The family of three fell in to a routine as time went by with Beth often taking Lucy to school on her way to the office and picking her up most days other than Tuesday's and Thursday's when Rip would pick her up after basketball practice.
Lucy would do her homework after dinner and if she finished early enough she would practice basketball on the court.
She felt that Beth had been a bit different the last half of the week and she didn't know why. Rip either hadn't noticed or wasn't mentioning it. Beth seemed to have a shorter fuse at home with Lucy on the receiving end occasionally.
"Ready for your game tomorrow?" Rip asked after dinner on Friday.
"Yeah I guess."
"Nervous or something else?" He pressed.
"Is Beth ok? She seems angry and I got in trouble earlier in the week and I didn't even do anything!" She asked while Beth was in the shower.
"Yeah. She's ok. Just someone at work making her job harder than necessary. We'll both be there tomorrow but I'll take you earlier because it says you have to be there at 9."
Lucy nodded before going up the stairs. She knocked on Beth and Rip's door before Beth said she could enter.
"What's wrong baby?" Beth asked noticing a worried look on her face.
"Are you ok? You're like super cranky this week. Rip said someone is being an arsehole at work."
"They are but don't you say that." Beth lightly scolded. "Ready for tomorrow?"
"Kind of." Lucy told her sitting on the edge of their bed. Beth patted the spot next to her.
"Tell me."
"What if I'm bad?"
"Baby you made the team so you're not bad and you've been to the training and doing extra at home. You just do your best tomorrow." Beth told her running her fingers through Lucy's hair. She grabbed a new book off her night stand and started to read knowing that usually calmed her down enough to sleep.
Rip came upstairs to find Beth still reading aloud while Lucy slept.
"She's worried about you." He said.
"Yeah she told me. It's fine Rip. I'll sort them out."
"I know. Do you want me to move her?" He asked. Beth looked down at her.
"Not really."
"I'll take the couch." He said.
Lucy woke early the next morning full of nervous energy. She was outside early shooting hoops and Rip and Beth could hear her getting frustrated.
"I'll go." Beth said. She went outside to find Lucy sitting on the ball looking up at the hoop.
"What going on?" Beth asked
"I've missed every single one!"
"Ok, just take a breath. You're overthinking it baby. You know exactly what to do, close your eyes and take some deep breaths and try again." Beth told her taking a seat on the bench. Lucy did as she was told and then took the shot seeing the ball go in.
"See, I told you. Now go inside and get ready." Beth told her.
Rip prepared his famous fry bread before Lucy got in to her uniform. She came downstairs in her team tracksuit.
"One water bottle and snacks." Rip said putting the water bottle and banana on the counter.
"Thanks."
"Go get your bag and shoes and we'll go." He told her. He had taken her on Tuesday after practice to get a pair of basketball shoes and she couldn't wait to play her first game of the season in them.
"We'll see you there." Rip told Beth as he hurried Lucy out the door.
He parked at the stadium and sat in the bleachers whilst the team warmed up.
"Which one is yours?" A tall man asked Rip, sitting down.
"Ah, blonde, curly hair. White and blue shoes."
"My daughter is the tall one next to her. I'm Jack. Ella's Dad." He said extending his hand.
"Rip. Rip Wheeler. That's my daughter Lucy." He said shaking his hand.
"Looks like our dads are talking." Ella said nodding to the men at Lucy.
Lucy laughed. Rip came from a completely different world to Ella's Dad who was a car salesman dressed always in a suit whenever she had seen him. Whereas, Rip was always dressed in his jeans, black shirt and cowboy hat.
"Right girls go and get changed and then we'll have a quick meeting." The coach said. The girls left for the change room.
"Did you end up getting Wright or Wheeler, Lucy?" Ella asked knowing the full story.
"Wheeler. They don't know though." Lucy said showing her singlet with her name on the back that she picked up on Thursday after everyone had to bring them back for their names to be added.
Beth parked her car, entering the stadium and finding Rip on the teams side in the bleachers. He introduced her to Jack, Ella's Dad.
"Jacky Jones." Beth said. "Long time no see."
