting your friend from out of town. She had lived here her whole life and wanted you, a city girl, to come see the famous Amelia County rodeos. You weren’t entirely into the whole idea of them, but you loved your friend. Spending time with her had been sparse since you both had busy schedules.
The moment you saw Rhett ride that night, your opinion changed entirely.
You walked up to the bar, just a few seats away from Rhett, and ordered a pretty drink. Rhett overheard your order and let out a slight chuckle. You look over to him, and he’s staring at you again. Feeling the heat go to your cheeks, you quickly look back to your hands. Once your drink was in front of you, Rhett stared at how girly it was. Of course you drank martini type drinks, of course.
What you did next will surprise him though, you downed the whole girly drink within one chug. He looked at you amazed. You noticed the reaction, now having liquid courage in you. Quickly sitting up and moving towards Rhett, he felt his palms start to get sweaty.
Rhett knew you were off limits before you sat down next to him, he had to keep reminding him to not ruin you. A beautiful girl like her, with a scruffy ol country boy like him? No way. But when you sat down next to him, he knew you weren’t as innocent as you lead on.
“I see you been starin’ at me for the last 10 minutes,” you say in a teasing voice, grabbing the attention of the bartender, “another drink please.” you politely ask, in your sweet voice. Rhett noticed the demeanour changes, you flipped from a sweet girl, to a not-so-innocent little lady. He positioned his hat over his tightening pants. He’s at a loss for words, just staring at you as you down another drink. He’s never seen a prettier sight.
A devil when she held me close, an angel when she smiled.
“Wanna dance?” you ask a smitten Rhett. He hesitantly nods, getting up as you grab his wrist, dragging him to a makeshift dance floor. Once you make it there, you wrap your arms around his neck, standing on your tippy toes. There’s quite a height difference, with your ear leaning against his chest. His hands were high on your waist, wanting to be a perfect gentleman despite the fact that you were so close to him, he felt like he was going to cum in his pants like a teenager.
Occasionally you would look up to meet Rhetts eyes, and he’d just be smiling down at you. About 5 minutes into the dance you noticed a growing hard on pressing into your hip. Smirking slightly, your moved his hands further down your waist, until they were right above the curve of your ass. You knew what you were doing, and Rhett was silently cursing because he was trying to stay composed, and to not drag you into the bathroom to destroy you.
♫ She always held it deep inside, but somehow I always knew
Rhett knew deep down you weren’t here in his hometown to stay. You were very city like, not cut out for this grungy country lifestyle. That didn’t make it any easier for him when you disappeared the next morning. He did grab your number as you were quickly leaving his hotel room, dressed in the same clothes as last night. He knew you were miles away now, forgetting him.
The whole drive home you were overthinking that you were just another fuck on Rhetts long list of girls. The sunrise was in your rearview mirror as you headed home.
♫ She's go away when the grass turned green
He got out of his slump, quickly dressing himself and checking out of the hotel. The hours flew by after you left, he just laid there. Taking in one of the best nights of his life. He’s screwed many girls before, but he’s never made love with anyone, until you.
♫ And the sky turned baby blue.
The sunlight was bright in his eyes as he stared at the baby blue skies, on this chillier Wyoming morning. He dreaded having to go home to his family, where he’ll become the disappointment for coming home hungover. Little did his family know, he had the best night of his life with someone he’ll never be able to be with again. He wished he cherished it more.
♫ And baby blue was the color of her eyes.
♫ Baby blue like the Colorado skies.
The last time he saw you, your blue eyes were glistening in the light of his hotel room. He also has bright blue eyes, but he never liked them, not until he met you. He took comfort in staring at the pretty sky, reminding him of your eyes. Rhett Abbott, local fuckboy was laying in the fields of his farm, staring at the baby blue skies, dreaming of you. If only you were aware of the love he had for you.
He felt ridiculous, being in love with someone after not even 24 hours of knowing them. This has never happened, and he swore it never would. He thought he was defective or something. So many girls tried to get him to fall for them, but he felt nothing.
♫ Like a breath of spring, she came and left,
♫ And I still don't know why,
Rhett debated calling you many times. In fact, he dialled your number many times a day. He just never pressed the call button. Afraid you wouldn’t remember him, or worse, you moved on. It had been a few weeks without seeing you, and he was aching more than anything in the world.
Little did he know, you were also aching for his touch. You had hoped he would call you, and convince you to come back. You hated leaving him so early in the morning, wanting to hold onto him just a bit more. The thought of Rhett just being a one time thing seared through your brain, and you quickly scrambled, leaving your number with him in case there was a miracle, that maybe he’d want to see you again.
It was Rhett Abbott, you thought he was in bed with another girl by lunch. The sounds of towns people warning you about Rhett flashed in your head, and you just assumed he had forgot about you. Your friends convinced you to go out after a few weeks of moping, waiting for him to call.
