The next morning Rip opened his eyes to find Katie standing in front of him giving him a fright.
"What's wrong?"
"Can we rope?"
Beth groaned and rolled over, it was still dark out. "What time is it?"
"Go back to sleep Beth it's too early."
"You can deal with that, she's your daughter." Rip closed his eyes before opening them and getting up. "Come on, we'll eat first."
"And then rope?"
"Yeah and then we can." Rip noticed she had tried to dress herself in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt that was back to front.
They ate breakfast together and then went out to the front of the cabin with two ropes as the sun was rising.
"Ok, watch Daddy first." Rip starting swinging the rope before releasing it on to a an old fence post.
"My turn."
"All right. Hold this bit in your right hand and this in your left." Rip helped her put the rope in her hands. "Now you have to swing this bit above your head round and round in a circle." Katie tried and surprised Rip how natural she could swing it. "When you're ready see if you can get it on the fence pole and pull it tight."
She swung the rope around a few more times before trying to catch it on the fence pole, missing.
"That was close darlin', try again." Rip helped her gather the rope up and try again. Rip sat on the grass, offering advice occasionally whilst Katie practiced not seeming to get tired of it. The sun had truly risen by the time Beth was on the porch in her dressing gown. Katie had taken off her jacket at this point complaining she was getting hot.
"What are you doin'" Rip yelled up to Beth.
"Just watchin'". Rip nodded back
"I did it!" Rip turned and noticed she had got the rope on the fence pole.
"Good job kid! You're a Dutton-Walker for sure."
"Better than Lloyd."
Rip grinned, "Yeah but don't tell him I said that."
"I'm hungry." Rip looked at his watch taking the rope from Katie.
"I'm gonna be late." Rip ruffled her hair before waving goodbye to Beth.
"Who dressed you this mornin'?"
"Me." Beth smiled, it wouldn't have surprised her if Rip had put her tshirt on backwards and left it. She noticed Katie's jeans were wet from the morning dew on the grass and her top had some breakfast down the front.
"If you're hungry we can go up to the lodge for breakfast. Just let me get you a change of clothes for later." Beth grabbed Katie a pair of shorts and clean t-shirt as well as her swimmers. She thought it might be nice for them to go for a dip down at the river.
"Can I ride there?" Katie had her helmet half on her head trying to do the clip up.
"It's a long way."
"I can do it." Beth gave in and helped her with the clip before grabbing a bag for the day. She grabbed herself a change of clothes in case she was called in to the office, her everyday 'Mama' clothes would not show a good look.
Beth helped Katie on the bike and held the seat for the first few meters before she was off by herself. After a few little stops on the way, she had had enough of riding about three quarters of the way there. Beth ended up carrying the bike as Katie ran ahead with her helmet on.
Katie spotted John coming down the porch steps when she yelled out to him "Grandpa!" waving.
John looked up surprised hearing Katie call him that. "Hi honey, what are you doin'?"
"I rode my bike and now I'm hungry." Beth put Katie's bike on the porch and kissed her father hello.
"Well we better get some food in to your tummy." John opened the door and Katie went inside.
"Thanks for my stuff Daddy."
John smiled. "You're welcome. Since when does she call me Grandpa? I'm not complaining."
"Since she got jealous that Tate calls you that."
John laughed, "Oh she's your daughter all right."
"I don't get jealous, I remind people who I am."
"What are you doin' today?—"
"I can rope now Grandpa. Wanna see?" John looked at Beth surprised. He picked Katie up taking her down the stairs.
"Show me then granddaughter." John found a smaller rope for her to use and a practice cow. Katie held the rope like Rip showed her swinging it over the head before catching the horns.
"Shit. She's better than what Kayce and Lee were. Who taught her that?" Katie turned to smile at John.
"Rip did this morning."
John sat outside watching Katie with the rope, while Beth went to a meeting. She was back before the hour was up as Katie began to complain it was too hot.
"Come on Katie, you need to get changed anyway. Dad I was going to take her to the river for a swim, want to come?"
"No, you two go. Enjoy." Katie met Beth on the porch who put her swimmers on and dressed her in shorts and a t-shirt.
"Can we borrow the truck?" John threw the keys to Beth before the two of them drove off to the river.
They were driving over the bridge where the water was too rough to swim when Beth noticed someone fly fishing in the water. She hit the brakes.
"Stay here baby, some asshole is in our river."
"Hey!" Beth got out the car and yelled, "You are trespassing."
The guy feigned dumb so Beth climbed the fence and walked down. "Who the fuck is this guy?"
"Get the fuck out of this river."
"I can't that would be trespassing but I can take you to dinner."
"No. You just stay off our fucking land ok?" Beth started to climb back up to the car.
