Beth was grateful that Katie was good at entertaining herself at times, especially when she had work to do.
She had spent the morning making phone calls for John and organising meetings with the help of Lynelle. John doing the least work by sitting around and disagreeing with them both.
"Mama will be cross if you keep saying no." Katie told John seriously.
"Will she? Honey, I think in this case she will have to get over it." He told her. Katie widened her eyes in shock.
"Katie, that's not how you behave. You do as your told, when you're told." Beth said without turning around on her chair.
"You're harder on her than I was on you Beth."
Beth laughed. "Not in a million years am I harder on her than you were on the boys and our mother was on me." That shut John up quick.
Beth made one last phone call before Lynelle opened up social media.
"Beth, you might want to look at this. I think it worked." Lynelle said turning the computer around.
"Candidate John Dutton with family." She read aloud. Beneath was a photo from when they were walking to the rally of John holding Katie and Beth beside him. They scrolled down and there was a photo of John playing at the park with Katie. Lynelle clicked on the comments.
'Refreshing to see a relatable man.' One person commented.
'A true family man. He has great values and will get my vote.'
"Looks quite positive from what I can see." Lynelle said. John turned the computer and looked at the photos.
"Really. Can't even enjoy time with my family."
"Daddy, you knew this would be your new world." Beth told him, John huffed in response.
There was a knock at the door and Beth's driver interrupted.
"Yep. We are coming." Beth said standing up. "Let's go kiddo."
Katie looked at John. "Come home soon Grandpa."
"I'll do my best honey." He told her. He gave Beth a brief hug, "this is exactly why I didn't want to be doing this."
"It's for her." Beth told him before they left.
The drive back to the ranch and Rip felt like forever to Beth. When they rolled in to the driveway Beth let out a sigh of relief. It wasn't that Katie was a difficult child at all, not that Beth really had anyone to compare to but it felt like a long weekend without Rip by her side.
Beth got out of the car before helping Katie out. The weather was cooling down during the days now but sun still shining as Katie covered her eyes.
"No Dadda?"
"Not yet." Beth said. Just as she said that the cowboys came around the bunkhouse finishing up for the day.
Rip spotted the car and said goodbye to the boys before changing direction.
"Hi Daddy! Happy birthday!" Katie yelled running for him. He scooped her up with ease.
"It's good to see you baby girl." He said
"Happy birthday baby." Beth said giving him a kiss.
"I told you we don't celebrate it."
"Too bad buddy, we've got a kid now and she will." Beth slapped him on the chest.
Beth walked ahead of them both inside the lodge and poured herself a drink before getting Rip a beer. Katie went over to the bar reaching for a glass.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing." Beth said walking back in to the room.
"I just wanted a glass like you."
"Next time ask." Beth told her. She got her a glass and put some juice in it. "You have to sit next to Daddy or I with this because it's glass."
Katie nodded, as she got up on the couch. Beth gave her the glass before sitting down.
"We got you presents." Katie said, looking at Beth to get them.
"They are by the kitchen door, you can go get them." Beth told her before watching her wander off.
"I swear she's changed Beth." Rip said.
"We've been gone two days, she has not grown in that amount of time."
Katie came back and put them on Rip's lap before leaning on the arm of the chair waiting for him to open them. He opened the larger box first that contained the gloves. He picked the up, turning them over before trying them on.
"They have special pressed." Katie said, he looked at Beth to explain what she meant before Katie pointed it out on the cuff.
"These are great. Thank you both." Rip said, giving Katie a kiss on the head.
"No there is more!" Katie told him.
He opened the second gift which was the bracelet. He looked confused at Beth who nodded at Katie.
"It's a bracelet Daddy."
"For you to wear cowgirl?"
"No silly, for you to wear. Look at the pretty colours." She said running her fingers over it.
"Ahh thank you." Rip said. "I'll get Mama to help tie it on my wrist."
"She said you needed to wear some colour." Beth whispered tying the knot.
"Do you love it?" Katie asked bouncing around Rip.
"Darlin' I love it because it's from you." He told her.
Rip sat next to Beth chatting about the weekend. "Monica showed me the photos of her, Beth."
"She was fine Rip."
"I know Beth. After everything I don't want her too far away from us."
"One day baby, she is going to grow up and likely want to leave this place." Beth said.
"Maybe so but until then and even after I'll do my best to make sure no one ever hurts her."
"We know." They watched Katie lying on the rug looking up at the roof singing to herself.
"Gator is cooking tonight and I had organised a barbecue at the bunkhouse." Rip said standing up.
"We'll get changed. Come on kid." Beth said taking to the stairs. She changed in to a mid length dress and jacket and Katie in to corduroy dungarees, a long sleeve t shirt and boots.
Rip waited for them on the porch, he swung Katie up on to his shoulders before taking Beth's hand and walking to the bunkhouse. Katie giggled with delight the entire way.
The cowboys were standing around drinking and chatting when the young family arrived. Katie went shy quickly reaching her arms out for Beth.
"You're fine." Beth told her.
"Please Mama." Katie cried softly not wanting anyone else to notice. Rip took her off his shoulders and they knelt down to her height.
"It's fine cowgirl. We aren't going anywhere."
Katie looked around before holding on to Beth's dress. "You go ahead Rip." Beth turned to Katie. "Let's take a minute hey." Beth turned her back to everyone else and knelt at Katie's height blocking her from view.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Beth was frustrated. Not at Katie but at everything she had been through since moving there that had made her girl this shy fearful child.
"I don't know!"
"What do you feel?" Beth asked, trying to get her to use her words.
"My tummy feels funny and I feel hot." Beth put her hand to Katie's head but she didn't feel a temperature. If anything, Beth thought she seemed quite anxious.
