Summer was sitting to John's left the next morning at the dining table, chatting to John, as Beth and Katie joined them.
"Don't you have Governor stuff today?" Beth asked him not expecting either of them to be at the lodge.
"Yes. Heading to Helena in an hour." He told her, holding his arms out to Katie. She was quick to jump out at him forcing him to catch her.
"What are you doing today granddaughter?"
"I dunno. Did you see my tree?" She said her attention turning to something else.
"I saw it last night."
"Not you silly! Did you see it?" She said pointing at Summer.
Summer looked at Katie before turning to look at the tree. "Oh yeah, Christmas." She said with no enthusiasm. "Another day to kill and eat animals."
"God. What is your problem. Do you enjoy ruining every moment?" Beth said rolling her eyes.
"What?"
"What? You're acting like a Grinch." Beth retorted.
Katie didn't understand the Grinch reference, asking what it meant.
"We'll watch it another time baby." She was told somewhat dismissively.
John cleared his throat and put Katie down. "Summer and I will be gone for the day. I should be back tomorrow." He said before leaving the table, Summer not far behind him.
"All right. Katie I've got some things to do so you to play quietly for a while." Beth told her, getting out a colouring book and pencils.
Beth made her usual phone calls and sent her emails before seeing Monica walk through the door.
"Hey."
"What are you doing here?" Beth asked.
"Just getting some stuff so Tate can do his homework tonight. Something about having to bake."
"Mama, I'm bored." Katie interrupted.
"I know baby but it's cold outside and we can't do much." Beth told her from across the room. She saw Katie slump her shoulders and turn back around.
"You thought about daycare?" Monica suggested gently. "Just give you a bit more time for yourself and she can do activities with other kids."
Beth looked at Monica. Biting at Monica wasn't something Beth did. She never thought Monica deserved it.
"I'm not trying to step on your toes"
"I know. We never thought about it." Beth admitted truthfully.
"You do well with her Beth but when they go South it's not going to be as easy."
Beth nodded not wanting to discuss it. She knew that Monica was probably right, once Rip was gone she was going to have Katie with her during the week full time and have to juggle working full time and providing for them both.
Monica said her goodbyes to them both as Katie tried to sneak over quietly, however, quite unsuccessfully.
"Come here then." Beth said picking Katie up on to her lap. "What do you reckon, kid. Think you'd like to go to daycare?"
"What's that?"
"Where you can play with other kids your age for a few hours without me." Beth told her.
Katie shrugged her shoulders. "But I'll come home still?"
Beth chuckled and held her close, resting her own cheek against Katie's head. "I'll always come for you."
Beth kept one arm around Katie while she looked up the nearest daycare. There were a few in town, one at the other end of the same street as her office was the most appealing. She looked at the photos on the website.
"Look! They do painting." Katie pointed at the screen. Beth picked up her mobile dialling the number.
"Hello Billing's Daycare, this is Millie." A young voice answered.
"Hi. I want to know how to enrol my daughter for two days per week?"
"Oh sure. How old is she?"
"Four."
"Great. Our only available days are Tuesday and Thursdays. If you would like to come for a tour you can."
"Right. When do I tour the place?"
"I can give you a tour at 12:30?"
Beth looked at the clock. 12:30 was two hours away. "That's fine."
"Great, we'll see you then!" Millie said in an overly cheery voice. Beth knew it would come to grate on her nerves and she knew Katie would react the same. She never understood why parents sugar coated everything for their kids and coddled them. She wasn't as harsh and direct like her own mother was on her but she didn't downplay life to Katie.
Beth hung up the phone. "You need to get changed. We're going to look at the daycare soon." Beth told Katie putting her down to go and get some clean clothes for her.
"I wanna wear the Y." Katie told her, lately she had been asking to wear certain clothes. Not the clothes Beth often wanted to put her in.
"I don't know about that. You can wear a jumper and jeans."
"Nuh-uh. I want to wear the Y."
Beth knew she shouldn't argue with a four year old but she also knew she wasn't above arguing with her four year old.
"No."