♫ So here's to you and whoever holds my baby blue tonight.
After a few lonely nights of sitting in bars, a friendly guy caught your attention. It didn’t take long for you two to form a connection. Rhett was still in the back of your head, but after weeks of not hearing from him, you were ready to accept that it was really just a one time thing. In the blink of an eye, this friendly gentleman became the light of your life.
Rhett knew deep down you were with someone else, but seeing you sway with another guy when he walked into the bar that night, only confirmed his deep thought. He had went to a few out of city bars hoping you’d be there, drinking your pretty city girl martinis. He longed to just see you again, and knowing you were okay. Another thought he had was that you were maybe hurt or gone far away. He quickly left after seeing you with him, knowing you were happier than he could have ever made you. But god, he thought to himself, he would have really tried.
You seen a cowboy hat disappear behind the bar door, after looking behind your new love. Not sure if that was Rhett or not, but the thought was there. He was always there. Wasn’t fair to the guy you were dancing with, who had his hands all over you. His hands didn’t feel as safe as Rhetts.
♫ She brought colors to my life that my eyes had never touched.
♫ And when she taught me how to care, I never cared so much.
The day after seeing you with him, Rhett went back to normal, working extra hard to drown out his thoughts about you. He swore you taught him a whole new life, even though you spent only a night together. He felt like a whole different guy, but he quickly wanted to change that. He didn’t want to feel this different, so he went back to not caring about anything, besides his family and riding. He went back to fucking girls and drinking his nights away.
♫ I try not to think of her, but I fall asleep and do,
♫ And drift off where the grass is green and the sky is baby blue.
He often dreamt about you, waking up in a sweat hoping it was the real deal. He would also imagine you whenever he was with whatever chick threw herself at him the most those nights. He pictured the last night he had with you, over and over again.
A few months have gone by, Rhetts thoughts of you are still very much present. No matter what he does, how much he drinks, how many girls he’s fucked, he’s never forgot about you. He will never make love to anyone, the way he did to you that night.
Most days after working at the ranch, with whatever Royal put him up to, he would come lay in the green grass, staring up at the baby blue sky, drifting off into a momentary dream.
pairing: Rhett Abbott x female!reader
word count: 4k (Issa long one)
warnings: it's a g Cortez classic angst fic: cursing, mentions of cheating, mentions of sex, mentions of drug and alcohol abuse, death, allusion of suicide.
synopsis: based on the song 'Beaches of Cheyenne' by Garth Brooks
A/N: I know this is usually a gvf blog but surprise shawty. I'm opening this back up to the multi fandom mess it once was. so why not kick it off with the cowboy who has stolen my heart (sorry Rip Wheeler) and thank you @mayhem24-7forever for reading it over!
Perry stopped at the post office after church to pick up the box. They could feel the sad stares of community members. The news of what had happened had spread across the town like wildfire. The Abbotts did their best to stand strong, and pay attention to the sermon that was given, but the second the priest said something about the two young lovers, Cecilia lost it, and left the church in tears. Royal gave a quiet nod to the church before excusing himself and going after his wife.
“Here ya go,” The office worker said, handing the box to him, “Heavy box.”
“It’s his saddle,” Perry said in a monotone voice as he finished signing for it.
“Sorry about your loss, can’t be easy losing-”
“Thanks,” Perry didn’t want the conversation to go on any longer, as he picked up the box with a grunt and walked out to his truck where Amy was waiting for him.
When he got home, he placed the box on the floor of the living room in front of his parents. He stood off to the side as they opened it, pulling out Rhett’s saddle and his buckles. The tears hadn’t stopped running down Cecilia’s face since she came home, and holding Rhett’s buckle to her chest, she sobbed. Royal held her close and kissed the top of her head. Perry pushed off the wall and walked over to Amy, and finished taking the rest of the items from the box.
None of the Abbotts had flown out to the coast to see how the house was and to clean it out, but from what they had been told by one of their friends, the house was nearly destroyed. Royal had called in a local worksman to fix up the walls and the door. The walls were littered with holes from her fists and the glass was shattered all over the floor. Apparently, Y/N had just gone crazy when she got the call about Rhett.
— — —
When Rhett first laid eyes on Y/N, he knew she was the one for him. He had missed his chance with Maria, holding back on his feelings and letting her walk out of his life. But when he saw her standing on the fence line as he lowered himself onto his bull, he knew that she was going to be his wife. He held on for his life, lasting the whole eight seconds, and impressing her. The boost of confidence from the ride was what he needed to go over and talk to her. Her cheeks turned red as he invited her for a dance, telling him that she can’t dance to save her life, but he assured her that it was okay. He had kissed her that night.
