Rip got out to the bunkhouse as the sun was rising. Most of the boys had saddled their own horses and were chatting.
"Right, let's get to work." Rip started, giving out the days jobs before saddling his own horse.
"Ah Rip." Ryan called out to stop him. Rip turned waiting for him to talk. "Abby was wondering if she could look after Katie. Pretty sure she wants to take her to some music thing in town."
Rip was confused. 'Why?"
"Your guess is as good as mine." Ryan said shrugging his shoulders.
"I'll go ask Beth. You better get Abby and come with me. She doesn't let Katie out of her sight often." Rip said chuckling. Ryan ran off to get Abby from the bunkhouse before catching up with Rip.
"Wait here." Rip said in the kitchen. Ryan and Abby looked around the kitchen.
"Never been in here before." Ryan said whistling.
"Beth." Rip said sticking his head in the bedroom door seeing Katie and Beth snuggled watching some cartoon. Katie didn't turn at the sound of his voice, too engrossed in the show.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" She asked, not expecting him.
"Now, honey. I don't know how well this will go down."
"I don't like the sound of this."
"Yeah. Me either. Anyway. Ryan is out there with Abby and she has offered to watch Katie for the day. Something about music in town."
"Ok..."
"Ok?" Rip repeated.
"No. I hardly know the woman. You think I would let our kid go with a stranger."
"Yeah thought so. Well honey, they are both downstairs. If it's any consolation, she did like her the other night."
She looked at him before throwing back the covers and getting dressed.
"I'll let them know you're coming down." He said before closing the door.
"I'm going to the kitchen to talk to Ryan and Abby with your Dad. Stay here baby." Beth said leaving the door ajar.
Beth knew it was unlikely that Katie was going to stay there long even with the tv going, she was too nosy and everyone knew it.
Beth joined them in the kitchen. "So you want to look after my kid. Why?" She wasted no time getting to the point.
"Well, I thought she might like to see a recording studio in town and then I'm setting up for a gig. Thought she might be interested." Abby said.
"You do realise she is four right." Beth said raising an eyebrow. "Her attention span is just longer than a goldfish."
Abby felt uncomfortable, she wasn't sure what to say. She didn't know if Beth was joking and ok with it, or didn't want her near Katie at all.
"I.. yeah." Abby stammered out.
"Ryan! Why are you here?" Katie asked surprised. Abby was glad to have the tension broken.
"Hey kid. Just chatting with your Mom and Dad." He told her ruffling her hair as she looked up at him.
"Abby too. You're still here. Mama, mama -." She said turning to Beth
"Yeah baby. Relax, everyone can hear you." Beth told her.
Katie scrunched up her nose. "Abby pay plays guitar, like me."
"I know. Abby's here to see if you want to spend the day with her." Beth said.
"What will we do?"
"I was thinking you might like to come and see where we record music in town." Abby interjected.
Katie didn't answer straight away. "Can we have milkshakes too?"
This threw Abby, she wasn't sure if Beth would mind. "If your mom says so."
"Isn't Mama coming?"
"No baby, just Abby and you."
Rip was impressed Beth was willing to let Abby have her for the day but knew that now Katie realised Beth wasn't going to be there it might not go ahead at all. He half expected her to say no flat out.
"Oh." Katie said moving away from Ryan closer to Beth. "Mama. I still think I want to go." It was the side of Katie that always came through that made both Rip and Beth proud and worried. She never wanted anyone else's feelings hurt or for them to feel less important. Something Beth and Rip, had plenty of experience in not worrying about.
"You can take my truck Abby. It's got her car seat in it." Rip said throwing her his keys.
"I'll get her ready." Beth said turning and telling Katie to follow her.
"Come on. We're late." Rip told Ryan, leaving the house. Both Abby and Ryan walking behind.
Abby stopped on the porch to wait for Beth and Katie.
"You'll end up with one yourself Ryan." Rip told him.
"What? A kid? No."
"Yeah well, look how that turned out for me. You might say no but that kid will charm the shit out of Abby. She sure did it to Beth."
