"He's a damn softie." Kayce commented finishing his drink that he was having with his Dad. John looked over to see what Kayce was commenting on, seeing Rip pacing up and down cradling Katie.
"Bad night." John acknowledged before filling Kayce in.
Beth came down the hallway putting her hair up. "Any luck?"
"No."
"Katie, it's time to sleep. Nothing is going to happen." Beth assured her. Katie turned in to Rip's chest telling her no.
She was fighting Beth and Rip on going to sleep, afraid that Shane was going to come and get her in the night. They had gone through their normal bedtime routine with Katie but Beth's stubbornness had rubbed off on her.
"I'll put her to bed with me." Beth said as he passed Katie to her. Rip went in to the kitchen to try their last resort of warm milk that normally worked well.
"Rip, do you have a moment?" John called out.
He held up the bottle of milk before nodding. "Your dad wants me." He said passing the milk to Beth.
"For?"
"I don't know sweetheart." He said leaving the room. He sat across from John where Kayce had been sitting.
"I need a favour Rip. I know I said you're not going down South but I need you to go down and check the land before they start driving."
"When?"
"In two days."
Rip bit his tongue for a second.
"I'll let Beth know." John said.
"Sir, I think it would be best if I do that. She'll likely let you know what she thinks about it." He said standing up.
John chuckled, he had no doubt.
Rip stood outside of Beth's line of sight listening to the conversation between her and Katie.
"You're Daddy's and my daughter. Just because we didn't have you when you were a little baby doesn't mean you're not ours."
"Ok." He heard Katie say softly before going in to their room, closing the door behind him. Beth looked over at him as he got in to bed.
"You'll always be our girl, cowgirl." He said kissing her head where she lay against Beth's chest.
Beth passed him the tv remote to change the channel from the children's program that was playing. "She's nearly asleep." Beth whispered to him. "What did my Dad want?"
Rip grimaced slightly, he wasn't sure how this would go down. "I'm going south in two days to check the land before the cowboys go."
"You are doing what?" She hissed not wanting to startled Katie after the battle they had tonight.
"I know Beth." Was all Rip said.
"In two days. Has he lost his damn mind! Does he know how expensive it is going to be to book a hotel."
Rip knew from previous experience telling Beth she didn't have to come was a mistake. "It will be fine, we will have to fly."
Beth look at him surprised. "I'm surprised you're not telling me to stay and that you want to drive."
"Sweetheart, if I've learnt anything it's that we are staying together."
Beth opened her phone to look at flights and hotels while Rip watched an old rodeo.
"Mom.. Mom... Mama?" Katie called out from their bedroom. Beth had let her continue to sleep while she started to pack for their trip to the south.
"I'm here." Beth called down the hallway before Katie appeared in the doorway, her hair sticking up in multiple directions.
"You leaving Mama?" Katie asked looked at the bags Beth was packing.
"We are all going tomorrow." Beth said, folding some clothes.
"No. I don't want to leave."
"We're going for the ranch." Beth told her not looking up.
Katie's bottom lip dropped. "Not me. I want to stay!" She said adamantly before stomping down the hallway.
"What's going on?" John asked coming down the hallway as Katie passed him.
"Well Dad, you now want us to go South and she's not happy about it. Can't say I am either, you didn't think to give us more notice?"
"I didn't know you were all going to go." He said. "I'll talk to her."
Rip called out Katie's name when he saw her outside without her jacket on. He knew Beth wouldn't let her outside without one.
"What's wrong?" He asked seeing tears on her cheeks.
"I don't want to go!"
"Go where?" He asked confused.
"I don't want to leave here. I want to stay." Katie cried.
"Cowgirl. We will come home, it's just for a few days." He tried to console her. Rip saw John approaching before they were interrupted.
"Come talk to me granddaughter." He told her, taking her hand.
They walked a few paces before John started talking. "Your Dad needs to go down South to make sure the cows will be ok and your Mama won't go anywhere without both of you. So you'll all go. But you'll come back here. Do you understand?"
Katie nodded with a sniffle. "I don't want a new home."
John lifted her in to his arms. "This is your home. Sometimes I need your help to make sure everything will be ok because I can't go. Do you think you can help me?"
