"You're up later than usual."

"No little cold feet sticking in to my back this morning."

"No you're right. It's too quiet too for her. Have you checked on her?"

"Not yet." Beth headed straight for Katie's bedroom. She wasn't in her bed or hiding in her room. Beth raced downstairs, panic rising.
"I can't find her. She's not in her room."

"What."

"We've got to find her Rip." He was out the door before Beth could finish her sentence, he had a bad feeling that something had happened to her. Katie's boots were still by the door and she knew better than to go outside without shoes on.

Rip couldn't see her in her cubby house or on the climbing frame. Beth was inside calling out her name. Then Rip spotted it on the far end of the porch, a piece of paper with what looked like three different sized potatoes with sticks coming out of them. It looked like Katie had drawn them. He folded it and put it in his pocket. Rip walked past their cars and saw Jamie's car pulled up.

'What the fuck is he doing here' Rip thought. Rip spotted Jamie with his back to him, Rip walked up behind him quietly and saw he had holding Katie's arm as she tried to get away. Rip put his hands to his lips telling Katie to not give him away.

"They don't even want you, just like your parents didn't want you."

"Ouch. You're hurting me."

"Listen here. That bitch you live with is never going to be your Mama." Rip could see Jamie squeezing her arm tighter.

Beth had started searching outside and looking for Rip when she saw Jamie's car and Rip standing behind Jamie. She walked quietly over to stand beside Rip when she saw Katie trying to fight Jamie's grip off. Once Katie saw Beth she called out and Rip grabbed Jamie from behind as Katie kicked at Jamie forcing him to let go of her. Rip was throwing punches at Jamie and Beth picked up Katie seeing the large red mark on her upper arm.

"I fucking warned you Jamie to not come near my family."

"They're not your family. I am" He spat.

"No Jamie, you're not. That word entitles you to nothing when you've tried to ruin our lives multiple times." Katie was crying in Beth's arm so much she was coughing.

"You're lucky she's here or you would be dead but she's been through enough." Rip still had Jamie pinned down.

"I'm not finished with you yet, you bastard."

Beth left with Katie to get her cleaned up, her pyjamas were dirty and the top had a rip in the sleeve.

At the cabin Katie wouldn't let Beth put her down, crying more when she tried.

"You need to have a bath."

"No. Please." Beth sighed, she could do with Rip's back up about now.

"Ok, no bath. You can have a shower and I'll be right there." Beth took her up to their en-suite and put her in the shower, helping her wash her hair and getting all the dirt off before wrapping her up in a fluffy towel. Beth ended up just as wet.

Downstairs Rip had cleaned himself up after dealing with Jamie and put the fire on. Beth came down in a dressing gown and Katie wrapped in her towel still, the pair were negotiating Katie having her hair brushed.

"How is she?"

"Fucking traumatised. Did you sort it?"

"Don't worry, he won't be coming around here again. I want to show you this, I found it on the porch." Rip pulled out the folded up drawing from his pocket and showed Beth who smiled, tears in her eyes.

"Baby, what happened this morning?"

"I wanted to play outside and the door was opened so I went and that man came and he wasn't nice."

"Next time kid, come and get me or Beth first so we can watch you."

"I'm sorry." Beth lifted her face and told her that it was ok. Rip got up to put the drawing on the fridge.

Rip filled in John what had happened later that morning as they were working with the cattle.

"Rip, we're going to the rodeo this afternoon. See if Beth and Katie want to go."

"Yes sir".

"Jimmy is competing at the rodeo today, everyone's going so I thought it would be nice for us all to go together too." Rip announced as they finished lunch. "I'll clean up if you can get Katie ready, honey." Beth kissed him before taking Katie upstairs to get changed. Beth came downstairs wearing a summer dress and denim jacket with her hair pinned up, whilst Katie had on a light blue summer dress with sleeves, her cowboy hat and boots. Beth had managed to put her hair in to two very small braids.

Katie slept most of the way to Livingston but was awake as soon as they arrived. The family sat with the rest of the Duttons in the grandstand waiting for Jimmy's turn to ride. Katie kept asking Beth for food before Rip decided that he would take her to get something to eat and have a run around. After having a corn dog and a juice Katie spotted a face painter near the pony rides, pulling on Rip's hand.

