Rip had started to take Katie out everyday in the lead up to the branding on a horse by herself. It took Beth a while to get over it but she knew she was going to have a girl who loved to ride with Rip as her Dad.
The three sat around their own dinner table that night as Katie told them about her day while chewing a bread roll.
"Baby, finish your mouthful before talking." Beth said.
Rip opened his mouth to say something before Beth cut him off. "I'm trying to teach her manners baby."
"Sorry darlin'. Katie do as your told."
John interrupted the trio. "We're all having dinner together tonight. Beth be nice and if you can't. Say nothing."
She put down her knife and fork. "I'm going to need a drink for this." Katie, Rip and John watched as she poured herself a vodka downing it in one go before pouring a second. She walked past them all to the main dining room.
"This will be interesting." Rip said following with Katie and John.
Kayce and his family were sat in their usual spots with Clara next to Tate and Summer on John's left. Beth sat in her normal seat leaving Rip and Katie to sit to her right. The atmosphere was tense until Katie walked in and spotted Monica.
"Auntie Monica!" Monica turned around to see Katie coming up to her.
"Hey kid. Are you hungry?"
"Uh-huh."
"Come sit Katie." Rip told her.
No one was saying anything around the table once they were seated and waiting for Gator to serve them.
"One big happy family." Beth said looking around. "And an assistant." In reference to Clara.
"That's Clara and she rides horses." Katie chipped in.
"And a hooker." John bristled at Beth's last comment. "I don't know what could make this any better."
Gator's timing couldn't have been better, bringing in two plates of meat placing them down in front of John and Summer who screwed up her face.
"Is there anything you didn't kill to eat tonight?" Summer asked.
"I didn't realise you were coming, otherwise I would have prepared a different... everything."
Beth rolled her eyes whilst everyone waited for the exchange to be over between Gator and Summer.
"Gator just give her what we give the horses." Beth said.
"Tonight we will be having an assortment of game, venison, roast duck and I have prepared four dove per person." Gator informed them.
"You're serving the fucking bird of peace for dinner." Summer said glaring at John.
"Dove tastes pretty good." Kayce interjected making Monica laugh.
"Can we eat?" Tate asked sick of waiting.
"I'm hungry!" Katie said getting a look from Rip to be quiet.
"Summer let's take a walk. Maybe I can help educate you on our different ways of life." Beth said standing up.
"I want to walk too." Katie said.
"No baby, you stay here." Beth told her walking around the table.
"Woah, girls.." John started.
"Girls? Dad there is only one 'girl' in this room." Beth told him.
Summer followed Beth outside to the grass.
"Why can't I go?" Katie asked.
"You'll see why." Rip said.
Outside the pair were on the grass. "You really did mean a walk." Summer said to Beth back.
"No it was a metaphor." She turned and swung a right hook connecting with Summer's face.
"You are such a smug 40 year old adolescent." Summer said to Beth.
"Only problem with this place is you." Beth said landing another punch before Summer threw her own connecting with Beth. The two started rolling around fighting.
"Is Mama coming to eat?" Katie asked making a mess of the gravy.
"Sir, I'm going to check on them." Rip said.
"Let them get it out of their system." John told him.
"Nothing gets out of her system, sir." He said getting up and leaving the table. Katie made a move to get up from the table once Rip had left the room before Monica told her to stay.
Rip watched the two adults rolling around in the grass before commenting, "You look ridiculous." Beth looked over at him before standing up with a final kick to Summer's ribs.
"Do you think you'll beat one another in to respecting your opinion? I don't even know how you respect yourselves right now." Beth looked away from him.
"Is this the manners you want to teach that little girl in there?" He said making Beth look away from him.
"You. I don't know you but insulting them in their own house is not going to change their opinion. If you don't want the food, don't fucking eat it then. There are people starving around the world tonight but I don't need to tell you that. But maybe shut the fuck up and say thank you. Or leave."
"I can't leave." Summer said breathless.
"Well I suggest you find a way to work this out then. Beth have you had enough?"
"Not even close." Beth said.
"I could do this all night." Summer said making Rip chuckle.
"Fine. But let's end it with a little bit of dignity instead of rolling around on the ground. Stand there and trade 'em until one of you has had enough."
Beth punched Summer as soon as Rip had finished knocking her down before Summer threw another hook. Beth threw one back straight away and Summer stayed down, crying.
Rip nodded at Beth before Beth helped Summer up.
"This is my fucking house and my family. You will show me and everyone in it respect. Do you understand?"
"What respect do I get?"
"You get exactly what you give." Beth picked up her cardigan and walked up the porch. Summer went ahead of her.
Beth looked at Rip while he held the door open for her. "What?"
"Nothing Beth." He followed her inside. They all sat down at the table. Katie and Tate looking between the two women saying nothing as everyone else ate in silence.
"Mama might need a Band-Aid." Katie whispered to Rip.
"Hm. Probably."
"It's not as bad as it looks." Summer said.
"Really. That's a relief. Because if it was then you would be on a care flight." John said standing. "You're all excused."
Kayce, his family and Clara left before Rip took Katie's hand and left.
"I didn't finish Daddy!" Katie whinged as they left Beth and Summer sitting in their seats.
Rip gave Katie a sandwich before sitting with John and having a drink.
"My daughter.. I commend you on that Rip." John said.
"Well sir, she does make life interesting." John chuckled at Rip's comment patting his leg as he stood and left a kiss of the top of Katie's head.
"See you all tomorrow."
"Bedtime for you too Katie." Rip said taking her to brush her teeth. Beth came in once they had finished.
"Hey baby." She said, both Rip and Katie looked at her.
"Come on cowgirl." Rip led her out of the bathroom, Beth turned around watching them.
"Rip."
"I'm just getting her ready for bed Beth." He put Katie in her own bed kneeling next to it.
"I think Mama is mad."
"Hm. Definitely is. Not at you though."
"She needs lots of bandaids." Katie told him seriously.
"She does. But you need to go to sleep." Rip said and Katie stifled a yawn. "Goodnight cowgirl."
"Night Daddy." She said as Rip left the room. He found Beth in the doorway of their bedroom waiting for him.
"Before you say anything, let me talk to her."
"Darlin' I just put her down." He said as Beth waved her hand at him.
She crept in to Katie's room only illuminated by a soft night light glow.
"Mama?"
"Yeah baby."
"Are you ok?"
"Mmhm."
"Why did you fight? Daddy doesn't like it."
"I know he doesn't." Beth didn't want to tell her that she did it because she wanted to fight Summer but also teach her a lesson in respect. "Fighting isn't nice and we don't want you to fight. It was silly to fight but it's done now." Beth said.
"I still love you Mama." She said sitting up wrapping her arms around Beth's neck. "But fighting is not good."
"I'm glad you listen to some of the things we tell you baby. I love you too. Now lie down and get some sleep." Beth tucked her in giving her head a kiss.
"Happy now Beth?" Rip said from their bed.
"I really don't need a lecture."
"Darlin' I'm not giving you one." Rip said.
"This shit is harder than it looks. And my face hurts, also going to need to go to the dentist, I lost a tooth." Beth said sitting on the bed.
"Hell Beth, let me look." Rip said before getting the first aid kit.
He cleaned all the cuts and blood, Beth only wincing on the deeper ones. "Where's the tooth?"
"In the bathroom." Beth said smirking. Rip rolled his eyes.
"I've got to be up soon. Goodnight Beth."