"Where is Daddy going?" Katie asked. Rip had his bag packed at the door getting ready to go.
"I'm staying in the bunkhouse tonight." Rip said.
"Me too." Katie said pointing to her chest.
"No you'll stay with Mama here." Rip told her.
"But why? I want to play." Katie said with a furrowed brow.
Rip knelt down to her height. "We can stay there another night but tomorrow is the wedding so Mama doesn't want me to see her before." Rip could tell that Katie didn't care whatever the reason was as he stood up and grabbed his bag.
"I don't know why you care if I stay. We aren't traditional people Beth."
"Let me have this one Rip." Beth said. Rip smirked and shook his head. He grabbed his hat by the door giving Beth a kiss on the cheek and Katie a kiss on the head before leaving.
Katie looked at the front door once it was closed.
"Come on Katie, you'll see him tomorrow." Beth said. Katie looked at the door one last time before going to the lounge for her toys.
Beth went up stairs and then came down with Katie's dress draped over her arm and ballet flats in the other.
"Ooh look." Katie said seeing the dress in Beth's arm.
Beth hung it up on a hanger in the lounge. "No touching baby. It's for tomorrow."
She went back upstairs before getting her own dress and hanging it next to Katie's ready for tomorrow. Beth didn't think she was ever going to be one for the white wedding and all of that stuff but she knew it made her Dad happy to see her do it that way.
She sat on the couch with Katie and explained what her role was again.
"Tomorrow there will be a basket with some flower petals in it. You'll have to drop them down the carpet aisle towards Daddy before Grandpa and me follow."
"I know Mama." Katie said with a sigh.
Rip settled in to his bunk after a few drinks with the wranglers. It definitely was not the same as home.
Beth and Katie woke to the smell of bacon coming up the stairs. Beth sprang out of bed heading straight for the kitchen.
"Rip you better not be making us breakfast."
"Not Rip, honey." John said.
"What are you doing here?"
"Thought the plan was for me to get ready here?" John said.
"Dad, the wedding is not for another five hours."
"Yeah well, least I can spend some time with Katie then."
Beth closed her eyes. "Whatever, I'm going to get her now anyway."
"I'll do it." John said putting down the spatula heading for the stairs.
She was already in the door way when John got to her room.
"Morning Katie, hungry?"
"Hi Grandpa. Why are you here?" She asked rubbing her eyes and hair sticking up in multiple directions.
"Made you breakfast, go on. Your Mama is downstairs." John told her. Katie bounced down the stairs in her pyjamas to find Beth at the table eating.
"Hi baby. What do you say to Grandpa?"
"Thanks."
"You're welcome." John said sitting in the arm chair with the paper. "What are we doing this morning?"
"Dad, it's a normal morning at home for us. We're not getting ready for another four hours. Relax." Beth told him.
"I just want to make it special for you honey."
"You can spend the morning here if you want with Katie -." Before Beth could finish her sentence John was standing.
"Great. My suit was getting crinkled in the car." John left to grab it.
"He's acting funny." Katie commented. Beth couldn't help but agree.
John spent the morning puttering around the house touching things.
"Dad you're acting like an old woman. Go outside with Katie or something. You're giving me the shits."
John put down what he was holding and went to find Katie on her slide outside, leaving the door open.
"As bad as Katie leaving doors open." Beth said under her breath, choosing not to close the door either.
"You ok Grandpa?" Katie asked from the top of the slide.
"I'm good Katie. Happy really." John told her, catching her at the bottom. He was still able to throw her in the air and catch her. Although not as high as Rip.
"Grandpa can I ask you a question?" Katie said as he put her down. She started walking towards the swing. John followed behind and sat down.
"Tate has a horse?"
"He does."
"Because he is a cowboy?"
"He will be. One day this will be both of yours." John told her. Katie swung her legs back and forth on the swing thinking, before turning to John.
"I'm gonna be a cowgirl."
"That's good news." John smiled, he had an idea where this was going.
"So I need my own horse."
Beth had heard the conversation from inside. "Absolutely not." She said standing in the doorway.
"I do Mama." Katie said matter-of-fact.
"Beth, she's a great rider and you've seen her rope." John said not seeing the harm, his kids were all riding at that age, except Beth was the only one who never liked it.
"I don't care. She's on the horse with Rip. The answer is no Katie." Beth said, finality in her tone.
"Grandpa is the boss."
"And I am still your Mom and I said no." Katie pouted slightly in response and looked back to John.
"We will work on it Granddaughter." John told her.
"I'm going to shower and start getting ready, can you watch her." Beth said.
John nodded and the pair continued to play outside. Beth washed her hair and put on a fresh set of pyjamas.
