Lipstick and Branding

Chapter Three: March 30th

March Thirtieth.

The most dismal day of the year. And now, Ginni is starting to despise the late winter, early spring. First, her mom died after her sister's horse spooked her mom's, causing the stallion to rear back, and keel over, rolling its one-ton form onto Evelyn Dutton. It caused severe internal hemorrhaging, crushing her ribs and pelvis. Ginni wasn't there when it happened, she was only four and her father instructed one of the wranglers to keep an eye on her while her mom went riding with Beth and Kayce; while Jamie, Lee, and her father branded cattle.

Granted, Ginni vaguely remembered her mom, but she still felt the heartache of not having a mother figure to guide her through womanhood. Beth helped her with some of it, but when she left for college, Ginni had no one. No one to explain to her the process of love and boys. By the time Beth left, Ginni had just barely had her first period, from then it was up to the ranchers to explain something or worse, her father.

It has been two weeks since Lee was killed at Daybreak, which casted a dark shadow on the ranch. Her father is being blamed for the coroner 'blowing himself up.' She knew the truth, but she chose to not pay any mind to anything the ranchers do the protect the ranch.

Ginni decided to stay up in her room for a bit, she contemplated going up to the hot springs that sat up a mountain on the Yellowstone property. It was rather warm today and there was hardly any snow capping the mountain peaks. Today would be a perfect day to go for a ride. She picked up her satchel and added an extra pair of clothes, then made her way down to the kitchen to grab a snack. While she was descending the stairs, she could hear Jamie yelling on the phone in the kitchen.

"Mike, I gotta go."

She heard him say while she entered the kitchen and rummaged through the cupboards. The mud room door opened, and in walked Beth, wearing nothing but a loosely tied bathrobe and a menacing scowl. Ginni raised an eyebrow.

"What are you doing?" Jamie asked reluctantly.

Beth ignored both of them and grabbed two bottles of Roederer champagne. Ginni stuffed her bag with snacks: various crackers, and protein bars.

"What are you doing?!" Jamie asked again while following her outside. Ginni peaked out the window to see what Beth was up to, she had the trough heater in the water. The two siblings were arguing before Beth allowed the robe to fall in the dirt, revealing her naked body to the ranch, as she lifted her leg to get into the water.

"Well, that's one way to cope." Ginni shrugged while grabbing a few water bottles and shoving them into her satchel as well, it was a bit of a long ride, although Ginni wanted to be prepared. She planned on being up there till just before supper. Ginni walked into the living room to grab a pistol from the gun case.

"Any reason for the gun, Princess?" Her dad startled her from the couch.

"Oh, just going for a ride, Bear Country ya know." Ginni shrugged while tucking it in her waistband. Her father grunted in response before sipping his coffee. Heavy footsteps approached Ginni and her father.

A woman with short black hair and a dress to match smiled at Ginni before planting a kiss on her father. Ginni cleared her throat to ensure her presence was known to her father's...love? The woman stood straight, smoothed out her dress with her hands.

"Hello, Lynell Perry." She smiled extending her polished hand towards the youngest Dutton.

Ginni reluctantly grabbed it with a curt shake.

"Genevieve Dutton." The youngest Dutton smiled.

"It's nice to finally meet you," The Governor then turned to John, "I gotta go, I'll call you later."