"What. You saying you'd be fine without her around."
"No. Now listen here, if you go and tell anyone this, you'll never speak again. I didn't want kids at all but she makes Beth a totally different woman. She is the final piece that we both needed. I loved Beth before but seeing her with our daughter is a whole different love."
Ryan nodded. "I'm not ready for that."
"I didn't think I was either. Is it going to be a problem when we go down South for you two?" Rip said getting on his horse. Ryan ignored the last question having not thought so seriously about it.
Katie came out on to the porch in a mustard long sleeve top with navy corduroy overalls and boots. Beth followed behind in jeans and a sweater.
"Give me your phone."
Abby passed it over for Beth to put her number in it. "You call me if anything happens to her. I don't care what it is. You call me. Got it." She said before giving Abby's phone back.
"I'll just grab my stuff."
"Mama. I'm going to get my guitar too." Katie told her before she could reply, Katie was inside.
Abby put her stuff in the truck while Beth buckled Katie in her car seat. Her small guitar next to her.
"Will you be here when I get back?" Katie asked.
"Of course. I'll be on the porch with Daddy."
Katie nodded before Beth kissed the top of her head and shut the door. She watched as Abby started the truck and they drove off.
'Now what', Beth thought to herself. She could barely remember the last time she was on the ranch, sober and without Katie near her for an entire day.
She decided to go back to bed. She couldn't imagine sleeping past 6am now but in her previous life she would normally be going to bed at that time.
Rip and the rest of the wranglers were working closer to the lodge when Beth wandered down to watch. She leant against the round pen, resting her head on her arms.
"All right Beth?" Rip called out atop his horse.
"Mmhmm."
Rip stopped what he was doing. He had no idea if pushing it any further was going to back fire on him.
"Do I ask?"
"Has Ryan heard anything?"
"About what?" Rip asked.
"Our daughter, Rip."
Rip looked down hiding his smirk before calling out and asking Ryan who shook his head.
"Nothing. I'm sure they're fine."
She looked at Rip before turning on her heel and leaving. Rip watched her walk away before going back to work.
"I don't know how you do it." Kayce said.
"Well, she's your sister." Rip replied shortly.
Abby parked the car at the recording studio, cutting the engine before getting Katie out. She held her hand, taking her inside.
"Hey Abby! Who's this cutie." Some other musicians said getting down to Katie's height. Katie squeezed Abby's hand, turning in to her leg to hide making the other adults 'aww' at her.
"This is Katie. She's going to be a cowgirl and musician when she's older." Abby said rubbing her back. "My stuff is in the truck if you can grab it?"
The other musicians nodded heading outside. Abby showed Katie the recording room and control rooms, letting her sing a song on to the microphone before hearing it play back which amazed Katie to no end.
"My mama can sing too."
"Can she?" Abby said surprised by the detail about Beth.
"Uh-huh. She sings me a song when I got to sleep sometimes. Daddy can't sing it."
Abby laughed at the innocence of it all while getting her guitar ready.
"Hey Katie. Do you know the song your Mama sings?"
"Yep! It goes like this." She said before humming a tune and singing a few words.
Abby looked at the producer. "We've got like ten minutes Abby." He said seeing the look on her face.
"That is all she needs. Come on Katie. Bring your guitar." She said getting her own.
"Alright, see if you can do this." Abby said playing two simple chords Eminor and A. It took Katie a few try's before she got it.
"And strum them like this." Abby said doing it slowly. She waited until Katie got it before making a simple riff for the start. Abby nodded the the producer to start recording once she set the microphones up to record the guitars.
"You just play that until I say."
"Ok Abby." Katie said playing the two chords over and over. Abby added the riff once Katie found her rhythm before getting the thumbs up from the producer.
"Now Katie. Can you sing that special song Beth sings for you." Katie nodded as she put the headphones on with the guitar in the back ground. Abby put a set on top to listen herself.