"I'm not going then!" Katie fired back at her. Her brow furrowed and hands on her hips.
Beth tried not to laugh looking at her but also not completely lose her shit. Telling Katie she could stay on the ranch or go out with Rip would be no punishment for her.
"You listen to me. You're going to get changed and we are going."
Katie gave Beth her best glare and huffed. "I don't like it."
"I didn't ask if you did." Beth said pulling a jumper over Katie's head. She turned Katie around before starting on her hair while she whinged some more, Beth ignoring it.
Beth got changed herself, figuring if they were having to go to town she would make the most of it.
"Let's go." She said holding her hand out for Katie who held her Yellowstone button up shirt in her hand, one of the many Rip had managed to get in to her drawers. "Put that away."
Katie scowled but did as she was told, throwing it on her bed. She stomped down the hallway dramatically to where Beth was waiting. She ignored Katie's attitude, putting her in the car.
Parking on the Main Street outside the store she wanted to go in, Katie held on to being grumpy for as long as she could, following Beth quietly. The shop assistant greeted them before trying to get on Katie's level who gave her nothing to work with in return. Beth put a guiding hand on Katie's back, directing her through the store.
Beth flicked through the racks of clothes, putting what she liked over her arm. Katie looking around, touching the material of the clothes with her fingers. Beth could hear the lady again before she saw her, trying to get a smile out of Katie.
She felt Katie reach out for her, her small hand grabbing on to her dress. Beth looked down before giving the woman a glare making her stop and change direction. She noticed Katie's flushed cheeks.
"You gonna stop being grumpy now?"
Katie nodded, put her head against Beth's thighs.
Beth couldn't stay annoyed at her, ever, really for long. She held Katie's warm little hand in her own as she paid for what she wanted, grabbing a extra silk scarf at the counter. Beth took Katie with her while she did what else she needed to in town before driving to the daycare.
Katie saw the colourful play equipment and sand pit in the outside area and ran towards it. "Look Mama!" She yelled out, pointing.
Beth looked over her sunglasses before fixing them. "Come on." She called out holding a hand out to Katie as her mid length dress blew in the breeze. Katie took one more longing gaze at the equipment before running after Beth, jumping next to Beth, grabbing her hand.
Katie ducked under Beth to get in the door.
"Hi. I spoke to Millie on the phone about a tour for my daughter."
The receptionist nodded, "I'll just find her."
Katie danced around Beth excitedly. Beth gave her the 'behave eyes' as what she assumed was Millie approached. Katie stood half behind Beth, hearing Millie's overly cheery voice as she introduced herself and lead them through reception. They passed the babies and toddler room before hitting the room where children around Katie's age were playing.
"You can go and play over there sweetie." Millie said to Katie.
Katie uncertain of her surroundings took a deep breath before going over to a table where some other children were playing. Beth smirked, of course her child would find the paint.
Beth listened to the generic talk from Millie, no doubt drummed in to her by the manager. She really didn't care other than whether the place was safe and if Katie would come to settle there.
The person who's responsibility was to look after the children spoke to Katie gently before passing her whatever thing she had painted, going back to Beth.
Millie didn't know what to think of Beth and Katie. She thought Katie seemed like a good kid, shy but polite with other children, whereas, Beth was the opposite. Beth didn't act like other parents who asked hundreds of questions and followed their children closely when encouraged to go and play during the tour. Millie noticed that Beth was almost cold, listening to what she had to say while keeping an eye always on Katie. They were different from most of the other families.
Katie came back over to where Beth was standing and looked over at Millie. She held her painting in one hand and reached up for Beth's hand with her other.
"Did you have fun?" Millie asked.
Katie nodded. "Thank you."
It reminded Beth of the first time she ever met Katie, the shy little girl at the breakfast bar with Gator, who had manners unlike other kids.
"She's got lovely manners." Millie said with a smile.
"Thanks. She's a good kid." Beth said.
They three walked back to the reception. "Here is the paperwork if you would like to enrol. Like I said only days are Tuesday and Thursdays with one student availability in both left for the term."
