Beth had been practicing a few cakes in the lead up to Katie's birthday party, she had been giving them to the wranglers who had no complaints.

Rip and Katie got home the night before Katie's birthday after spending the afternoon at the bunkhouse.

"Where is Mama?" Beth's car was in the drive but she wasn't in the house.

"Check the porch kid."

Katie went outside yelling for Beth but no response. Rip thought it was strange that Beth's car was here but she wasn't anywhere to be found.

"No Daddy." Katie came back inside, Rip pulled out his phone and dialled her number.

"Hey baby." Beth answered the phone

"Beth, where are you?"

"Up at the lodge, I'll be home soon."

"What are you doin' there?"

"You start dinner, and I'll be home soon." Beth hung up the phone.

"Just you and I kid. Mama will be home after dinner." Katie nodded, going off to play with some of her toys whilst Rip started dinner.

Katie was helping Rip wash up plates when Beth walked in the door still in her work clothes, although slightly dirty.

"Mama!" Katie jumped off the stool still with wet hands and ran to Beth.

"You gonna greet me like this forever?"

"Uh-huh."

"What on earth have you been doin' honey?"

"Someone had to make her c-a-k-e." Rip nodded impressed that Beth had done it.

"Can I see?" Rip asked

"Wait until tomorrow. What have you two been up to?" Beth asked grabbing a bowl of leftovers from the fridge.

"We went to the bunkhouse after work and spent some time there with everyone." Rip filled Beth in.

"Yeah, and Walker played the guitar and I did some dancing. Everyone is coming to my party too!" Katie told Beth shocked that so many people were going to be there.

"She's definitely your kid, dancing like she had ten drinks up on the table."

"You said I could Daddy." Katie said with her hands on her hips frowning. Rip picked her up and swung her around the living room.

"Oh you are a Mama's girl all right."

"She's got you wrapped around her little finger Rip." Beth rolled her eyes. "You do bath and I'll clean up." Beth pointed to her hair hinting for Rip to wash Katie's hair too. Katie complained less when Rip washed her hair saying that he didn't hurt as much.

Rip got Katie changed in to fresh pyjamas and brushed her hair before they went back downstairs, sitting on the couch with Beth.

Beth put her book down she was reading as Katie crawled on to her lap, resting her cheek on Beth's chest looking towards Rip.

"Tired Katie?" Beth asked.

"No." Beth picked her book back up as Katie rested on her while Rip watched an old rodeo on the tv. After about twenty minutes Rip looked over and noticed Katie was asleep.
"She's asleep darlin', I'll put her to bed."

"It's ok, I'll keep her here for a bit longer. Can you grab the blanket from our bed?"

"People will start calling you soft soon enough." Rip chuckled.

"Yeah well, she's my baby and only with you two. Anyway those bastards forget who I am really."

"I know darlin'." Rip kissed Beth on the head as he got up to get the blanket.

"I'm taking those three days off after tomorrow remember." Rip wrapped the blanket around Katie and Beth. Beth nodded.

"I was thinking maybe camping?" Beth grimaced slightly, never having been one to enjoy camping. "I know it's not really your thing but I'm sure I can make it fun. Plus you did want me to take you on a ride and it'll just be us three." Beth knew how much Katie would like spending time with just the two of them and riding horses.

"All right, fine."

"Great! I already had everything organised." Rip told her.

"You're a good Dad Rip." Beth smiled and kissed him. "Time for bed I think." Beth stood with Katie in her arms before putting her in her own bed.

"I AM FOUR!" Katie yelled running in to her parents room before the sun had risen. She got up on to their bed and jumped up and down waking both Beth and Rip.

"Come here!" Rip grabbed Katie pulling her down between the two of them.

"Happy birthday baby." Beth kissed Katie's head as she tried to squirm away. "Don't tell me you don't like cuddles now you're four." Beth feigned being upset. Katie reached out a hand touching Beth's face telling her no.

"Can we get up now?" Katie looked at Rip knowing he was often the first one up out of the two. Beth looked out the window and saw the sun wasn't too far off rising.

