Rip left for work the next morning, leaving Beth ready a book with Katie in their bed. Beth was planning to work from home for the day and Rip hoped he could finish work early to take Katie for a ride.
The girls made breakfast together before Beth sent Katie upstairs to get some of her toys whilst she worked from the kitchen table. Beth was on a long phone call when she realised it had been a little too quite for a little too long. She ended the meeting and called out to Katie.
"What are you doing Katie?" Beth heard her giggling from upstairs
"Come down here please." Beth called out. Katie's footsteps could be heard in shoes that didn't sound like anything she owned.Beth looked up to the landing at the top of the stairs and noticed Katie in one of her dresses and pair of heels.
"What you doing baby?"
"I'm Beth Dutton." Katie said with her hands on her hips. Beth stifled her laugh. Katie climbed down the stairs on her bum so she didn't lose the high heels.
"That's strange. You look like Katie Dutton-Wheeler to me." Beth feigned confusion.
"Just playing! It is me Mama!" Katie took the heels off and approached Beth nearly tripping on the dress
"Oh good! I was worried I lost you!" Katie leaned in to Beth side where she was sitting. Beth rubbed her back, before turning back to the computer.
"Are you done yet Mama?" Katie whined.
"Soon, why don't you play with your blocks over there." Beth pointed to the rug in the living room. Katie trudged over unhappily but tipped out the blocks to build with.
After a few more phone calls Beth noticed that Katie had fallen asleep on the rug. She glanced at the time and realised if she slept any longer she wouldn't sleep tonight.
Beth knelt down to gently shake her shoulder. "Hey baby, time to wake up." Katie opened her eyes reaching for Beth.
"All right, come on." Beth picked her up and Katie tucked her head under Beth's chin. "You're a bit clingy today aren't you." Beth said gently.
Beth remembered how short Monica said it was with Tate wanting to cuddle close so she thought she may as well enjoy it whilst it lasts, even if it meant she wasn't getting as much work done as she wanted. They'd always call her if they really wanted her.
She made them both lunch and they sat in the afternoon sun together. Katie showed no interest in the cubby house like usual or her bike.
"How about we go in to town for an ice cream." Katie perked up at the mention of ice cream. Beth grabbed her handbag and drove in to town.
"What flavour do you want honey?" Beth asked Katie as the ice cream shop assistant waited patiently. Katie turned in to Beth's legs, appearing to be shy.
"Come on baby, you're not normally shy. Feel free to serve someone else." Beth noticed there were some other people waiting.
"You normally like rainbow, would you like that again?" Katie rubbed her red cheeks and nodded. Beth ordered Katie's ice cream and choc chip for herself in a cone. The pair sat outside on a bench eating it. Katie licked her ice cream and it fell out of the cone on to the ground with a splat.
"Uh oh!"
Beth looked down and noticed the ice cream now on the ground.
"That's all right. You can have mine." Beth passed Katie her ice cream but she shook her head refusing.
"I don't want any thanks Mama." Beth shrugged her shoulders and finished hers before driving home. They were about ten minutes from the ranch when Beth heard Katie say that she didn't feel good. Beth glanced in the rear view mirror and noticed that she look a bit green. Beth pulled off the road and passed a spare empty bag to her.
"Throw up in that if you're going to." Beth told her and rummaged around for some water. Katie starting throwing up managing to get most in the bag. Then the tears started to flow.
"I feel sick!" Katie cried.
"I know. We're nearly home." Beth told her. She made Katie drink some water before driving the rest of the way. Beth decided to pull up at the lodge to get rid of the vomit and check Katie's temperature before going home.
"Come on, I'll carry you inside."
John noticed Beth coming up the porch steps and met her in the kitchen. "Everything all right?"
"She's just been sick." Beth said Katie nuzzled in to her arms. Beth put a hand to her forehead and she felt warm and clammy. "Have you got a thermometer Dad?"
John dug around in an old first aid kit and found one, passing it to Beth.
"Come on baby, put this under your tongue for me." Beth managed to get it in Katie's mouth despite her trying to pull away.
"She doesn't look very well honey." John told her.
"I know. Thing says her temp is 100.4F." Beth looked down surprised at the thermometer.
"Give her a bath honey and then some water and paracetamol. Use to work with you kids." John advised, Beth lifted Katie up and took her upstairs.
"By the way Daddy, can you get the bag of vomit out of my car." Beth yelled behind her. John grimaced and shook his head. I'd rather scoop shit he thought.
Katie didn't say much whilst having a bath and didn't complain getting in or out like usual.Beth wrapped her in a fluffy towel she had found before putting her in a large tshirt of her Dad's.
"I want Daddy." Katie whined.
"Me too baby." Beth whispered into her hair before resting her cheek against Katie's head.
John stuck his head in to the lounge, "I'm heading off. You ok Katie?"
Katie looked up and offered a wave but nothing more. Beth nodded at her dad before passing Katie some water.
Rip was coming up the porch steps to meet John to discuss the ranch. He noticed Beth's car in the drive.
"Hello sir."
"Rip. What's going on?" John asked heading downtown the stairs.
"Just here to talk about the boundary fence. Looks like it's been cut again."
"God dammit. Can you handle it."
Rip nodded. "I've got the boys on it already."
Katie lifted her head thinking she heard Rip's voice. "Daddy?"
