"Walker, a word." Rip called out to Walker who was saddling his horse. The other wranglers looked over curiously

"About that festival. Is it family friendly?" Rip asked.

"Yessir." Walker replied.

"See you there then." Rip said turning on his heel.

The weekend rolled around and Rip was looking forward to spending it outdoors with Beth and Katie.

"What time do we need to leave Rip?"

"About 10:30. I was thinking we could have breakfast at the lodge and spend some time there before going?" Rip told Beth.

"Where we going?" Katie asked from under the doona.

"A music festival, your Daddy wants to take us." Beth told her peeking under the covers.

"What's a festival?" Katie came out from the covers looking at Rip.

"Well, there will be lots of music, people and you can dance all you want." Katie's eyes went wide at the mention of dancing. "There might even be some carnival rides too, I'm not exactly sure." Rip told her.

"Can we go now?" Katie said excitedly.

"Not yet baby, it's too early." Beth said with a yawn snuggling in to her pillow. Katie looked at Rip to see if he would get up, he smiled before resting his hands behind his head. Katie sighed before crawling on top of Beth and resting her head on her chest.

"Mama." She mumbled.

"Yeah honey?" Katie felt the vibrations of Beth talking on her cheek.

"I love you."

Rip looked over at Beth and smiled remembering their conversation from earlier in the week.

"I love you too baby." Beth said wrapping her arms around Katie's little body. "If only you stayed like this forever."

"Wait until she's a teenager. If she's anything like you were, it'll be a hell of a ride." Rip said. Beth rolled her eyes at him.

Beth helped Katie put on a ¾ sleeve denim dress with flowers embroidered on the neckline and hem and a pair of cowgirl boots.

"We better take your hat today too." Beth told Katie who ran to grab it off the hook in her room.

Beth wore a maroon dress, with a low neckline, boots and her brown hat. Rip had on his usual jeans and black shirt.

"Nice to see you changed it up darlin'." Beth told him.

"At least I'm consistent." Rip looked Beth up and down before pulling her in for a kiss.

"Come on Katie let's go." Rip called upstairs. Katie ran across the landing before taking one step at a time, careful to not fall. Katie passed Beth her hat to carry before heading to the porch to wait for them both.
They decided to drive up to the lodge from the foreman's house rather than walking to save time.

John was sitting on the porch as Beth pulled up at the stairs.

"You in a rush or something?" John commented at the dust Beth had kicked up when she stopped.

"Ready for breakfast actually." Beth replied. John nodded before going inside.

"Where are you lot off to?" John asked. It wasn't very often that Katie was in a dress and less so when Beth was trying to cover her with a napkin to stop her spilling food on her clothes.

"We're going to a festival Grandpa." Katie told him.

"Oh, that will be fun." John looked at Beth somewhat surprised she wanted to be around so many people.

"Walker is playing Sir. Do you want to go?" Rip asked, Beth looked over Katie's head at him surprised. She thought it was just going to be the three of them.

"Yeah I might come along later." Kayce walked in as John was saying this.

"Where are you three going? Dressed like that." Kayce whistled.

"A music festival Uncle Kayce." Katie said squirming as Rip tried to wipe her face clean of syrup.

"Oh the one in Livingston. Monica and I were going to go later. Tate's at a friend's for the day." Beth nodded.

"Might see you both there then." She said. Kayce grabbed some toast and coffee before leaving.

"I'm going to go down to the barn quickly before we go Beth." Rip said standing from the table.

"Can I go too? Please." Katie looked between her parents before Rip nodded. The two left, Katie skipping lightly in front.

"Don't get her dirty Rip." He waved his hand in reply to Beth.

"Everything all right Beth?" John asked as they sat around the table.

"Fine, Daddy."

"I wanna help Beth."

"Help what?"

"I can see the look on your face. Your mother use to get it too. You're wondering if you're doing it right." Beth looked at John.

"Thing is Dad, she was good at breaking me down, she taught me to kill or be killed. I don't want that for her. I'm never going to make her feel less than like our mother did to me. Never going to let her feel guilty like you did or that she can't come to me." Beth told him, John looked down at the table.

"I know I let you down Beth. I'm sorry you felt like you couldn't come to me. Being a parent is the hardest job of all but if that kid wakes up every morning and you're the first person she goes to and the person she chooses to go to when she's happy and sad or with any problem. Then you're doing it right." John rose from the table putting a hand on Beth's shoulder before leaving the room. She rubbed her brow before throwing her napkin on the plate and leaving for the barn.