"I think we've got something you might like cowgirl." Rip reached over and pulled out three presents wrapped in colourful paper. Katie cocked her head to the side curiously before reaching out for them. Rip helped Katie opened the first one which had the binoculars inside, he held them up to her eyes to look through out the window.
"Everything is so big!"
"They're called binoculars so you can see everything far away." Rip told her. Katie put them down ripping open her next present which was the clothes Beth had bought her before opening the boots.
"Oh thank-you!" Katie bounced around on the bed. "I like being four."

"How about we leave Daddy for a bit and get changed." Beth got out of bed and wrapped her dressing gown around her heading to Katie's room. Katie followed behind.

"Let's get you dressed first." Beth pulled out a pair of jeans, t-shirt and knitted jumper it was a bit cold in the morning still for Katie to be in a t-shirt.

"I'm ready."

"You go and see Daddy and I'll get changed." The two went back to Beth's bedroom where Rip had gotten up and changed ready for the day. Beth changed in to a pair of jeans, jumper and jacket whilst Katie bounced around Rip.

"How about we all go for a walk up to the Lodge, looks like she's got plenty of energy." Beth suggested.

"Can we stop at the stables?" Katie asked hopeful.

"We should check the horses, but one stop before that." Rip said. Beth knew the two were always going to team up when it came to horses. Rip put together the slide on to the cubby house after Beth and Katie had gone to bed.

"What's that?" Katie pointed to the slide.

"Go and check it out baby." Beth encouraged Katie as Rip passed her a cup of coffee on the porch.

"You're gonna need this darlin'"

"Thank you baby." They watched as Katie climbed to the top and went down the slide multiple times before she got tired of it.

Rip held Beth's hand as they walked down the path to the stables, Katie in front of them. There had been some drizzle overnight and a few puddles on the side of the road. Katie turned back looking for the ok to jump in them.

"Go on then." Rip said as Katie jumped in the biggest one she could find, water going into her boots. Rip let go of Beth's hand and jumped in the same puddle giving Katie a fright with the big splash he made. By the time they got to the stables Katie had mud all over her clothes and wet feet. Lloyd was hanging by the round pen as a horse was running around.

"I'm four today Lloyd!" Katie ran up to the fence on the pen.

"So I heard kid, stay back there. Don't know what this one is gonna do."

"Lloyd, how's it going?" Rip asked standing behind Katie.

"Yeah good Rip, I'll see you all later."

"That horse looks angry."

"Sure does, kid. He'll calm down soon enough. Come on, Mama is waiting by the stables." Rip and Katie headed to where Beth was waiting by the barn door.

"It smells like shite Rip, I will never understand why you both love it so much." Rip took a deep breath and laughed.

"Well we're ranching people honey." Rip lifted Katie to pat the horses but moved past Prickly Pete's stable at her request. The sun was truly up by the time they made it inside the lodge. Katie was made to take her boots and socks off before going inside with all the mud.

"Morning Dad." John was making himself a coffee as Beth and Rip walked in.

"Mornin'. Where's Katie?"

"Outside sir, taking her boots off." Rip replied followed by the door slamming shut and the sound of Katie's footsteps.

"Yeah I can hear her now." John nodded.

"Grandpa, I'm four!" Katie stopped in front of John remembering that she had mud all over her clothes. Beth was fixing herself and Rip another cup of coffee.

"So I heard. What have you been doing this morning?"

"Waking us up early." Beth replied dryly taking a mouthful of coffee. Katie looked sheepish.

"Yeah well you use to do the same. Wait until Christmas."

"Grandpa, do you have donuts again?"

"Ask your parents if you can have one." John replied. Katie looked between them smiling.

"All right, just one cowgirl." Rip watched as she looked at them all before picking one up.

"Everything ready for later Beth?" John asked.

"Yeah Dad. We'll come up here around one. Remember we are going away for three days tomorrow, so no calling Rip about work." John held up his hands in surrender.
The weather was starting to warm up as the trio went back to their cabin and packed some bags for their camping trip.

"Darlin' you two better get ready, I'll go down to the lodge and make sure everything is ready." Rip checked his watch before heading out the door.

"Come here Katie." Beth called from Katie's bedroom. "What do you want to wear?"
"That one" Katie pointed to Beth's old yellow dress that was hers around the same age. Beth pulled it out and a spare pair of boots for her.

"You can have a shower so you don't smell first."

"I don't smell, promise." Katie said trying to get out of it.

"The more you protest, the longer it will be before we go to the party." Beth told her, Katie thought about it before heading to the en-suite waiting for Beth.