"Yes Ma'am.".
Beth got back in the car and kept driving.
"Who was that?"
"Not sure honey, but he shouldn't have been there."
Beth parked the car and opened the door for Katie. They went down to the waters edge together. Katie sat with just her toes in waiting for Beth to blow the floaty arm rings up.
"Here we go." Beth held her hand into the water before putting the ring around her. Katie sighed at the cool water causing Beth to laugh.
Beth swam a few meters away from Katie holding out her arm. "Kick to me." Katie started kicking towards Beth, reaching for her by the end. Beth held her up congratulating her.
"Good kicking kid." Both of them turned around to see the guy from further upstream earlier. Katie put her head on Beth's shoulder feeling shy.
"Thought I told you to stay off our land."
"I see the women in this valley got a lot more fashionable. I'm Roarke by the way." Beth prickled, so this is the Roarke who has been trying to fuck me up. "If this is your land, you must be a Dutton, and this your daughter."
"I'm a Dutton-Walker and I don't fuckin' like you." Katie piped up, fuckin' just rolling off her tongue, Beth smirked at the comment knowing she was not wrong but wasn't impressed with the swearing.
Roarke scoffed, "Quick to judge, and quite the mouth on the thing."
"I have to agree with her. Fuck off back down stream or where ever you came from." Roarke looked at them both before heading back in the same direction he came from.
"Who let you swear like that?"
"Teeter does."
"Right, well. I'm saying no to it."
"I'm sorry." Katie reached out for Beth.
"All forgiven. Remember we are always the bigger bear in the fight." Katie didn't understand but nodded anyway.
After a while they got out of the river and Beth let Katie dry off in the shade. She was putting a battle up for putting her clothes back on so Beth told her to put her boots on and she could stay in her swimmers. Beth did the same.
"Rip does alright doesn't he." Jimmy said to Colby who nodded.
"Don't let him hear you say that Jimmy."
"Too fucking late, eyes down both of you." Rip was behind them on his horse. Beth was following Katie who had spotted Rip on his horse when she got out of the truck. Katie and Beth were still both in their swimmers, Katie had her boots and hat on while Beth was barefoot.
"Hi Daddy."
"Hi cowgirl, honey. Where are your clothes?" Katie put her arms up wanting to sit on the horse with Rip, Beth lifted her up to Rip who sat her in front.
"you're distracting my wranglers darlin'" Beth laughed.
"Maybe it'll do them some good. Anyway they've taught our daughter to swear."
"Darlin' she already knew the words."
"Now she says them Rip."
"Did you say a bad word today kid?"
"I told the mean man that I didn't fuckin' like him but I wasn't lying Daddy."
"Even so, no swearing. Let me guess Teeter?" Beth nodded.
"Can we go rope over there?" Katie asked Rip, pointing to the round pen. "On the horse."
"Clothes first and then we can have a competition with everyone." Rip got off his horse and gathered some ropes the roping cow dummy putting them in the pen. Rip whistled the wranglers over.
"We're having a competition. Everyone gets a go, you have to ride your horse and rope the dummy, that's it. Singles and then pairs, you can pick you partner. Don't try and choose me, I'm teamed with Katie"
"We can't compete against the kid, it's unfair."
Beth laughed bringing over beers. "More like unfair to you guys. Watch out for her."
"Points for time, horse control and how good you rope, scored by Beth. Added bonus, I've put a motor on the dummy and Beth has the control." Beth waved a remote control at the boys.
Lloyd paired up with Jimmy, Teeter and Colby, Walker and Ryan, Jake and Ethan.
"Right, singles up first. The kid is three so I'm riding with her. You go first Jimmy"
Beth got Katie's rope out, as Jimmy got on his horse in the pen.
"Make sense baby?"
"Daddy and I ride and I have to get the rope on the cow's head."
"The cow is gonna move too darlin'" Rip told her.
Jimmy nodded to Beth that he was ready and Beth started the motor, it moved quicker than she thought giving Jimmy a bit of trouble.
He managed to rope it after not too long, Lloyd followed and had less issues, before Colby, Ryan, Jake and Ethan went. Teeter was the last of the wranglers to go.
"Mother fuckin' thing." Teeter was heard yelling as she swung the rope. Katie looked at Beth.
"No, you don't repeat that."
"I know."
"Right, you're up cowgirl." Rip put Katie on the horse and got on behind her. He grabbed her rope off Beth, putting it in Katie's hands.
"You didn't tell me it went so fast."
"She can catch it Beth."
John had come down to watch what was going on, leaning on the fence next to Beth he asked "What's going on?"
"Roping competition Daddy. Be quiet, it's Katie's turn." The wranglers stood quietly watching, they had never seen a child rope that small before and didn't think Rip had taken her on the horses at full pace.
