Rip woke half way through the night to yelling and whooping of the wranglers.
"God dammit." Rip muttered. He pried Beth out of his arms and got dressed. He stopped by Katie's door to check that she was still asleep. He watched her chest rise and fall before heading down to the bunkhouse.
"What the fuck are you doing? And why are you all still awake?" Rip said slamming the door shut.
The wranglers dispersed. "What? Is it late?" Jimmy asked.
"Jimmy it's 3:30 in the morning, get a fucking watch will ya." Rip told Jimmy who shut his mouth.
"In one fucking hour you will all have to be awake and if I get back home and my kid is awake because of you lot. Jimmy, it'll be you cleaning the stalls. Got it." Rip left the bunkhouse heading back to his own warm bed.
He shut the door quietly, skipping the second stair that had a creak.
"Daddy?" Katie said softly from her doorway.
"What are you doin' awake?" Rip asked quietly.
"It was noisy." She rubbed her eyes.
"Come on. Back to bed." Rip lifted her up and put her in bed.
"You gonna stay?" Katie asked.
"Only for a bit. I've got to go to work soon." He told her glancing at his watch. Her single bed really wasn't big enough for him but he made it work.
An hour later, Rip groaned knowing he had to get up. Katie stirred next to him.
"Go back to sleep." He whispered.
"Can I come with you? I'll be good."
"All right. You'll have to be really quiet." Katie nodded at Rip, getting out of bed. Rip grabbed out clean jeans and a jumper for her, helping her get changed before getting his own clothes.
"Already?" Beth asked groggily.
"Mmmhm, I'm taking Katie too." Rip told Beth. She nodded rolling over to go back to sleep.
Father and daughter walked hand in hand down to the stables. No wranglers were there saddling any horses for the day.
"I told them god dammit." Rip said to himself.
"Told who, Daddy?" Katie asked looking up at him.
"The wranglers were partying last night." Rip said. The pair walked to the bunkhouse. "Just stay here for me cowgirl." He said pointing to the wooden seat nearby.
"I told all of you to be ready. What the fuck are you all doing still in here?" Rip shouted to the wranglers who were just getting out of their bunks.
A couple of the wranglers pushed past Rip heading to the stables. Rip stopped Jimmy on his way out. "Bad luck for you Jimmy. My kid is awake and sitting outside so you're scooping shit today."
Jimmy groaned but said nothing heading for the shovel.
"What are we doing today?" Katie asked.
"Checking fences and then the livestock cowgirl." He told her. "Right, everyone in pairs. Someone dropped clover on the ground we need to check fences and livestock."
Rip gave out order from his horse, Katie copying him from where she sat in front. The morning sun was warm on their skin. Rip could tell she was starting to tire.
"Hey Rip!" Colby yelled out, waving him over. He was sitting by a cow that had bloat.
"Dammit." Rip said. "It's bloat Colby. Nothing we can do." Colby nodded knowing what he had to do.
"Right, everyone. We need to move the cattle to a different paddock. Let's go." Rip called. The wranglers sprang in to action directing their horses around the herd. Rip held up the rear.
"You all right kid?" He asked Katie who nodded against his chest.
He checked his watch and saw it was 10am, she had been awake now for seven hours. No doubt she would be hungry and tired now.
"Do you want to go back home?" She rubbed her eyes and that was enough of an answer for Rip.
"Take them up there and check the feed first. We are going back to the ranch but I'll be back." The wranglers nodded and kept working, Rip turned his horse around and started walking back to the ranch.
Beth was getting in to her car at the lodge when they got back. She got out of the drivers seat when she saw them. She nodded at Rip as if to ask what was wrong. He nodded at Katie who was now leaning to her side against him with her eyes shut.
"Asleep?" She mouthed. Rip nodded.
"Can you take her?" Rip asked.
She checked her watch. "I'm late for a meeting."
Rip nodded, he passed Katie to Beth whilst he got off his horse. "I've got her." Rip said holding his arms out to Beth. Beth looked at her face before giving her to Rip.
"Gotta go baby. About to make someone's life miserable."
"See you Beth." Rip walked inside putting Katie down on the couch covering her with a blanket.
"Bloat in the cattle, sir." Rip said knocking on the study door where John sat. "Clover in the feed."
"How did that happen?" John asked rising from his seat.
"Don't know. I just brought Katie here. She's sleeping on the couch. Boys are moving the livestock now."
"I can watch her, Rip. I have somewhere to be at 2:30." John said.
"Thanks. Beth might be back by then, if not I'll come get her." Rip left and headed back to where the boys were. John continued what he was doing occasionally looking up to check Katie was ok.
"Beth, you're poking a big bear doing that."
"Bob, I'm not poking them. It's an opportunity." Beth swung on her work chair.
"They're going to know it's you when you put the word out."
"I'm not going to put the word out. You are Bob." Beth told him.
"They're going to come out swinging."
"Yeah well that's just life in the Serengeti, I guess." She told him. "You want to call the fund managers or the press."
"I'll take the managers. But Beth, just a small leak. Do not blow up the dam."
"Come on Bob, you know me better than that. A medium leak." Beth said goodbye before calling her contact at the press.