The producer started recording before Katie started to make sure he got the entire thing as she stood on a chair to reach the mic. Afterwards he let Katie listen back to it with the producer with a big grin on her face.
"Katie Dutton-Wheeler's first song y'all!"
Katie entertained herself while Abby recorded her new music. Her hunger getting the better of her before she went in to the recording booth.
"Hey! Kid!" The producer said trying to stop her.
"I'm hungry." She announced to everyone.
"Can you wait 3 minutes and 27 seconds?" Abby asked knowing that's how long the song went for if they got it right.
"I think so." Katie told her turning around. Katie lay on the floor waiting, making the other musicians smile.
Abby played the song, as the band got through it in one go. "All right. We better go." She said to the band. "See you all later."
Abby put Katie in the car while she called out for milkshakes. She pulled up at the diner that Beth and Rip had taken Katie to a few times before finding a booth. The lady at the diner brought over some colouring in pages and pencils.
"Can my Mama come?" Katie asked as she coloured in absentmindedly.
Abby didn't know if she wanted Beth because she was bored and wanted to go home or if she just wanted Beth. "I'll send her a message." Abby said firing off a quick text.
'Hi Beth. Katie is asking for you. We are at the diner in town.'
Beth read the text. Hitting the call button straight away.
"Hello." Abby answered.
"What's wrong? Is she ok?" Beth asked.
"Yeah. She wanted to see if you'd come. Here she is." Abby said. She could hear the phone being passed over before Katie answered.
"Hi Mama. Can you come?"
"What's wrong?" Beth tried to press further. She didn't sound upset.
"You don't want a choccy milkshake too?" Katie said in to the phone.
"You can have one without me." She said. She heard Katie huff on the other end.
"I want you, please." Katie whined.
"Put Abby on baby." Beth said. Katie passed the phone back not entirely happy.
"Ah hi." Abby said unsure what Beth was going to say.
"Order an extra caramel milkshake I'll be there in twenty." Beth said, hanging up before she could get a reply.
Abby looked at the phone before ordering.
Beth got in to her car, winding down the window as she passed Rip. "I'm going to get Katie."
"Is she ok?"
"She wanted me to have a milkshake with her."
"Beth, you got to let her be away from you sometimes." He told her.
"No. No I don't." She told him, speeding off. Beth pulled in to the parking lot, spotting Katie's head just over the window. The bell rang when she walked in and Katie turned to see who it was.
"Mama! You did come!" She said standing up in the booth. Other customers looked on watching Beth Dutton-Wheeler interact with her child.
Beth smiled softly at her, standing next to the booth while Katie tried to climb on her. "Was she all right for you?" She asked Abby holding Katie on her hip.
"I was Mama. I was good."
"She was." Abby said gesturing to the booth for Beth to sit. She sat easily, putting Katie next to her. Katie sat as close as she could to Beth, continuing on with her colouring.
The two women sat there uncomfortable. "So you have a gig tonight?" Beth tried.
"Yeah. Y'all are welcome to come." Abby said.
"We've got something on." Beth told her stunting the conversation.
Abby had never been so glad to see milkshakes arrive.
"Can I try yours?" Katie asked Beth.
Beth raised an eyebrow at her. "Please?" She added.
Beth held the straw letting Katie try. Her eyes went wide at delight of the caramel taste.
Abby watched Katie and her enjoyment at being around Beth and enjoying the world in general. She's couldn't help but wonder if Ryan wanted kids one day.
"Mama I sung the night time song today."
"Did you?"
"Uh-huh. And played guitar too!"
"I have a copy of it. I can send it to you." Abby told Beth. "She said you sing it to her."
"Thanks." Beth said not acknowledging that she did in fact sing it to Katie at times, not wanting to show her more vulnerable side.
Katie slurped her milkshake loudly before sheepishly saying sorry. Beth finished her own before getting out of the booth.
"I've got some things to do. You can stay with Abby, Katie."
Katie looked at Beth shaking her head slightly. Abby noticed but didn't say anything.
"Words, Katie."
"Can I come with you?" She asked.
