"Do you want to tell me what happened last night?" Rip said with Beth resting on his chest.
"That's Jamie's kid that he didn't know about. He said he wants help raising him because he can't do it alone. After everything he did and has said to us and our family. What he has put us through." She said.
"What are we going to do?" Rip said.
"It's not the kids fault. But do we know it's Jamie's? Jamie and whatever family he wants to make for himself don't deserve a single dime or square foot of our land. He made his bed." Rip nodded acknowledging what Beth said.
"Katie is pretty afraid of him."
"I know. More reason for me to keep him away from us." Beth said now sitting up. She got out of bed to get changed.
"Where are you going? It's the weekend." Rip said.
"No weekends on a ranch baby. You know that. I'm going to talk to Kayce before Dad does."
"I'll come with you. Katie will love hanging out with Gator for a bit." Rip said, right on queue Katie came into the room, leaving the door wide open.
She climbed up on to the bed between her parents. "Excuse me." She started.
Beth and Rip looked at each other before Rip prompted her to go on. "Can we have a family day?" She asked.
"What do you mean?" Beth asked.
"Everyone is always making Daddy work and Mama's busy working. Can't we play and then everyone will be happy?"
"Baby, we're working because it means you keep fed and we keep the ranch." Beth told her.
Katie bottom lip dropped but no tears fell.
"I'm going to talk to Grandpa." She told them before jumping off the bed. Rip chuckled at her antics.
Katie found him down the hallway, making his way to the kitchen for a coffee.
"Grandpa!" She yelled out, loud enough that Beth and Rip could hear.
"Morning granddaughter. What are you doing?"
"I need to negoti-. I need to talk to you." She said not being able to say negotiate.
"Sounds serious. Tell me." He said stopping to listen.
"I need to take Mama and Daddy."
"Take them where?" John said in a light tone.
"Mama, Daddy and Katie day." She said very seriously. "Make them happy."
"Why does it involve me?"
"Grandpa! You always make them work!" She said throwing her arms up in the air.
"Right. I see your problem. What if I say they can have half a day off?"
"No." She said shaking her head. "Whole day."
John looked down at his young granddaughter and felt like he was looking at a young Beth. Despite her not being blood related, she was so like Beth including her appearance and mannerisms. He wished he had spent more time with his kids when they were younger just as their Dad, rather than always working with them.
"Well. I don't think you've given me much of a choice. You better go tell them." He said before continuing on for his coffee.
Katie went back to their bedroom with a cheeky grin on her face.
"You really are your mother's daughter, cowgirl." Rip said smiling.
"We got to stop by Uncle Kayce's first." Beth told her before getting up.
Katie rode her bike rather than staying with Gator as Beth and Rip walked to their old house that Kayce and his family now lived in. Katie made a beeline for her old cubby house while the adults were inside.
"What's going on Beth?" Kayce asked when she sat down looking so serious.
"Jamie's got a kid." Beth said, Kayce didn't react to the extent Monica did, spitting her coffee out in the sink.
"Right. So what has that go to do with the rest of us?" Monica said.
"He's wanting our help. Said he needed help raising the kid last night." Beth told them, Kayce looked confused.
"Beth, I don't know why you hate him so much. He's our brother. Why shouldn't we help." Kayce said.
Beth looked up at Rip as he stood behind her.
"Sit down Kayce." Beth said. "I'm going to tell you something."
Kayce looked confused before sitting across from Beth.
"Years ago I was pregnant. I went to Jamie for help, he took me out to the res because we couldn't go in to town."
"Beth." Monica said softly looking away. Beth nodded.
"I didn't just lose my child that day Kayce. Rip did too and we lost what chance we ever had to have another." Beth said, Monica had tears in her eyes.
"Why didn't you come to Lee? Me? Dad?"
"How could I? You were too young. Lee would have gone to Dad and we know how that would have gone down."
"I'm sorry Beth." Kayce said.
"I don't know what Dad is going to do but as far as I'm concerned Jamie stays as far away from this ranch as possible."
"So that's why you've always hated him." Kayce said as Beth nodded. "I am sorry Beth. If I had known -"
"Don't." Beth said trying to force a smile for him. "We've got Katie but it doesn't take it away from what he stole."
"After all these years, I understand you better. I understand why you would hate him." Monica said.
"So you think he's come for the ranch?" Kayce said standing up.
"I think he's realised he's nothing without us and wants back in on the ranch, now he has someone to pass it on to." Beth said. "Dad will probably talk to you about it but I thought you should understand more of why he'll never get a thing from me."
They stopped talking as Katie came inside puffed from running around. "We should build a new cubby Daddy!"
"By we I think you mean me. Did you say hello to everyone?" Rip asked.
Katie made an "O" with her mouth before saying hello to Monica and Kayce. "Mama we gonna go now?" She said to Beth not realising everyone could hear her clearly.
"Baby. We're at someone's house as guests. It's not nice to say that." Beth gently told her off.
"Don't worry about it." Monica said.