"Grandpa, can I have something to eat please?" Katie asked standing in the doorway.
"I'm sure we can make something, come on." John led her to the kitchen where she chatted away whilst he made her a sandwich and some fruit. John looked out the window and saw Thomas Rainwater's car coming down the driveway.
"Let's eat this outside." John told Katie who was happy to oblige. John set her up on the porch before meeting Thomas and Mo in the driveway.
"I'm here to discuss our problem that won't go away." Thomas said.
"Yeah I figured."
"You know the FAA has approved a portion of your land as the airport location, I'm sure you're aware." Thomas said as the men walked to the seating under the tree.
"I'm not concerned. The attorney general and governor offices don't concern me with their decisions."
"We want the same thing John. Different reasons behind it. This city will be the end of us though."
"I agree with that." John said.
"I have a ruthless person who will put this to an end."
"Well, I have one of those too. She's working on it." John responded.
"Maybe they should meet and cause some trouble together." Thomas said standing from his seat leaving John where he was.
"Grandpa, I'm finished." Katie said coming up to him. She looked at Thomas and Mo offering a small wave to each of them.
"Think about it John. That's your future right there." Thomas said before leaving with Mo.
"What does that mean Grandpa?"
"It means, one day this will be yours and Tate's." John told her.
"All of it? Even the horses?" Katie asked
"Well maybe new horses by then Granddaughter."
"I can hear Mama's car." Katie said to John. He saw Beth coming down the driveway quickly before halting to a stop at the porch. He watched her get out of the car and head to the steps before noticing the pair on the grass.
"Can you wait one minute whilst I talk to your Mama?" John asked Katie who nodded her approval. He met Beth on the stairs.
"We've got a problem." He said.
"I know. The same problem, I got rid of the last person now it's someone else. Just adding it to the list Dad with your new problem from yesterday."
John took his hat off. "Yeah Thomas Rainwater was just here too. About the airport."
"I'm cutting them where it hurts with that." Beth said.
John nodded. "Just handle it Beth."
Beth left John on the steps and went to see Katie who was sitting in the chairs by the tree looking tiny against the big frame. She turned when she heard Beth approaching.
"I've missed you Mama."
Beth smiled, she had missed hearing Katie's voice all morning and the little things about her like her sticky hands after breakfast and the cuddles. The little girl made going to work ten times harder and doing her job the same way as before harder but it was all for her little family and her own Dad.
"Hi baby. Room for me there?" Beth went to sit of Katie's lap causing her to laugh hysterically.
"You're too big Mama!"
Beth acted hurt as Katie scrambled off the chair, jumping in to Beth's lap when she sat down.
"Where were you Mama?"
"Working so you kept fed." Beth told her. Katie wasn't a very big or tall kid for her age but she knew how to snack on food well, rather than eating bigger meals. "Someone tried to mess with me today but there about to find out that's a very bad idea."
"Uh oh, will they get a time out?" Katie asked, knowing that's often what she got when she was in big trouble with Beth.
"The biggest of all time outs. They won't come out of it." Beth said to her.
"Big trouble." Katie said.
"I'm home now for the rest of the day." Beth told her. It was nearing 2:30pm, Rip wouldn't be far from finishing up for the day. The girls sat under the tree, Beth had her knees up so Katie could sit facing her resting her back against them.
Rip walked up to the lodge on his horse but realised Beth had made it home and could watch Katie so John could go in to town.
"Hey Rip. Beth's here." John said.
"Yeah I see that."
"Everything all right down there?"
"Yeah cattle are moved and feed looks fine there. I'll look in to it." Rip said.
"Thanks. Take the afternoon off now you're here. I'll be back later, meeting in town." John said before getting in his truck. Rip nodded, tying his horse up by the trough.
He walked over to his little family, surprising them both.
"I've got the afternoon off."
"How come?"
"I didn't ask Beth. I just took it." Rip told her. "I've got to go in to town, want to come?" Beth shook her head. "What about you Katie?"
She scrunched up her face and shook her head. "No thanks."
"Mamas girl." Her muttered before leaving. "Wear old clothes when I get home girls, a surprise!" Beth had no idea what he was talking about.
Rip had been thinking about what Katie had asked him earlier about having a porch swing at home. He decided he would drive in to town to get some materials from the hardware store and some paint in colours she liked to paint it.
Monica pulled up with Tate who made a beeline to play with Katie. The pair played tag on the grass whilst their mother chatted about nothing in particular. Monica liked Beth but was wary of her, knowing she was quick to lash out and could cut anyone down without a second thought. She did appreciate how protective she was over her family, particularly the kids.
"What are you getting your Dad for Father's Day?" Tate asked Katie who was lying on the ground puffed.
"What's that?" Katie asked.
"A day just for Dad's, you get them a gift. Like a birthday, silly!" Tate teased.
Katie shrugged, not understanding completely.
"You haven't got him anything?" Tate asked surprised. "We made cards at school and painted pictures. It's on Sunday."
Katie didn't know when Sunday was but figured it must be soon by the way Tate was talking. She got up and went over to Beth now worried she hadn't got her Dad anything special.
