Beth carried her back to the lodge, she was asleep on Beth's shoulder by the time they walked inside. She put her on the couch opposite her so she could do some work.
Beth had just finished a phone call as Gator walked in.
"Sorry to bother you, CPS called and they're not able to come get her today."
Beth nodded looking over at Katie sleeping. Poor fucking kid she thought.
"I'll take her home after dinner tonight."
"No Gator, she stays here."
"Ma'am, I can't leave her with you."
"Fuck Gator, I said she stays here." Gator turned and left. Beth did not know what she was going to do with a kid. What was Rip going to say?
"How's your day going Beth?" John said walking in to the lounge.
"Shhh Daddy" Beth whispered pointing at Katie who was still sleeping.
John noticed her and sat down across from Beth. "What are you doing honey? What I'm going to say is not meant to be taken the wrong way. I know Jamie hurt you but that kid is a big responsibility. She is going to need a lot of help."
"What? You think I can't do it?"
"I'm not saying that honey, just think about it." John left the room. Beth had accepted years ago that she would never have her own children but the kid stirred up feelings she didn't know she had.
The kid was starting to stir from her sleep. "Hey kid. You hungry?"
"No thank you."
Beth smiled, she had good manners for a young kid. "I need to go in to town. Looks like you could do with a few things too." Katie looked at Beth before bursting in to tears.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't have money."
"I do honey, I don't expect you to pay but you need to do as I say." Katie nodded. "If you're good, we can go to the toy shop after." Katie sat up a bit straighter at the mention of toys.
Katie was quiet during the drive in to town.
"Let's go kid. I need to go in to the office first." Katie walked next to Beth towards her office.
Beth noticed Jamie walking towards them. Beth could not be fucked dealing with him.
"Beth. Nice to see you."
"Shut it Jamie." Jamie smiled in response.
"Who's the kid?" Katie moved behind Beth holding on to her skirt, Beth instinctively reached back putting a hand on Katie's head.
"Don't fucking go there Jamie. Stay away from me and if you even think about going near her, I will fucking kill you myself."
"Whatever Beth. Stop trying to play Mama Bear, it doesn't suit you." Before turning on his heel and walking away. Beth could feel the anger inside her. Bastard she thought, the little hand gripping nearly painfully in to her thigh brought her back to reality.
"I don't like him."
"Me either baby." Beth said laughing.
"You said a bad word. My Mama said not to say the fuck word." Beth burst out laughing hearing her innocently saying fuck.
"You're right kiddo, that word isn't nice. Only adults can say that."
The pair headed to the toy store after Beth made some more phone calls from the office. Beth winced at the noise level inside and all the kids running away from their parents. She looked down at Katie who was wide eyed and grinning.
"Hold my hand. I don't want you to run off." Katie reached up for Beths hand and pulled in the direction of the bikes, looking up at Beth hopefully. Beth could feel a headache coming on. Bikes weren't practical at the ranch unless it was a motorbike.
Katie was looking along the rows of small bikes longingly. Beth knelt down to Katie's height, "would you like one of these?"
Katie looked at Beth and nodded excitedly.
"Do you know how to ride a bike?" Katie shook her head.
"How about the yellow one and we can get a matching helmet?" Katie smiled at Beth.
Beth directed Katie over towards the dolls thinking that she might like a doll but Katie shook her head and pointed towards a stuffed horse toy.
"Great choice kid." Beth's phone started ringing, picking up was Monica on the other end.
"I'll be there in five." Beth paid the shop girl for the toy and bike before putting them in the car.
"Come here kid."
"My name isn't kid."
"I know, baby. Come here though. We are going in to that shop over there now. When we go there I want you to remember that only adults say some of the words you hear ok." Beth picked up Katie before crossing the road to where Monica was.
"Where is she."
"Beth we're closed at the moment –"
Beth kept holding Katie as she opened the changing room door making sure Katie has her back to Monica.
"Leave her alone."
"Sorry Miss Dutton but her drivers license says Long."
"Not gonna save you buddy." Katie was tensing in her arms.
