When they got home, Lucy remained quiet picking up her canvas and a pencil before going back outside.
Rip sat in a chair at the table taking off his hat and running his hand through his hair with a sigh.
"I know what happened before lunch."
"What's that Beth?"
"With Walker. Lucy told me. She thought she was in trouble from Donny when he came."
Rip chuckled. "That fucker just doesn't quit with us."
"I may be irresistible but I am all yours, every last fucking inch of me." She told him as she sat on his lap.
"I know." Rip said holding her. "Should we talk to her or something?"
"Give her some time." Beth said putting the porch light on before going back to where she was sitting.
Lucy looked up as the porch light went on before continuing to sketch the cabin out on the canvas for her painting from where she sat on the grass.
'What the fuck is happening.' She thought. 'Trust Janice to try and cause drama, she only wants me now she's found out where I am and that I'm with Mom and Dad.' She put her canvas to the side and lay back on the grass taking a big breath of cool air, thinking about how fucked up the last week had been.
Rip watched her from the window, hearing the wolves in the park howl as the sun went down. "I'm going to get her."
"What's she doing?"
"Lying on the grass."
Beth came over to the window to have a look. "I'll go." Rip stayed where he was watching as Beth stood on the porch before going down and lying next to Lucy on the grass.
Lucy looked over at Beth before looking back up at the sky.
"Am I in trouble?"
"What for?"
"Kicking Walker? Then making you all come to the station."
"The Walker thing is between you and Rip. But the station thing I'm going to need more information about that woman Luce."
"Figured." Lucy said. Beth waited until Lucy was ready. "Her name is Janice Wright but she ain't very nice. She had her own kids and then me as well and you know the Cinderella story?" Beth nodded.
"It was a bit like that. I was the outcast and there were different standards at home. When I didn't meet their expectations they'd hit me. The other kids use to tell lies to them about me to get me in trouble. I guess that's why school was so good you know? I didn't have to worry about being hit."
Beth didn't expect that to come out of her mouth and she could feel her blood boiling.
"Then one day they were gone. I came home and they were gone it wasn't a bad thing at the start. But then I found out they hadn't paid the bills so I had to leave and they didn't own the house. I didn't know where they went and didn't really care so I got my own place and a job to help pay and you know the rest. I guess she found out from one of her brats that you found me. They go to the same school but they're way older then me."
Lucy turned to look at Beth. "I know you say I'm a Dutton and what not and that you'll make sure nothing happens but I really don't want to go back and I'm worried."
"I'm gonna kill her with my bare fucking hands if she ever comes near you."
"Mom." Lucy said looking her in the eye.
"What? Baby, there are few regrets I've ever had in my life but letting you go is the biggest. It was a decision forced upon me, on us, made by fear."
"I don't hate you for it." Lucy told her sitting up. Beth rested on her elbows shaking her head. She couldn't believe that despite everything Lucy rarely chose anger as a first response, instead she was able to see both sides of everyone and the situations at hand.
"You, my girl will be a better person than me."
"I think you're good Mom. You put us first but you do like to argue with everyone." Lucy said the last part grinning.
"Oi. Watch it." Beth said pulling her back down.
"My canvas! Careful!" She squealed, laughing.
Rip watched them from the front door before yelling out. "Right you two! Inside. It's cold and the wolves are out."
Beth rolled her eyes at him pulling Lucy up. "He always worries about me and the wolves."
"Why?" Lucy asked going up the porch steps.
"Because she thinks running at them drunk on a date is a good idea while they're feeding." Rip said closing the front door.
Beth shrugged her shoulders. "Live a little."
Lucy put the canvas on the table, opening up the paints. Beth put a glass of water next to the table for her to use. She put the paint colours on the back of the paper packet, mixing what colours she needed before starting.
Rip watched the rodeo on the T.V while Beth lent in to his side doing her own thing.
"I'm not going to get this finished." Lucy groaned from the kitchen table, stretching her arms out.
"Go have a break." Rip said looking at the time.
Lucy didn't need to be told twice. Putting the brush in the water and moving to the fireplace. "What's for dinner?"
Rip turned to look at Beth.
"You both go see what Gator's got at the lodge. No one is cooking in this house tonight." She said not looking at either of them.
Rip tilted his head at Lucy to get up before grabbing his keys.
"Can I drive?" She asked as she went out the door.
Rip ignored her question until they got closer to the truck before throwing her the keys. She eagerly jumped in the drivers seat before he showed her how to turn the car on and put the high beam lights on, considering her first experience was going to be in the dark.