"She will need a bath and hair wash too." Beth said to John. Katie looked at John and shook her head before darting away.
"I think you'll have to do that, honey."
"Katie Dutton-Wheeler! Come here." Beth said with a raised voice. She was quick to get off the slide and meet Beth on the porch. Beth told her she was having a bath before they would put their dresses on leaving no room for arguments.
As usual bath time was a battle, particularly washing her hair. John waited downstairs. The pair came downstairs, Beth with a arm full of makeup and hair accessories.
Meanwhile, Rip was out riding horses along the river with the other wranglers.
"Feeling nervous Rip?" Lloyd asked.
"Nah. Just hoping it all goes to plan for Beth. Race you to the top." Both men took off edging their horse to go faster.
Monica stopped by the cabin to help Beth and Katie get ready. John was still awkwardly hanging around them behaving strangely.
"What's with your Dad?"
"I have no idea, I've been ignoring him." Beth told her.
Beth and Monica dressed Katie first. They helped her in to her white flower girl dress. It was white with capped sleeves, down to just above her knee with a lace trim. The waist had a bow around it that tied at the back. After a long discussion they managed to curl her hair in to soft curls and tie it in to a bun with a few loose curls at the front.
Beth put on her dress, a low v neck line with thin straps. It had a low backline, fitted and then flowing in to a small train. The gown was white lace and complimented Beth without overdoing it. Beth slipped on a pair of new boots hidden by the dress and Katie wore white ballet flats.
John was upstairs changing in to his own suit as a Monica helped with the finishing touches downstairs.
"I'll see you there." Monica said grabbing her keys and heading back to the lodge to make sure her own family was getting ready.
"Mama." Beth turned to look at Katie and noticed tears in her eyes. Confused, Beth asked what was wrong.
"You look beautiful." Katie told her.
Beth knelt to her height and wiped the tears. "Thank you baby. Don't cry."
"She's right honey. You look beautiful." John said coming down the stairs. Beth smiled and kissed his cheek.
Just before they needed to leave, Beth knelt to add a flower crown to Katie's head and a few pins to hold it in place. John took some photos of the two before they got in the car and drove up to the lodge.
The ceremony was going to be held on the families favourite spot of grass by the lodge and reception in a Yellowstone barn that had been converted into a hall style space with tables and a dance floor per Beth's request.
Some guests were sitting and others standing and talking to each other. Rip was standing at the alter in a suit, Lloyd beside him as his best man.
"How you feeling?" Lloyd asked.
"Shitting myself now Lloyd."
"Well, looks like they're here." Lloyd said noticing that everyone had gone quiet and were taking their seats. He could see John helping Katie with her basket before helping Beth out the car.
"She looks beautiful, Rip." Lloyd said as Rip took a breath. He turned and saw his little girl although he thought she looked older with her hair done up. He watched as she look back to John who pointed in his direction telling her to drop the petals and where to walk.
People couldn't help but smile watching her. Katie realised it was Rip at the other end and turned the basket upside down dropping the petals and making a beeline for him.
"HI DADDY!" She yelled, he knelt down to collect her in his arms. People laughed at the innocence of it all. "Mama looks beautiful. You're dressed funny." She told him before squirming to be put down.
She stood next to Rip as Beth and John made their way down the aisle. Rip's breath was taken away watching her, she was smiling and her eyes look like they had tears in them.
She took a deep breath before taking Rip's outstretched hand. Katie still standing in between them, watching as they looked at each other. John pulled her away as the ceremony started.
Beth rushed the priest through the formalities that were required. John had no clue why a priest was the one officiating considering they were not religious. Beth and Rip sealed the formalities with a kiss, before the guests erupted in cheers. They happy couple held up their hands together in celebration before Katie squirmed out of John's grasp.
Rip easily held Katie in one arm and had Beth's hand in the other as they walked down the aisle. Everyone followed behind to the barn for food,drinks and dancing.
Gator had prepared a banquet with help so people could serve themselves. Walker already had his guitar in hand up on the makeshift stage.
Katie was happily running around with Tate, Kayce keeping one eye on them while enjoying the evening.
"Right it's time for the first dance. Neither will know this but one night I saw them both dancing out on the sand to this song." Walker said, people gathered around as Beth and Rip stood on the dance floor unsure what song Walker was about to play. He started playing the intro to Lady May by Tyler Childers.
Rip chuckled and took Beth's hand as they began to dance. The song finished as Rip spun Beth in a circle before the next song started and others joined in.
Beth was looking for Katie who Kayce pointed out was playing outside. She went out to find her running around with Tate.
"Hey kids."
Tate waved and kept running, Katie of course, stopped and went for Beth.
"Hi, my head hurts." She said pointing to her temple.