"While we're here we might as well shop." Beth put Katie down. "Cover yours eyes baby." Monica looked at the child not knowing who she was. The glass shattered where the jewellery lay. Katie jumped in fear.
"I remember you Veronica, you were a fucking bitch then and nothing's changed. Don't you ever fuck with any of my family again." Beth grabbed Katie's hand as they left the store and Monica followed.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
"You said bad words again Beth!"
"I know baby. Don't you go saying them."
Katie looked at Monica. She looked friendly Katie thought, she tapped her on the leg. "My name is Katie and my Beth just got me a bike AND a new toy horse." Beth smiled hearing the kid say 'my Beth'.
"Hi Katie, I'm Monica."
"Sit down Katie."
"Who is the kid Beth?"
"I think she might be mine? I know what you're thinking and don't tell Kayce yet. Things need to get sorted. Rip doesn't even know yet."
Monica nodded. She was stunned to say the least. Beth was never around Tate much when he was similar age to Katie and even now she didn't interact much with him.
Katie chatted to herself and her new toy horse, pointing out what she saw out the window on the way home. As soon as the car was off, Katie was trying to get out.
"Can I ride the bike? Please?"
"We can practice for a bit. I have to go to my house to get a few things before dinner." Beth told the girl. All Beth could think of was how she was going to tell Rip about the kid. She was going to avoid that as long as she could.
Beth got the bike out of the car and clipped Katie's helmet on.
"Hey kid, I got something to tell you. Your Mama and Daddy aren't coming back."
"I know."
"So there are some people that want to take you to look after you and it won't be here. But it's not tonight".
Katie looked curiously at Beth.
"Do you understand?" Katie nodded, "I don't wanna go."
"Not tonight hey. Let's ride this bike."
Beth held the bike by the seat to help balance as Katie slowly got the hang of riding, giggling away as the wind blew her blonde hair across her face.
"I think that's enough for today." Lifting Katie off the bike
"No". Katie said defiantly.
"I said enough Katie." Beth's stern tone caused Katie to take a few steps back before turning and running off towards the stables. Beth sighed.
"Just wait until she's older honey." John said from where he sat on the porch. "She's a lot like you were at that age."
Beth walked off not offering John a response in search of the kid.
She found Katie in the stables, Rip standing in front of her and Katie trying to back track looking up at him.
"Who's kid darlin?"
"I think she might be ours baby."
"The fuck?" Katie had turned around and was now behind Beth's legs once again.
"Come here baby." Reaching behind her to get Katie to come out. "This is Rip. He's my man."
"Is he gonna hurt you? Like my Daddy and Mama."
"No darlin." Rip replied taking his hat off. Katie turned to face away from him pushing into to Beth's legs.
"Lets take that helmet off and then we can go up to the house." Rip watched Beth interact with the kid. It was the first time in a long time that he noticed how calm she seemed.
The three walked up to Rip's house.
Beth left Katie at the table with some paper and pens to draw whilst her and Rip were in the kitchen.
"I didn't have time to make dinner today. I was a bit busy." Nodding towards Katie.
"Darlin, want to explain the kid?"
"She's like you Rip."
"No. She's not. She is small and very young."
"She saw her parents murdered. Got left with Gator and now CPS are going to come for her tomorrow and put her in the system." Rip nodded.
"She doesn't have to stay, but if she goes with CPS tomorrow you have to tell her and live with it." Rip looked across to the kid and back to Beth who now had her head turned and was making dinner. He shook his head knowing the kid would be staying.
"Hamburger helper, with real hamburger."
"Smells good honey."
"Time to put the pens away Katie." Rip looked at the kid and noticed that she had pen over her face somehow and it had leaked on her hands.
"Honey, I think the pens were not a good idea for the kid."
"She needs a bath anyway." Beth said serving out Katie's dinner.
"I can do it." Katie said trying to grab the utensil out of Beth's hands.
Both Rip and Katie ate dinner whilst Beth watched drinking her beer.
"This makes you happy, don't it". Beth smiled.
"The kid stays honey. Because she makes you happy. But I don't have a clue what to do with her."
"Thank you baby."
