The next morning Lucy found a note on the bench before going to school. 'Meet me at the pen after school. Dad'. She read aloud to Beth.
"What's that about?" Lucy asked.
Beth shrugged unsure.
"Mom, what do I do if people ask why I left early?"
"Just tell them you had a family thing to attend. I know you might tell Ella but you don't have to tell people what happened with Jamie if you don't want."
"I don't think I want Ella to know. I don't want her to think my family is crazy. I've had a fake crazy family."
"You don't owe anyone at school anything."
Lucy nodded. "I need to talk to John."
"What about?" Beth asked glancing at Lucy.
"I finished my film roll and want to get it developed but need help getting it out and he said he would."
"After school I'll take you to the pen to see Rip and you might be able to catch him then." Beth told her parking the car.
"Ok, see you." She said grabbing her bag. She wasn't as keen to go to school but she knew Beth would not let her have a day off just because she wanted one.
School dragged on for Lucy, she was finding that she was getting bored in classes more frequently except for Maths which was still a challenge for the most part.
Ella didn't ask too many questions about leaving the excursion early. She did fill Lucy in on how boring the rest of the trip was and how one of the boys in their class had thrown up on the bus on the way home and the smell was vile for most of the trip.
"You should come stay at the ranch one time. I can ask my Mom and Dad. We could ride the horses?"
"That would be so much fun." Ella said.
"I'll ask my parents tonight." Lucy said, her and Ella grinning.
Lucy had stayed at other people's houses before but she had never wanted to or been allowed to have people over at Janice's even to hang out.
Beth picked up Lucy after school and noticed she was quiet on the ride home. "I spoke to Rip, he said to meet at the pen and then I've got to go."
"Why?" Lucy asked confused. "Where are you going to go?"
"I'll go home. It's just your Dad and you for what he's got planned."
"Oh right." Lucy said resting back in the passenger seat.
They pulled up to find Rip leaning against the fence waiting for them. "Come on. We're going to make this furniture Lu."
"Oh cool!" She said excited. She had been waiting to do it with Rip but things were always getting in the way. Beth followed them to the workshop that wasn't used super frequently since Lee had died.
"Hey Mom?" Lucy said getting Beth's attention. "I was wondering if maybe Ella could have a sleepover one time? We'd be really good and won't stay up all night." Lucy asked nervously.
"As long as it's not a school night and her parents say yes, then you can." Beth told her.
"Really!" Lucy asked raising her eyebrows.
"Yes." Beth told her.
"Oh thanks!" Lucy said wrapping her arms around Beth. "It'll be fun."
Beth wrapped her own arms around Lucy. "All right I'll leave you both to it." She said letting go and leaving.
"All right. Let's get this started." Rip said having gathered the tools out they would need. "We are going to start with the desk."
Rip showed her how to measure and mark everything before passing her safety gear and turning on the bandsaw. He made Lucy stand back when it came to the bandsaw before showing her how to use the electric sander and hand tools.
"How will we get this up the stairs?" Lucy asked Rip.
"Jimmy can give me a hand if we need. We will make everything and then take it home, but not all tonight."
Lucy nodded. Her hands hurt, she felt her hands still tingling from the vibrations of the sander. They worked on other parts of the furniture, Rip explaining how to make joins in the furniture with far more patience than he would ever have for a wrangler.
Rip felt his phone buzz, seeing Beth's name on the screen that it was dinner time. "Lu, time to pack up your Mama has dinner ready."
"I need to ask John about my camera though!"
"All right. This time you can go but next time you need to help clean up if you help make the mess."
"Ok, ok!" She said running off to the lodge. She went through the kitchen to find John sitting in a leather arm chair chatting to a woman who had her back to Lucy.
"Lucy? You ok?" John ask surprised.
"I didn't mean to interrupt." She said before the woman turned around and she saw Lynelle. "Oh hi Governor."
"You can call me Lynelle."
Lucy smiled softly. "I was hoping you could help me with the camera? I finished a roll and I was hoping you could help me get it out so I can get it developed? But it's at my home."
John smiled, he was happy that Lucy had come to him for this on her own free will. He was aware that she probably could have searched it on the internet but still wanted him to show her.
"How about I come to your house after school tomorrow?"
"Ok, but I have basketball and Dad picks me up."
"I'll come after dinner then." John told her.
"Ok thanks bye!" She said spinning on her heel and leaving to find Rip waiting in the truck for her.
"Why are you smiling like that John?" Lynelle asked noticing that John was still smiling well after Lucy had left.
"That's the first time she's come to me and asked me to do something with her." He admitted. "I'm trying to get to know her."