"Mama! I just sat on the horse without a saddle!" Katie said reaching to hold Beth's hand. Beth squeezed her hand back.

"I think that's call bareback Katie. Who let you do that?" Beth asked.

"Daddy." Katie said matter-of-factly.

"Hi Darlin', ready to go." Rip said approaching them with Beth's keys in his hand.

"Mmmhmm, I'll drive." Beth grabbed the keys. "Stop giving our kid ideas of dangerous things to do."

"Like what?" Rip asked.

"You know, riding a horse for starters and secondarily without a saddle."

"Beth, she's growing up surrounded by them. She will be riding for a long time and safely. No doubt you'll have her wearing all the protective gear when she goes out alone." Beth glared at Rip for his comment. He held up his hands. "It's not wrong honey."

Beth drove to the festival finding a park close to the gates. There were a few carnival rides and food trucks around the outskirts and a main stage that they could hear music pumping through. Walking slightly ahead of both her parents, Katie pointed out a Yellowstone truck. "Our truck is here!" Rip nodded explaining that Walker was going to be playing some music later in the day. At the gate Katie looked around the field noticing the sheer amount of people, she waited for Rip and Beth to catch up before reaching for Beth's hand for comfort. Beth smoothed down her hair comfortingly before holding her hand and entering with Rip on her other side.

Music could be heard from the loud stage as well as carnival style music from the rides, Beth noticed Katie looked bewildered at all the noise around her.

"I'll get us all a drink Beth." Rip said heading off to the bar. Beth crouched down to Katie's height and spoke gently to her.

"You all right?" Katie nodded her response. "Daddy and I aren't going to leave you alone. There are lots of people here." Beth was cut short by someone approaching her.

"Hey sexy mama." Beth stood up hearing the words come out of their mouth.

"Excuse me?" Beth looked the man up and down. He was dressed in cowboy boots and a hat, not as tall or well-built as Rip.

"Thought a pretty lady like you might need some protection around all these people." He said sleazily. Katie took a step backwards holding on to Beth's dress as he kept approaching her. Beth stood up straighter a hand resting on Katie's shoulder.

"Something you think you could offer huh, tough guy?" Beth replied. Beth could see he wasn't going to stop approaching them both, she directed Katie to stand behind her who kept a hold of her dress. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Rip approaching them with two beers unopened in one hand, she noticed him bend down to catch Katie's attention. Katie noticed him and ran to him, he easily picked her up with one arm.

"That guy is being weird with Mama." Katie told Rip.

"He doesn't look like he is being very friendly. Better go and stop it, shouldn't we." Rip told Katie. "You hold these in your arms for me." Rip tucked the beers against his chest and Katie who he was holding, before approaching Beth and the bloke.
Katie rested her head on Rip's shoulder. "This guy bothering you darlin'?" Rip asked.

"Hey buddy, I was here first." The guy stood a bit straighter looking Rip up and down. "Anyway, you've got a kid."

Rip acted surprised at the comment. "You're right I do, it's our kid and clearly you're bothering them both so fuck off."
The guy narrowed his eyes looking between them both, Beth had a smug look on her face.

"I'd probably listen to him." Beth advised.

"Who the fuck do you think you both are. Think you're pretty special or somethin'. I was just being nice."

"Sure you were buddy. Let me let you in on a secret." Beth leaned in to him. "He works at the Yellowstone and me. Well, I'm a mother fucking Dutton and trust me my bite is worse than my bark." The guy paled and closed his eyes.

"Look, I'm sorry. I'll leave you to it." He took a few steps back before turning and walking away.

"That was an eventful start." Beth raised an eyebrow at Rip, taking Katie out of his arms as she reached for Beth.

"What is so special about being a mother fucking Dutton, Mama?" Katie asked causing Rip to nearly spit the first sip of his beer out. Beth smiled lightly.

"Baby, we are the top of the food chain but some people need reminding." Katie shook her head confused but didn't ask any further questions.

"You do speak in riddles sometimes Beth." Rip smirked, passed her beer to her free hand. "Looks like we can sit over here." Rip pointed out some empty hay bales that other people were sitting on nearby.