"I think it's time for some food and water for you that's why." Beth told her taking her hand. "You too Tate."
He followed behind and went to his mom, having a rest. Katie pulled at Beth's hand to go to the dance floor. Rip came up behind them and scooped Katie up throwing her in the air.
"I wanna dance." Katie said turning around in Rip's arms.
"Food first cowgirl and some water. You're all puffed." Rip took her over to the table and gave her some water in a cup and got a plate of food for them both. He poured a wine for Beth and carried that over to where she was chatting with Ryan.
"Darlin' your wine." Beth took the wine with a smile and took Katie in her other arm as she lent across Rip barely pausing the conversation.
"She's a natural." Monica said to Kayce where they were sitting.
"Yeah she is. Surprised us all really. Rip being a teddy bear though is no shock." Kayce commented.
Ryan left the family to themselves and sought out Colby for a round of poker with the other wranglers. Rip couldn't help but just watch his girls as they made each other laugh and ate.
"What is it Rip?" Beth asked noticing him watching them.
"Nothing Beth." He squeezed her hand. John approached them and tapped Beth's shoulder.
"This next dance is for your old Dad." Beth took his hand and he led her to the dance floor for a dance with just the two of them.
"Why aren't you dancing with Mama?" Katie asked.
"That dance is just for her and her Dad."
"What about me?"
"I suppose we can." Rip took her hand and led her to the dance floor, he went to pick her up but she told him no. "Stand on my boots then." He took her hands as she stood on his feet and he moved around the dance floor.
Beth watched them from her Dads shoulder where they danced.
"He is a good man Beth."
"I know."
"And he is good to her. Better than I was to you. Don't let that change her."
"I will fight anyone who dares hurt either of them Daddy. You should remember that." She kissed his cheek as the song ended and went over to the two of them.
"That was such good dancing Katie."
"You saw me?" Beth nodded. Walker played his last song before putting his guitar away and the cowboys setting up some speakers for the rest of the night.
Monica approached with a camera in hand. "Want some photos of you all?"
The three stood together, Katie in front of them both with Rip having a hand gently on her shoulder. Monica took some more of John and Kayce with them all and the cowboys with Rip.
Katie was starting to tire and pull at the flower crown on her head. "Daddy, take it off."
Rip looked down to see her once perfect head of hair that Beth had managed to do now a mess.
"Let me see." Rip knelt in his suit to try and figure out how to get the crown off after realising it was pinned in to her hair. "Who put it in your head?" He asked after struggling to get the pins out.
"Mama did."
"Figures. Beth!" Rip called out to Beth across the barn. He waved her over pointing at Katie's head as she was pulling at it again.
"I got it." She told Katie moving her hands.
"I want it off." Katie said shaking her leg getting frustrated.
"Stay still." Beth told her. Katie was about to meltdown as Rip intervened.
"Come outside." He directed her to the doors and in to the fresh air. By this point her bottom lip had dropped and tears were flowing.
"I just... ow!" She cried. Beth knelt behind her and took the pins out, each time Katie saying 'ow'.
"You're fine. You're just overtired." Beth told her rubbing her back. Katie hiccuped before turning in to Beth.
"I'm not tired." She said defiantly. Rip chuckled shaking his head. Beth pulled her in to her side kissing her temple.
"Hmm I think you are." She stood up with Katie on her hip who now was resting her head on Beth's shoulder, Rip left carrying the flower crown. He shrugged his jacket off and put it around Katie.
Beth ran her hands through Katie's hair while moving to the music on the side of the dance floor. Her eyelids were getting heavy as she began to doze off.
"I'll take her." John said, "she can sleep in your old room tonight."
"Not yet Dad. A little longer." In truth Beth was happy to hold her little girl and watch everyone else enjoy themselves. Tate was sat between Colby and Ryan learning to play poker, Rip stood behind offering advice. Monica and Kayce dancing together and making their own fun.
"Since you haven't stopped standing right there and waiting, you can take her." Beth said gently passing Katie across.
"I got her. I'll put her in your old bed." John said leaving the barn. Beth joined everyone else as the celebration continued.
"All right here we go." John said quietly to himself pulling back the covers of Beth's old bed and putting Katie down leaving her in her dress. She didn't stir as John crept out of the room and downstairs for a quick break before re-joining everyone else.
After watching Jimmy lose a third round of poker, Rip decided he would go check on Katie.
"I'm sure she's fine." Beth told him.
"I know, I just want to check. You can come if you want." Rip left, Beth following.
"You don't have to run there. You can wait for your wife." Beth told him catching up. He apologised and they headed upstairs together, both feeling tipsy from the alcohol. They entered Beth's old room and noticed the covers of the floor and no Katie.
"Where is she?" Beth said. "Dad put her down here."
