The Dutton-Wheeler's sat down for an early dinner the night before the branding. Beth couldn't help but wonder how excited Katie would be Christmas Eve if this was how she felt about the branding.
"It's an early start tomorrow." Rip said. "You'll ride with Mama, Katie."
"But I'm a good rider."
"I know you are but this is your first one." Rip told her.
John came inside to see the three of them sitting around their dinner table, Rip helping teach Katie how to cut the piece of steak on her plate.
"Ready for tomorrow?"
"Uh huh." Katie answered. "Is Lynelle coming?"
"No Katie." John told her. "I'll see you all at 4am."
"Goodnight Daddy." Beth said before turning back to her own family.
Bath time was becoming less of an issue the older Katie got. "Last one for two days!" She said excitedly.
"First thing you'll be having is a bath when we are back." Beth told her from the doorway. Katie pouted but said nothing.
Rip put her to bed and pulled out a new book to read. "It's still light Dad!" She whinged.
"We're going to be working before its light tomorrow. Now go to sleep." He told her closing the curtain and kissing her forehead.
Beth was sitting on the couch on her phone. "I'm going to bed soon too." Rip told her.
"Already?"
"Beth, I am about to go on one of the biggest few days of the year and this year I have my wonderful wife and child coming to also worry about."
"Baby, we will still fly to New York."
"Beth, I'm saying I'm going to try and keep you both safe whilst we are away ok. Don't go all crazy on me. Now come to bed."
"Oh now you're going to want the crazy." He laughed as they closed their bedroom door.
4am rolled around sooner than anyone had hoped for. Beth woke Katie up and helped get her dressed as she rubbed her eyes to the dining room table for breakfast. Everyone ate in silence. Kayce joining them and Summer watching those around her.
John finished his plate before having one last mouthful of coffee and standing. The rest followed suit and left Summer sitting there.
Outside the Wranglers were greeting the cowboys who had come to help and helping load horses off trucks. John sat upon his own horse that he saddle watching everyone prepare in the dark. Clara approached him for direction on what to do.
Rip saddled a horse for Beth before going to saddle his own. He came back on his horse to watch Beth put Katie on theirs and then get on behind her. He smiled watching them both, the two most important people to him.
"Ouch." Beth said as he got closer.
"You deserve it all honey." He told her smirking.
Katie leant back in to Beth stifling a yawn and Beth readjusted her hat. Rip pulled his horse across to stand in the line of cowboys, next to Beth.
Beth watched her Dad stand in front of them all giving his speech before they all set off.
Lynelle stood by the stables watching as Summer joined.
"I don't understand it." Summer said watching as the cowboys left whooping and yelling.
Lynelle looked at her. "This is what it means to be from here. This is our lives and our family."
They all rode across the Ranch, Rip yelling out directions to everyone as Beth rode beside him and John on the other side.
They stopped at the top overlooking the valley.
"See what you've been missing. This is why we do it." John said.
"Did anyone pack the vodka?" She asked.
"Beth. Look at the horizon."
"Yeah I see it Dad. Very pretty."
John chuckled. "You three drop in here. I'm going a hundred yards away where she can't ruin it for me."
"It's like the porch, Grandpa." Katie told him.
John rode off on them as Rip chuckled.
"She's right."
"She gets it from you Beth. You've got a mean streak as big as this whole damn valley."
"Its a woman's job to give a man perspective."
"Oh, is that what that was?"
"I do not find this beautiful, too big, too much space to comprehend. Give me a meadow and a lake that only I know about. Now that is beautiful. Know what I mean?"
"Every time I look at you and her. I know exactly what you mean." He told her as she followed him down to the valley.
Beth explained what she knew to Katie about the herd as they let the cowboys do there thing.
"Gotta slap your leg Katie and make a 'tch-tch-tch' sound to get the horse going." Ryan told her as she copied, a big smile on her face.
"There's one Mama." She said pointing. Beth had spotted the calf moving away from the herd and turned her horse to re-direct it.
Rip watched on before telling John where they would spend the night here with the herd.
"How can you not be smiling?" Beth yelled out to him.
"I'm smiling on the inside honey."
The cowboys set up for the afternoon and nap. "You go on up there with Katie while I take my turn."
Beth rode up the hill before they got off their horse and Kayce helped tie it up. Colby was happy to entertain Katie with Teeter whilst Beth watched on nearby leaning against a log.
Colby noticed she had fallen asleep by the time Rip came up on his horse.
"Sweetheart."
