"Sir, I'm going to need a few hours today to do something." Rip asked, hoping John wouldn't reject it.
"Why? Need you here Rip." John said not looking up from the papers on his desk.
"Yes Sir." Rip said before leaving.
"Well how'd you go?" Beth said, helping Katie pack her bag.
"No can do. I'm needed here." He told her. He knelt down to Katie, "Can't make it cowgirl. You'll tell me all about it later." He told said. She looked at Beth upset, pulling her goggles off.
"But that's not fair." Katie said.
Rip sighed standing up. "I gotta go." He said to them looking at his watch and seeing he was running behind time.
"We're not going for another three hours Katie." Beth told her putting the goggles in the backpack, taking it out to the car.
"Where are you off to?" John asked grabbing his hat off the hook.
"Katie's first swimming lesson today." Beth told him.
"That's why Rip wanted a few hours." John said.
"Yes Daddy. He wanted to be there."
"I need him here Beth. The Ranch doesn't stop."
"I know. Neither do I. I don't stop working for it either. What if Kayce asked the same thing. Don't forget you're about to take him away for a year." Beth said to him.
"Ok Beth." He said putting his hat on. He grabbed the door handle before turning back to her. "You know for all the things him and I have ever done, he's a much better husband and father than I ever was. Let him know I'll give him a few hours."
Beth nodded saying nothing.
"Daddy's coming?" Katie whispered from behind the doorframe.
"Don't listen in on conversations kid."
"Daddy's coming?" She said again.
Beth shook her head. "Yes he will come."
"What's wrong Darlin'?" Rip said answering the phone.
"Come back to the lodge at 10:00. We're leaving then and you're coming." Beth told him.
"Beth, he said no."
"Just be here Rip. It's fine." She said before hanging up.
Rip pulled up on the four-wheeler at the lodge just before 10:00, chewing on a toothpick as he went inside.
"We're going now." Beth said.
"Let me wash up sweetheart." He said. "I'll meet you in the car."
By the time the trio arrived at the pool, Katie had gone quiet and seemed nervous.
"Let's go cowgirl." Rip said to her.
"I don't wanna."
"No. Let's go." He said taking her hand. She went dead weight holding his hand slowing him down. "Beth." He called out to her up ahead. She turned to see what was going on.
She walked back to them, taking her handbag off her shoulder, she knelt down. "What's going on?"
"There are butterflies in my tummy."
Beth looked up at Rip. "She's nervous."
"I thought she was just being cheeky." He said shrugging his shoulders.
"Katie, it's fine to be nervous but it's just like last week, you'll get to swim around and do it with other kids and we'll watch."
Katie considered what Beth said before asking if she was sure.
Beth nodded, standing up and taking her inside the pool. Rip checked them in at reception before meeting both poolside. Lots of other mom's were sat on the bench with their own children waiting for the lesson to begin.
"The lady said she will be in lane 3 and gave me this." He said handing over the orange swim cap.
They sat together until the other parents started getting their kids ready.
"Arms up kid." Beth said pulling the long sleeve and jumper off her, before helping her out of her jeans. Beth managed to get the swim cap on without tears unlike some other parents before taking her to lane 3.
The swim teacher helped Katie in the shallow end, before other kids joined.
Beth watched another woman talking to Rip.
"You're a good Daddy. Did you come alone?"
"No. My wife is right there." He told her.
"Where? I'm sure she won't mind us talking."
"Ha. She will. Where's your husband?"
"On a work trip."
"You really should leave me." Rip said with a chuckle. Beth came over and sat on the other side of the woman.
The woman turned to Beth.
"Can I help you?" She asked.
"Yeah. Fuck off." Beth said startling the woman.
"What's your problem?"
"You. That's my husband you're eye fucking."
The woman looked Beth up and down before moving.
"Well Darlin', you sure made an impression." Rip told her watching Katie in the pool, feeling the other parents eyes on her.
Beth looked around not caring who stared before watching Katie in the pool too.
"Sorry, couldn't help overhear you put Jenny in her place." Another lady said form further down on the bench. "I'm Nicole, by the way. My boy Ollie, looks to be in the same class as your daughter."
Beth smiled. "I'm Beth and this is my husband Rip."
Rip nodded to her tipping his hat slightly.
"Jenny is notorious for that behaviour. Always trying to get someone's man. She won't bother you again, now you've put her in her place." Nicole told her with a soft smile.
"Looks like she's doing ok." Beth said to Rip, not taking her eyes off the pool.
"Of course Beth. I thought she was fooling around earlier."
"You got to be less of a hard arse sometimes on her."
"I don't know kids well, give them an inch they'll-" Rip was cut off before he could finish.
"No. You know her though. Don't even try and say she's like a calf."
"I wasn't going to." He said with his hand up in surrender chuckling.
The instructor let each child jump in to the pool one by one before they got out at the end of their lesson. Beth was rummaging in the backpack for Katie's towel as she came over.
Katie went straight for Rip, dripping wet. He picked her up instinctively before realising that she was wet.
"Dammit." He muttered. Before holding her at an arms reach. "Beth can you take her?"
"Why did you pick her up?" Beth asked rolling her eyes. She held at the towel, wrapping it around Katie.
"Will we come back here?" Katie asked.
"Yeah baby, you need to learn to swim." Beth told her drying her hair and putting her coat on.
"Did you see my jump?"
"It was very big." Rip told her, taking her hand near the waters edge.
Beth waved goodbye to Nicole before they left.
"I better get back." Rip told Beth getting in the car.
"I need a drink after dealing with that. Too much small talk with small minds." She replied.