"What was that?" Beth said walking with a fright hearing something smash.
"I don't know honey, go back to sleep." Rip said rolling over. The sound of glass shattering made Rip sit up. "Stay here."
Rip got dressed and went down the hall way in to the kitchen. He found Katie with flour all over her, next to her on the ground was a smashed mixing bowl.
"Darlin' it is too early. What are you doing?" He asked not prepared for her answer.
She turned around with a fright. "I was making you breakfast Daddy. I watched Mama make pancakes." She told him trying to pick up the flour from where the bowl had smashed.
"Woah. Leave that. You'll get glass in your hands." He said, she jumped back away from him. He noticed she had no shoes on either. "All right. Up here." He said holding his arms out before putting her on the counter.
"Baby, it is 4am. Do you not want to sleep?" He asked.
"I wanted to make breakfast before you go." She said.
"Ok. Well let's start over." He swept the mess in to a pile away from them both before getting out a plastic bowl. He helped Katie with the measuring cups and ingredients before letting her mix it together. He turned the hot plates on before cooking them, letting Katie flip them occasionally.
Beth came down in her nightie wondering where Rip had gotten to. She watched them together, Rip's back to her whilst they poured the batter in to the pan.
"What's going on?" She whispered.
"We're making breakfast Beth." Rip said without turning around. It took him a second to realise she was there rather then being on auto-pilot before he turned around.
"Darlin' go back to bed."
"Why is she up?"
"I made Daddy pancakes like you do before work." Katie said from the bench.
Beth sighed before sitting at the breakfast bar. "We may as well eat then."
Rip plated the pancakes up before lifting Katie from one counter to the next. Beth cut up some fruit for Katie to have with her pancakes and the three ate in silence.
"Thank you both." Beth said wiping the corner of Katie's mouth as she pulled away.
Rip watched the clock hit 5am, he grabbed his jacket and hat before leaving for the day. He passed Gator on the way out apologising for the mess in the kitchen.
"Mama." Katie said quietly wiping the hair out of her eyes. Beth turned to her waiting for her to say something more.
"Can we watch a movie?"
The request took Beth by surprise, especially because all Katie wanted to do for the past two days was go outside. "You can watch one."
"No. You watch one with me."
"Sweet girl, I..." Beth looked at Katie's face as she was about to tell her she had work to do. "All right."
Beth put a children's movie on the tv in the lounge as the fire crackled away. Katie lay on her stomach looking at the screen whilst Beth sat on the couch scrolling on her phone. She would glance up at the screen occasionally to make sure Katie was ok.
Half way through the movie Katie got up and climbed on to the couch next to Beth. She nuzzled in to Beth's side before she put her phone down and Katie climbed on to her lap, wriggling until she was comfortable. She twirled her hair in her fingers before putting her thumb in her mouth.
"Hey. Don't do that." Beth said taking her thumb out. Katie turned her head away but didn't put it back in. Beth ran her fingers through her hair as they watched the tv. Katie's eyes getting heavy towards the end when John came down the stairs with Lynelle.
"Morning honey." John said before Beth put her finger to her lips. John nodded before going to the dining table with Lynelle. Beth put Katie down on the couch covering her with a blanket before joining them.
"Still here Lynelle?" Beth asked. John shot her a look, unsure how it was going to pan out.
Lynelle looked slightly uncomfortable. "Ah yeah. I'll be leaving tomorrow."
"Not staying for the branding?" Beth questioned.
"Oh I didn't want to get in the way."
Beth poured herself another mug of coffee, taking a mouthful. "Lynelle. You're not my mother, but you do make him happy so if you want to be here. Then be here."
John sat there stunned and Lynelle just looked at Beth.
"What? I can be nice."
"Thank you sweetheart." John said. Beth left the table.
"Well I didn't expect that." Lynelle said.
"Neither. But you're always welcome here." John said squeezing her hand.
"Dad, do you mind watching her? I've got a dentist appointment in town. She's asleep on the couch. Wake her up in an hour though."
John nodded waving her off.
Beth grabbed her tooth from the bathroom and drove in to town. John sat in a meeting with Clara half paying attention to her and half to Katie and Lynelle who were colouring in.
"You're a good colourer Lynelle."
"So are you Katie. That's very pretty." She said pointing to the finished drawing.
Katie looked at her, thinking.
"What are you thinking?" Lynelle asked.
"If you stay with Grandpa in his room, why are you not his girlfriend? My Mama and Daddy sleep in the same room." She asked.
"That's a good question for your Grandpa." Lynelle said looking over to John.
"Hmm ok." Katie said. She put her pencil down, walking over to John to interrupt. "Grandpa." She started.
"Yes Katie?"
"You should ask Lynelle to be your girlfriend. You like her and she likes you and you sleep in the same room." She told him.
Clara looked away, figuring this was not meant to be for her ears.
John felt uncomfortable. Lynelle watched him from where she sat. "Well I think that's a conversation for Lynelle and I later."
Katie shrugged and left him to it. She heard Beth's heels and the door slam before she saw her. Katie froze when she saw Beth's face.
"Are you ok Mama?" She asked reaching a hand out.
"Yeah baby, they just fixed my teeth." Beth told her.