Beth sighed opening her eyes. "I never sleep during the day. Slept through a few but I don't nap."
"Come on, I want to show you something. Where's the kid?"
"I'm here!" She yelled running down the hill.
Beth pointed at the noise. "There she is."
Rip helped her up. Putting Katie on his horse and telling Beth to jump on hers. They crossed the stream, riding a bit further before Rip lead them into an open space.
"Wow." Katie whispered.
"This more your kind of beautiful?" Rip said. Beth took a breath before getting off her horse looking around.
"I found it a year ago. When you said you wanted to get married. This place had no memories except for the ones we make."
She turned around. "I'm sorry baby. We should have gotten married here but I couldn't wait."
Rip put Katie on the ground, she held Beth's hand looking out into the open space. Rip tied up the horses glancing back at them occasionally.
Katie tugged on Beth's hand. "I think I want to live here."
Rip stood behind Beth and pulled a flask out from his jacket
"Fuck. You are a good man." She said taking a swig. The two sat down under a tree watching as Katie walked through the meadow.
"All I need now is a cigarette."
"Uh. Here."
"You know you don't have to work so hard. You're one perfect motherfucker." She told him as he lit the cigarette. She puffed out a breath of smoke. "I could do this. I could live here and only see you and her for the rest of my life."
"Might be tricky in the winter sweetheart."
"You know what I mean. I don't need anything else. I need whisky, cigarettes, a meadow, you and her."
"Darling your sense of priorities is sure warped." He said laughing.
"No they're not. Those things make me happy. And look, look how happy she is. I don't need anything else. Do you?"
"Mmmhm."
"Alright fine. You can both have a horse."
"I'll need a couple cows to chase."
"Fine you can have a couple cows."
"Ok. Thankyou."
"Now you both are going to ask for a barn."
"DAD!" Katie yelled getting both their attention. "CAN I RIDE BY MYSELF NOW?"
Rip groaned. "Duty calls sweetheart." He said getting up. "You can if you remember how to saddle it." He told her as she ran over.
She called out the correct order to saddle before Rip put her on Beth's horse. Beth watched how gentle Rip was with her as he walked beside the horse in her perfect meadow.
Rip came and sat back down next to her watching as Katie continued to walk on the horse.
"Thank you." She said.
"What for Beth?"
"Everything. Look at this place and her." Beth said getting emotional.
"Sweetheart, I've told you; you two are the only thing that matter."
"Do you wish we had more?" Beth asked not looking at him.
"No Beth."
"You don't wish you had a boy?"
"No. She may not be our blood but she is our hearts."
Katie came closer on the horse wanting to get off. Beth helped her down before Rip tied the horse up as the sun set.
Rip woke in the morning to his wife and child still sleeping under the blanket he had packed. He saddled the horses quietly and lead them to the stream for some water. Beth woke up to the sound of the stream running, she held Katie close.
"We better get going." Rip said, packing everything up.
"Mmhm. Hey Katie baby, it's time to go." She said gently waking Katie.
"More riding?" She said groggily.
"Yeah cowgirl. Let's go."
The family rode over to John who was standing by a tree looking down an Emmett, his old cowboy friend.
"Wake up Mr Emmett." Katie said before Rip could ask what happened.
"I don't think he is going to this time." John told her. Beth picked Katie up from in-front of her and turned her around so she couldn't look.
"You get them going Rip." John told him looking back at Emmett.
Beth took off her hat in acknowledgment as they both turned around.
"Mama I can't see anything." Katie mumbled still facing Beth. She pulled the reins to slow the horse. "Is Mr Emmett dead?"
"He is."
"Ok. He'll go to cowboy heaven then."
Beth sighed. "I sure hope so." She repositioned Katie on the saddle before catching up with the others. Rip passed the reins of Emmett's horse to Jake before barking out orders.
"I can ride the horse?" Katie asked.
Jake looked over unsure whether he was meant to hear that.
"All right. Jake bring the horse here." Beth told him. Jake trotted over keeping the horse between his and Beth's. He reached over to grab Katie from Beth, putting her on the saddle and giving her the reins.
"We'll be ok Jake." She told him.
He nodded. "I know you will be, but Rip would kill me if he knew one of us wasn't nearby to help if you need."
Beth laughed.
"I'll keep my distance from you both." He said trotting off to the side.
"All right baby, just like yesterday. You and I are walking back together."
"I got you Mama." Katie said confidently.