"I can." Katie said resting her head against John's shoulder as he rubbed her back.
"You can keep an eye on your Dad." John told her taking her back in to the lodge. He put her down as she hiccuped.
Beth put the bags by the door ready for the morning when they would be driving to the airport as they came back in the house. "All good now?"
"It's sorted." John said.
"Katie?" Beth probed. She watched her bottom lip drop and tears fill her eyes before Katie reached her arms out to be picked up.
"Mama. Ma-"
"Shhh." Beth said rubbing Katie's back as she held her. "We're going to come back. It's not forever." She told her pacing back and forth.
"I want to come back."
"We will honey. It's only for a few days." She said softly to Katie, holding her close. "We are going to go on a big plane and then stay in a hotel which Daddy will hate the cost of and while Daddy works we can go shopping and go swimming. It will be warm there."
"Can I take my bike?" Katie said between hiccups from crying.
"No baby. But we can maybe borrow one there."
Katie tucked her head in to Beth neck as she sat on the sofa. Beth rubbed circles on Katie's back until her breathing evened out after all the mornings crying.
Beth looked towards the door hearing it open as Rip entered.
"Everything ok?" He asked. Beth nodded before asking why.
"She was outside before crying about leaving before your Dad came out."
"Yeah. She thought we were going to leave forever I think when she saw me packing. She's ok now. I told her about the hotel."
"Please tell me it's not expensive Beth." Rip said with a slight groan.
"We will be comfortable."
Rip inhaled. "I'll take that as a yes."
The next morning Rip loaded their bags in to the truck as Beth poured their coffees and organised Katie.
"We're going to go on an airplane and then we will be there and it'll be warm." Beth said trying to get out the door.
"But we will come back?"
"Yes cowgirl." Rip said putting her in her car seat.
Rip checked the rear view mirror as he drove to the airport checking on Katie. He gripped the wheel tighter as they pulled in to the carpark.
"People everywhere. Dammit." He muttered trying to find a park.
Beth sensed his tension. "Breathe, Rip. We'll get through this," she said, offering him a reassuring smile.
Rip nodded, finally finding a spot near the entrance. As he parked, he glanced back at Katie, who was fidgeting in her seat, her expression a mix of excitement and fear. "You ready, cowgirl?" he asked, trying to keep his tone light.
Katie's small voice piped up, "I still don't like it."
Beth smirked, of course her child was holding strong on her point. "I know, sweetie."
Rip carried two bags, leaving Beth with one and holding Katie's hand. They noticed Katie's eyes widened at the sheer amount of people and noise.
"Too loud!" She tried to cover her ears. Rip couldn't help but agree but of course Beth was unfazed, use to the hustle and bustle.
They approached the check-in desk, where a friendly attendant greeted them. "Checking in for a flight?" she asked, her smile warm.
"Yeah, just the three of us," Beth replied, managing a smile despite the tension.
Rip noticed the attendant's gaze linger on Katie, who was now clutching Beth's leg. "What's your name, sweetheart?" the attendant asked gently.
"Katie," she mumbled, looking shyly at the ground.
"That's a beautiful name! Are you excited to fly?" the attendant encouraged.
Katie hesitated, tears beginning to well in her eyes. "No… I don't want to go."
Rip gritted his teeth. It was going to be a long day.
The attendant didn't know how to respond, instead passing back their boarding passes as they progressed to security.
Katie grumbled her way through security, telling Rip and Beth she wanted to go home.
"Katie." Beth started crouching down. "I know this is new and scary but we are going. We're all going together for a few days and then coming home."
Katie took a shaky breath knowing she was now pushing her parent's buttons before nodding. Rip felt for Katie but knew Beth was right.
"What if something happens?" Katie asked Rip.
"Nothing is going to happen." Rip told her finding a seat by their gate. Beth sat next to him as he lifted Katie to sit on his knee.
"Baby, look out there at the big planes." He said as one took off in the distance.
Katie pouted before turning in to Rips chest.
They started to call for boarding for business. Rip looked perplexed at Beth when she stood and started picking up the bags.
"Really?"