"What's wrong, Katie?" Beth asked seeing a worried look on her face.
"I didn't get Daddy anything!" Katie told her.
"What for?" Beth asked.
"I didn't know she didn't know." Tate said. The adults looked at him waiting for further explanation. "About Father's Day!"
Beth looked at Monica. "When even is that?"
"It's on Sunday, Beth." Monica told her. Beth closed her eyes realising she had forgotten too. It wasn't something celebrated a lot on the ranch other than a few words to John and a bottle of whisky.
"Don't worry Katie, we'll sort it out." Beth tried to reassure her. She had no clue what Rip would even like. He was a relatively simple guy, he liked ranching, horses, Beth and Katie.
"We better get going anyway. You smell terrible Tate, you need a bath." Monica told him. Both kids pulled faces at the mention of baths.
"You'll get one later Katie." Beth told her.
"What do we get Daddy? I didn't know about it!" Beth could tell Katie was stressed by Tate.
"Hey kid, I forgot and that my fault. Don't worry, we can have a think about it together."
"Daddy likes beer."
Beth laughed. "He does, you can't buy him that though." Beth thought something a bit more meaningful would be nice. Katie looked confused by Beth's answer, knowing he liked that definitely. "We will have a look in town tomorrow."
Rip got home to the pair making nachos, Katie eating more chips out of the bag than helping. So much so, Beth had to move them out of her reach. He unloaded the truck and got some tools out. There was still plenty of light to get building.
"You two got your old clothes on yet?" Rip asked. He noticed neither had changed yet. Beth still in high heels, a work skirt and blouse and Katie in her dirty socks, jeans and jumper.
"Go on then." Rip said to them both.
Katie scrambled to the stairs wondering what her Dad had planned. Beth followed behind, picking out an old college tshirt for herself and jeans and smaller one for Katie to wear as a dress with a pair of leggings underneath.
They met Rip on the porch where he was surrounded by lots of different lengths of wood and power tools.
"What's this baby?" Beth asked.
"We are building a porch swing." Rip said. Katie jumped up and down in excitement.
Rip gave out instructions for which bit needed to go where, telling Katie what tool to pass him when. Beth was happy to watch from the step, helping when Katie couldn't find something or needing help lifting something.
"Wow. I want to swing!" Katie said.
"Not just yet. Need to put a few more things on yet." Rip made it with a solid seat back before attaching that and adding the chain for it to suspend from the frame.
"All right, you and Mama can have a go." Rip said. He lifted her up easily putting her on the swing as Beth sat next to her. He held out his hand for Beth's phone and managed to flick it to video after watching her a thousand times.
Beth gently swung the swing causing Katie to erupt in to a fit of giggles. She giggled and reach out to Beth who pulled her in to her side laughing too. Katie calmed down after a while.
"Your turn Rip." Beth said holding out her hand for her phone. Rip sat down on the swing, causing it to move more than Katie expected under his weight.
"Woah!" Katie said. She cuddled in to Rip's side.
"Smile at me." Beth said with the camera ready. Rip looked at her smiling, Katie was too busy smiling up at him. Beth snapped away on her phone.
"Now for the dirty part" Rip told them going down to the truck. He came back to the porch with a couple of tins of paint and some different sized brushes. He bought a blue, purple and yellow tin.
"I thought we could put our hand prints on it and Dutton-Wheeler underneath." Rip said to them both. Beth smiled and nodded her head, Katie was eager to get paint on her hands.
"What colour do you like Katie?" Rio asked, letting her see the colours
"Yellow!" Beth helped Katie dip her hand in to the paint before rubbing her palms together to get paint on both. She carefully helped Katie put both her hands on the back section of the seat in the middle. Beth rubbed Katie's hands to transfer the paint well before taking them off.
"Cool!" Katie said, watching Rip dip his right hand in to the blue paint, he stuck his hand print on the right of Katie's. Beth followed doing the same on left hand side with the yellow paint. Both adults turned around to find Katie dipping her hands in to each of the tins and mixing the colours before wiping it on the off cuts of wood. Before Rip could say anything, Katie wiped the hair out of her face with her wet paint hands getting a smear of paint on her face. Her mouth made a perfect 'O' realising what happened.
"That's why you're in old clothes kid." Rip told her.
Katie smiled mischievously before looking at Beth who had her back turned to them painting "Dutton-Wheeler" under their hand prints, she put her hands in the yellow tin before going up quietly behind Beth and putting her hands on her face.
Beth yelled in surprise, giving Katie a fright. She wasn't sure what Beth was going to do next, before Beth grabbed some blue paint in her hand and flung it down to where Rip had moved to on the grass.
"Hey! Don't you get that on my clean deck." Rip said. Beth smiled and moved the tins to the grass so Katie to play with the paint and not worry about it getting somewhere she shouldn't.
Beth stood back admiring her handiwork before calling Rip and Katie inside.
"You can swing tomorrow, it's not going any where." Rip told her going in to the house.
Beth did the night routine with Katie whilst Rip made some snacks for the park trip the next morning.
They crawled in to their own bed, both exhausted from their respective days and knowing that Katie would wake them up early regardless in the morning.
