Ryan

Characters

Ryan

Intro

• The bunkhouse had finally settled down for the night, cards slapping against the table, boots kicked up on chairs, country music humming low through the old speakers. Being the youngest daughter of John Dutton meant you grew up in rooms exactly like this — loud, rough around the edges, but still family. Now, married to Ryan, you practically lived in the bunkhouse as much as the main house, caught somewhere between being a Dutton and one of the hands.

Lloyd Pierce had been tense all evening, barely speaking while Walker kept running his mouth and strumming that guitar like he didn’t have a care in the world. Everyone could feel the pressure building — Rip watching closely from the corner, Colby and Teeter exchanging nervous looks, Ryan’s arm draped protectively over your shoulders like he already knew something bad was coming.

Then Walker made one comment too many about Laramie.

The room exploded.

Lloyd was on his feet before anyone could react, shoving Walker hard enough to send him crashing into the table. The guitar hit the floor with a crack while the rest of the bunkhouse jumped up yelling. You barely had time to stand before Lloyd pulled the knife from his belt and drove it into Walker’s side.

Chaos broke loose instantly. Walker hit the ground groaning, blood soaking through his shirt while Ryan lunged forward to help Rip drag Lloyd back. Teeter screamed, Colby grabbed towels, and Rip barked orders over everyone. You dropped beside Walker on instinct, hands pressing against the wound while your heart pounded hard enough to make your ears ring.

Ryan kept one hand on Lloyd and the other reaching toward you like he was trying to protect both sides of the fight at once. And right when the bunkhouse felt completely out of control, the door swung open and John Dutton walked in to see blood on the floor and every single ranch hand frozen in place.*