After that night, Y/N basically disappeared. She was nowhere to be found and it seemed like no one really knew who she was. Rhett had asked around town, asking pretty much everyone where the y/h/c girl went and who she was. It had dawned on Rhett, he never got her name. When Rhett was ready to give up, throwing in the towel that she was just a one-night stand sort of girl (even though they didn’t hook up) he had received a call from an unknown number.
“Hello?” He asked, creasing his eyebrows.
“Rhett Abbott,” Her voice was like honey, and Rhett chuckled to himself.
“How did you get my number but I never even got your name?”
“I asked a friend,” She smiled.
“I asked a friend about you, but it seems like you are just some figure of my imagination.”
“I can assure you that I am not.”
They had talked for hours on the phone after Y/N had explained who she was. She was originally from Amelia County, but as soon as she graduated high school, she packed her bags and went to the coast. She would occasionally fly back to Wyoming, the last time she flew back was to watch her little brother ride against Rhett. Neither one had noticed the sunset, and the moon rising in the sky, or the first strands of orange morning sun. Rhett woke up to his alarm clock and looked down at his phone to notice that he was still on the line with her. He smiled to himself and whispered a ‘sweet dreams darlin’’ before hanging up.
And that’s how it went for weeks. He would call Y/N after dinner and they would talk for hours about everything under the sun. He learned that she was studying to be a nurse, in her third year at USC. Y/N learned that Rhett had made it to the finals, and she was already looking at flights to come watch him. Rhett rode one of his best rides when he noticed her smile in the stands during the finals. He focused on her the whole time, and the second he heard that buzzer go off, his mind was locked on finding her. The next morning they found themselves wrapped up in each other's arms.
They continued their relationship long distance for about two years until she graduated college. Rhett had saved up his rodeo money and packed up his truck and headed out west. He stuck out like a sore thumb as he walked around campus in his levis and blue flannel. He was going over in his head what he was going to say to her. The last time he had seen her was over six months ago when she had flown home for thanksgiving. Rhett was going to propose to her, he had already asked her dad for her hand in marriage. He easily found her dorm room, and waited on the bench until she came out.
“Why look at what we have here? You lost Cowboy?” Y/N asked as she walked out the door. Rhett stood up, holding the bouquet of carnations in his hands.
“Slightly,” Rhett said with his usual half smile, “For you,”
“Thank you, love,” Y/N took the flowers, and then placed her hand on his face and brought him in for a kiss.
Their date went off without a hitch, Rhett taking her to a look out spot that he had heard about. He laid some blankets down in the back of his truck and shared the sandwiches and stuff he had prepared. She talked about her final days at university and how she got a good job at the children’s hospital nearby. Rhett told her about how he had finally gotten away from his family, and Y/N was shocked. She never thought she’d see the day where Rhett Abbott left his family’s ranch, but here he was. He took her to the one bedroom apartment he got which was covered in boxes. He tucked his shaking hands in his pockets as Y/N walked around the small place and explored.
“Rhett this place is- what are you doing?”
“I’m proposing,” Rhett said, as he was down on one knee with the ring box in his hand.
“I know, why?”
“Because I love you enough that I want to be with you forever.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really,”
“Yeah, yes! Yes!”
Rhett placed the ring on her finger, and held her tightly in his arms. He made love to her for hours that night, trying to make their bodies as close as possible. They felt as if they had truly become one, their hearts, minds and souls.
Their wedding was small, held back home in Wabang. Perry and Royal had worked hard to clean up one of the barns so they could have a reception out there. It was no secret to Royal that he wasn’t thrilled about the wedding and his youngest son fleaing out west. He had hoped that Rhett would take over the ranch when Royal couldn’t do it anymore. Perry was happy to see his brother finally settle down and had hoped that this would stick. Cecilia was also happy to have another daughter in the family. The two of them seemed very fairy tale-like as Rhett held his new wife close to his chest as they swayed on the dance floor. But the honeymoon feeling came crashing down quickly.
Their first fight had been an ugly one, over Rhett’s drinking. Years of riding bulls and popping pain killers had become a second nature to him, something he quite couldn’t let go of. Rhett had found a farm to work as an extra hand, but it was quite enough for him. He thought when he left Wabang and chased after the woman he loved that it would be enough. Having her be his, his own Mrs. Abbott, would be everything he had ever dreamed, and it was. But he fell back into his old ways. Y/N would get pissed as he’d stumble in at odd hours of night as she was trying to sleep before her early morning shifts. She had finally had enough of it.
“Jesus Christ Rhett,” Y/N cursed under her breath as she looked at the drunk man who had just knocked over something, “Why do you constantly do this shit.”
“Do what? I’m too fucking drunk to do this shit with you right now.” Rhett slurred.
