"Daddy?" Katie called out looking for Rip around the stables and bunkhouse. Beth had wrapped her up in a coat, beanie on her head nearly covering her eyes and gloves.
"DAD!" Katie yelled, still having not found Rip.
Teeter came out of the stables and nearly cleaned Katie up having not noticed her. "Woah. What are you doing?"
"Huh." Katie said looking up and seeing Teeter. "I want my Daddy."
"Don't cry kid. I'll take you to him." Teeter told her. She didn't want to deal with Rip and Beth's daughter crying because she knew they would think she had done something. Teeter took her hand and walked to where she had last seen Rip. Katie looked at Teeter funny, she wasn't going to cry she just wanted to find her Dad.
"Found him!" Katie said pointing him out. "Thanks Teeter." She said letting go of Teeter's hand.
"Hi cowgirl." Rip said fixing her beanie. Katie wrapped her arms around his leg. Rip stopped what he was doing swinging her up in to his arms.
"What are you doing?"
"I wanted to find you."
"Does your Mama know where you are?"
"Uh huh. She said I could come out as long as I had winter clothes on." Katie told him seriously.
Rip smiled, he knew Beth was worried that Katie would get sick in the winter and they would all get stuck indoors.
"But Daddy." Katie started putting her hands on his cheeks. "When you leave Mama and me, Mama says I have to go to daycare but what if they don't like me?"
Rip sighed. He did not expect that to come out of her mouth. He sat her up on a fence post. "Cowgirl, there will be lots of people that like you but there will be some people that don't and that's ok. Not everyone likes each other but you still treat them like you would like to be treated." Rip tried to teach her.
"I don't think I want to go anymore." Katie whispered to him. "But Mama will be mad."
"New things are scary baby. We will all do it together." He told her as she pouted making him laugh. "Come on, time for you to go back." He said feeling the wind chill himself.
"Daddy, how much longer will it be cold for?"
"A while longer, cowgirl."
"Santa is coming, remember?"
"He is." Rip agreed. Beth had been trying to make Katie more excited by the idea of Christmas and Santa but she still wasn't fond of Santa coming inside the lodge. They passed the 'Santa stop here' sign out the front of the lodge before going inside.
"What are you doing home Rip?" Beth said coming down the hallway.
"Bringing the cowgirl home." He said pulling off her beanie and she tried to undo her coat before holding it out to Beth.
"All good?" She asked looking up at Rip whilst undoing Katie's coat.
"Later." He mouthed to her. "I'll see you later." He said kissing Beth's cheek and ruffling Katie's hair.
"I made this for Katie, Mrs Wheeler. It's hot chocolate. I have let it cool slightly." Gator said from the doorway.
"Thanks Gator." Beth said taking the cup. She knew a warm drink usually settled Katie right down, she grabbed a book from the shelf before leading Katie to the couch. She took a sip to make sure it wasn't too hot before passing by it to Katie.
"Gator made this for you. We can look at the book while you have it."
Katie carefully took a mouthful before grinning. "Mama it is so yummy."
Beth turned the page as Katie looked at the pages, Monica had given Beth this pop up book when Katie was adopted officially. It was one of the books Katie never tired of.
"Grandpa is going to come home today right?" Katie asked.
"He is already home. He's in his office baby."
"He doesn't want to play?" Katie asked confused.
"Clara and Lynelle are with him, in a meeting. You'll have to wait." Beth explained.
Katie scrunched her face up not liking the answer she got. "Is that grass lady coming too?" She asked referring to Summer.
"I hope not." Beth said seriously.
Katie slipped off the couch putting her cup on the coffee table before looking back at Beth as she walked towards the hallway where the office was.
"Uh-uh." Beth warned. "They're in a meeting. Come here."
She watched Katie's shoulders slump as she came back to Beth.
