The next morning Rip went off to the bunkhouse as Beth and Katie drove up to the lodge for breakfast.
"Morning Daddy."
"Morning honey. I see the kid is still here."
"She's staying Daddy. CPS are coming today and I'll have a discussion with them."
Katie sat next to Beth fiddling with her hands in her lap. She could tell something was not right with the adult conversation.
"I'm going to work. We will talk later."
John met Rip down at the stables where the horses were being saddled before they head out for the morning.
"You happy with this Rip."
"I'm happy if she's happy sir."
"Katie, today some people are going to come today to try and take you and put you with another family."
"I don't wanna go –."
"I know you don't baby. I will talk to them ok. They will ask what you want to do too." Katie nodded holding on to her horse.
"Can I go to my bike now?" Sliding off her chair and putting her sticky hands on Beth. Beth nodded getting up, she was going to have to wear more casual clothes if this kid was going to stick around.
"Hey baby."
"Hello darlin."
"We are just about to have lunch. Gator made extra."
"I see. Did you tell the kid to wash her hands in the horse trough?" Beth shook her head. "Because she's currently splashing her hands in it. I'll handle it." Rip walked over to where Katie was splashing in the trough. We will see how this goes Beth thought.
"Hey Katie." Rip knelt down to her height thinking it would scare her less. She stopped splashing immediately.
"We are going to have lunch, but you can't wash your hands in here because the big horses drink out of this and it's dirty.
"I know sir. Charlie was drinking and I was helping." Rip noticed her soft horse toy soaking in the trough.
"Ok kid, you best take Charlie out then to dry off and go wash your hands inside."
Katie nodded and ran off in the direction of the porch where Beth was waiting with a towel and change of clothes.
"Arms up!" Katie followed instructions as Beth changed her into something dry and warm. A black SUV pulled up and John came out to see who it was.
"Mr Dutton? I'm from CPS, here about Katie."
"Yes, she's over there with my daughter Beth and her fiancé Rip."
The lady approached the three of them.
"Hello Ma'am. I'm Rip, this is my fiancé Beth and I'm guessing you know Katie." Beth moved to shake her hand. Katie looked over towards the lady Rip and Beth were standing with.
"I don't wanna leave." The lady smiled at Katie almost patronisingly and Beth sick just looking at her.
"Well sweetheart, the adults need to talk so you stay here."
"You eat this sandwich and a bit of the fruit on your plate. Rip and I will just be over there." Pointing towards the large tree. John was watching the entire interaction from the porch and nodded at Beth that he would be watching.
"Miss Dutton and Mr.."
"Call me Rip"
"Right well. I'm sure you are aware that Katie has become a ward of the state and will be going in to foster care. We will take it from here."
Beth did not like this lady at all. She wore her hair in a tight bun with a forced smile. Clearly she did not like her job.
"Well, you see. We would like to foster Katie."
"I'm sorry?"
"We have all the things right here that she will need. We have a home for her, space for her to play and the ability to care for her. She's happy here. Anyone can see that." The three looked over towards where Katie was sitting who was now feeding her toy horse some apple and eating some herself with John sitting opposite chatting.
"And you Rip? Do you want the child? They are a big responsibility. Lots of families will want a young child." Rip had never thought about having children of his own much, or looking after someone else's. He looked over at Katie and thought that this might just be right for him and Beth.
"I'm sure Ma'am. She will be well looked after here."
"Ok. Well there will be some papers to sign and she is all yours."
Katie was running circles around John who was smiling. Beth and Rip walked over hand in hand as the CPS lady drove off.
"I think the kinder and gentler me is about to appear." Rip kissed her forehead.
"I guess I'm a Grandpa again." Both Rip and Beth were too busy watching Katie to acknowledge John.
"I've got to go back to the corral, I'll see you later for dinner. Bye Katie." Rip called out to her as she waved back.
As Rip left, the realisation of what Beth had just done started to sink in. She started walking towards the house.
"I need a minute." She yelled to John. Fuck Beth thought. I have no idea what to do with a kid and I work fulltime for the firm. John calling her name pulled her out of her thoughts, Katie was needing her.
"You know, I do think you and Rip will be good at this."
"I hope so Daddy."
Rip was waiting for the two of them of the porch when they got home.
"Hey baby."