“Well Rhett! The hell do you expect!? This is the fourth night in a row you have come home completely trashed. You keep doing this shit, enough is enough,” Y/N yelled.
“What do you mean?” Rhett sobered up as she climbed out of bed, and grabbed a bag from her closet, “What are you doing?”
“I’m leaving.”
“No, baby please, I’m sorry,” Rhett grabbed her hands to try and stop her, “Please, you can’t leave me,” Rhett’s voice cracked, “You’re all I have. I left everything behind to be with you. I have nothing.”
“I never asked you to do that,” She bit back tears.
“I know, baby, please don’t leave me.”
And she didn’t. She stayed by his side, even when he told her that he was going back to riding. She was actually proud of him for getting back on the bull. He had done his best to stay away from the temptation of the old life; the booze, the pills, the pussy. But old habits die hard. His body was older now, taking rougher beatings when he would get bucked off. He would have a simple celebratory drink with the guys after the rodeos. Rhett found himself out later at night, coming home to a quiet house with his wife at work. Their schedules hardly ever matched up. He got bored of using his hand in the shower, and he could hardly remember the last time he and his wife made love.
He didn’t fuck them at first. He’d only let them suck him off before a ride, releasing the tension. But that only did so much. The rodeo hands seemed to look the other way when it came to his infidelity. He’d fuck the no name buckle bunny before the ride, not bothering to learn their names or even show them the ounce of respect. He saw them as playthings to fill the void he was missing from his wife. He thought he was good at hiding it, but Y/N had always been smart.
She knew that he was hiding something from him. She could tell in the way he wouldn’t touch her, his kisses were just pecks, he avoided looking in her eyes. Y/N had even seen it with her own eyes at one of his rides. She had gotten the night off of work last minute and decided to surprise him. The whole crew seemed to act weird and barely pay her mind as she walked through the trailers to find him. The smile ran away from her face the second she saw him walk out of his trailer, fixing his belt and a bombshell walking out behind him. Y/N felt her heart break as she leaned against the side of the trailer away from his eyes.
Y/N felt bile rising in her throat as she emptied the contents of her stomach. Rhett heard the sounds of someone retching and walked around the side to see his wife. His eyes widened as he ran over to her, and moved her hair back.
“No!” Y/N cried and pushed his hands off of her.
“Baby, you’re sick, let me-”
“Get the fuck away from me!” She yelled and Rhett stepped back in shock, “Fuck you, Rhett! I saw you! How could you?”
“Babe I’m-”
“Your shit will be in the driveway.”
Rhett had come home that night to exactly what she said, his stuff in the driveway, but he wasn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet. So he sat outside the front door and waited for her. Y/N felt bad when she saw him in the morning and let him in. She ignored him the best she possibly could, but it was hard to do. Rhett could hear her break down while she was in the bathroom and it made him shed a tear himself. He sat on their bed and waited for her to come out of the shower, he could see the dried tear stains on her cheeks.
“I promise you, I’ll never ride again. I never wanted to hurt you.”
And he had stayed true to his word. He had told his dad over the phone that he had officially given up riding. That he and Y/N had decided to start trying for a family. Rhett didn’t want to spend his time away from his family or worse, like some of the legends in Bull riding, dead or gravely injured. Rhett had stayed away from the rodeo life for about six months. And in those six months, Y/N and his marriage was completely worked on. They went to therapy, talking out their transgression and disagreements. They got back to the basics, bringing back romance into their lives; going on dates and trips. They had some of the best sex they had in years. They had both seemed to forget what had happened six months ago, until he got that call from Royal.
“I told her I wasn’t going to ride,” Rhett whispered as he stood in the kitchen. He was making breakfast for Y/N, after a busy night of love making.
“We’re in danger of going bankrupt, we need this,” Royal said, “We can’t lose the farm.”
“There’s nothing you can do?” Rhett ran a hand down his face.
“You know I wouldn’t have asked you to do this if there was,”
“Fine,” Rhett said, “When is the ride?”
“Three days.”
“Three fucking days?! That’s our anniversary.”
“I’m sorry Rhett.”
“I gotta go, she’ll be up soon.”
Rhett had gone to the rodeo by himself, it didn’t bother him, he was used to going by himself. It did make him a little upset that she didn’t even bother to come with him. He stood in the waiting area as he waited for the name of the bull he would be riding. The second he was given the bull, he knew it was a lost cause. The bull was impossible, no one had been successful in completing a ride. His team gave him a pat on the back and Rhett gave them a shy smile. The first person he had called was her.
“Is there anything you can do?” Y/N asked. She was sitting on the back porch of their house, looking out at the waves as they crashed on the sand.
“You know how these things go,” Rhett said as he leaned up against the side of his trailer.
