"Jameson Trent, what the hell is my daughter doing on that horse?" I yelled.

"Riding the horse." He said looking at me strange, "I'm up here with her. She's perfectly safe"

"I'm gone fifteen minutes, and you think it's a good idea to do this without me knowing anything."

"Calm down Ricki" Avery says taking Letty from Jameson. "She rides with me all the time."

"Excuse me? She does what?"

"Hey, we are her uncles. We aren't going to let anything happen to her." J.T. says getting off the horse.

"Plus, my kids started riding up there with me when they were her age and probably all of us were riding on a horse with dad at that age. I'm sure you were riding with your dad" Avery says.

"That's not the point. The point is y'all have been doing this without me knowing does that really sound like a good idea to you?"

They looked at each other and looked at me "Yes!"

I stood there rolling my eyes as James stood laughing at us.

"I told you two to discuss it with her first." He said laughing. Avery had set Letty down and she was running around him and J.T. laughing.

"Ricki, sweetie your sister is on the phone in the house. She said she's tried calling your cell phone for the last thirty minutes with no answer. It seems important dear" Constance said.

"Ok, I'll be right there." I said turning to the boys. "She can ride with one of you but be careful!"

I walked in the house and picked up the phone,

PHONE CONVERSATION

"Hey. Beth, sorry my phone died while I was out, and I just got back. What's up?"

"I... I... would y'all fucking stop? I'm on the fucking phone." I heard my older sister Beth yell at someone. I then heard a voice coming from the other side of the phone.

"Beth, give me the phone. I'll talk to her. You need to let the doctors check you out."

"I need to talk to my sister!"

"Beth give me the damn phone!"

I was now starting to worry! A few seconds later I heard a voice come over the phone.

"Hey, Ericka, Its Rip." He said

"Rip, what the hell is going on?"

"You want the not so bad, bad, worse, or the worst news first."

"Shit this can't be good. You pick where you want to start and just tell me."

"Well, there was an attack on the ranch and the family today. The ranch hands were taking care of everything at the ranch while I went out and look for your dad. There was a lot going on there one of the houses burned down and some guys went after Monica and Tate in the main house."
"Are they ok?"

"There fine just shaken up. Tate had to shoot a man attacking his mother."

"Oh my god"

"Well to make matters worse Beth's office was blown up, the livestock office was shot to hell and back…."

"Is Kayce ok?"

I heard him sigh.

"Rip just tell me."

"Kayce's in surgery. He was shot, but not because of what happened at the office."

"Ok I'm confused. Rip what aren't you telling? You said you couldn't find Dad. What about my dad?"

"I went looking for him. It seems he pulled off to help a lady change a tire. Your sister is coming out of the exam room. Maybe, I should let her tell you the rest"

"Ricki has he told you about dad yet?"

"No that's what I'm asking."

"He was shot. It doesn't look good, but you know Dad."

"Ok any word on how Kayce is or how long him and Dad will be in surgery?"

"No word on either right now. Said it would be a few hours."

"Okay, I know this is a touchy subject for you, but what about Jamie is he ok?"

"As far as I know nothing's happened to him, too bad"

"I'll be there in a few hours. I need to pack a bag and get Letty settled and ill head that way."

"Bye Ricki."

"Bye Beth"

I hung the phone up and sat on the couch with my head in my hands shaking trying to calm myself. I had to pull it together and get out there. Constance came over to me.

"Sweetie, what's wrong?" taking the seat next to me.

"My family was attacked. I need to head back home as soon as possible. Is there anyway y'all can watch Letty. Until I know what is going on. I don't want her in the middle of it."

"of course, sweetheart. Let me get James or one of the boys to call for the helicopter."

I stood up off the couch and headed upstairs. "Thank you. I'm going to pack."

"No problem sweetie."

I came back down the stairs a few minutes later.

"The pilot is ready when you are sweetheart." James said hugging me "It's going to be ok.

J.T. grabbed my bags, "I'll take these out there for you."

"thanks"

I turned to Letty, "Mommy's got to go on a trip for a bit. You are going to stay with Papa and Gram."

"Why can't I go with you?" Letty asked.

"Well sweetie. It's one of those adult trips that you can't be on." I said.

"Like the ones J.T. goes on?"

"kinda"

"Ok momma. I love you" she said wrapping her arms around me for a hug. I hugged her tight.

"I love you too. I will be back as soon as I can. Take care of your uncles you know they like to get themselves into trouble and listen to what Papa and Gram tell you." I told her releasing her from the hug as she headed to Constance side.

I walked out the door as James and Avery followed behind me.

"If you need anything call ok!" James said giving me another hug.

"I will"

Avery hugged me and told me he loved me. After Avery released me from the hug, I turn to see J.T. coming toward us with his go bag.

"And where the hell do you think you are going?"

"You really think we are letting you go without one of us. I don't think so not til we know more." I rolled my eyes

"Fine. Let's go then." We got on the helicopter and settled in for the 3hr flight.

I sat there just kind of zoned out thinking of everything. My family had been a target for some reason. Most likely the stupid ranch. Yes, I called it stupid. I love the ranch and would do anything need to protect it as I would do to protect E.J.'s family's ranch. I just don't believe some of the fights are truly worth it. I used to, but that was before I lost E.J. life hasn't been the same since he was killed. After I turned 18, we got married. He was in the army so moving was a common thing. His family had already moved from Montana to be at his grandfather's ranch. After he died, I just couldn't go home to stay. I felt E.J. more being on his family ranch. In that time, I would still talk to my family on the phone or write letters, make the occasional trip up to visit. I had just had Letty when Lee died. I wanted to come home for the funeral. I still feel bad for not being out there but due to complications after Letty was born. I was on bed rest, and I wasn't allowed to fly. They said we could try the drive but really wouldn't recommend. We decided we would drive it anyways. That was until the day we were going to leave, and I had a set back and had to go back into surgery. I came home a few months after that letting everyone meet Letty. Dad would make the trip to Texas every now and then. Kayce and his family made trips to visit. Jamie came with dad a few times and Beth made the trip once. I sat there trying to imagine if I had lost all my family what I would do. That just caused me to panic more I had to get there and see what was going on. Having the last name Dutton seems to get you into a lot of trouble these days, and I just hope this is trouble we can all come back from.