"No being an idiot. This is a responsibility that you take seriously. Got it."
"Uh-huh." She said seriously.
Rip sat in the passenger seat giving instructions as they slowly drove down the road that lead to the lodge. It was the slowest he had possibly ever driven. He noticed Lucy's eyes darting around looking for things that might get in her way with a death grip on the wheel.
"You can relax Lu."
"It's not as good as I thought." She told him. She thought driving would be more relaxing, she had gotten use to sitting in her parents cars as they sped through the streets and on the ranch, relaxed as can be. She figured it would be the same for her.
"Touch the break lightly and pull next to John's truck." He said pointing out the other truck to their left. Lucy hit the brake a bit harder than she needed to, making them jerk to a near stop suddenly before she took her foot of the brake.
"That's all right." He told her as they rolled forward next to John's truck. "Now brake again." He said as she hit the brakes lightly before he told her to park the car and put the handbrake on.
Rip followed Lucy inside to the lodge kitchen where Gator was finishing the dinner.
"Miss Wheeler, Sir." He said greeting them both.
"Just Lucy, Gator. We were wondering if there were leftovers for us?"
Gator nodded. "I've got some game and potatoes and..."
"Any salad Gator? Beth is always going on about salad." Rip asked.
"Ahh yeah." He said pulling a bowl out from the fridge.
"I don't want salad." Lucy turned to Rip.
"Take that up with Beth, kid."
Lucy looked around the kitchen for any sweets. She found some cookies and chocolate cake at the opposite end of the bench. Rip gave her a single nod before she could ask the question if they could have some.
Gator packed it up in a bag for them before they left, thanking him.
"You can drive back." Lucy said passing the keys and taking the food. She was happy to sit in the passenger seat and scoff a cookie down before getting back.
Beth had plates ready for when they got back to serve the food. "Sweetheart, if you're going to sneak cookies before dinner, you've got to get rid of the evidence." She said wiping a smear of chocolate and crumb from Lucy's cheek as she tried to duck.
"I thought I was gonna fade away before we got back." She said sitting down for her dinner. "Dad I haven't fed Betty."
Lucy had been feeding Betty mainly at night now and she had negotiated for Jimmy to do it in the mornings before he saddled the horses.
"We're not going back tonight." Rip told her. "Feeding her was your responsibility Lucy. Now the cow is the one who misses out."
She could sense some disappointment from Rip. He was often telling her that she needed to take responsibility for the jobs he gave her on the ranch. "I'll call Jimmy after dinner. I'll do the morning and he can do tonight."
After dinner Lucy borrowed Rip's phone to call down to the bunkhouse, she knew she could have used her own but also knew it was significantly less likely they would answer her phone call.
"Shut up. It's Rip." Jimmy yelled at the boys when he answered the phone.
"It's Lucy."
"Oh. Why are you calling on Rip's phone?"
"Because then you'd answer it." She said matter-of-factly. Jimmy stayed quiet. "I'm gonna do you a deal Jimmy. If you feed Betty tonight, I'll feed her tomorrow morning."
"What. Did you forget or something? No way. It's a bad trade and you know it. I still have to be up at that time anyway to saddle everyone's horse."
Lucy huffed annoyed. "Fine. I'll saddle half then."
Rip listened to the negotiation from his place on the sofa.
"Saddle them all and you got yourself a deal." Jimmy said to her on the phone.
"Deal." She said hanging up before groaning. She passed the phone back to Rip.
"What's the deal?" Rip asked her.
"He's feeding her tonight and I have to feed her and saddle everyone's horse tomorrow."
"Lu, you better be ready to ride your bike down there at 4:30. I want them all saddled by 5:15."
Beth interrupted, "Drive her down, would you."
"No. She made the deal, she's going to do it herself." He said, not wavering on his stance.
"Mom, you'll drive me won't you?" Lucy asked, realising it was probably going to be freezing that early in the morning.
"Absolutely not." Beth told her. "And you're back at school tomorrow."
Lucy threw her head back dramatically over the back of the sofa before stretching out. Half an hour before the time Beth normally told her to go to bed, Lucy took herself upstairs to turn in for the night.
"You could take her you know." Beth said to Rip out of Lucy's earshot.
"No. I'm not. She is going to learn that actions have consequences." His comment made Beth roll her eyes. "Darling, she is all you. There is little chance she is going to be up at that time anyway, she's you in smaller size in the morning."
"It is not my fault that you go to work when it is still nighttime." Beth said with a smirk. "I wouldn't be surprised if she tries to prove you wrong."