Beth took the papers and filled them in, handing them back to Millie and the receptionist.
Katie let out what must have been all the air in her chest when they got outside.
"You good?" Beth asked laughing lightly.
Katie nodded. "I'm a Dutton-Wheeler." She said sticking out her chest.
"When Daddy goes away for work, you'll come here two days a week when I go to work, ok." Beth told her in the car driving home. Katie didn't say anything. Beth wasn't sure how much more patience Katie had left in her for the day but decided to make one more stop on the way home.
She parked out the front of her normal hairdresser, getting Katie out of the car and going inside.
"Beth. I didn't see your name down.." The owner said, seeing Beth walk in.
"I don't have an appointment but my daughter needs a cut if you can." She said holding Katie's hand.
Lena the owner turned to look to see if there was an empty chair. Only seeing one at the back of the salon. "Ah ok. I'll do it myself." She said.
"Thanks Lena." Beth said following her down the salon. "Katie, sit up here."
Katie climbed up on to the seat before Lena put the gown around her neck and left to get her tools.
"Mama?" Katie questioned.
"She's just going to cut your hair. You're desperate for a haircut."
"My old Mama use to cut my hair." She said trailing off.
Beth spun the chair around so Katie could look at her. "I didn't know that, I'm sure she did a good job but Lena is going to cut it for you today."
Katie nodded as Lena came back with what she needed. "How do you want it Beth?"
"One inch off the bottom and straight across. Shape the front of you can too." Beth told her not missing a beat.
"Want me to wash it too?" Lena asked
"Don't bother, it'll be a fight with her." Beth told her looking at Katie. Lena grabbed a comb holding it up before Katie's eyes widened and she sat forward.
"No thank you." She whispered. "No brushing."
Beth held out her hand to Lena for the comb for turning Katie's chair again to look at her. "Katie, Lena needs to brush your hair, either she can do it or I will. That's final." She told her sternly.
Katie furrowed her brow and huffed. "Lena can."
Beth was surprised with her answer, before passing the comb back to Lena who gently combed the knots out of Katie hair while she tried not to wince.
Lena smiled knowingly to Beth to indicate that she understood before she began cutting Katie's hair, Beth watching the blonde locks fall on to the floor. Beth knew Katie had had her hair cut before she was hers but watching what she considered her baby, have her hair cut and look more like a little girl than her just pre school age girl was making her emotional.
Lena finished cutting Katie's hair before undoing the gown. Katie looked up at Beth who held out her hand for her to hold, before she thanked and paid Lena.
Beth kept checking on Katie in the rear view mirror on the drive back to the ranch, Katie none the wiser. Always eagle eyed Katie had spotted Rip when Beth parked, fixing part of the fence that had rotted.
"Off you go." Beth said watching her run towards him.
"Daddy!" Katie squealed, jumping up on his back.
"Oomph. Hi cowgirl." He said turning his head to look at her.
"What you doing?" She asked.
"Luckily, just finished fixing the fence before you jumped on me." He told her, groaning as he stood with her on his back. She hung off him as he manoeuvred her around to his chest. He gave her a funny look before realising she had her hair cut. He walked over to Beth who was making her way to the porch.
"What happened to our baby?" He said lightly to Beth.
"I know." Was all she said to him. He was surprised by her response, putting Katie down. Rip put his hand to Beth cheek and noticed the sad look in her eyes.
"Darlin', she's still your little girl. She hasn't grown up because of the hair cut." He told her, she nodded as Rip pulled her into his chest kissing the top of her head.
"Is Mama sad?" Katie asked looking up at them both.
"I'm not sad. You just look so much older now you've had your hair cut." Beth said resting her cheek on Rip's chest. Katie shrugged her shoulders before running off.
"See." Rip said, "exactly the same."
Beth ignored his comment. "I enrolled her in daycare today."
That got Rip's attention. "Why?"
"Because when you go, I won't be able to watch her and work. I didn't have a choice!" She said glaring at him.
"All right. We can talk about it later."
Both adults went their seperate ways to deal with what their work days had left for them, each unsure of the other was pissed off.