Rip had set up a camp bed for Katie in the guest room in the lodge so that they could share one room.
They lay in bed that night listening to Katie's even breaths between their whispered conversation.
"His campaign is about to start." Beth said.
"So he won't be here much." Beth nodded against Rip's chest.
"I'll have to go and help."
"Mmm. I see." Rip said.
"They've suggested using Katie to help get votes."
"What did you say Beth."
"They've -"
"No I heard you." Rip turned on his side. "You telling me you're going to let our kid be used to get votes?"
"I don't know. Maybe. If it means we win. Rip, I'm probably going to be away a lot, what am I meant to do? Leave her here? You're busy. Take her with me and then she's off the ranch and away from you."
"Darlin' he hasn't won yet, I hate to say it. He might not. We don't even need to think about where Katie is going to go. Shut your eyes and sleep. I love you." He kissed her head and pulled her in close.
"One last thing Beth. If you take her from this ranch and from me, I will fight you like hell for it."
"I'm going to try stop that from happening baby."
They dozed off to sleep in each others arms, Beth waking with a fright to yelling at the end of their bed.
"No. Stop. You're hurting me." Katie cried out, thrashing her arms around. Beth got out of her bed and padded across the cold floorboards. She knew touching Katie would scare her but had no other choice.
"Hey Katie. It's me."
Her eyes snapped open and tears quickly filled them. Beth wiped her damp brow and picked her up. She put a finger to her own mouth telling Katie to be quiet before going downstairs. It was too cold to take her outside for fresh air, instead Beth opted for sitting on the sofa in front of the dying out fire.
"You're safe here. I'm not going anywhere." Beth whispered into Katie hair. She had read up about child trauma before going to sleep and read that consistent reassurance was proven to help. Beth sat there with Katie watching the minutes go by on the clock. She heard a creak on the stairs and turned to see Rip standing there, she smiled lightly at him. He pointed at Katie and made the asleep gesture with his hands before coming over.
"Let me take her. What are you both doing up?"
"She had a nightmare."
Rip easily lifted her and they headed back to bed. Rip only had another hour before he had to get up for work. He put Katie back to bed and was quick to fall asleep himself. Beth lay looking at the ceiling waiting for sleep. It wasn't long before little feet were on the floorboard and Beth was being poked in the side.
"I can't sleep."
Beth looked over at her little worried face before sighing and moving over so she could get in to the bed.
"Close your eyes." Beth told her before humming a tune. She slowly drifted off the sleep and Beth rested her eyes. She didn't jump when Rip's alarm went off or move when he got up, trying to not wake Katie. When he left for the kitchen she moved Katie in to the middle of the bed and got up herself.
Rip was sipping on a coffee in the kitchen. "You're up early."
"She's finally sleeping."
"Coffee?" Rip said, pouring one for her anyway.
"I'm sorry about last night."
"About what exactly Beth?"
"A few things but the campaign mostly."
"Darlin' it is too early for this shit."
"I don't want to take her away."
Rip tried to walk away but stopped at that comment.
"Beth, you'll tear us apart doing that. Heck, don't you think we've been through enough. How is that even going to work? You have her one week and I have her the next?" Even though Rip never wanted kids to begin with, the thought of Beth taking Katie was painful.
"I just don't know what we are meant to do Rip. I'm trying to save the fucking ranch so she can be here without people trying to take it." She looked away from him.
Rip approached her, reaching out. "I'm not trying to upset you honey. Let's just deal with helping our girl deal with what she just went through and then deal with whatever this shit is about to become."
"I need to be up there for her. I don't want her to wake up alone." Beth said.
"Alright, I'm going to work." Rip looked back at her, "I love you both."
Beth turned and went back upstairs. Katie was still sleeping as she sat on the bed checking her emails. John knocked on the door, poking his head in.
"Hey, what are you doing today?" John asked
"Shh. She's finally sleeping."
"Yeah she woke everyone up last night."
Beth glared at him. "To answer your question Daddy, I'm being a mom today and you, you're doing your campaign stuff."