"You were having fun I thought with Abby?"
"Yeah but.." Katie said trailing off.
"That's ok. I don't mind." Abby said interjecting.
"All right. Thanks for watching her Abby." Beth said holding a hand out for Katie. "What do you say Katie?"
"Thanks Abby." Katie said quietly before looking up at Beth. She paid for all three milkshakes before taking Katie to the car.
"Yeah, Beth?" Rip answered the phone.
"Meet us in town in an hour." She said on the phone.
"I'm at work."
"See you in an hour at my work." Beth said hanging the phone up. She looked in the rear view mirror at Katie who was yawning.
Beth drove to the nearest Christmas shop that she had googled at home. By the time she got there, Katie was sleeping in her car seat. Times like this, Beth was glad Katie was small-ish for her age. She lifted her out of the car, carrying her inside where the Christmas music played.
There were lots of mothers inside with their own children, many of who were throwing tantrums or on the brink of it. She felt Katie move in her arms before opening her eyes.
"It's all right. We won't be long." Beth said while Katie kept her head on Beth's shoulder.
Beth grabbed a basket with her other hand putting in Christmas ornaments before coming across a young girl dressed as an Elf painting baubles. She looked at the samples on the stand.
"Baby. Can you walk?" She asked Katie, putting her down. She nodded looking around at all the green, red and gold decorations.
"Can you do one with the name 'Katie'?" Beth asked the girl giving her a golden bauble.
"If you come back in five minutes it will be ready." She told Beth.
"Does the Santa come in the house?" Katie asked.
"He comes down the chimney."
"I don't want him to." Katie said worried.
"Why not? He won't hurt you."
"No Mama. He can't come in." She said more definite in her answer.
Beth searched the aisles looking for something in particular. She stopped when she found it. "How about this?" She said showing Katie a sign.
"What's it say?" Katie asked.
"It says 'Santa, please stop here." She said pointing out the words with the picture of Santa on the front. "We can put it out -"
"On the porch!" Katie said. Beth put it in the basket, going back to the Elf and bauble.
"Here, you can pay at the front." The girl said passing a small box with the bauble inside with Katie's name on it.
Beth paid, checking the time before driving to her office to meet Rip. Katie fell asleep again with the motion of the car. Rip knocked on Beth's window when he got there before she put her finger to her lips.
"Katie's sleeping." She told him.
"Asleep? Why? I didn't think she still had the nap."
"Big day I guess. Can you carry her? We just need to go a block that way." Beth said pointing down the street.
"Where are we going?" He asked picking Katie up.
"You'll see." She said as they started to walk.
"What the hell is this?" Rip said watching all the kids run around.
"Santa is here for photos. We're getting a family photo." Beth said walking along the path in the park.
The queue wasn't too long as they stood and waiting. Rip looked at the crying children around and ones throwing tantrums.
"I'm glad she's not like that." He whispered to Beth who laughed.
"Daddy. Where are we?" Katie said yawning.
"Your Mom wants a photo with Santa." He told her.
"Put her down." Beth said wanting to fix her hair. She wrangled Katie's hair in to neater pig tails while she tried to escape.
"We're next." Rip told Katie watching her watch Santa.
The photographer ushered them in. First for a family photo of Rip holding Katie on one side and Beth on the other. Katie looked at the man unsure before the photographer took another photo managing to get her to look at the camera.
"Now we'll take one of just your girl and Santa. You tell Santa what you want for Christmas." The photographer said. Rip and Beth stood just off to the side while Katie sat on the arm of the chair looking at the Santa.
"I don't want you to come in my house." She whispered seriously.
"Ho Ho Ho!" The Santa chuckled. "What present do you want little girl?"
"You not in my house." Katie repeated. Rip smirked finding it humorous. Beth watched other parents who overheard look on surprised.
"Smile!" The photographer said clicking the camera as Katie look at the Santa.
The photos were printed and handed to Beth who decided to look at them at home.
"That went well." Rip said to Beth.
"We still need the tree."