"Hello Darlin'." Rip greeted Beth with a kiss on the lips much to Katie's disgust. The weather was starting to cool down as the sun set so Beth had put one of her old jumpers on Katie until they could go back into town to get some essentials.
"What's that?" Katie asked pointing to a wooden cubby house and small climbing frame that the porch now overlooked. Beth hadn't noticed it when she pulled up but looking at Rip's hands it seemed that he had been busy building this after lunch.
"It's for you."
"For me?" Rip nodded and the three headed over to the climbing frame. Rip watched Katie climb up to the top where he had added a fireman's pole for her to slide down. She was laughing and smiling the entire time.
"Catch me Rip" she yelled as she jumped from top platform. Rip caught her easily as she knocked his hat off. Beth poured herself a glass of wine and grabbed a beer for Rip as they watched Katie play from the porch.
"Did we make the right decision?"
"I think so. I don't have a clue what to do with a kid but I like her."
"Me too baby. Thanks for building this." Rip pulled Beth in for a kiss.
Dinner was an easy affair, Rip surprised Beth by how natural he was with Katie, cutting up her dinner in to smaller sized pieces. Bed time was a battle, it turned out that Katie did not like having her hair washed and brushed, crying for Beth to stop. Getting her to go to sleep was no easier, Beth staying with her until she was sound asleep.
"Birthing calves is easier than trying to get that kid to sleep."
"Come up to bed baby." Rip and Beth both fell asleep quickly, exhausted from the entire day.
Rip always woke up at first light but when he opened his eyes he realised it was still dark outside. Something was kicking him in his ribs. Rolling over he saw Beth also on the edge of the bed and Katie sprawled out between them, half lying on Beth. He had no idea when she had come in.
Rip decided to get up anyway, it wasn't too much earlier than normal. He crept downstairs trying not to wake them putting a pot of coffee on before sitting on the porch watching the sunrise.
He heard the stairs creak, before Beth was in the doorway holding Katie who rubbed her eyes.
"Morning. I didn't want to wake you both."
"Bit hard when you've got hands pushing into you and a stuffed horse in your face." Rip laughed. He grabbed his hat, kissed Beth goodbye and headed out for the day.
"You look tired Rip."
"Didn't ask Jimmy."
"Everything ok?" Lloyd asked.
"Yeah Lloyd. I've got a kid now, I'm as shocked about this as you are. Beth has decided that we are going to foster this kid."
"How is that working out?"
"It's been two days and Beth is happy, so I am." Rip could see Beth and Katie heading towards the stables where Jake was still saddling his horse.
Katie and Beth walked up to the lodge to have breakfast, stopping by the stables.
"Can I ride a horse, please." Beth wasn't entirely shocked by the request considering how much she loved the stuffed horse toy but the thought of putting a three year old on a horse did not sit well with her.
"I can take her with me on my horse." Jake offered. "She's gentle."
Beth wasn't sure Jake was the right person for the job, he was still pretty new on the ranch and she was not sure if he was a good rider. Beside her Katie was jumping up and down excitedly.
"Come here Jake. If you cause any danger to her, I will personally hurt you. Forget Rip, it will be me you deal with. Got it." Jimmy nodded.
Beth lifted Katie up on to the horse to sit in front of Jake as she was too small to sit behind him. She could feel the anxiety in her watching Katie as the rode off. She could tell that Jake was a bit fearful of causing any harm to Katie which made Beth slightly calmer.
Rip noticed Katie on a horse with Jake and felt angry. She shouldn't be on a horse with him. What was Beth thinking. He rode over to get Katie from him and Jake's horse got spooked, Jesus Christ he thought, this could not go worse.
"Jake hold on to her and calm the horse dammit." Katie was holding on as tight as she could.
Lloyd had ridden over to try and help out as the rest of the wranglers watched on. Beth could see that something was happening with the horses, Rip and Lloyd now either side of Jake who had managed to calm the horse. She could just make out Rip grabbing Katie from Jake. Beth started walking towards the group as Rip made his way over to her with Katie clinging to his chest.
"What happened?"
"Jake's horse got spooked."
"I fucking warned him."
"Darlin' take her. I'll deal with it." Beth grabbed a sobbing Katie from Rip.
"I don't want to do that anymore." Beth rubbed her back trying to calm her down.
"Look at me Katie. From now on, no going near horses unless you are with me or Beth." Katie nodded wiping her nose on Beth's top.