"I could say the same Beth."
"Jack is an old high school friend of Lee's." She told Rip who nodded. The team came out, cutting the conversation short, to the crowd cheering.
"There she is." Beth said pointing Lucy out who still had her tracksuit top over her singlet. The opposition were warming up before the buzzer started. Beth quickly spotted a singlet with Jones on the back before noticing Wheeler on Lucy's on the court.
"Did you see her jumper?" Beth pointed out to Rip.
"Wheeler." He said quietly. "She looks nervous."
Both could tell that that Lucy had some jitters as she was looking around the court lost as the coach yelled at her. Beth could see her looking around before her eyes landed on Beth and Rip. She smiled taking a deep breath as Lucy did the same and nodded.
She was one of the smallest in the entire match but just as ferocious for the ball. Somehow managing to push through some of the taller players for fouls called against them and a few baskets. Her and Jacky Jones' daughter worked well as a team with Ella scoring a few baskets with Lucy's assists.
The opposition were strong opponents and put up a good fight, keeping the game interesting. One of their bigger players ran straight in to Lucy who skidded along the court. Rip was just about to jump down on to the court when Lucy pulled herself up.
The coach subbed her off after that to give her a rest.
"You alright?" Ella asked also on the bench.
"Yeah. What the hell is her problem?" Lucy said now pissed off.
"You good, Wheeler?" The coach asked.
"Yeah fine."
"You're a tough kid." She said turning her attention back to the game. The coach kept her subbed until the second half of the second half of the game.
"Wheeler. Get back on there. You too Jones. Sub!" The coach yelled to the referee, putting the girls on.
"Let's do this." Ella said looking at the scoreboard seeing they were down by 16. The five girls on court had a quick discussion before putting their plan in to action and working in unison on the court. The coach yelled out pointers but the girls worked together to bring the scores back to even.
Rip and Jacky looked at the scoreboard and saw 30 seconds left as the noise level went up a notch. One of the girls passed the ball in to Lucy who took it half way down the court before passing off to Ella. Lucy ran under the ring as Ella put the ball up, it bounced off the ring as Lucy jumped for the rebound and took a second shot going in as the buzzer went.
Beth and Rip jumped up to cheer as the school stadium erupted for the first win of the season! Ella and Lucy grinned giving each other a high five before joining the rest of the team in a group hug. The coach congratulated them all as the stadium begun to empty.
"Are your parents here Lucy?" The coach asked.
"Ah yeah. Somewhere." She said looking around for them, spotting Beth coming down the bleachers with Rip behind her. "There." She pointed them out. She ran off to meet them.
"Good game Lu." Rip said. "That last shot was great."
"Told you not to worry. Are you ok? That was a big fall. Who was that girl." Beth said ready to give her a piece of her mind.
"I dunno. I think the coach wants to talk to you." She said going back to the team. Beth and Rip looked at each other wondering why as they followed.
"Coach. This is my Mom and Dad." Lucy said leaning back against Beth who put her hands on her shoulders.
"Rip Wheeler. This is my wife Beth." He said holding his hand out.
The coach shook his hand. "Nice to meet you. She played great. She has a lot of potential if she keeps this up."
Rip nodded. "Thanks Coach."
"See you Tuesday, Wheeler." The coach said.
"Go get changed and we'll meet you out the front." Beth told her with a smile. Lucy ran off to the change rooms.
"I didn't realise she was going to be that good." Rip said.
"Me either." Beth said as her phone rang taking the call away from Rip.
"Where's Beth?" Lucy said coming out in casual clothes.
"Phone call." He told her as they waited.
"I've got to go to work. I don't know when I'll be home." Beth said kissing Rip's cheek before Lucy's.
"I was thinking you and I could spend the afternoon doing whatever you wanted anyway Lu." Rip said.
"I'm pretty hungry? And can we maybe get some new books?"
Rip nodded before throwing her bag in the truck. Beth got in her own car to go to the office.
Rip pulled up at his favourite diner with Lucy. They both ordered burgers sitting in a booth waiting whilst they came. Lucy drinking a milkshake.
