"Katie, settle down. The doc said you need to rest." Beth said sternly.
"I have nothing to do!" She whinged throwing her hands in the air.
"Katie. You have plenty of toys and books. You can't play outside for one more day."
John and Lynelle walked inside catching the tail end of the conversation.
"How about I read you a book Granddaughter?" John suggested, pulling one out of her bookshelf in the living room.
"Lynelle can read?" Katie asked, Beth gave her a pointed look. "Please." She added sheepishly.
Katie sat next to John on the three seater couch and Lynelle on the other side. She opened the book as Katie cuddled up close to her. Lynelle read it slowly, pausing to let Katie look at the pictures. John pointed out the farm animals adding various facts about them.
John sat back and thought about how his wife would have enjoyed doing the same thing with both Tate and Katie. He wondered what their life would have looked like with two grandchildren.
Beth watched him from a distance wondering how different her own mother would have been with Katie than she was with her.
Katie begged Lynelle to read another book, she was more than happy to oblige. John moved from his seat whilst Katie was engrossed in the book and went down to the stables. The rest of the cowboys coming in from the days work.
"How is it looking?" John asked Rip.
"Yeah on track for the branding still. You want one saddled?"
"No thanks." John turned and walked further down the path towards the foreman's house to see Kayce.
Rip entered the house and caught Katie in his arms as she yelled out 'Daddy'.
"Ommph. What did we say about no running? Hmm?" Katie threw her hair back and groaned. "What was that?" He said.
"I wanna go outside!" She whinged.
"Hey baby." Beth said coming around the corner with a drink in hand, pointing at Katie. "She's all yours."
Rip smirked. "Were you that bad today?" He said looking at Katie.
"No. I was good. Promise."
Beth raised an eyebrow and finger pointing to Rip, "Your problem."
"Well, you and I now kid. Let's find something to do."
"Ride horses?" Katie suggested.
"No, I don't think so." He told her, she went to argue, "that's final." Her bottom lip threatened to fall.
"All right." He said getting on to all fours on the rug in the living room. "Hop on cowgirl."
She climbed up on to the couch and on to Rip's back. He moved around the room neighing like a horse for her as she squealed with delight.
"Can't say I ever thought I would see this." Beth said leaning against the doorframe.
"Well darlin', our four year old is full of energy. So you enjoy that drink whilst you can."
"I've made dinner."
"For everyone?" Rip asked cautiously.
"It's Gators night for the bunkhouse." Beth said.
John, Lynelle and Summer joined the young family at the table as Beth put a large serving of hamburger helper in the middle.
"Hamburger helper." She said putting the oven mits down.
John looked at the food and then at Rip, unimpressed.
"MY FAVOURITE!" Katie yelled reaching halfway across the table for the serving tongs.
"That looks... grey." Summer commented.
Beth looked at Summer ready for a nasty comment before Rip cleared his throat.
"Thank you sweetheart." He said serving himself some before passing her the tongs. John served himself hesitantly as Summer excused herself. Lynelle wasn't bothered and ate what Beth had cooked.
"I'm thinking we will brand on Thursday Rip, that gives us another four days." John said.
"Yes sir. I'll let everyone know."
"No work talk at the table Dad." Beth said.
"Honey, what else do we talk about?"
"That was your rule not mine." Beth said.
"Fine. How was everyone's day?" He asked. Rip kept his head down. Lynelle looked at him like he had grown another head before Katie piqued up.
"Boring! I had to stay inside ALL day again!"
"Well granddaughter, tomorrow is a new day."
"Yeah I'm going riding, right Dad?"
Rip nearly choked on his mouthful of food as Beth looked across at him.
"Did you tell her.."
"Now sweetheart, I didn't say anything about riding horses tomorrow." He said looking between both his girls either side of him. Lynelle excused herself and John followed suite figuring a fight was about to ensure knowing Beth.
"Baby, I love you but if you take her riding in the morning, you'll be in the bunkhouse with the rest." Beth told him as she continued eating.
"Cowgirl. You heard the boss, no riding tomorrow."
"Why are you so mean to me!" Katie said storming off.
"Katie come back here now." Rip said. Katie continued to storm off reaching for the door handle. "Don't you dare go outside." He warned, she looked back at him maintaining eye contact as she opened the door and pulled it shut behind her.
"The hell did that come from." Rip said.
"I think we are in trouble when she's older." Beth commented.
"Darlin' whatever the hell that was, is all you, just smaller in size."
"Hmm. It was a good storm off, I'll give her that." Beth said smirking. "She won't go far."
"Beth. She is so like you it's not funny. She's going to come back when she's ready and who knows when that will be." Rip said.
Beth looked out the window and saw Katie walking towards the bunkhouse looking back occasionally. "Baby she's gone to the bunkhouse."