"But Mama." Katie started seriously, climbing on to Beth's knee facing her. "Grandpa isn't here long ever!" She finished dramatically throwing her head back, forcing Beth to reach out for her back and neck.
"I think he's going to be here for a few days, Katie."
"Really?" She asked with a grin.
Beth nodded. "Really." She confirmed tickling her causing her to erupt in squeals of laughter.
"Daddy said it'll be cold for a long time." Katie told Beth trying to catch her breath.
"It will. But we will go down south to see Daddy and it will be warmer there." Beth told her. She could hear John's footsteps before he appeared in the lounge. Beth turned Katie around so she could see him before she scrambled off her lap.
John caught her as she jumped at him, lifting her up. "Hi honey. You been behaving?"
Katie nodded. "Mama said you're staying!"
"Only if it's ok with you?" John teased making Katie laugh.
"And Grandpa, Mama said Lynelle AND Clara are here!"
John put her down, "Go down the hallway then."
Katie looked back at Beth before tiptoeing down to the office where Lynelle and Clara were discussing something. She rested her head against the doorway waiting for the conversation to stop. Lynelle noticed her and held an arm out for her from where she sat.
"Are you staying too?" Katie asked, leaning against the arm of the chair.
"I am." Lynelle told her.
"You too?" Katie asked Clara who nodded. "It's cold outside and we'll have to wear coats and beanies and gloves to go outside otherwise you might get sick."
"Did your Mama tell you that?" Lynelle asked.
"Yep. She did." Katie said. "Do you like Santa?" Katie asked changing the subject.
"I like Christmas a lot. Is Santa bringing you presents?" Lynelle asked.
Katie narrowed her eyes. "Maybe. Do you like Santa, Clara?"
"I do." She told the young girl.
"He's not coming here."
"Why? Have you been naughty?" Lynelle asked.
"No. He's not allowed in the house." She told them with a furrowed brow, she was confused as to why they didn't understand.
"Katie. Time to get ready for swimming." Beth told her from the doorway. "Go pick out what swimmers you want to wear." She told her watching her go to her bedroom.
"Lynelle. Clara." Beth greeted, giving them a small smile each. "If she bothers you, let me know. I'm assuming you'll be staying for our family Christmas."
"Oh, I-" Clara didn't know what to say. She knew that John and Lynelle were an item and that John had wanted to return to the ranch for some reason but he hadn't told her explicitly what it was.
"Relax Clara. We actually don't mind you." Beth told her before leaving to check on Katie.
Lynelle looked at Clara with raised eyebrows. "You got her tick of approval. That's the hardest of the lot."
Clara didn't know what to do other than nod. "I think I better get some gifts then."
Beth found Katie ready in a light blue daisy one piece swimsuit, sandals and her towel ready to go.
"Hold it." Beth told her grabbing some leggings, a long sleeve and jumper for her. "Put these on." She said helping Katie as she held on to Beth's shoulders. Beth grabbed her swim cap and goggles before taking Katie's hand out to the car.
"Where are you going?" John asked as they passed the lounge room.
"Swim lesson." Beth told him.
"It's winter Beth."
Beth shrugged. "It's indoor." She told him, grabbing her keys to put Katie in the car.
John grabbed his hat and followed them out.
"What are you doing?" Beth asked as John went to the passenger door.
"Coming to watch."
Beth rolled her eyes, getting in to the car.
"Mama, I'm going to do a big dive today. And blow lots of bubbles."
"I'll be watching." Beth told her, glancing in the rear view mirror. Katie still hated baths and Rip had been trying to encourage her to practice blowing bubbles after Beth had told him that the swim teacher had said Katie was often holding her breath underwater.
Beth and John followed Katie inside stopping at the part of the bench Beth normally sat at. She put Katie's swim cap on and goggles on her head before she went off the her lane.
"It's hot in here." John commented taking off his hat and coat. "And the mothers are looking at me."
"Yeah well you are the Governor." Beth whispered not looking at him.