"Take some breaths for me." Beth told her. Rip watched from a distance.
"Everything alright over there?" Lloyd asked.
"Ah don't know Lloyd. They're both struggling since the wedding I think."
Lloyd nodded. "They're tough, they'll get through it." Rip hoped he was right.
Ryan, Colby and Teeter were bickering at the barbecue when Beth and Katie came over.
"All good darlin?" Rip asked Beth.
"Yeah she's just anxious. She'll settle." Beth said looking down at the top of Katie's head.
Walker approached and got down on Katie's level. "Do you want to play a song?"
Katie looked up at Rip before nodding. "Do you know happy birthday still? It's my Dad's birthday."
"I do. We can play that one later." Walker said looking back at Rip.
"Told you we would be celebrating baby."
"Yeah yeah." Rip said passing her a beer.
Walker played around with Katie for a while until she lost interest. "Dad, can I go play over there?" She asked pointing to the side of the bunkhouse.
"Yeah, don't wander too far." He said. "She sounds grown up calling me Dad." Rip said to Beth.
"Have you gone soft?"
Rip ignored Beth turning back to the group. The cowboys finished the barbecue putting the food on a long table for everyone to help themselves. Everyone grabbed a plate for themselves, the cowboys eagerly tucking in.
"Baby, where is our daughter?" Beth nudged Rip.
"She's off playing somewhere, she'll come when she's hungry." Rip said before grabbing a steak.
"Rip, she's been very quiet for too long now."
"All right, I'll go find her." He put his plate down looking at Jake to his right, "don't you even think about touching my plate."
Rip called her name and got no response. He walked around to the side of the bunkhouse and then saw why she had been quiet. "Jesus Christ." He said under his breath.
He had found Katie with her hands in the paint tins someone had left open, painting the bunkhouse and surrounding fence. A fair share of paint was also in her hair and covering her clothes.
"Hey. What do you think you're doing?" Rip said raising his voice.
Katie dropped the stick she had been using and wiped her hands on the dungarees. He mouth made a perfect 'O' at being caught.
"I have no idea what Beth is going to say when she sees you cowgirl."
"Big trouble?"
"Maybe. I know it was left open but we always ask you to ask us." Rip said, he wasn't overly annoyed at her but more at the paint being left open by the wranglers. Katie reached out her arms to him. "Nah-uh baby, you're covered in paint."
Rip walked in front of Katie back to the barbecue. "You better not have touched my food Jake." He said as Jake held his hands up in surrender.
"Did you find her?" Beth asked. Rip nodded and stepped to the side.
Teeter was the first one to say anything, "oh shiet." Colby looked over before putting his head down and telling Teeter to do the same.
Beth looked Katie up and down as she got closer to Beth. "What have you been doing?"
"There was paint and I was painting." Katie told her trying to climb up on the seat for something to eat.
"Katie, everyone can see that." Katie looked at Beth before turning back to the food. Rip slid in next to Beth.
"Are you mad?" Rip whispered to Beth. The rest of the wranglers were sneaking looks but saying nothing.
"No, but they were fucking expensive dungarees."
"Ah I see." Rip said. "She knows she did wrong."
"It could have been worse. Why was there paint anyway?"
"Hi Mama" Katie interrupted. Beth turned around.
"Yes baby?"
"Am I in trouble?"
"I would have preferred you not to ruin those clothes."
"Sorry, but I painted real good."
"Oh I'm glad." Beth said sarcastically. "Eat your dinner."
The other wranglers relaxed once they realised Beth was not going to lose her shit and continued their conversations.
After dinner Rip went to the bunkhouse and came back with a rag. "Come here Katie." She moved to duck out of his reach but Rip was quicker.
"Nope. Not this time." He told her wiping her hands and face with the rag. She squirmed trying to get away but eventually gave in before he put her down.
The air was starting to cool earlier on the night, Beth watched as Katie shivered. She stood up and told Rip she was getting Katie a jumper before calling her over.
Lloyd passed Rip another beer as the girls went inside. "Nice night for it."
"Yeah not bad."
"Happy birthday by the way. Good to have them home I'm guessing?"
"Yeah. Beth's making a big deal of the birthday thing."
"You've got a kid now Rip. Everything you do is a big deal."
"Where the fuck is this wisdom coming from Lloyd?" Rip said with a laugh.
"Yeah well, it's nice to watch you with her and Beth."
Rip clapped him on the shoulder. "It is."
Katie returned with a thick jumper over her dungarees and beanie that Beth had managed to get on her head. "It's not snowing darlin'." He commented.
"Unless you want her to have a cold, she's wearing it outside from now on." Beth told him before getting her own beer. Katie was doing her own thing around everyone else as they sat around playing card games. Katie came over to Rip who lifted her on to his knee. She cuddled in to his side and Rip felt a smile creep on to his face.
"I know it's his birthday but he really has gone soft." Jimmy called over the table.
"Jimmy, I could easily show you how soft I am." He retorted.
"No thanks, you're all good."
"Walker!" Katie said loudly surprising everyone into silence. "We sing now." She told him more than asking standing up on the bench seat.
"Yes ma'am." He grabbed his guitar starting the happy birthday tune. Katie looked at all the other cowboys indicating that they should be singing too. Katie clapped at the end a took a bow for her efforts making everyone laugh with her. She sat down with a sigh before moving over to Beth and tapping her in the side.
"I'm tired Mama." Beth tapped the seat next to her for Katie to climb on to before pulling her across on to her lap. Beth continued her conversation holding Katie and running her fingers through her hair. It didn't take long for her to close her eyes before Rip called an end to their night.
"Right you lot do what you want but we are going." He said standing and lifting Katie from Beth's arms before helping her up.