"Rip, there was no way I was going in economy. You'll thank me later."
"Mama has paid for the expensive seats cowgirl, let's go." He said standing up to stand behind Beth in the queue.
The flight attendant directed them to their seats where Beth had arranged for them to sit together. Rip put the bags in the overhead locker before sitting in the aisle seat, Katie in the middle and Beth at the window.
"Look out there, and you've got your own comfy seat" Beth said to Katie who crawled across to look out the window. Beth rifled through her bag before grabbing a wipe for Katie's face before she tried to duck away.
People started to board the plane and Katie watched on curiously. She sighed and rested her head in the crook of Beth's neck. Katie didn't move until all the passengers were seated and the plane engines started, giving her a fright.
"It's all right." Beth reassured her.
"Excuse me ma'am, she will need to sit in her own seat." The flight attendant interrupted, gently tapping Beth on the shoulder. "For safety regulations, she needs to be in her own seat with the seatbelt fastened."
Beth sighed, glancing down at Katie, who was still curled up against her. "Sweetheart, you have to sit in your own seat for a little while, ok?" she said softly, brushing a stray curl from Katie's face.
Katie frowned but didn't resist as Beth lifted her and helped her settle back into her seat. Katie's lip trembled as she adjusted her seatbelt, still clinging to Beth's hand.
"I don't like it," Katie whispered, her voice small, eyes wide with unease.
"I know, baby," Beth murmured, brushing Katie's hair out of her face.
As the plane taxied down the runway, the engines roared to life, and Katie jumped in her seat, her eyes wide and frantic. She looked over at Rip, her small hands gripping the armrest like it was the only thing keeping her tethered to reality.
Katie's stomach did flips as the plane took off. She grumbled while Rip set up the small tv to put on a children's movie, putting the headset over Katie's ears. She swung her legs as the movie began and Beth and Rip relaxed either side of her.
"Mama! Look!" Katie said excitedly pointing at the screen.
"I know." Beth said acknowledging the screen.
"Off now?" Katie asked pulling at her seat belt. People in surrounding seats looked over at the Wheelers resulting in Rip glaring back at them. Beth fiddled with Katie's seat belt aiming to avoid a meltdown. She climbed across in to Rip's lap before her headphones came off, the cord not reaching.
"Hold on." Rip said as Katie tried to reach for it. "Sit with your Mama."
He undid his own seat belt, moving to the middle seat before Katie climbed back in to his lap making herself comfortable. She leaned against his chest, her small body relaxing as the movie continued to play.
"Look, Daddy!" Katie said, pointing at the animated characters on the screen with a grin that made Rip's heart soften.
"Yeah, that's pretty cool, huh?" Rip muttered, his voice still low, trying not to disturb the other passengers. He adjusted the seatbelt around her waist, making sure she was snug and safe, before glancing at Beth. She was sitting at the window, watching them both with a mixture of exhaustion and affection in her eyes.
Beth leaned over, brushing her hand through Katie's hair. "Better now, kid?"
Katie gave a small nod, her eyes still glued to the screen, though her small fingers were wrapped tight around Rip's hand.
Beth and Rip were surprised that Katie stayed awake for the duration of the movie, pulling her headphones off at the end. She wriggled around trying to get the seatbelt undone.
"Leave it on." Rip told her.
"I want to sit with Mama." She huffed.
Beth looked at Rip. "It's going to be a long flight." She muttered helping Katie to sit in her lap. Rip shook his head, resting it against his seat.
Katie moved around in Beth's lap, not sitting still. Beth took a deep breath trying to keep her cool. After twenty minutes of this she conceded defeat and moved past Rip with Katie.
"It feels funny." Katie said holding on to both of Beth's hands behind her as they walked up and down the aisle. They walked a few laps, waving to Rip each time they passed him before sitting back down. Rip now sitting in the window seat so Beth didn't have to go past him.
"Time to have a rest now." Beth said sitting down with Katie on her lap. She fastened the seat belt around them both, before trying to go through some of their normal wind down to get her to relax. She combed her fingers through Katie's hair until she could feel the even breaths against her chest.
"Finally." Beth muttered to Rip who smirked.