Nicole sat down next to her after sending Ollie to join Katie. Beth had grown to like the woman after making small talk at the lessons that they had been to since the first run in with Jenny who hit on Rip, or tried to.
John introduced himself to Nicole before turning his attention back to watching Katie splash around in the water. He watched how much Katie enjoyed jumping around in the shallow end with the other children. The instructor had each child kick with a kickboard one at a time down to the other end before helping them to all line up in a single line out of the pool.
"She's going to jump, you better watch or she'll be cross with you Dad." Beth told him.
Nicole laughed quietly. "Ollie is exactly the same. Cracks the shits when he realises I wasn't paying attention."
"Tell me about it." Beth agreed with her.
Katie's dive was more of a belly flop, making John wince. "That must have hurt." He murmured. Beth shook her head and pulled out the towel as Katie walked back to her, her arms crossed against her chest. Ollie doing the same behind her.
Both mothers wrapped their children in towels before taking them to the change rooms to get changed. John lingered in the foyer before noticing the small canteen, he bought some lollies while he waited for Beth and Katie.
"Wow!" Katie gasped as the doors to the swimming pool opened and the cold air hit her damp hair. Beth unlocked the car and John buckled her in, passing her the lollies and telling her to be quiet about it. Katie nodded seriously and started eating them as they left for home.
"I know you gave her sweets." Beth said as she parked the car.
"Yeah well. It's one time." John said to Beth.
"Yeah and when she's running around like a nutcase, she's your problem." Beth told him, letting Katie out of the car.
"Grandpa, did you see my dive? I made a big splash." Katie said making a beeline for her toys.
"I did. Very big splash." He told her.
Katie nodded pulling out her current favourite indoors toy, a race track set. Beth was convinced that toys would appear out of no where in this house.
Katie started piecing together the race track on the floorboards around the living room, in anyone's way that wanted to pass through the lodge. She connected the last piece before taking the car and remote to Beth.
"Mama. Can you turn it on please?" Katie asked leaning across Beth's lap.
Beth connected the wires of the car before sending Katie off. She heard the car starting and going around the track making Katie laugh.
Katie lay on her stomach watching the car race around before digging through the toy box in the corner of the living room for another toy. She pulled out the marble run box that she got for her birthday but only recently had started to play with. Rip normally would build extravagant runs for her to play with while she built the same one over and over.
"Beth, I'm going to go in to town for gifts. Anything in particular I should be buying?" John asked coming down the hallway nearly tripping over the race track.
"No horse." Beth said looking over the top of her glasses.
"She's already got one." John reminded her.
"Exactly." She said rolling her eyes picking up her phone which started to ring.
John shrugged his shoulders and left, passing Rip on his way in.
"We need to talk." Was the first thing Beth said to Rip when he walked in.
"Beth." He said stepping over the toys strewn across the ground. "What's wrong?"
"That was the adoption people. Apparently a blood relative of Katie's has come forward and wants her."
"So? She's our kid."
"There was a clause in the paperwork." She said standing up to find it, Rip followed her down the hallway.
"It said that if a blood relative came forward within 18 months of adoption, they could take her away." Beth explained, showing him.
"How." He said dumbfounded.
"I knew about it but didn't think it would happen. They're coming to get her this evening."
Rip looked at her stunned.
"They're coming to take our baby Rip." Beth repeated biting her lip.
He paced in their bedroom. "I don't know what to do. Does she know?"
"Not yet. What do I tell her."
"We tell her the truth. What she needs to know."
Beth nodded. "Ok."
Rip entwined his fingers in hers, squeezing her hand gently before they went in to the living room.
"Hey cowgirl." He said kneeling down as Beth sat on the sofa. "Mama and I want to talk to you." He told her pointing to the sofa.
"Ok." She said unaware of what was about to happen.
Rip sat next to Beth as Katie climbed on to Beth's lap facing them.
"You know Daddy and I love you very much."