"No. We're working on manners lately because we sometimes forget ours, don't we cowgirl." Rip said as Katie put her face in Beth's lap embarrassed.
"We're going to go anyway." Beth said standing and picking Katie up who hid her face.
"I had no idea." Kayce said to Monica as he closed the door.
"I don't think many people do Kayce."
"Right cowgirl, what's the plan for the day?" Rip asked carrying her bike.
"Swimming?" Katie asked hopefully.
"Not in the river. It's too cold." Rip told her.
"I've got an idea." Beth said as they got to the house. "Everyone get your swimmers on."
Rip knew better than to say anything as Katie darted past Summer and John.
"What have you got planned?" Rip asked Beth grabbing three towels.
"There is a heated pool in town that has slides for kids and a play area."
"Great. Sounds like it'll be full of ratbags." Rip said.
"I'm ready!" Katie announced with her swimmers and a hat on.
"You won't need your hat darlin'." Rip told her.
Beth drove them in to town, parking at the pool. Thankfully for Rip's sake there weren't too many cars.
Inside there were multiple pools. A standard lap pool, as well as a children's splash pool with a small water slide and bucket that dropped water from a height and a seperate area with small water fountains that kids could walk through.
Rip dove in to the deep end of the lap pool as Katie sat on the edge. Beth slipped in beside her before Katie jumped and Rip caught her. She came up coughing and wiping her eyes not use to the chlorine. This was the first time that they had decided to not put any floaties on Katie and see how she went.
"It doesn't taste nice." She said sticking her tongue out making Rip laugh.
Beth held her arms out for Katie to kick to. Rip gave her a little push as she kicked in the water, arms reaching out for Beth. Beth reached out for her when she got closer, praising her.
"See if you can blow bubbles Katie." Rip said to her showing her how. Beth held Katie spinning her around on her stomach in the water while Rip swam around leisurely. Some older kids who had ditched school for the day jumped in to the pool near Rip, splashing him. Rip stood in the water as the kids looked at him.
A quiet 'sorry sir' was heard from one of them before Rip splashed them back.
"Keep an eye on her for a second, I'll be back." Beth said from the shallows, getting out of the pool. She headed to the gift shop area looking for a pair of goggles. She picked up an orange pair, paying for them before getting back in the pool.
Rip caught Katie as she jumped in to the pool before she shouted 'again'.
"Come here baby." Beth said. Rip brought her over so Beth could put the goggles on her face.
"Ready, we'll all go under water together but this time keep your eyes open." Rip told her. He counted to three before the three ducked under the water. Rip and Beth opened their eyes looking at Katie who's eyes got wider realising she could look around without the sting.
"Wow! I could see you!" She said when she came up, before ducking under again forcing Rip to go under with her. The trio got out of the main pool and went to the children's area. Rip stood under the bucket with Katie waiting until it filled up enough before tipping and dumping water over them. Katie squealed in delight at the rush of water before wanting to go down the waterslide.
The noise level inside the pool went up as other parents had arrived with their kids, slightly older than Katie. Most of the mothers sat on the bench seat lining the wall as their kids got in to different lanes with instructors for swimming lessons.
Rip and Beth stood together as Katie walked through the water fountain area, jumping when they got her.
"Should Katie be doing that?" Rip said nodding towards the swimming lessons.
"I don't know. Those kids are a lot older than her." Beth said watching the instructors. Rip nodded.
"She'd probably like it." He said before Katie came over to them.
"Can we do that bucket again?"
"Mama will do it with you." Rip said putting Beth in on it. She glared at him before taking Katie's hand and standing under it with her. Rip searched the bags quickly for Beth's phone, having had plenty of practice at taking photos, he snapped away when the bucket fell capturing their faces. Katie clapped her hands from pure joy.
Rip held her towel out before wrapping Katie in it.
"But I'm not ready to go." Katie said looking at Beth and Rip.
"It's lunchtime Katie. We're going to get changed and go and eat." Beth explained to her taking her to the change rooms. Rip met them in the foyer before Beth told them to go ahead and she'd meet them in the car. Katie left with her goggles on her head refusing to take them off despite Rip's negotiations.
"I was wondering about swimming lessons?" Beth asked the receptionist. "My daughter is four."
"That's a great age to start. We do an assessment but generally children around the age of four have lessons on a Tuesday morning." The lady told Beth handing her a flyer. "Should I put your names down?"
"Ah sure. Does she need a parent to get in with her?"
"No, the instructor is in with them."
"Great. Her name is Katie Dutton-Wheeler. My name is Beth." Beth told the lady as she took note before giving her phone number.
"Just a date of birth too."
"July 12th 2018." Beth said.
"No worries. I've booked her in for next week at 11am for an assessment. We will see you then."
Beth smiled, thanking her before leaving. Rip was sitting in the drivers seat waiting for her when she got out.
"What do you want to eat, Katie?" Beth asked.
"Hamburger helper!" She shouted from the back.