"You look like a chipmunk Beth. One way to learn not to fight." John commented barely looking up from the papers he was reading. Beth ignored him.
"What have you been doing?" She asked Katie.
Katie looked at Beth's half swollen and numb face puzzled.
"It's ok Katie." Beth told her.
"Lynelle might be Grandpa's girlfriend and we did colouring and now you're here."
"Grandpa might need some balls for that." Beth commented.
"I have tennis balls."
"Not that sort." Beth said.
Beth cut up some fruit before taking Katie outside for some fresh air and a snack. She ran around before colliding with Beth. "My cheeks are so cold!" Katie told he putting her hands on her face.
"It's going to be getting colder soon Katie. We're going to brand and then it'll be nearly Christmas." Beth told her.
"Oh the man in the suit."
"Santa, baby."
"He never came to me before. My old Daddy said he wasn't allowed to."
Beth listened to Katie. Beth closed her eyes remembering how special Christmas was growing up in the lodge. She recalled how special her parents made the magic of Santa for them all.
"Santa definitely comes to the lodge. We will decorate a tree and if you're good Santa leaves presents."
"Was I bad before?"
"No baby. I think he must have got lost. He comes all the way from the North Pole and tries to go to everyone's house in one night."
Katie's eyes widened. "Everyone! That's a busy Santa."
Beth smiled. "I'll make sure he comes for you, always."
"Can we put a tree up now?" Katie asked.
"No, not yet. After the branding." Beth told her.
Beth let Katie burn some more energy outside before calling her inside.
"Sorry Mama, I fell over!" Katie said with a bit mud stain down the front of her clothes.
"You're all right." Beth told her unclipping her dungarees before letting her inside so no mud went inside.
Katie rushed inside pants free with her boots still on.
"You need pants on." Beth yelled after her.
"Honey, why does the kid have no pants?" John asked.
Beth held up the dungarees as he nodded. "Are you home for Christmas?" She asked.
"Beth, that's ages away. I don't know." John told her.
"Katie hasn't had one Dad. We're going big this year."
"Right." Was all John said.
Rip grabbed himself a beer from the fridge before going back out on to the porch after work.
"I thought I heard you come in." Beth said leaning against the porch railing.
"Mmm, how was your day darlin'."
"Busy. Katie has never had a proper Christmas." Beth told him, he nodded as he had another sip of beer.
"Lots of kids haven't Beth."
"I know. But I want it to be special for her."
"Ok Beth." He stood up and went down the steps. "I'm going to get ready for the branding. Find some more chaps for people."
Beth turned around to look at him. "Your daughter and I are not staying her by ourselves."
"Honey. We are going to be on horseback for two days. There will be no bathrooms, nothing."
"Don't you want us to go?" Beth said from the top step.
"I just didn't think you would want to." Rip said rubbing his neck.
"Oh fine. I'll just fly to New York, get a suite at the Ritz-Carlton and show Katie the big city."
Rip chuckled. "Beth, if you want us to all go then say so."
"I did, but you seem to find that inconceivable."
"Beth, put the crazy away. Do you want to go on the gathering as a family."
Beth looked at him saying nothing.
"Jesus Christ. I'll get you a pair of chaps."
"Make a woman work for it, don't you. By the way Katie needs a new pair." Beth told him turning around.
Rip turned on his heel. "I'm going into town now to get her some then. How can she grow so damn quick."
"Katie. Come here." Beth yelled. "Take her with you." She told Rip.
Katie pushed the door open, "Yeah?" she said still without pants.
Beth clipped her dirty dungarees back on. "Off you go with Dad. He's going to get you some chaps for the branding."
"Come on cowgirl." He held out his arms as she leapt in to them. He buckled her in to the car before driving in to town.
He pulled up at the saddle shop, getting Katie out. Inside Rip headed straight for the chaps in kids sizes. He pulled a few off the rack helping Katie try them on.
"Too tight Daddy." Katie said uncomfortably.
"Right next pair." Rip helped slide them over her dungarees. "That's better. Jump around." He told Katie as she bounced around him.
"I like these." She told him
"We should get Mama some new ones." He picked some off a different rack, looking at the different leathers. "Should Mama match me or you, cowgirl?"
"Me." Katie said pointing to the same brown leather as hers. Rip took them off the rack and went up to the counter.
"These two thanks." He told the girl. "Katie come here." He called looking around. She came up to him wearing another hat.
"Put it back."
"But Dad-"
"No. Put it back." He said warning her. She turned on her heel putting it back before coming back to hold his hands.
"You can hold yours.."
"Can I wear them?"
"All right." He helped her put them on before they drove back home.
Beth heard the car pull up as they were all about to sit down for dinner. The door closed before little hurried footsteps could be heard before stopping and then starting again as Beth called out where she was. A second step could be heard not far behind as the door closed.
"Look at me!" Katie said excitedly jumping on the spot showing her chaps.
"You going to the branding granddaughter?" John asked. Katie looked at Beth not sure.
"We're all going Dad." Beth said.
"What do we do?" Katie asked as Rip and her sat down.
John explained the branding to Katie as Summer screwed up her face.
"Oh Mama, Santa is coming and two days on the horses. I want to go now!" Beth rubbed Katie's back.
"Eat your dinner. The branding is not for another three sleeps."