“I don’t like this Rhett,” She said honestly. Silent tears were running down her face.
Rhett could hear the sadness in her voice, and could only picture the tears running down her face as she looked out at the setting sun, “I know you don’t. But I promise, I’ll come home to you.”
“You fucking better Mr. Abbott,” She sniffed and wiped her tears away.
“I will, Mrs. Abbott,” He smiled back, “I gotta go okay, I promise I’ll call you right after.”
“I love you Rhett.”
“I love you Y/N.”
She had watched the clock, as she settled down in a chair in front of the fireplace. The class of whisky was cold in her hands as she counted down the seconds until Rhett’s ride. Rhett said a small prayer as he walked up the metal steps towards the bullpen. The crowd was going wild as he waved his hand and greeted his team. They helped him down on the bull, and it already was bucking the second Rhett put his weight on the animal. Once it settled, Rhett tied the rope around his hand, making sure he had a tight grip on it. He closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath, seeing glimpses of his future life with Y/N, a few kids and a beautiful house back home on the Abbott Ranch. Rhett opened his eyes the second they opened the gate. It didn’t last long until a consuming darkness filled his eyes once again.
Time seemed to tick on slowly, and her eyes never left the clock as she waited for the call from Rhett. Assuming from the time it had taken from the ride until now, that it hadn’t gone well. Everyone in the community knew that the bull Rhett had was a troublesome one. It was known for bucking off its riders in the first couple seconds. The second her phone rang, she picked it up. His name hadn’t even slipped past her lips when his team manager told her what had happened. Her heart was shattered in her chest as she dropped the phone on the carpet. Her knees shook as she collapsed to the ground screaming out his name.
Her eyes were blurred with tears and her head was spinning as she pushed herself up from the carpet. Her phone was still on the line and they could hear her screaming for him. She walked out into the sand, her chest felt on fire as she let out loud sobs. She didn’t stop as her feet hit the wet sand from the waves. The further she walked into the water, her clothing felt heavier and heavier. The waves would crash and pull her underwater. She fought to keep herself above the surface, keeping her lungs inflated with air. The saltiness of water strung her eyes as the waves hit her. She looked up at the sky, looking at the stars and feeling the heaviness in her heart. She felt her feet leave the ground and she took a deep breath, as she felt a wave pull her completely under.
In the black abyss she had fallen into, she could see the man she had always wanted. Rhett stood there waiting for her, his hand outstretched. She smiled at him as she placed her hand in his. He placed a hand on her cheek, brushing the tear from her cheek. He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
“I told you I would come home,” Rhett said.
“I know you did,” She spoke to him.
— — —
They had sent someone over to see if she was doing okay, but there was not a single sign of her. The back porch door was wide open. They looked over the house, trying to call for her but they got nothing in response. The only thing they found was her diary which was open by the bed. They didn’t even bother reading it, just closed it and put it in the box with Rhett’s buckles and hats. Perry had seen the green notebook with her handwriting across it and picked it up. He opened the page that was dogeared and read it to himself.
The pages were detailed on what had happened the night Rhett left for Wyoming. She explained that they had a fight about Rhett going to ride again. She was angry that he had been talked into riding for the sake of his family’s ranch. Royal had gotten them into financial trouble again, and Rhett knew that he could help them out with this ride. Y/N had given Rhett an ultimatum about it. She was worried about him riding after what had happened the last time he had ridden. The images of the night had filled her head over and over. She tried to push them away but she couldn’t. No matter how many times she had said it, Y/N had never really forgiven Rhett Abbott. Y/N had gone in on him, yelling that he had broken his promise to never ride again, the fear of past mistakes seeping through the harsh words she spat at him. Y/N saw her whole life with him, she wanted their future to be long lasting and full of love.
Rhett told her that he was going to ride with or without her approval. Y/N looked him in the eye and told him that she didn’t give a damn if he ever came back from Cheyenne.
The next couple lines were scribbled and had tear stains on them. It was full of regret from what she had said and didn’t know that their last conversation was going to be an argument about him riding. She had told him that she loved him, but she didn’t know if he forgave her. She wrote about how she was going to fly in the next day and surprise him back in Wabang, as he was going to stop there after Cheyenne. The writing ended abruptly with her saying: ‘I can't live in a world where Rhett Abbott doesn’t exist.’
It was late, the night was illuminated by the bright moon up in the sky. Perry was standing in the kitchen looking out the window, sipping on a glass of whisky. He turned over his shoulder to see his dad walking into the room. Royal gave him a nod and walked over to the cabinet, getting a glass and pouring himself a drink as well. They stood in silence for a moment before Royal spoke up.