"We are home!" Lucy yelled out to Beth coming through the front door.
Beth came down the stairs to serve the dinner, telling them both to clean up because they were covered in dust.
"Mom, can I talk to you later?"
"What is it?" Beth asked.
"Later?" Lucy asked hesitantly.
"Is it a girl thing?" Rip asked not wanting to know if it was.
"No!" Lucy said horrified. Beth smirked at Rip, typical response.
"I'll clear the table, you can have your girly chat." He said waving his hand.
"You're being dramatic Rip." Beth said moving to the couch with Lucy. "Tell me, what's going on?"
"I.. you know how you said Ella can come and stay?" Beth nodded. "I'm just like a bit worried. I haven't ever had someone stay over night or hang out before at my house. What if I don't know what to do?"
"Ah. I see. Well, Ella is your friend so you know what you like to do together. Dad and I will be here if you need as well." Beth said, Rip looking over hearing the word 'Dad' being used.
"Yeah. Ok. Dad if Ella comes over will you take us out on the horses?"
"Lucy, she's not my kid, I don't want something to happen to her and I have to tell her Dad."
"But you taught me to ride?"
"And you're my daughter. It's a bit different, let me think about it."
Lucy looked at Beth hoping for a different answer. "Your Dad wants to keep everyone safe."
"Ok, I'm going to message Ella now." Lucy said going up the stairs.
"Everything ok? I didn't hear what it was about." Rip said.
"She's just worried about having someone stay over. She never had friends stay over or visit when she was at that awful woman's house."
Rip nodded, he understood. His childhood was exactly like that, he knew Beth had often had friends over when she was a child. He was glad that at least Beth would know what to do.
"MOM! ELLA'S DAD SAID YES." Lucy yelled from up stairs before running down them.
"Ok. We can bring her back after basketball this weekend." Rip said watching as Lucy's fingers danced across the keyboard on her phone.
"Will we get snacks?"
"Relax. You can ask Gator if he will make you some cookies for the weekend tomorrow. If he doesn't have time we will get something." Beth told her. She knew exactly what their Saturday night was going to be like, Rip oblivious to what it would be like having two teenage girls under the one roof.
"Dad is the game close this weekend?"
"Go look on the fridge." He told her.
"I don't know where that even is!" She said passing the piece of paper of the seasons games to Rip.
"About an hour and a half from here." He told her. He hated the away games and having to drive there, not that he would admit it to her.
"That's not close." She groaned. "John is coming tomorrow but I told him I have basketball so he was going to come after dinner."
Beth narrowed her eyes. "Ok." She said skeptically.
Ella and Lucy chatted away during the warmup and drills of their practice, too much for the coaches liking before they both copped a grilling. Both grimaced at each other before focusing a bit more.
"My Dad said he can bring you back from the game Saturday."
"Awesome! The game is so far away this week."
"I know." Lucy groaned putting her basketball shoes in her bag at the end of training. "I gotta get out of here, my Dad will be waiting for me and John is coming over tonight?"
"Grandpa John?!" Ella asked surprised. "I didn't think you guys were close."
"He's not that bad. He's showing me something with the camera tonight." Lucy explained. The pair walked out of the gym together going to their respective Dads.
"I'm surprised you're out on time." Rip joked.
"Ha-ha." She rolled her eyes.
Lucy scrolled on her phone on the way home until Rip parked on the gravel.
"Go on, I'll get your bag." Rip told her letting her go ahead.
Lucy went straight to the fridge looking for juice and a snack.
"Hi Mom, how are you?" Beth mimicked.
"Huh? Sorry. Hungry." Lucy said before closing the fridge door. "Hi Mom." She said with a cheeky grin.
"Oh hi baby." Beth said giving her shoulder a squeeze. "Put your bag in your room."
Rip passed the bag to Lucy who wordlessly put it in her room. She came down the stairs, jumping off the last two.
"Can I go to the stables? I want to see Betty? Please?" Lucy added.
Rip didn't say anything immediately, Beth glanced over at him knowing he would want to say no because he didn't trust Fred.
"I don't want you going by yourself." Rip told her.
Lucy frowned. "But I normally can?" She asked confused.
"She will be fine. They'll be in the bunkhouse anyway." Beth said softly to Rip.
He gave her a look not happy about the position he found himself in. "Fine. Here is the deal. You can ride down there before dinner but if you see any of the cowboys you are to go to the lodge. No if's or but's."
"Ok." She said grabbing her helmet. She opened the door before turning back to look at Beth and Rip. "Do I need worry?"
"You leave any worrying to Rip and I." Beth told her with a somewhat forced smile.