"Just like your Dad." Beth muttered. The trio walked back, Katie occasionally hitting her chaps like Ryan had showed her. They met the herd where Rip had them held up as John and Clara galloped past them. Clara stopping but John continuing on to the camp Gator had set up, to tell Emmett's wife.
"Woah! Cowgirl." Rip said making a big deal of her on the horse. Katie grinning ear to ear. Rip couldn't have been prouder of her for the past two days and now watching her around the herd on her own horse, even if everyone was close enough if something happened.
"Righto, Lloyd and Teeter you watch the herd. Rest of you head in to camp." Rip called. The family of three turned around on their horses and walked closer to camp before stopping to get off.
Katie held the reins of Emmett's horse following half a step behind Rip and Beth. Rip helped her tie up the horse before she spotted Lynelle, running off.
Lynelle and John were comforting Emmett's wife as Katie skidded to a stop. Emmett's wife realised there was a small child and sniffed back her tears to put on a brave face.
"Who's this lovely girl?" She asked.
"I'm Katie Dutton-Wheeler."
"This is my Granddaughter." John said swinging her around into his arms. She lent across for Lynelle who happily obliged.
"I saw her riding in on Emmett's horse." She commented.
John bowed his head. "Yes. Sorry about that."
"John, I've known your family long enough. Don't apologise. I'd like her to have that old mare. She was good to Emmett and she'll be good to that girl."
"We can't-"
"You can and you will." She said holding up her hand .
"What do you say Katie?" John said.
"Thank you very much." She said quietly from Lynelle's shoulder where she rested her head. "I'll look after her real well."
Emmett's wife smiled touching Katie's cheek, before walking away. "He would have liked that."
Lynelle put her down as she ran off to tell Rip and Beth her news.
"Katie, I don't think that's what she meant." Rip told her.
"But Dad, that's what she said."
"Go and get some dinner." He said pointing to the nearby tables laid out with food.
"I better go talk to her." He said.
"We, baby, we better." Beth told him, he took her hand as Katie came back with a plate full wobbling in her hands. Rip managed to grab it before it all ended up on the ground. He put it on a nearby seat before grabbing Katie's hand in his, Beth taking Katie's other hand. They swung her in the air whilst they walked to Emmett's wife.
"Hello again." Katie said.
"Hello Katie." She said. "It's a long time since I've seen you Beth."
"It is. This is my husband Rip." Beth said.
"You've got a lovely little girl here." She said, Katie going shy and turning in to Beth's legs.
"Thankyou. We're sorry about your husband." Rip said
"He was doing what he loved."
"He was. I'm sorry but Katie mention about a horse." Rip started.
"Yes. I would like her to have Emmett's old girl. I watched her ride in on her and I don't think there is anything Emmett would like more."
"Are you sure?" Beth asked.
"Of course Beth. She reminds me of you when you were a young thing."
Beth smiled brushing Katie's hair out of her face subconsciously.
They thanked Emmett's wife one last time before having their own dinner as the band played. Rip excused Katie letting her wander around, the Yellowstone cowboys keeping an eye on her at all times like she was their own.
"Colby, do you sleep out here tonight?" Katie asked pointing to the tent?
"Yeah kid, we all do."
"Even me?" She said pointing to her chest.
"You'll have to ask your parents." He told her. She turned on her heel running off in their direction.
"We sleeping in the tents?" She asked puffed out.
"Yeah you've got your own one cowgirl." Rip told her. Katie's excitement hit the next level as did her energy knowing she was going to camp out with all of her favourite people.
Beth and Rip lay up on the hill looking down and watching the crowd dance to the musicians, Katie in the mix.
"Do you dance Summer?" Katie asked.
"No kid." She replied. Katie nodded moving on to the next person to dance with. John and Lynelle were dancing together when they waved her over.
"I'm sure your Grandpa will dance with you." Lynelle said, moving out of the way.
She stood of John's feet as he moved to the music until the song ended. He pointed out her parents for her and then she was off.
Walker got up on the stage to play.
"He sure can sing." Rip said. "Wouldn't sing like that for me."
"You're a sensitive soul, baby." Beth told him.
"Daddy, will you dance with me?" Katie interrupted as she stood in front of them.
"All right. Come on." He said getting up, holding her hand down in to the sand dance floor. The song changed to a more up beat tune as Beth came down the hill, joining in with everyone.
The sun set on another day as most made their way to their own tents. Katie in her own next to Rip and Beth. "I wanna do this everyday." She said as her eyes closed.
"One day you will." Rip said softly.