“They never found her body. No body can explain it,” Royal said, looking down at his sock covered feet, “Some say she just disappeared, and others say she’s still alive. I just don’t-”
“She said she couldn’t live without him,” Perry said, running a hand over his face, “No body, no note, just footprints in the sand. Some people say they’ve seen her since that night.”
“She’s just gone, like a ghost, like she never ever existed. Like neither one existed.” Royal turned to look out at his land. Perry placed a hand on his father’s shoulder and then walked out of the kitchen back up to his room with Amy. Royal finished his drink and placed the empty glass in the sink before going back to his wife.
The beach was always the same, the setting sun warmed the sand and the breeze rolled in off the ocean. She would come to the beach night after night, and would sit and wait for him to show up. Her footprints would lead from the house like a trail as she walked towards the water. She would stand in the water up to her ankles as she wrapped his blue flannel around herself. It was like clockwork when he would show up, standing next to her with his hat on. She looked up at him with a smile and he looked down at her with the same expression. He’d take the hat off his head and place it on hers, and would kiss her. His lips were soft and he smelled the same of tobacco and Armani cologne. His hands were still rough as he would caress her cheeks, and look into her eyes.
“I love you Mrs. Abbott,”
“I love you Mr. Abbott.”
Every night it was the same, the two of them would walk the beaches of Cheyenne.
Not Dead Until You're Warm and Dead || Whumptober day 7 - R. Abbott
whumtpober masterlist || whumtpober taglist form
synopsis: Your and Rhett's relationship had been anything but easy between bull riding and lies. But you had hoped that you would be enough for him to come back alive.
word count: 2.8k
@ailesswhumptober prompt: flatline
warnings: cursing, mentions of cheating, mentions of sex, mentions of drug and alcohol abuse, death, character death, allusion of suicide.
When Rhett first laid eyes on Y/N, he knew she was the one for him. He had missed his chance with Maria, holding back on his feelings and letting her walk out of his life. But when he saw her standing on the fence line as he lowered himself onto his bull, he knew that she was going to be his wife. He held on for his life, lasting the whole eight seconds, and impressing her. The boost of confidence from the ride was what he needed to go over and talk to her. Her cheeks turned red as he invited her for a dance, telling him that she couldn’t dance to save her life, but he assured her that it was okay. He had kissed her that night.
After that night, Y/N basically disappeared. She was nowhere to be found and it seemed like no one really knew who she was. Rhett had asked around town, asking pretty much everyone where the y/h/c girl went and who she was. It had dawned on Rhett, he never got her name. When Rhett was ready to give up, throwing in the towel that she was just a one-night stand sort of girl (even though they didn’t hook up) he received a call from an unknown number.
“Hello?” He asked, creasing his eyebrows.
“Rhett Abbott,” Her voice was like honey, and Rhett chuckled to himself.
“How did you get my number but I never even got your name?”
“I asked a friend,” She smiled.
“I asked a friend about you, but it seems like you are just some figure of my imagination.”
“I can assure you that I am not.”
They had talked for hours on the phone after Y/N had explained who she was. She was originally from Amelia County, but as soon as she graduated high school, she packed her bags and went to the coast. She would occasionally fly back to Wyoming, the last time she flew back was to watch her little brother ride against Rhett. Neither one had noticed the sunset, the moon rising in the sky, or the first strands of the orange morning sun. Rhett woke up to his alarm clock and looked down at his phone to notice that he was still on the line with her. He smiled to himself and whispered ‘sweet dreams darlin’’ before hanging up.
And that’s how it went for weeks. He would call Y/N after dinner and they would talk for hours about everything under the sun. He learned that she was studying to be a nurse, in her third year at USC. Y/N learned that Rhett had made it to the finals, and she was already looking at flights to come watch him. Rhett rode one of his best rides when he noticed her smile in the stands during the finals. He focused on her the whole time, and the second he heard that buzzer go off, his mind was locked on finding her. The next morning they found themselves wrapped up in each other's arms.
They continued their relationship long distance for about two years until she graduated college. Rhett had saved up his rodeo money packed up his truck and headed out west. He stuck out like a sore thumb as he walked around campus in his levis and blue flannel. He was going over in his head what he was going to say to her. The last time he had seen her was over six months ago when she had flown home for Thanksgiving. Rhett was going to propose to her, he had already asked her dad for her hand in marriage. He easily found her dorm room and waited on the bench until she came out.
“Why look at what we have here? You lost Cowboy?” Y/N asked as she walked out the door. Rhett stood up, holding the bouquet of carnations in his hands.
“Slightly,” Rhett said with his usual half smile, “For you,”
“Thank you, love,” Y/N took the flowers, and then placed her hand on his face and brought him in for a kiss.