Beth turned to look outside and saw Rip talking with her Dad. "It is. Let's see him huh" Beth got up and Katie trailed behind her. She opened the door to the porch causing both men to look up. Beth lent against the door frame with her arms crossed and Katie by her leg, holding on to her dress.
"What are you both doin?" Rip asked looking at them both not noticing Katie's clothes.
"She's sick." Beth nodded in Katie's direction. "Temperature and vomiting."
Rip came up the stairs putting his hand against Katie's head to feel her temperature. "How you feeling cowgirl?"
"Sick Daddy." Katie told him.
John got in his car to leave. Rip picked Katie up before going inside, Beth following and closing the door. Katie was whinging to Rip in his arms about not feeling well.
"Close your eyes for me." Rip told her as he walked around the room swaying from side to side. Beth sat down on the couch with a sigh watching them both.
"I can do that Rip if you have to work." Beth told him.
"It's fine. I want to help. She's my kid too." Beth smiled sat back on the couch. Rip continued walking around until he was certain that Katie was asleep when she started softly snoring. He sat next to Beth and pulled her in to his side as she tucked her legs under herself.
"What happened?" Rip asked.
"Nothing, she was a bit quieter than normal this morning so we went out for ice cream and she was sick on the way home." Beth told him.
"She might just need a good sleep." Rip said relaxing in to the couch. He felt tired himself. Beth ran her hand through his hair before kissing his cheek and telling him to close his eyes.
"Beth, I've got to go back to work."
"No one is going to tell you off. Just close your eyes Rip." Beth told him. Rip closed his eyes and rested his head back against the couch. Before Beth could get up from the couch he was also snoring, she shook her head before going to have a smoke outside.
"You know that'll kill you right?" Kayce said approaching the ranch.
Beth let out a puff of smoke, "so will riding those fucking things."
Kayce laughed and shook his head. "Dad around?"
"Nope." Beth told him.
"Rip around then?"
"Yes but not for you." Kayce cocked at eyebrow at Beth's response.
"What does that mean Beth? You two getting it upstairs?" Kayce retorted
"Why would I be sitting her in this if that was the case?" Beth replied dryly.
"I don't want to know Beth. Can I just talk to him quickly." Kayce asked.
Beth got up from where she was sitting, putting the cigarette out. "Wait here."
Beth went inside to find Katie lying on Rip's chest awake and Rip still sleeping.
"Hi baby. Feeling better?" Beth asked
Katie smiled at Beth and nodded. "Uncle Kayce is outside if you want to go see him."
Katie got off Rip causing him to groan as she dug her knees in to him. "What's wrong?" Rip groaned.
"Kayce is outside and wants to chat." Rip got up quickly, stretching before grabbing his hat and going outside.
"... I was sick before, Mama had to give me a bag in the car. Then I had a sleep and I feel better now." Katie told Kayce.
"That's good you're feeling better. Hey Rip." Kayce nodded his head for them to go over by the horse trough. Rip went down the steps as Beth sat next to Katie on the steps.
"What they talking about Mama?"
"Ranch stuff I guess. You feeling better now?" Beth asked. Katie nodded silently getting up and sitting in Beth's lap watching Rip and Kayce. Beth wrapped her arms around Katie holding her close and smelling her clean hair. Beth could see Rio shaking his head before kicking the trough. Katie jumped in fright.
"It's all right Katie." Beth murmured.
"Someone's in trouble with Daddy." Beth chuckled at Katie agreeing with her. Rip came back up the stairs.
"Everything all right?" Beth asked.
"Gotta go, Darlin's." Rip said
"Someone's in big trouble." This caused Rip to chuckled before ruffling Katie's hair.
"Not for either of you to worry about. Ranching stuff." Rip told them not wanting to go in to detail.
"But I'm a rancher?" Katie frowned at Rip.
"You are cowgirl but this one's for Daddy only. I'll be home after dinner Beth." Rip kissed Beth goodbye before getting in the truck with Kayce.
Beth took Katie home and sent her off to play on the mat within eyesight whilst she did some more work. Beth's best meal she could cook was still hamburger helper so she made that for the two of them before they watched an animated movie that Katie thought was hilarious. Beth zoned in and out not really paying attention unless Katie was laughing.
At the end of the movie Rip still wasn't home but it was Katie's bed time.
"Come on Katie. Bedtime."
"Can I sleep with you?" Katie asked. Beth preferred Katie to sleep in her own bed but was willing to give in this once.
"Just tonight. Now upstairs." Beth clapped her hands before chasing Katie upstairs in to her and Rip's bedroom. She got Katie changed before putting her in the middle. She climbed in to her side turning the lamp on.
"It's so big without Daddy." Beth laughed and agreed.
"Time to sleep." Beth rested her head on the pillow and Katie snuggled in her arms. Beth was woken a few hours later hearing Rip's footsteps coming up the stairs. He stumbled around the room in the dark until Beth put the lamp on.
"Why are you awake Beth. It's late."
"Waiting for you. What's going on?" Beth said.
"Nothing, just ranching stuff. Why is she in our bed?" Rip asked noticing Katie sprawled out across the middle of the bed.
"She wanted to sleep in here and you weren't home to say no, so I let her." Beth said.
"I'll put her in her own bed." Rip said moving to lift her.
"No. Leave her. Just get in to bed would you." Beth said rolling over and turning off the lamp. She heard the bed creak under Rip before closing her eyes.