"At least someone likes my food." Beth said.
"She's a Mama's girl, Beth." He said before turning to Katie. "No can do. Something else?"
"Ice cream?"
"How about just hamburgers?" Beth suggested ignoring the ice cream comment. Rip nodded and drove to his favourite diner. Each ordered what they wanted, watching Katie as she coloured in at the table.
"I booked her in for swimming lessons." Beth told him, passing the pamphlet.
"When?"
"Next Tuesday at 11."
Beth watched as his face changed slightly. "What?" She asked.
"I won't be able to come."
"I didn't realise you would want to."
"Of course I would Beth. I'm her father. I want to be there for everything." He told her passionately.
She smiled reaching for his hand. "I know you do and you are there baby."
"I like your goggles." The waitress said putting their meals down. Katie beamed at the praise.
"Thanks, we went swimming and my Mama got them for me." She said proudly. The waitress listened, smiling before continuing on.
"I like today." Katie said with her mouth full of food.
"Katie. finish your mouthful before speaking." Beth reminded her.
Katie swallowed her food dramatically before repeating her sentence.
"Me too, cowgirl." Rip said.
"Can we do this more, please? I'll be extra good."
Beth smiled softly, Rip looked at Katie before looking across to Beth. He knew what was coming for his family and that this was one thing he was unlikely going to be able to give his girls. The look in Beth's eyes told him that she knew that too.
"Darlin', you don't have to be extra anything for us. I don't know if we can do this every month because that's a lot of not working for Mama and I." Rip started trying to explain without upsetting her. They noticed Katie's smile falter.
"How about, we have Dutton-Wheeler family night? Mama and I will try to finish work early once a week and we can have a movie night." He compromised.
Beth was surprised considering the only thing Rip ever liked to watch on the tv was the rodeo and Katie knew it.
"No rodeo?"
Rip laughed, "No rodeo's Katie." Katie nodded seriously before sticking out her hand to shake Rip's and then Beth's. Neither adult knew how long they would be able to do that but both knew it was something they could never guarantee.
The family drove home after lunch, pulling up to seeing Jamie's car in the driveway. Katie sleeping in the backseat.
"Fuck's sake." Beth said quietly.
"Beth, my darling wife. If we could just not hit the roof about whatever that is." He said waving his hand at Jamie's car, "until we get inside and sort out our own family."
Beth cupped his face, "I will not promise you that." She said, getting out of the car.
Rip sighed, getting out of the car before getting Katie. She stirred in his arms, waking up. "Go back to sleep kid." He told her, by this point she was looking around and Rip knew the likelihood of her going back to sleep was slim. He propped her up on one shoulder holding her knees before grabbing the other bags out of the car. Katie chatted away to Rip going in to the house until they heard Jamie, Kayce and Beth with John.
"Now what do you want Jamie? The whole damn ranch?"
"Beth, you have fucking no one to pass any of this on to. Kayce and I do. We have sons and I will do anything I need to, to make sure they get this." Jamie said, knowing it would hit a nerve.
"Brother, don't." Kayce said, noticing Rip standing in the door way with Katie.
"You small, slimy, bastard Jamie. Last night you came here grovelling to us. Telling me you regret what you did to me. Yet here you are throwing more insults around. You just never learn do you." Beth said.
John sat their listening to his children before Rip spoke from behind Jamie.
"You've got a lot of balls Jamie. You have tried to destroy my family on more than one occasion, but you stand there and tell us you regret it and want help and now try to tell us we deserve nothing? I've bailed you out of a lot of shite Jamie and this is how you repay us?" He said calmly, lifting Katie off his shoulder.
"Enough." John said sternly. "Jamie can you just for once stop insulting your sister. And you Beth, for the love of god just shut the hell up and listen." John took a deep breath. "Jamie trying to tell anyone here who deserves what will never work in your favour. If you ever try to tell anyone that Beth's family deserve nothing then that means you should get nothing as well. We did not love you less or give you less opportunities because you were adopted. You of all people should accept that." Jamie looked away. "You three need to get along, you are all each other have." John said before leaving the room.
"You know brother, for someone who wants help you have a funny way of asking for it." Kayce said before following John. Jamie watched as Kayce walked away, the brother that always played neutral but held the closest bond with their sister.
"Fuck you Jamie." Beth said before leaving the room to find her little family. She found them by the horses, Katie dressed in jeans, her winter coat and beanie. Rip stood next to her as she stood on the fence leaning over it.
"Hi baby." she said to Rip, snaking her arm around his waist. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. They looked out towards the mountains where the snow lay.
"Mama do I not matter?"
"Why do you say that?" Beth asked perplexed.
"Because I'm not a boy? Jamie said only the sons get the ranch?"
Beth realised that Katie had half understood what was being said in the room when she came in with Rip.
"No baby. You matter. You matter the most to your Dad and me and Grandpa and Uncle Kayce and Aunt Monica. Don't you doubt that for one second." She said cuddling Katie, wiping one of her tears.