Beth combed Katie's hair and put it into two braids before dressing her. Beth got changed in to a three quarter sleeve high neckline dress and her boots. She grabbed a change of clothes for Rip and put Katie in the car before driving up. People hadn't arrived yet when Beth pulled up.

"How're my girls?" Rip asked as they got out of the car.

"Hi Daddy."

"You look pretty darlin'." Katie smiled. "So do you Beth." Beth kissed him before passing him his clothes.

Beth sat on the porch whilst they waited for Rip, Katie standing between her legs looking out at the mountains.

"What are you two doin'?" Rip came out sitting next to Beth on the porch.

"Just watchin', waitin'" Rip nodded not needing to say anything.

"Hey cowgirl, there are going to be a few people here today for your party." Katie nodded not looking at Rip. "Look at me when I'm talkin' to you." Katie turned leaning on Beth. "If it gets a bit much and you want a rest you come find Mama or me."

"I know. I'm a big girl now."

"That's my girl." Beth said. John pulled up as the three were sitting on the porch.

"Hi granddaughter." John said coming up the stairs holding a gift behind his back.

"What's behind your back Grandpa?"

"It's a present."

"For me?"

"Maybe. We will find out later." Katie nodded following John inside.

"I think she's going to crash before dinner tonight." Rip said. Beth nodded aware of how tired Katie seemed. She came back out on to the porch with another donut and icing on her face.

"Stop feeding her sugar Daddy!" Beth yelled out to John. "No more sweets until after lunch Katie."

"Daddy can we slide on the horses today? You said we could when I was older and now I'm four."

"Ask your Mama." Rip told Katie.

"I'll think about it. Ask me later." Katie huffed but didn't say anything further.

"Better get the barbeque started." Rip said getting up from the porch and heading to where they had set up the barbeque near their favourite grass spot. Beth and Katie followed to see that Rip had hung lights around the tree and set up some games and tables for people. There was a separate table for gifts that John had put his on already. Katie ran off to look at the games, Beth poured herself a drink.

The wranglers walked up the path, Walker with his guitar in hand.

"Smells alright there Rip." Lloyd said grabbing himself a beer. Rip was busy cooking steak and sausages on the barbeque. The rest of the hands sat around having a drink while Walker strum his guitar.

"Daddy, will you play this with me?" Katie held up a quoits ring.

"Go on Rip, I can handle the barbeque." John told Rip who passed the tongs.

"Alright cowgirl, you've got to throw the ring on the little peg. A bit like roping." Rip showed Katie how to throw the ring landing it on the peg.

"My turn!" Katie threw the ring landing it with no trouble. Rip shook his head, it was just like roping for her.

"You should have a go against her Teeter." Colby joked.

"Shut it you fucker." Teeter responded.

"Hey Katie, Happy Birthday!" Tate said running over. Katie blushed and said thank you.

"Happy birthday kiddo" Kayce said coming over to shake Rip's hand, Monica was off talking to Beth.

"Thanks Uncle Kayce. Tate do you wanna play?" Tate nodded and Rip passed him some rings. The two kids played for a while, whilst the adults socialised. Katie had much better luck at getting the ring on the peg than Tate who had had enough after a few round.

"Tate, have to been sliding on the horses before?" Katie asked.

"No, my Dad says I'm not allowed to until I'm older."

"Oh ok."

"Are you allowed to?" Tate asked sounding jealous.

"Maybe today. My Mama said she will decide later if I can." Tate ran off to ask his Dad if he could slide as well.

"Katie come have something to eat." Beth called for Katie as everyone sat down to have a late lunch. Beth put together a plate for her, putting it next to where Rip was sitting.

"Righto, kid. Eat up." Rip said cutting up the meat for her. Beth sat across from them next to her own Dad.

"She's a real good kid, honey." John told her.

"Yeah, she is Dad." Beth took a sip of her drink before tucking in to her meal. Katie slipped off her chair after finishing her plate, wandering over to where Walker had left his guitar. She ran her fingers across the strings listening to the sound. Rip turned around hearing the guitar.

"Hey! That's not yours to touch."

"It's all right sir, I don't mind." Walker said. Katie had a look of guilt on her face. Walker got up and moved to the chair where the guitar was.

