Spencer Hope Dutton. Tiny. The youngest of the Dutton household, if only by a few minutes. She swore those few minutes after Kayce popped out were the only moments of peace she had in life...
Now Spencer's family is being pushed to the brink and her...
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Friday
The ranch was bustling early that morning with the truckload of bison coming in. Spencer watched from the side as the men corralled the bison through the shoots, brands being placed quickly. It made the scar on her own back sting a little at the notion. The sound of a truck pulling up caught her attention, along with the yell from a small boy.
"Auntie Spence!" Tate yelled as he bolted from Kayce's truck to her. Spencer hopped from her spot on the fence, swinging the young boy around as she picked him up.
"How is my little Tater Tot this morning?"
"I'm gonna be a cowboy!"
Spencer laughed at her nephew, his excitement rolling off of him making her excited as well. "I heard! You're gonna have a great time, I'm sorry I can't come with you."
Tate froze, looking at Spencer like her hair had caught on fire. "You're not coming?"
"Sorry Tater Tot, I gotta go to town. Stupid adult things to deal with, but next time I promise."
That seemed to appease Tate as he ran off to get settled with his grandfather and dad. Spencer smiled, waving as the boys and the rest of the wranglers saddled up and went off to the fields.
Sawyer had texted Spencer the night before, asking to meet in town to come up with a set list and what not for the two of them to work off of in the lounge. And coming up with ways to get into Dan's office without getting caught, something Spencer was an expert at. Since she still had time before she needed to leave, Spence decided to head back inside and get changed into something that didn't have as much dirt and grime. Plus Sawyer didn't really seem like the kind of person who wanted to deal with dirt, and Spencer did need some girl friends.
After pondering for far too long, Spencer settled on a sundress with a long sleeve underneath. Good enough, she thought to herself as she went for her bedroom door. As she walked out, the door to Beth's room opened, and Spencer swore her heart dropped out of her body. She wasn't sure what feeling was building in her; anger, sadness, pure rage, but she began to feel hot as the feeling grew.
Rip stared at the girl, hands still on his undone belt. He knew what it looked like, could feel exactly what was going through Spencer's mind at the sight of him leaving Beth's room with Beth's robe untied behind him.
"Spence," he took a step forward as he spoke to the girl, but she stepped to the side and around him before running down the hallway and down the stairs.
The resounding slam of the front door made it clear she didn't want to talk about anything at that moment. Behind Rip Beth started to laugh.
"What's her fucking problem?" Beth's laugh grew after that. Rip paused, trying to contain his own anger at the situation.
"No idea."
He forced himself to walk downstairs as the water turned on in Beth's bedroom. He was sure Spencer was thinking the worst, especially knowing how worried she had been about Beth finding out. But it truly wasn't what it looked like. Sure he had gone into Beth's room, but out of kindness to help her with whatever it had been she needed. Rip couldn't even remember he was so pissed off. But Beth had acted quickly, closing the door and undoing her robe before tugging at his belt buckle. Sure Rip had pushed away and stopped her, but it didn't matter at that point.