"She's four dammit Beth. We aren't having her behave like that." Rip said slightly annoyed that she wasn't reacting like him.
"Oh baby, I know. She's in a world of trouble when she decides she has had enough." They both finished their dinner before Beth poured them both a drink.
Rip sat in the armchair with a sigh. "Where is Katie?" John asked.
"She stormed off Daddy. Said we were being mean by not letting her ride tomorrow."
John chuckled. "Yeah, if you can believe it you and Kayce both did that once, straight out that door." He pointed to the same door Katie went out. "Although, you kept doing it as you got older, Kayce stopped after the first time, not liking coming home in the dark."
There was a knock at the door at that moment, Rip opened it to find Lloyd standing there before he moved to the side to see Katie looking at the ground. "Thought she should come home, Rip."
"Thanks Lloyd."
Lloyd tipped his hat and left Katie standing on the porch.
"Well?" Rip said. "What was that all about?"
"I'm mad. I want to ride the horses."
"I said no. That does not mean you storm off and I told you not to go outside. I'm not impressed." Rip said. Katie looked up at him with tears in her eyes. He knew he wasn't going to be able to stay mad long at her looking like that. "Out of the cold. Go and see your mother." He told her.
She moved past Rip quickly ducking out of the way. The movement surprised Rip before he realised she probably thought he was going to hit her. Beth had set up a chair in the corner of the room when Lloyd knocked on the door.
"Sit up here, Katie." Beth said. John watching from the lounge room as Rip sat back down in his chair. "Have you had enough of storming off?"
Katie looked away knowing she was in some sort of trouble before nodding. "I feel all angry." She frowned her hands in tight fists.
Beth got down on her level, holding her hands. "I know you are. But that behaviour, that's not on. Got it?"
Katie huffed before nodding.
"I understand you're angry and upset baby. But instead of storming off you need to use your words. It wasn't very nice and you did exactly what Dad told you not to do." Beth said. "So, you're going to sit here for four minutes and think about it. If you get off the chair, time re-starts." Beth stood up as tears filled Katie's eyes.
She joined everyone else in the lounge room, leaving Katie in the corner.
"I've got to say. That was impressive." Lynelle said.
"Yeah well, yelling didn't work with me so doubt it's going to work with her either." Beth said.
"Wish someone told me that." John said.
"Can I come off now?!" Katie called out.
"No." Beth answered her. "I will tell you when. Sit there quietly and think about your actions."
"I'm sorry!" She cried. Beth ignored her rejoining the conversation. Thirty seconds passed before Katie was over trying to crawl up on to Beth's lap. She took Katie's hand putting her back on the chair and leaving again. This went on three more times.
"I don't know how you do it Beth. I would have given in ten times over." Lynelle said.
"Yeah I'm glad she's generally a good kid. This is going to be a challenge for her though." Beth said before turning around and telling Katie she could get off the chair. Beth held out her arms for Katie who collapsed in to them crying.
"All forgiven. It's ok." Beth said rubbing her back. "You don't need to cry."
"I'm sorry I was bad. Please don't give me away." She said between gasps for air. Rip and Beth looked at each other surprised by the last comment.
"No one is giving you away cowgirl. Who told you that?"
"Tate said when kids don't behave they go to orphanages!" She cried in to Beth's shoulder.
"Don't listen to a word he says granddaughter. You're a Dutton. Not going anywhere." John chimed in.
Beth sat with Katie facing her, resting her cheek on Beth's chest. "You could never do something that would make us stop loving you. You're our girl baby." She whispered, continuing to rub circles on her back to calm her. She could feel the occasional hiccup from Katie.
Beth stood easily with Katie in her arms going in to the kitchen. She pulled out an old sippy cup and warmed some milk, managing to hold Katie the entire time.
"Let me get that." Rip said reaching around them both for the cup. Beth grabbed a fresh cloth and wiped Katie's red face from all the tears.
Rip checked the milk wasn't too hot before giving it to Beth. "I was going to give it to her on the porch swing."
Rip nodded grabbing a blanket and taking it outside. The three sat on the porch swing, the one they built together.
"I hate to say it darlin', she's not going to stay this little forever."
"I know baby. I'm just enjoying it whilst it lasts."
Rip exhaled deeply. "What's wrong?" Beth asked.
"Nothing. She just ducked when she went past me earlier. I think she thought I was going to hit her." Rip said. "I would never-"
"You will never be your Father or anything like her biological one. But that's all she ever knew before you. It's going to take time Rip." Beth told him.
"She did drive me nuts today though." She added.
"Well sweetheart, she is a cowboy's daughter. She's built for the outdoors."
Beth rolled her eyes. "I think it's time to put her to bed anyway."
She was sleeping on Beth's chest holding the milk in the crook of her arm. Rip pried it free before putting her down in her own room for the night.