"Want me to play for you?" Katie nodded and Walker started to play what everyone thought must have been his only happy song. Katie danced around him making everyone laugh. Rip looked at Beth and mouthed 'your daughter'. Beth got up to dance with Katie whilst everyone else sat around.

"Right boys, don't get too rowdy. Sliding comp later I reckon. Hope you've been practicing Jimmy." Rip told the wranglers, Jimmy laughed and shook his head.

Walker played a few more songs before stopping.

"Do you still want to slide on the horse Katie?"

"Yes please Mama!" Katie jumped up and down on the spot.

"All right. You have to do what Daddy says. Go and see if he says yes."

Katie ran off to find Rip, tapping him on the leg.

"What's going on?" Rip asked looking down at her.

"Mama said we can slide if I do what I'm told. Can we please."

"All right then. We will go and saddle the horses." Rip told her finishing his beer. The party moved to the pen, the wranglers except for Ethan and Jake saddled a horse each, John and Kayce saddled their own. Tate was trying to persuade Monica to let him go with Kayce.

"Mom. Katie gets to go with her Dad AND I'm older than her." Tate whinged.

"I'll think about it." Tate stormed off not liking the answer he got. "If you behave like that the answer will be a no Tate Dutton." Monica told him.

"Sorry to do that to you." Beth said.

"Don't worry about it. I thought you didn't like horses. I'm surprised you're letting Katie slide."

"Yeah well, she's completely obsessed with horses and Rip. I wouldn't let her do it with anyone else. Not even Dad."

"Right, ride down there turn around ride towards us and slide. Biggest slide wins." John told everyone. Katie was sitting infront of Rip in the saddle.

"She looks comfortable up there Beth." Monica noticed. Beth nodded. Tate came over to where Beth and Monica were standing climbing to sit on the fence, jealous of Katie on the horse.
Walker and Lloyd were naturals at it, Jimmy hadn't improved much since last time. Kayce and John slid down the pen kicking up a lot of dust each laughing.

"Your turn Rip." Kayce said.

"We gonna do a big one Daddy?" Katie asked as they approach the other end.

"We're gonna win cowgirl. You hold on tight remember. Wear these." Rip put his glasses over her eyes and pull his hat down hard. Beth held her breath as she watched Rip command the horse to run at full speed in her direction with Katie in his arms.

"Whoa" Rip said, the horse starting skidding, stopping just before the fence.
"Damn, he's nuts." Colby said.

"All good cowgirl?"

"Did we win Daddy?" Rip laughed.

"I think so." He told her. Beth let out the breath she had been holding.

"Can I have a go Mom?" Tate asked Monica after watching Katie.

"All right, go with your Dad. Kayce not too big." Kayce nodded at Monica, lifting Tate up to sit in front of him. Tate whooped with glee as the horse slid to a stop.

"Mama, will you ride with me?" Katie asked Beth.

"You ride with Daddy baby." Beth didn't enjoy riding and felt safer Katie being with Rip.

"I wanna go with you." Everyone else was leaving the pen to give the three some space, knowing that Beth didn't like riding and Katie was probably about to get upset.

"Mama doesn't like riding as much as you cowgirl, so that's ok." Rip told her. Rip got off the horse, holding Katie on the saddle.
"You can both sit in front of me darlin'?" Rip thought Beth might prefer to sit with him behind her. Beth got on the horse behind Katie and Rip behind her.

"Hold on like normal Katie." Rip told her before putting a hand on Beth's waist to relax her. "Lean back Beth. I'm here." Rip directed the horse to walk around the pen before out in to the field. Katie was leaning forward holding on to the horses neck as he walked around. Beth put her hands on Katie's back making sure she didn't fall off.

"Not so bad. But I'm not doing it solo if I can avoid it."

"I know honey."

"I think Katie may be asleep." Rip looked over Beth's shoulder and saw Katie with her eyes shut cheek against the horses neck.

"She did wake up early today. We should go back anyway." Rip took them back to the stables, helping Beth off the horse before grabbing Katie who was sleeping. Gator had brought the cake out and the sun was starting to set.

"Did you make that Beth?" Kayce asked looking at the stacked cake with a horse face made from fondant and buttercream icing.

"Sure did, little brother." Everyone gathered around and sang Happy Birthday softly as Walker played it on guitar. Katie slept in Rip's arms so Tate blew the candles out.