"I know that." Katie beamed sitting taller.
"And that won't ever change." Beth continued.
"Uh-huh. Because I'm your baby."
"That's right." Rip told her.
"But Katie, the lady from the adoption place is going to come soon..."
"Why?" She interrupted.
Beth took a deep breath, she never normally had an issue giving out bad news but this was breaking her entire world.
"Because a family member of your other Mama and Daddy want to look after you."
Katie screwed up her face. "Who?"
"Did you have an Uncle Shane?"
Her reaction told Beth and Rip everything. Her eyes widened and filled with tears.
"Don't make me go." She cried throwing herself at Beth, wrapping her arms tightly around her neck. Beth looked at Rip, upset.
"I can't stop them."
That only made Katie cry harder. Beth could feel her shoulder becoming wet. She tried to pass her to Rip who pried Katie's grip from around her neck free. Beth wiped her own tears before going to get a face washer and cup of water.
Rip stood and paced the living room with Katie in his arms, holding her close to his chest. "Mama and I will fix this cowgirl. It's not forever." He whispered.
Beth did her best to compose herself before going back to the living room. She passed Rip the face washer and water before leaving.
She pulled open different drawers in Katie's room packing her favourite clothes, not forgetting her Yellowstone tshirt and Charlie the horse that they bought when she first came to the ranch. Beth zipped it up in what was meant to be Katie's new kindergarten backpack and left it by the door.
"Beth." Rip called out as she made her way down the hallway, he was holding Katie in one arm watching as someone got out of a car neither recognised. "I think-"
"Yep." She said she walked past both of them pulling the door open to the porch. She came face to face with the smug woman who she couldn't stand from the adoption agency.
"Miss Dutton. I'm from the adoption agency here to collect Katie."
Beth could feel her rage. "I know."
"I need to get her now. Her Uncle is waiting."
"We are her parents. We signed those adoption papers. She's our daughter." Beth hissed at the woman.
"This is her blood relative that is willing to take her in to his care." She lady from the agency replied abruptly.
Beth wanted to drag the woman off their property but knew deep down it would only make things worse.
"I can give you a few minutes but we need to go." She told Beth.
Beth turned on her heel glaring at the woman before going back inside. She closed the door behind her not wanting the woman to come in to her home. She nodded at Rip who had the backpack in his other hand before putting Katie down.
Beth knelt in front of Katie, she put her hands on her little rosy cheeks. "Baby, they're here to take you to your Uncle. But Daddy and I will not let them get away with this. We're going to fight to make sure you come home."
"I'm scared." Katie whispered looking in to Beth's eyes.
"I know." Beth said hanging her head.
A knock at the door made everyone look up. Rip waved the woman away. He touched Beth's shoulder who stood, taking Katie's hand while he grabbed the backpack.
"Hi Katie! I'm here to take you to your Uncle, he's looking forward to seeing you."
"I don't want to go." Katie told the woman defiantly.
"He's got your old bedroom set up."
"Old bedroom?" Rip questioned.
"Katie will be living with her Uncle where she use to live with her parents."
Beth squeezed Rip's arm in anger.
"Come on Katie." The woman said pulling her arm before putting her in the car.
Katie cried out, with Beth and Rip following to the car. The lady shut the car door before they could say anything. She turned to them with a glint in her eye.
"Don't make this worse on her."
Rip was floored as to what was happening. He could feel Beth's anger radiating off her.
He didn't even realised that someone else was in the drivers seat until the lady got in the passenger seat and the car started moving. He could see Katie's small hands on the window. He let go of Beth breaking in to a jog after the car before he realised he would never be able to catch it.
Rip turned to go back to Beth and realised she wasn't outside anymore. He saw the door open on the porch and realised she must have gone back inside.
He found her sitting on Katie's bed staring at the wall. She moved over when she realised he was standing there making room for him.
"I'll find a way to get her back." He whispered.