Rip went to work the next morning in a foul mood, Beth's mood wasn't much better. She shut Katie's bedroom door and sat at the breakfast bar with a vodka.

"Little bit early isn't it?" John asked making himself a coffee.

"Not today." She said her putting her now empty glass down on the bench top.

"Honey?" John said turning to face her. He glanced around not hearing or seeing Katie. "Is Katie with Rip?"

"She's not here."

"I figured. I can't hear her." John said.

"No Daddy. She's gone." Beth said pouring another drink.

"You're going to have to spell that one out for me Beth."

"Apparently she has an Uncle and he wanted her back. So they came and got her." She said looking up at him. "It was in the contract when we adopted her."

John put his mug down on the bench, stunned. He watched as Beth finished her drink again and left the room.

"Girl." Shane shouted from the living room of his dead brothers house. "Get me another beer." He said throwing the now empty can in to the pile.

Katie's bare feet walked across the cold Lino of the kitchen. She pulled a chair towards the fridge, opening it before climbing to reach the beer. She wanted Beth, she wanted her Mama who would hold her close to her chest and sing to her and Rip who would take her outside to play.

"Hurry up!" Shane yelled. Katie scrambled off the chair to take him his beer.

"What took you so long. You're as stupid as my brother's wife was." He told her snatching the can before pushing her away, Katie stumbled back before leaving to hide from him.

John filled Lynelle in on the situation on a walk around the ranch.

"What are you going to do?" She asked.

"I don't know what to do."

Lynelle shook her head. "Her heart must feel like it's been ripped out."

John could only nod in agreement. He had lost his firstborn son and while this situation was different he could somewhat relate but knew Beth wouldn't want to hear that right now.

"I fear for the person who did this to them. Rip and Beth won't take it lightly. Any parent would fight but Beth can be vicious when protecting Katie around the ranch let alone this." He told Lynelle kicking the gravel.

They both came to a stop and watched as Rip and Beth said something to each other before Beth got in her Mercedes and left. Lynelle noticed that Rip's eyes looked darker than usual and he looked like he would snap at any second.

Beth came home later that afternoon with as much information she had found on Shane as well as pulling out the adoption papers to go through with a fine tooth comb. Rip came home to find Beth in their bedroom with the papers spread out around her.

"Do I ask?"

"I got information on this Shane." Rip nodded. "She can't stay there, he's dangerous."

"Show me." Rip said taking a seat across from her. She passed him the papers.

"One conviction for assault, one charge for assault with a weapon, two DUIs." Rip took a breath. "One conviction for stalking." Rip flipped the page reading the rest to himself. He wanted to screw the paper up and throw it in the bin. He felt ill knowing his baby was with this monster.

"How did they allow him to take her? Did they not read this?"

"It was sealed. By the courts."

Rip knew better than to ask how Beth got ahold of it. It didn't matter anyway.

Gator knocked on the door lightly. "Mr Dutton said you might prefer to eat in here." He said passing through plates of dinner.

"Thanks Gator." Rip said absentmindedly. He passed a plate to Beth and then a set of cutlery.

"Hold on Gator!" Rip called out.

"Yes?"

"You lived near Katie before she came here. Have you seen her since her Uncle came back on the scene."

"No sir. I haven't heard any noise come from the house."

"Nothing?" Beth repeated.

Gator shook his head. "Haven't seen anyone come or go. I'm sorry Mrs Wheeler."

Rip took a deep breath. "Thanks Gator."

"Haven't heard anything or seen anyone!" Beth hissed.

Rip didn't understand, it was all a blur to him. "I'm her Fad and I can't do a damn thing." He said halfway through their meal.

"I know. If we go there we will never have a chance at getting her back but I just can't do nothing." Beth said feeling truly helpless.

They mulled over the information they had before Rip decided that it was enough. It was going to eat them alive sitting and reading over and over it.