Their date went off without a hitch, Rhett taking her to a lookout spot that he had heard about. He laid some blankets down in the back of his truck and shared the sandwiches and stuff he had prepared. She talked about her final days at university and how she got a good job at the children’s hospital nearby. Rhett told her about how he had finally gotten away from his family, and Y/N was shocked. She never thought she’d see the day when Rhett Abbott left his family’s ranch, but here he was. He took her to the one-bedroom apartment he got which was covered in boxes. He tucked his shaking hands in his pockets as Y/N walked around the small place and explored.
“Rhett this place is- what are you doing?”
“I’m proposing,” Rhett said, as he was down on one knee with the ring box in his hand.
“I know, why?”
“Because I love you enough that I want to be with you forever.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really,”
“Yeah, yes! Yes!”
Rhett placed the ring on her finger and held her tightly in his arms. He made love to her for hours that night, trying to make their bodies as close as possible. They felt as if they had truly become one, their hearts, minds, and souls.
Their wedding was small, held back home in Wabang. Perry and Royal had worked hard to clean up one of the barns so they could have a reception out there. It was no secret to Royal that he wasn’t thrilled about the wedding and his youngest son fleeing out west. He had hoped that Rhett would take over the ranch when Royal couldn’t do it anymore. Perry was happy to see his brother finally settle down and had hoped that this would stick. Cecilia was also happy to have another daughter in the family. The two of them seemed very fairytale-like as Rhett held his new wife close to his chest as they swayed on the dance floor. But the honeymoon feeling came crashing down quickly.
Their first fight had been an ugly one, over Rhett’s drinking. Years of riding bulls and popping painkillers had become a second nature to him, something he quite couldn’t let go of. Rhett had found a farm to work as an extra hand, but it was quite enough for him. He thought when he left Wabang and chased after the woman he loved that it would be enough. Having her be his, his own Mrs. Abbott, would be everything he had ever dreamed of, and it was. But he fell back into his old ways. Y/N would get pissed as he’d stumble in at odd hours of the night as she was trying to sleep before her early morning shifts. She had finally had enough of it.
“Jesus Christ Rhett,” Y/N cursed under her breath as she looked at the drunk man who had just knocked over something, “Why do you constantly do this shit.”
“Do what? I’m too fucking drunk to do this shit with you right now.” Rhett slurred.
“Well Rhett! The hell do you expect!? This is the fourth night in a row you have come home completely trashed. You keep doing this shit, enough is enough,” Y/N yelled.
“What do you mean?” Rhett sobered up as she climbed out of bed, and grabbed a bag from her closet, “What are you doing?”
“I’m leaving.”
“No, baby please, I’m sorry,” Rhett grabbed her hands to try and stop her, “Please, you can’t leave me,” Rhett’s voice cracked, “You’re all I have. I left everything behind to be with you. I have nothing.”
“I never asked you to do that,” She bit back tears.
“I know, baby, please don’t leave me.”
And she didn’t. She stayed by his side, even when he told her that he was going back to riding. She was actually proud of him for getting back on the bull. He had done his best to stay away from the temptation of the old life; the booze, the pills, the pussy. But old habits die hard. His body was older now, taking rougher beatings when he would get bucked off. He would have a simple celebratory drink with the guys after the rodeos. Rhett found himself out later at night, coming home to a quiet house with his wife at work. Their schedules hardly ever matched up. He got bored of using his hand in the shower, and he could hardly remember the last time he and his wife made love.
He didn’t fuck them at first. He’d only let them suck him off before a ride, releasing the tension. But that only did so much. The rodeo hands seemed to look the other way when it came to his infidelity. He’d fuck the no-name buckle bunny before the ride, not bothering to learn their names or even show them an ounce of respect. He saw them as playthings to fill the void he was missing from his wife. He thought he was good at hiding it, but Y/N had always been smart.
She knew that he was hiding something from him. She could tell in the way he wouldn’t touch her, his kisses were just pecks, and he avoided looking into her eyes. Y/N had even seen it with her own eyes at one of his rides. She had gotten the night off of work last minute and decided to surprise him. The whole crew seemed to act weird and barely paid her any attention as she walked through the trailers to find him. The smile ran away from her face the second she saw him walk out of his trailer, fixing his belt, and a bombshell blonde walking out behind him. Y/N felt her heart break as she leaned against the side of the trailer away from his eyes.
Y/N felt bile rising in her throat as she emptied the contents of her stomach. Rhett heard the sounds of someone retching and walked around the side to see his wife. His eyes widened as he ran over to her, and moved her hair back.
“No!” Y/N cried and pushed his hands off of her.
“Baby, you’re sick, let me-”
“Get the fuck away from me!” She yelled and Rhett stepped back in shock, “Fuck you, Rhett! I saw you! How could you?”
“Babe I’m-”
“Your shit will be in the driveway.”