"Is Katie going to be in the photos?"
"Right now, no. You can go ask Rip about that."
"You got me in to this Beth. You're going to be with me for the next four years if I win."
Beth could not have been more grateful of Katie's timing in that moment, waking up.
"Morning baby." Beth said to her. Her hair was sticking up in multiple directions and she had a scowl on her face.
"Why the long face Katie?" John asked. She turned away from him rubbing her eyes.
"Hey, come on." Beth said gently moving her hands away from her eyes.
"How about a horse ride with your old grandpa?"
"I don't wanna go Mama." Katie said half behind Beth's should where she sat.
"You don't have to but you do have to tell Grandpa that."
"No thanks." Katie said quietly peeking out from behind Beth.
John looked sad but nodded. "I don't know when I'll be back Beth but keep everything running for me will you."
"We will Daddy." John took one more look at his daughter and granddaughter, Beth standing and Katie standing on the bed behind her with her arms over Beth's shoulders.
He smiled at them both, "thank you for everything Beth."
"You're not dying Dad, quit being dramatic." John lifted his hat in acknowledgment and left.
"Well kid, you heard him. We've got to keep this place going. What's first?" Beth told Katie. She thought about it before her stomach grumbled.
"I think you need some food."
Gator helped Beth make breakfast before leaving them to sit at the breakfast bar.
"Are you and Daddy fighting?" Katie asked.
"No. Why?"
"Dadda sounds mad at you."
"Ah well your Dadda needs to relax sometimes ok." Beth hopped off the stood kissing the top of Katie's head and putting the dishes in the sink.
"You stink and need some clothes."
"Chaps."
"Pardon?" Beth said
"I want to wear chaps like Daddy." Katie said.
"Baby I don't know if we have any in your size anymore." Beth told her watching Katie's face change in to a pout.
"I really wanna." She said
"You know they're for horse riding Katie. Your Dad only wears them when he's working." Katie shrugged her shoulder not caring.
They went to the cabin to see if they could find any and put Katie in fresh jeans and jumper. "We can try the barn but if not there isn't any for you." Katie's eyes narrowed at Beth making her smirk but she said nothing.
Beth went through the box of spare chaps in the barn that had old pairs from cowboys and Lee and Kayce's pairs from when they were kids. She held up an old pair. "These should fit. Come here." Katie bounced over happily as Beth helped put them on.
"Thank you Mama." Katie said hugging her neck and Beth got up.
"All right. Let's go." She said putting Katie down walking ahead of her. A horse made a snort sound causing Katie to jump.
"Hey! Be quiet." Katie said in her stern voice. Beth turned intrigued why Katie would say that.
"It's all right Katie."
"No the mean men tried to have their horses hurt me." She said to Beth's back. Beth turned around realising she was talking about the militia.
"What did they do?"
"They would make me lie down with things over my arms and then make the horse run at me. They would laugh and say it was because I was bad." Katie looked at her confused as to why someone would do that.
Beth came closer to her, it took all what she had in her to not want to run and hurt someone. "They're gone now and you're safe with us."
The cowboys were coming in for lunch passing the pair on their horses offering hellos. Katie jumped reaching up for Beth. Rip held up the rear and stopped the horse next to them as Beth lifted Katie up.
"You coming up Katie?" He asked. Beth shook her head.
"Nuh-ah" she told him.
"You look dressed ready cowgirl."
Beth shook her head trying to get Rip to realise it was a bad idea. "Tell your Dad what you told me about the horses."
"The bad men made the horses run at me and made me lie down and they said it was because I was bad. Am I bad?" Rip listened to her from atop his horse. When she finished he was off the horse and lifting her out of Beth's arms.
"You're not bad. You did nothing wrong, you were brave. Your Mom and I are so lucky to have you. We promise to do our best." He told her looking her in the eye before cuddling her. Beth was leaning against the fence listening in.
"Will I be like you and Mama?"
Beth laughed from where she was. "You already are baby."