"Would you like to have your face painted?" Katie nodded eagerly. Rip wasn't sure if Beth would mind but looking at Katie's face he gave in. The pair wondered over to the young couple doing the painting.

"Hi there cutie, what would you like." The lady was overly cheery and Katie wasn't so sure of herself. Rip knelt down said that he would stay with her whilst the lady painted her face and if she wanted he would get something on his hand first. Katie was much more excited by that idea and picked out a unicorn for Rip and butterfly for herself.

"So one unicorn for Daddy and one Butterfly for his little girl coming up." Rip froze for a second, it was the first time he had been called Katie's Dad. Katie had never called him that. Rip could only nod at the lady as Katie sat on his knee as she painted his hand and then her face.

"Thank you."

"Great manners too, good job Dad."

"Yeah thanks. Let's go back to the horses Katie."

"Pony ride?" Katie pointed to the ponies that other kids were riding. Rip felt torn, he wanted Katie to ride horses but didn't think the ponies were right for her. He gave in.

"You're going to make me go broke one day." Rip muttered as they approached the horses. The attendant went to lift Katie up on to the pony, Rip noticed her stiffen.

"I'll put her on."

"She needs to wear a helmet."

"Like hell she does, she will be fine. I'm next to her." The attendant shut their mouth, grabbed the reins and started walking the circuit. At the end of the circuit, the attendant asked if they would like a photo on the horse.

"Ah my phone won't do it."

"We can take a photo and send it to someone for you?"

"Thanks." Rip stood next to Katie in the saddle as the photo was taken and sent to Beth's mobile. Rip lifted Katie off and they headed back to the rodeo.

Katie was ahead of Rip trying to get to Beth but was too shy to get past the people.

"Hey! Move thanks." Beth yelled so Katie could get passed, Rip couldn't help but smirk at her attitude. Rip nodded his thanks as he went past.

"Mama! Look at my face. I'm a fly."

Without missing a beat Beth replied "Honey, you look great. You're a butterfly though." Climbing on to Beth's lap Katie pointed out Rip's hand "The lady said Daddy got a unicorn and I rode a horse by myself."

Kayce was about to lean across and say something as Monica pulled him back and whispered to leave them to it. John raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"I saw the photo of you two. You did great baby on the horse." Beth had already saved the photo on her lock screen Katie cuddled in to Beth hearing the praise.

Rip smiled at them both and showed Beth the unicorn who raised an eyebrow. Realising the words Katie had used, Beth whispered to Rip, "She called you Daddy".

Rip squeezed her hand "She called you Mama."

Beth cuddled Katie close on her lap who was now facing her like a koala and kissed the top of her head. Kayce lent across John and said to Rip "We should get a photo of the best looking unicorn." Rip laughed him off just happy to be spending time with his family. He could not believe how much his opinion on kids had changed since Katie had come in to their lives.

"Here goes Jimmy."

Beth turned Katie around so she could see what was happening. Katie tried to get off Beth, reaching out to Rip saying 'no, no, no' turning away from the rodeo. Rip held her and looked at Beth confused. Beth clicked to the time she got on the horse with Jake and it got spooked, mouthing 'Jake' to Rip who nodded and rubbed her back.

"We're gonna go, Daddy." Beth said pointing at Katie.

John nodded, "See you later."

Rip and Katie were ahead of Beth who caught up to them. Katie had calmed down in Rip's arm and reached for Beth.
"Jacket first Katie and then I'll carry you."

The three of them were near a photo booth as Rip put her on the ground so Beth could put her jacket on. A boy no older than 16 approached. "Do you want to use to booth?"

"No."

"Actually, can you take a photo of the three of us?" Beth passed her phone to Rip to give to the boy.

"Yeah, sure."

Beth picked Katie up and Rip wrapped his arm around Beth as the three smiled at the phone.

"Thanks."

"Despite the last bit. Today was good. Now we have a photo of us all too."

"I love you Beth."