Katie wasn't impressed by the landing holding her ears as the popped complaining that it hurt.
"I know cowgirl." Rip said rubbing her back. When the wheels hit the tarmac, Katie jumped with a fright.
Rip grabbed their bags as Beth dealt with getting past the people with Katie to get off the plane. He caught up to them in the terminal noticing that people moved out of Beth's way as she held Katie effortlessly on her hip and handbag on her other shoulder. It was like she was navigating through a boardroom instead of an airport. The contrast between Beth's city-chic style and the ruggedness of Rip in his formal Yellowstone shirt and cowboy hat was striking, and it didn't go unnoticed by the crowd.
"Thanks Daddy." She said turning towards Rip when he put her hat on her head. Katie's eyes were wide, scanning the people around her. She noticed the way some of them stepped aside, watching the family pass with curiosity—some out of admiration, others with a more judgmental look.
Katie's brow furrowed in confusion as she shifted in her mother's arms. "Why are they lookin' at us, Mama?" she asked in a small voice.
Beth, glanced down at Katie and then up at the faces of the people they passed. She gave a small, amused smile, though there was a sharpness in her eyes as she registered the curious stares. "People notice things that are different, honey. We might look a little... different from what they're used to," she said in her calm, confident way, a calmness reserved for Katie. Katie wasn't satisfied with that answer. She looked up at Rip, who was walking beside them, carrying the bags, his face a calm mask as usual but his eyes scanning the room.
Katie tugged at his shirt. "Why do they keep movin' outta the way, Daddy?" she asked. She wasn't used to this kind of attention, especially not from strangers.
Rip glanced at Katie, and then at the people who were stepping aside without a word.
"Your mama's beautiful, and folks don't see a family like ours every day." He told her.
Beth smirked "Corny much baby." She retorted.
"But why do they look at me?" she asked, a little more serious now. "I don't like it." She said pulling her hat down.
"That's because they don't see true cowgirls very often." Rip told her fixing her hat.
John had organised a truck to be at the airport for them to use. Rip collected the keys meeting Beth and Katie outside.
"It's hot here." Katie said.
"I know. I've got shorts for you." Beth told her, pulling out a pair of short from her handbag. "You can put them on in the truck."
"Hop in." Rip said pulling up beside them. Beth let Katie scramble in to the backseat before getting in the passenger seat.
Katie looked out the window at the city around her. "It's big." She whispered.
Beth looked over at Rip with a smile making him shake his head. "Just wait until we get to the hotel." Beth said.
"Can I still ride a bike?"
"Yes cowgirl, we haven't forgotten." Rip told her. He was hoping she had but clearly not.
"And horses?"
"That's my girl." Rip said looking in the rear view mirror. He turned the corner to go down a Main Street in a small town they were passing through, pulling in to the first parking spot he found.
"Do you want anything?" Rip asked Beth.
"Coffee." She said getting out of the truck.
Rip opened the door for Katie helping her out and fixing her hat. She skipped alongside Rip while Beth walked behind them down the street looking for a cafe. Beth couldn't help but think how cute Katie looked in her shorts, boots and tshirt beside Rip.
"Coffee!" Katie squealed outside the first cafe they came across.
"You want to order for Mama?" Rip asked. Katie's nodded as he opened the cafe door, holding it for Beth. The cafe had a few locals in it who looked at the family before turning back to their own conversations. Rip lifted Katie in to his arms at the counter.
"Hi, what can I get ya?"
Rip turned to Katie whispering in her ear what to ask for before Katie spoke up.
"Is that coffee for you?" The cafe worker asked Katie.
"For my Mama and Daddy." Katie told her putting her head on Rip's shoulder. Rip put her down while they waited.
"Mama." Katie groaned facing Beth's legs looking up at her.
"Yes baby?"
"Can I have ice cream still?" She asked wrapping her arms around Beth's thighs.
"We'll find one." Beth told her, rubbing her back. She took Katie's hat off her head before it fell off. "Honey, I need to fix your hair. Rip we're going to go outside."
Rip nodded waiting for the coffees.
"Mama I don't think I want my hair fixed." Katie said looking Beth in the eye as she crouched down.
"I know you don't but it's falling out and messy."
Katie pouted and wrapped her arms around Beth's neck. Beth cuddled her tiny body in her arms but wasn't going to let it distract her.
"No brushing I just want to tie it back." She told her taking out the two hair ties and putting her hair in to two small pig tails. "All done." Beth said as she stood up holding Katie's hat.
Rip came out and passed Beth her coffee before they continued to walk down the street finding an ice cream shop. Katie was consistent in her ice cream preference choosing rainbow as usual.
"It's dripping!" Katie said holding up her now sticky hands.
"Got to eat it quick cowgirl." Rip said as Beth wiped Katie's hands.
They let Katie burn off some steam in a grassy area they found before going back to the truck.
"Where to now?" Katie asked puffing from running around.
"We are going to where we are going to stay while we are here." Rip told her driving out of town. He kept driving for twenty minutes before pulling in to where Beth had booked.
"Wow..." Katie whispered in awe.
Rip pulled up to the doors before getting out. He passed his keys to the worker.
"Daddy, he's taking your truck."
"Baby, it's ok. He's going to park it." Beth told her. She checked them in before finding their room.
Rip sighed when he saw the size of where they were staying, it wasn't a room Beth had booked. It was an apartment. He put the tv on for Katie who had no issues lying on the couch to watch. Beth checked each room before sitting on the couch next to Katie.
"Do we see the horses now?" Katie's voice cut through the apartment.
"Tomorrow, honey." Rip told her. "What will you do Beth?"
"I'm going shopping, I'll hire a car and find a bigger city." She said looking at the map on her phone.
"We aren't going to be here for long Beth, a few days at most."
She looked at him and shrugged her shoulders. She was going to make the most of being away from the ranch for a little while.