"So turns out Beth knows Ella's Dad."
"Really."
"Yeah he went to school with her brother."
"Kayce or Jamie?"
"Lee actually. He died five years ago."
"Oh. I didn't know." She said looking in to the milkshake glass.
"It's fine. Look here is our food." He said as it was put down in front of them.
"What was he like?"
"Lee?" Rip asked seeing Lucy nod. "Beth and him had different views for a while there about the ranch but they both loved their father. He was a good man, kind, funny and knew how to run the ranch."
"But how did he die?" She asked curiously.
"Cowboy-ing"
Lucy could tell she wasn't getting the full truth but didn't push it any further.
"The coach was pretty happy with you today." Rip said changing the conversation.
"Yeah. The girl kinda hurt me though." She said holding up her elbow with a friction burn on it. "It'll be fine." She said having a second look.
Lucy sat back in the booth feeling like her stomach was about to burst.
"Ready for the bookshop?"
"Yeah."
"Go get in the truck." He told her while he paid the bill.
Bookshops weren't really his thing, they were more something that Beth enjoyed. Regardless he walked up and down the shelves of books while Lucy looked before he spotted a chair in the corner. He sat and waited until Lucy found him with a few books in her hand.
"I found these for me. And I wanted to know if I could get one for Beth?" She asked holding it up.
Rip nodded, giving Lucy the money so she could pay. He offered to carry the books for her but she declined.
"Cross the road. I just want to go in that shop there." He told her.
"What's a tack shop?" She asked as Rip pushed the door open for her to duck under his arm through.
"Look at all this stuff." She said looking around all all the chaps, boots and clothes.
"Come on." He told her taking her to the racks of chaps. "If you're going to ride more you better pick a pair. I don't want you ruining your clothes." He told her.
Lucy raised her eyebrows, surprised before looking through the different leathers. She pulled out a few pairs before settling on one.
"Try them on." He told her, helping her get them on over her jeans.
"Can I look around?" She asked.
"Yeah go on." He said looking at his watch. By the time they left here it would be dark and getting closer to dinner time.
She looked at all the different boots and hats and what seemed like an endless supply of embroidered shirts. "All right, I'm done."
"Let's go then. It'll be dinner time when we get home." Rip said. "We may as well go to the bunkhouse tonight."
"Cool. Do you think we can watch the basketball instead of the rodeo?"
"Doubt it Luce." He told her.
Ryan opened the bunkhouse door to a knock finding Lucy on the other side. He saw Rip getting out of the truck still.
"Guess what Ryan! We won the game." She said, far more comfortable around the wranglers than what she first was when she met them.
"Good one." He said moving to the side as she pushed past. Rip headed inside going straight for a beer and a seat.
"What's she cooking?" Rip asked looking at Teeter wafting something on the stove.
"Don't start that-" Jake groaned.
"It's gonna be good. Some of the best you'll ever have." She told everyone.
He could see Lucy negotiating with Ethan about turning the rodeo off for the basketball instead. Ethan was trying to hold strong but wasn't winning the argument. "Put the game on would ya, Ethan." Lloyd yelled out as Lucy grabbed the remote.
Teeter put a bowl down in front of Colby.
"No I'm good." He told her.
"Come on baby. I keep cooking and you keep not eating. You need your strength." She told him
Ryan looked at the food before leaning over and grabbing it. "I'm so hungry, I'll eat anything."
He had a mouthful before sitting completely still. "Oh it's good."
"I told ya!" Teeter said as everyone rushed for a bowl. "Wait your turn. I slaved over this fucking thing." She told them handing out bowls.
"What's in it?" Colby asked.
"Everything baby." She said sitting down.
Lucy sat next to Rip trying whatever it was put in front of her. "It's not bad. Thanks Teeter."
"You're welcome baby."
"But what exactly is in it?" Colby asked still not trying it.
"It's called sum bits."
Jake spat his food out before having a swig of beer.
"What's that?" Lucy asked confused. Rip put his bowl down before taking Lucy's out of her hands.