Rhett had come home that night to exactly what she said, his stuff in the driveway, but he wasn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet. So he sat outside the front door and waited for her. Y/N felt bad when she saw him in the morning and let him in. She ignored him the best she possibly could, but it was hard to do. Rhett could hear her break down while she was in the bathroom and it made him shed a tear himself. He sat on their bed and waited for her to come out of the shower, he could see the dried tear stains on her cheeks.
“I promise you, I’ll never ride again. I never wanted to hurt you.”
And he had stayed true to his word. He had told his dad over the phone that he had officially given up riding. That he and Y/N had decided to start trying for a family. Rhett didn’t want to spend his time away from his family or worse, like some of the legends in Bull Riding, dead or gravely injured. Rhett had stayed away from the rodeo life for about six months. And in those six months, Y/N and he worked on their marriage. They went to therapy, talking out their transgression and disagreements. They got back to the basics, bringing back romance into their lives; going on dates and trips. They had some of the best sex they had in years. They had both seemed to forget what had happened six months ago until he got that call from Royal.
“I told her I wasn’t going to ride,” Rhett whispered as he stood in the kitchen. He was making breakfast for Y/N, after a busy night of lovemaking.
“We’re in danger of going bankrupt, we need this,” Royal said, “We can’t lose the farm.”
“There’s nothing you can do?” Rhett ran a hand down his face.
“You know I wouldn’t have asked you to do this if there was,”
“Fine,” Rhett said, “When is the ride?”
“Three days.”
“Three fucking days?! That’s our anniversary.”
“I’m sorry Rhett.”
“I gotta go, she’ll be up soon.”
Rhett had gone to the rodeo by himself, it didn’t bother him, he was used to going by himself. It did make him a little upset that she didn’t even bother to come with him. He stood in the waiting area as he waited for the name of the bull he would be riding. The second he was given the bull, he knew it was a lost cause. The bull was impossible, no one had been successful in completing a ride. His team gave him a pat on the back and Rhett gave them a shy smile. The first person he had called was her.
“Is there anything you can do?” Y/N asked. She was sitting on the back porch of their house, looking out at the waves as they crashed on the sand.
“You know how these things go,” Rhett said as he leaned up against the side of his trailer.
“I don’t like this Rhett,” She said honestly. Silent tears were running down her face.
Rhett could hear the sadness in her voice, and could only picture the tears running down her face as she looked out at the setting sun, “I know you don’t. But I promise, I’ll come home to you.”
“You fucking better Mr. Abbott,” She sniffed and wiped her tears away.
“I will, Mrs. Abbott,” He smiled back, “I gotta go okay, I promise I’ll call you right after.”
“I love you Rhett.”
“I love you Y/N.”
She had watched the clock, as she settled down in a chair in front of the fireplace. The class of whisky was cold in her hands as she counted down the seconds until Rhett’s ride. Rhett said a small prayer as he walked up the metal steps towards the bullpen. The crowd was going wild as he waved his hand and greeted his team. They helped him down on the bull, and it already was bucking the second Rhett put his weight on the animal. Once it settled, Rhett tied the rope around his hand, making sure he had a tight grip on it. He closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath, seeing glimpses of his future life with Y/N, a few kids, and a beautiful house back home on the Abbott Ranch. Rhett opened his eyes the second they opened the gate. It didn’t last long until a consuming darkness filled his eyes once again.
Time seemed to tick on slowly, and her eyes never left the clock as she waited for the call from Rhett. Assuming from the time it had taken from the ride until now, that it hadn’t gone well. Everyone in the community knew that the bull Rhett had was a troublesome one. It was known for bucking off its riders in the first couple seconds. The second her phone rang, she picked it up. His name hadn’t even slipped past her lips when his team manager told her what had happened. Her heart was shattered in her chest as she dropped the phone on the carpet. Her knees shook as she collapsed to the ground screaming out his name.
Her eyes were blurred with tears and her head was spinning as she pushed herself up from the carpet. Her phone was still on the line and they could hear her screaming for him. She walked out into the sand, her chest felt on fire as she let out loud sobs. She didn’t stop as her feet hit the wet sand from the waves. The further she walked into the water, her clothing felt heavier and heavier. The waves would crash and pull her underwater. She fought to keep herself above the surface, keeping her lungs inflated with air. The saltiness of water strung her eyes as the waves hit her. She looked up at the sky, looking at the stars and feeling the heaviness in her heart. She felt her feet leave the ground and she took a deep breath, as she felt a wave pull her completely under.
In the black abyss she had fallen into, she could see the man she had always wanted. Rhett stood there waiting for her, his hand outstretched. She smiled at him as she placed her hand in his. He placed a hand on her cheek, brushing the tear from her cheek. He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
