Beth woke up the next morning Rip was already gone for work, Carter was eating at the table when she went down. "Morning mama. You slept in late." She looked at the clock, 11:30. She never slept in this late, "Are you okay?" Carter asked as Beth went to reach for the coffee but the smell made her nauseous, "Yes baby I'm fine. I need to talk to you about soemthing actually." She sits across from him at the table, "You remember how I told you I can't be a mother that it's not possible for me?" Carter nodded as he stuffed his face with food again, "Well that wasn't true or at least I thought it was true." Carter finished eating looking at her, she couldn't lie to the kid. "Well I'm pregnant Rip and I are having a baby." Carter's eyes filled with tears, Beth could see he was hurt and upset.
"Carter this doesn't mean we don't love you, and you're not welcome. You are still our son no matter what. We love you and I'm positive this kid is going to love you." Carter smiled still obviously upset about it, he left her to work on the ranch. Beth sat alone in the house bored out of her mind, she jumped into her car and drove to the ranch. She pulled over spotting Rip training the new cowboy, she hung over the fence watching him. Watching his face light up as the young boy rode across the field. "Rip seems to be doing a great job helping that boy." Her father said behind her causing her to jump, "He's a good teacher daddy. You should keep him around." Beth said with a laugh, "Walk with me Beth." She nodded pulling away from the fence, she took his hand as they walked through the barn. "Am I keeping Rip from you?" He asked petting a horse in the barn, Beth sat down a stack of straw. "Daddy no, he loves working for you." He sat down next to her on the stack. "Beth, he's your husband he needs to be home with you." He said getting up pulling her up with him.
"Daddy Rip loves working here, he comes home to me every night I see him during the day it's really fine. Plus he needs this job right now." John nodded walking away from her, Beth went back to her spot on the fence this time Rip noticed her. "What are you doing here?" He said leaning down to kiss her, "Just watching you work baby." He smiled going back to the cowboy, Beth continued to watch for a few moments before spotting Carter in the barn. "Baby can we talk?" She asked, he nodded still working on brushing the horse. "This baby doesn't mean we don't love you like I said before. You are still my son and I'm going to love you no matter what. You're my son you'll always be my first baby." Carter rushed to her with a hug, he smiled against her. "I love you mama." Beth cradled his head, "I love you too baby. Finish up here and I'll see you at the house." He nodded, when Beth walked back outside she was pulled around the side of the barn by Rip. "You know pretty soon we are going to start telling people and they're gonna notice if we don't." He said kissing her neck, "I know but I want to wait until I know it's safe. Monica and Carter are the only ones who know I'd like to keep it that way." He was surprised when she mentioned Carter knew. "You told Carter? I thought we should tell him together." Rip backed away.
"I wanted to but he noticed I wasn't myself this morning and I couldn't lie to him. He seemed upset but I think he gets it now." Beth walked away from Rip he was a little upset and she didn't have the energy for a fight. She was about to get in her car when he father came running out, "Beth I have something for you." He opened her palm hanging her a brush. "I don't want this daddy." She tried to shove it back to him. "She would have wanted you to have it for you're child. I'm not stupid you have the same glow in your eyes she did when she was pregnant with you. Take it Beth." Beth held onto the brush, reading the little inscription. "My beautiful baby, you're perfect. You're loved, and you will always be loved. Love mama." Beth's heart broke with the words, words she hasn't heard her mother say in so long. "Thank you daddy." Beth pulled him into a hug, once they broke apart. "Take care of her Rip and take care of my grandchild. Now go home I'll finish with the boy." Rip nodded getting in his truck as Beth got in her car, she drove down the dirt road looking at the brush in her front seat. When she pulled into the driveway, Rip got out opening her door for her. "Let's get you inside." They walked inside, the house was clean and everything was organized. "Did you clean all of this before you came to the ranch?" Rip asked, Beth shook her head looking around at how neatly everything was placed. "No I didn't." Beth rushed up the stares Carter was cleaning out his room. "Carter baby what are you doing?" Beth said putting his boxes of things back in his room, "I'm not packing to leave I'm packing so the baby can have the room next to yours."
Beth's heart filled with love and happiness, she pulled Carter into a tight hug crushing him against her. "You're crushing me." Beth let him out of the hug, "Carter you are the perfect son you know that." Carter smiles pullung away from her, she smiles back at him. She watches as Carter finishes moving his stuff into the other bedroom. "He's going to be a great big brother." Beth said as she and Rip walked into the now empty room, Beth could see the vision of the nursery for their child.