"Right, ready. You nod at Mama when you want to start. Just like this morning." Katie took a breath waved at Beth before a serious look was on her face.
"She looks like she's concentrating now." John commented. Katie gave a nod to Beth and the dummy started moving, Rip was quickly after it with the horse and Katie swung the rope, she got it around the horns as Rip stopped the horse to help her pull it tight.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me. She's three." Ryan said. Lloyd whistled impressed. Rip directed the horse over to where everyone was standing.
"Did you see me Mama. Daddy's horse has some go."
"Good job baby."
"You've got something special in her honey." John was impressed.
"I know Dad, I know."
"Right lets tally scores. First place Lloyd, followed by Katie." The other wranglers groaned. "… then we have Ryan, Jake, Colby, Ethan, Teeter and Jimmy."
"Count me in to the next round." John said jumping over the fence. "I'll pair with Rip."
"He's with Katie, sir." Jake said.
"Well I still pick him. Grab my horse will ya Jake." Jake left to saddle John's horse.
"What's the prize?" Jimmy asked Rip.
"If you lot win, you all get a night off at the rodeo. If Katie and I or Mr Dutton and I win…" "Katie decides the prize." John finished Rip's sentence.
"Name your prize kid." Lloyd said. Katie whispered something in Beth's ear who shrugged.
"My daddy gets three whole days off work with Mama and me." Everyone including John looked alarmed at that. Rip sat on his horse determined to win now.
"Teeter and Colby, you're up." Rip switched something on the remote, Teeter gave Beth the nod, this time the cow was faster frustrating Teeter who struggled to grab the legs, as Colby yelled at her to get the legs.
Katie turned to Rip telling him that it was very fast. "You'll be able to get it cowgirl, I'll be with you." Even Beth was worried this time how fast the remote cow went at the thought of Katie trying to rope. She knew Katie would not give up easily.
Jimmy struggled to head the cow slowing down Lloyd. Walker and Ryan fared better than the previous two, Jake and Ethan were so bad that Beth decided to go a little easier on them after a while. John was shaking his head at Jake and Ethan and told Rip they would need some practice.
"She's got no chance now, that thing was even quicker." Colby said to the Wranglers. A couple of them laughed as they drank their beer.
"Remember this time you get the head and I'll get the legs. It's gonna go fast." Katie had a furrowed brow, "I got it Daddy." Rip smiled re-positioning her hat.
Katie turned giving Beth the nod and they were off. Rip had good control of the horse and was able to catch the dummy quickly so Katie could head the cow and he got the legs. Rip let out his breath he had been holding, he didn't realise how fast the top speed went until he was trying to rope it with Katie and keep her safe.
"That was good Katie." Rip told her lifting her off the horse. John was on his horse ready to go, waiting for Rip to get back on.
"You head Rip, I'll get the legs." Rip nodded, waiting for Katie to get on the other side of the fence. She went to Walker who high-fived her for her efforts.
'This'll be good. Want to sit up here kid?" Ryan said. Katie nodded as he lifted her on to the fence, holding her so she didn't fall. John gave the nod and Beth started the remote control, Rip had the head fairly quickly and John not far behind with the legs.
"Well shit." Teeter said.
"You say a lot of bad words." Katie told her causing the other Wranglers to laugh.
"Do not." Teeter bit back.
"Don't argue with her Teeter, she's a kid." Jimmy laughed.
Both men got off their horses. The wranglers and Katie went inside the pen, Katie finding Rip who put her on his shoulders.
"Singles winner was Lloyd," Beth tossed him a beer. "Pairs leaderboard was Rip and Daddy, Katie and Rip, Ryan and Walker followed by Jimmy and Lloyd, Teeter and Colby. Last was Jake and Ethan. So, overall winner with two second places is Katie."
Rip bounced Katie on his shoulders, the wranglers groaned at being beaten by a kid. "She's only good because she had you on the horse Rip." Jimmy said.
"Don't be so hurt Jimmy, she ropes better than you." Walker replied.
"She's darn good at it Rip." Lloyd told him patting him on the back.
"I know. She surprised me this morning with how quick she learnt."
"Daddy I want down." Rip lifted her off his shoulders.
" Grandpa!" John turned hearing Katie call him, only just catching her as she launched herself into his arms.
"Oomph, hi honey. You did good."
"Thanks. Where's my Mama." John looked around and couldn't see her.
"I dunno Katie."
"Walker, a word." Walker turned to follow Beth away from everyone else in the pen.
"I need a favour. Rip and I are getting married and I want you to sing at the reception."
"I really only sing sad songs."
"Well write some happy ones for fucks sake then." Beth turned leaving Walker alone and joined everyone else.