"Literally everything from the cow that no body else wants!" Jake explained.
"Ugh!"
"Teeter, you just fed my kid sum bits."
"What. It's good for you." She said not seeing the issues as Walker told everyone he got an eyeball. Rip rolled his eyes.
"You lot are going to starve without Gator."
"We know." Colby said.
"Come on Luce, we better get going." He told her as they took their leave.
Rip was about to park the truck at the cabin when a text came through.
"It's from Beth."
"What's it say Lu?"
"It says 'Office. Help." She said. Rip hit reverse and starting speeding towards the main road. "What's going on Rip?"
"I don't know. Try calling her."
Lucy hit the ring button but got Beth's voicemail. "Voicemail."
"Fuck!" He said hitting the wheel with his palm, giving her a fright. "It's gonna be all right. Ok." He tried to tell her as she stared out the wind screen.
He was going well over the speed limits the entire way in to town. He pulled up in the office parking lot. "I want you to listen to me. Get down there." He said pointing to the space between the seat and glovebox. He put his jacket over you. "Don't move until I come and get you." She nodded fearfully before he left for the building.
Inside Beth's assistant had been shot and she was trying to fight off two masked men. She had managed to stab one with a letter opener and he was fading but the other had managed to knock her around a bit.
She knew they had been sent to hurt her. To send a message. She was doing her best not to let them see her fear but it had nearly overtaken her.
She heard glass smash before three gunshots before someone pushed the masked man off her and started to hit him. She could hear screams not realising that she was the one screaming.
Rip saw the man leaning over Beth attempting to do god knows what to her. He smashed his way in purely running on rage and adrenaline. He pulled him off her before pummelling his face in until he stopped moving.
"Beth, it's me." He said reaching out to hold her
"No!" She screamed fighting him.
"Hey! Beth, it's me. You're safe now." He said louder as she tried to catch her breath holding on to him for dear life. He felt a sudden pain in his abdomen before reaching down and feeling blood.
He stumbled back a few steps, coughing.
"Sir, I need you and a doctor. One that nobody knows about. Beth's office. Bring Kayce." He said on the phone to John.
Lucy heard the gunshots and her fear increased tenfold. She had no idea what was going on but whatever it was she knew wasn't good. She saw another Yellowstone truck pull in to the parking lot, John and Kayce got out with another man she hadn't seen before.
She didn't want to go against what Rip had told her to do but she didn't want to stay here any longer.
Rip held Beth, looking at her bloodied face as she cried and yelled out. "I love you. I love you Beth." He told her repeatedly as she fell in to his arms crying.
John and Kayce went up to the office with the doctor following behind. Lance looked around at the damage to work out who was behind it.
Time was passing by and Lucy had been waiting in the truck for an hour before she told herself enough was enough. She got out and closed the truck door as quietly as she could before going upstairs. She followed the voice before making it to the right floor.
"He needs these wound's cauterised." She overheard the unknown man say.
She looked around at the three bodies and smashed glass before catching a glimpse of Beth's bloodied face and Rip's body on the couch.
"No!" She screamed.
"Hold her back Kayce." John said seeing Lucy. Kayce did his best to hold her from getting any closer.
"They're ok Lucy. They're ok."
"Let me see them. They're my Mom and Dad!" She cried. "MAMA!" She screamed pushing against Kayce.
Beth turned hearing someone scream a gut wrenching 'Mama', a voice that she knew. She saw Lucy trying to get around Kayce as he struggled to hold her back.
"Let her go." She said weakly before Kayce eased up. Lucy ran forward stopping in front of a now nearly unrecognisable Beth.
"Mom."
"I'm ok. It's ok." She said reaching out to her with one arm. Her other arm draped across Rip. She struggled to hold on to Lucy while she cried in to her shoulder.
"Is my Dad ok?" She asked quietly.
"He will be as long as we get him to my office now to cauterise these wounds." The doctor said looking at John.
John nodded putting his jacket around Beth while Kayce helped Rip up.
"I want to go with him." Beth said.
"What about Lucy?" John said trying to get her to go home instead.
"I want to go with my Dad."