"Cowgirl Wake up. Time to go." Rip said from the end of her bed.
She pulled the covers over head head groaning.
"Hey!" He said pulling the doona off. "Just like Beth." He muttered.
"Let's get to work." Rip told her, pulling out her clothes.
Katie, half asleep followed Rip down the hallway. Rip stuck his head in to Beth and his bedroom whispering a good-bye. Katie pushed past his legs in to the bedroom.
"Mama. I'm going to work."
Beth still half asleep. "Mmmhm. See you later." She said without opening her eyes.
Katie looked unimpressed with the response she got before stomping off.
"Come on Dad. We got work."
Rip chuckled. "Let's go." He grabbed Katie's backpack and put snacks inside. "Breakfast on the way, kid."
"Rip." John started when they got out on to the porch. "Kayce is going to work with you today."
Rip looked at John not saying anything. Kayce worked with all the wranglers last week and ended up having an argument with Lloyd and Colby where Rip ended up having to step in. He hadn't mentioned it to John or Beth; Kayce had agreed to not overstep again.
"Where you going Grandpa?" Katie asked seeing Summer behind John.
"Taking Summer for a tour in the air."
Rip pointed out the helicopter to Katie before leaving.
"Saddle us a horse Jake." Rip said passing Katie some fruit and zipping up her coat. "Your Mom will be angry if you get sick."
Katie's tired eyes didn't shine quite as bright as he put her on the horse getting on behind her before they all headed out. It wasn't long before she was leaning to one side resting on his arm, asleep.
"I think the cowboys are working over here." John said through the head set to Summer as they rose over the hill.
"You realise how ridiculous this entire thing is, don't you?"
"Summer. I am trying to show you our home." John said exasperated.
He saw a bunch of wild horses and men rounding them up. "Jesus Christ. Pass me my phone."
Summer passed him the phone as he dialled Kayce.
"You got your badge?"
"Yeah."
"Good, get down here. Someone's trying to round the horses." He said before hanging up. John followed from above.
"What's going on?" Summer asked, confused by the fuss.
"That there is the Canadian Border. If those horses cross that river then they're no longer ours."
"So we're going to chase the horses down?" John didn't even bother with a response.
"What's going on Kayce?" Rip asked when he saw him pulling on his livestock agent vest.
"You better take her home." He said pointing at Katie.
"What's going on Kayce?" He repeated.
"Dad phoned. Someone's stealing horses. They're at the border in the helicopter." Kayce started. "So take her home." He finished more sternly.
"No Kayce. If she goes home so do I. Beth isn't home." The Wranglers watched on, feeling some tension between the two since last week. They knew as well as Kayce that they would need Rip.
"Let's go everyone!" Rip called out, heading in the direction of the border. He woke Katie up before they started galloping telling her that she would need to do as she was told.
The cowboys chased the herd and thieves. The Yellowstone helicopter overhead.
"Grandpa!" Katie yelled waving.
"Hands down, Katie." Rip said sternly.
"If they get them across, they're gone!" Kayce yelled out, urging his horse to go faster towards the river. Cowboys around him doing the same.
Rip pulled on the reins stopping his horse, before jumping off. He grabbed Katie off the horse, looking up at John on the chopper.
"You stay right here. Do not move. I'll come back for you." He jumped back on his horse riding off.
The thieves rounded the horses into the water towards the Canadian border. Kayce following suit. The Canadian Police mounted on horseback stood in formation in the other side.
"Hey! This is our side!" One yelled out when Kayce's horse stepped out of the water.
"Get back!" Kayce yelled going back in to the water trying to stop the horses and thieves. He managed to round the thieves and the rest of the Yellowstone cowboys assisted. Rip keeping a gun trained on them.
One man tried to scare Rip's horse with his own. Rip controlled his own horse, avoiding coming off.
Their ring-leader looked around for a way out, noticing Katie in the grass. He realised Kayce and the cowboys were preoccupied with the others. He knew the helicopter circling overhead would pose minimal threat to himself.
He pulled his cap down hard on his head, turned his horse and galloped for the child.
Katie saw the unknown man on his horse coming close to her. She wanted so desperately to move but knew Rip had warned her against it. She couldn't see her Dad amongst all the commotion. The man reached down as he went past grabbing her arm and pulling her up.
"Shut up kid." The gruffness of his voice frightened Katie. He managed to get halfway across the river before Katie screamed.
"DAD!"
Rip felt his heart pound in his chest when he saw Katie gripped by the thief on his horse.
"God dammit."
He turned his horse for the water, Kayce slightly ahead. He had his rope out ready to grab the thief.
"No. He's got Katie."
Kayce went to pull back. The Canadian police watched on.
"Get close to her Rip!" Kayce yelled. Rip rode further in to the water.
"Stay there cowgirl. You know how to ride." Rip told her before nodding at Kayce who swung his rope.
Kayce released the rope pulling the thief off the horse into the water, back to the Yellowstone side.
"Pull the reins, cowgirl." Rip called out, before pulling her on to his own horse, holding her close.
"You're ok. I've got you." He told her.
"That was scary."
"I know. I'm sorry I fucked up there." He said more to himself.
John and Summer watched from the air, horrified.
Kayce pushed the thief down to the ground, cuffing him.
"You rode on our side!" The Canadian's yelled.
"Yeah." Kayce said looking back.
"You have no authority."
Kayce pulled the man up in cuff's telling Jake to take care of them and the rest.
"Those horses belong on this side."
"Those men belong on this side." The police told Kayce.
"They didn't make it in to Canada. They haven't committed a crime on that side yet, but they did here."
"They've committed other here. We trade."
"They didn't seem too worried about your prison but they sure did of ours. If you want to see them punished, well that's up to you." Kayce said.