"Darlin' you got a little something there now."
Rip rode back to the Wranglers where Jake would not make any eye contact with him.
"Listen up. That's my kid. If anything happens to her you won't have just me to deal with. Don't take her near any horses unless Beth and I say it is ok."
"Yessir."
Beth kept Katie close for the rest of the morning before they were surprised by Rip meeting them for lunch back at the cabin. Beth was talking on the phone when she realised that Katie had managed to climb up on to a chair to open the door for Rip.
"I have a surprise for you, kid." Beth could see he had something behind his back that Katie was trying to see.
"Let him in the door Katie." Beth let Katie jump off the chair before moving it out of the way for Rip, giving him a kiss on his way in.
Rip pulled a small dark brown cowboy hat from behind his back, Katie reached out for it.
"I thought you better have a hat like mine and Beth's if you're gonna be riding horses and playing on the ranch." Beth couldn't love this man any more if she tried.
"Thank you."
"One more thing. They're by the door where we leave our shoes." Both Katie and Beth looked over and saw a little pair of cowboy boots that matched Beths.
Beth helped Katie try them on, on the floor. They fit perfectly and Beth thought she looked adorable in her hat, boots and her short overalls that Monica had dropped at the Lodge earlier. She was out the door before either of them could stop her and running towards her cubby house.
"I think we're going to be ok honey." Rip said wrapping his arms around Beth from behind as she cut sandwiches up for them all.
"I think so too."
Katie became more and more relaxed around everyone at the Ranch as weeks went on. The now family of three fell in to a comfortable routine. Rip would often find himself woken up by a three year olds feet in his back or a stuffed horse in his face. The girls would have breakfast together most mornings with John who was fond of Katie, before Beth did some work. Either John would watch Katie for the morning or Beth would keep an eye on her as she played outside.
Rip and Beth were fiercely protective of the young girl, who was eager to do much more than she was often allowed to do. Rip often found himself having to catch Katie as she climbed up on things and tried to jump off. Katie's favourite thing much to Rip's surprise was listening to Walker play his guitar at night on their way up to the cabin. Rip would often take Katie in to the bunkhouse to say goodnight.
Jamie's visits to the ranch were sporadic at best. Beth had overheard him last time talking with John about Katie.
"So the kid is suddenly more important to you than me?"
"Son, she's an innocent child. Why are you so angry about this?"
"You always side with Beth. She can do no wrong and now look she's got a kid and you think the sun shines out her arse."
"Jamie, I'm warning you, don't go there. You made a choice that altered her life. Don't go near that kid or Beth." Jamie turned and walked away. Beth pushed him up against the wall, the surprised look on his face giving her some satisfaction.
"You should have never come home Jamie. Everything I do is for them and everything you do is for you. If you ever try to take them from me, know that I will kill you with my bare hands and take everything from you. Get out."
Rip found Beth at home that evening crying on the couch with a bottle of whisky in front of her.
"Beth where is Katie?"
"She's up at the Lodge, I needed a break."
"What happened."
"He did. Jamie. Threatening our family." Rip sat beside Beth pulling her on to his lap.
"There plenty of good in you Beth, one look at that little girl shows it. But him, there is no good in him." They sat like that for a while longer before Rip got up to go and get Katie, leaving Beth to calm down.
"Thanks for watching her Sir."
"Happy to have her anytime. Bye Katie." Katie waved back before Rip held her hand going down the stairs. They decided to stop at the Bunkhouse on the way back to see what everyone was up to. Katie was all too happy to look at the cards everyone had whilst playing poker and occasionally tell others what hands they had. None of the Wranglers ever managed to stay upset at her for long.
"Let's call it a night kid, we've got to get back to Beth and it's nearly bedtime. Say goodbye." Katie waved goodbye and headed for the door with Rip, as they opened it Rip could hear Walker playing his guitar and singing another sad song in the barn. Next to him was Beth crying. Katie's hand was out of his before he could stop her and she was running towards Beth who was sobbing.
Katie reached up to wipe Beth's tears away, Walker kept singing.
"What are you doing here baby?"
"We were going home to find you. Why are you crying?"
"I'm ok. We better go find Rip." Beth grabbed Katie's hand and nodded to Walker before heading to the bunkhouse. The three left for the cabin. That night Rip and Beth did not discuss what had happened and for the first night Katie did not end up in their bed.