The police officer looked at the other before nodding to move the horses across. The Canadian's moved in unison in to the water, Yellowstone cowboy's ready.
Rip kept back from the rest on his horse as Katie held on to his chest.
"What the fuck Rip!" Kayce yelled.
"What?" He replied turning around. The wranglers up ahead slowing to see what was now the problem.
"I told you to keep her away. Look what happened. You use to always be on my Dad's leash and I ain't used to seeing you off it but now you're on Beth's."
"The fuck did you say." Rip said getting off his horse, leaving Katie on it.
"Oh I didn't stutter." Kayce replied.
"Thought you were goin' to cut the shit, Kayce."
Kayce squared him up as Rip took his hat off.
"Alright then, come on." Rip said approaching Kayce.
Kayce threw the first hook, connecting with Rip.
Teeter nudged Colby to get Katie out of the way as she watched on wide eyed. Colby looked at her and shook his head before Teeter got off her horse and reached out for Katie.
"Come on kid." She said lifting her off and getting on her own horse.
"Go back with them Colby." Lloyd said before Colby, Katie and Teeter left.
Rip and Kayce continued to trade punches before Rip had enough and landed one final hook putting Kayce in the ground.
"Still can't take a punch can you." He said.
"Where the fuck you going?" Kayce said as he watched Rip walk back to his horse.
"Nah. There is work to be done, but you wouldn't know what hard work is like. I've also got a kid and wife who need me."
"Maybe that's your problem, Rip."
"Fighting you Kayce, is not worth a second of my time." He said from atop his horse.
Lloyd answered Rip before he asked the question. "Teeter and Colby have her. Probably at the bunkhouse."
"Thanks Lloyd. Right you lot, deal with this and then back to the bunkhouse." Rip said before riding off.
Abby didn't expect any of the wranglers back at the bunkhouse nor the youngest Dutton family member to come bursting through the door.
"Y'all are back early." She said seeing Colby and Teeter followed. by Katie.
"I want my Mama."
"She's not here Katie." Colby told her.
"Shite went down." Teeter said filling Abby in.
Abby looked over from the couch half understanding the story Teeter told her. "Is she all right?"
"That kid has been through just about everything." Colby said slumping down on to the couch.
Katie approached Abby shyly. "Can we play guitar? Please?"
Abby went to reply before Rip walked in. "Where is she?"
"I'm here Daddy."
He picked her up and stood her on the table. "Let me look at you." He said before undoing her winter coat. He saw a bruise on her arm from where she had been grabbed.
"You all right?"
"Yeah. I'm ok Daddy."
"Good." He said kissing her forehead before lifting her off the table.
"Mama will be mad when you tell her."
"You're not wrong. Let's go you lot. Those horses aren't going to break themselves."
Colby and Teeter grabbed their hats and were out the door before Rip, Abby following behind them all to watch on.
Rip sat down with Katie and gave her some lunch.
"Why was Uncle Kayce so angry?"
"No reason baby. It's all good." He said tucking her hair behind her ears. "You need your haircut."
"Mama says that too."
"She's probably right then."
Father and daughter watched as the wranglers broke the wild horses in.
"These are something else Rip!" Lloyd yelled out.
Rip moved closer to the fence, Katie occupying herself in the puddles behind him. She looked up at John as he walked passed her to Rip without a greeting.
"What's going on Rip?"
"Breaking in those horses from earlier Sir."
"No what I meant Rip. What's the problem with you and Kayce."
"No problem for me Sir. You should ask Kayce if there is one."
John turned around and walked off at that response before stopping again. "She all right, Rip?"
Rip glanced backwards at John and then at Katie, nodding. Katie could feel the tension between her Dad and Grandpa before moving towards her Dad at the fence.
Rip looked down feeling her leaning against his leg. "It's all right." He reassured her putting his hand on her head.
"Oi Jimmy. Pay attention to what you're doing!" Rip yelled watching Jimmy struggle with the horse. Katie, bored of the horses went and found her bike helmet before yelling out to Rip to get her bike out.
He clipped her helmet on before letting her ride around in front of the bunkhouse and barn, whilst he worked.
Hours later, Katie's bike long forgotten, clothes wet and muddy and the whinging just beginning. Beth's car could be heard coming down the gravel driveway.
"Oi, wait until the car's stopped!" Rip yelled out as Katie went to run to her.
Beth got out of the car, slinging her hand bag on her shoulder looking over at the horses before shaking her head. She approached still in her high heels and office clothes.
"Don't touch her clothes, cowgirl but you can run over now." Rip said from where he was leaning on the fence.
She ran as fast as her legs would take her stopping before she went in to Beth's legs.
"Hey baby. You ok?"
"I'm good." Katie said pulling on Beth's hand towards where Rip was.
"Hi honey."
"Hi baby. We're celebrating."
"What are we celebrating?" Rip asked.
"I made someone's life hell today."
Rip chuckled. "Well someone made mine hell today too."
Beth looked at him intrigued. "I'll get us a drink inside." She turned holding Katie's hand in to the lodge.
Inside she took Katie's wet clothes off leaving her in a singlet and undies in front of the fire. Rip came inside as Beth passed his whisky.
"Why was she soaking wet?"
Rip began to explain the day they had, had. "... other than that, she's been playing in the puddles and riding her bike." He had purposefully left out the fight with Kayce, but of course nothing was missed by Katie.
"Dad and Uncle Kayce had a punch on. Dad won, I think. Teeter made me leave."
Beth raised an eyebrow at Rip.
"It was nothing Beth." Rip said not wanting to discuss it further.
"Well other than that. I had a great day!" She said clinking her glass with Rip's. He smiled lightly at Beth as she shared her story over dinner.