The Other Sister

16

Lucy wakes up and lays there watching Rip as he slept. She decided to let him sleep. She got up and took a shower. After she got herself ready for the day she called the closest obgyn's office to schedule herself an appointment. They got her in for early tomorrow morning. She sighed and walked back out into her bedroom. Rip was still asleep. She walked over and kissed his forehead gently before going downstairs to eat. She saw everyone already seated at the table. Her eyes scanned over Beth's face taking in her swollen bruised eyed, the cuts along her cheeks, and the bruising practically everywhere. Lucy sighed and sat down next to her sister. "How's Rip?" John asked Lucy as she poured herself a small cup of coffee. "Sleeping," she replied. Gator brought her a plate with eggs and toast. "Thank you," she told him. Gator was about to leave the room when Beth asked him to make her a smoothie and she got up and left the dining room, not wanting all eyes on her for once. Breakfast went by in silence, Lucy being the first to leave. She went in the kitchen and grabbed the plate Gator had made for Rip and took it upstairs. When she walked into her bedroom the last thing she expected was to find Rip out of bed and moving around. "What are you doing up?" She asked confused. Rip turned and looked at her. "Got work to do," he responded and Lucy's eyes widened. "Are you crazy?!" She set the plate and cup down on the nightstand and walked over to him. "The last thing you should be worrying about is working. Your body needs to heal!" She made him sit back down. "Well, I can't stay in this room all day. I gotta do something." She shook her head. "We can sit outside and go on walks but that's it. If you do too much you're gonna take longer to heal." She handed him the plate. "Eat," she ordered. Rip smiled at her, loving how protective she was over his health. She sat down on the bed with him and relaxed while he ate. He then remembered the baby. He sighed to himself and took a drink of his water. He glanced over at her to see her already looking at him. "You okay?" He asked her and she nodded. "Are you?" She asked back. "Yes. The foods good." Lucy smiled gently, but could notice something peculiar in the way he looked at her. Lucy brushed it off and let him finish eating. "Do you want to sit outside?" She asked him. "Sure," he told her. He slowly stood up. She had tried to help but he quickly brushed her off. As they got out onto the front porch, Rip sat in the rocker and got lost in his thoughts. He was happy about the baby, he just wasn't sure if this was what Lucy wanted. If someone would have asked Rip five years ago if he ever thought he'd have kids he would say no, but after being with Lucy, he knew he wanted it all with her. He glanced over at her watching her take in the scenery around them. She seemed relaxed which made him relax. "I love you, Lucy," he broke the silence. She looked over at him and smiled gently. "I love you too," she said back. She felt the urge to tell him about the baby but she held back, turning to look back out at the land. She decided to wait until she went to the doctors tomorrow to make sure everything was okay. She also didn't know how he would react to the news and didn't want it to affect his recovery. Rip and Lucy stayed out there for about an hour before she told Rip she'd take a nap with him if he wanted to. Deep down, she wanted to take a nap, but she wouldn't tell him that. They slept for a few hours before she woke up to go down and grab them lunch. After they ate they went outside to go on a walk, Rip wanting to check in on the wranglers. John approached them as he wanted to talk to Rip. "How're ya feeling?" John asked him as they stood by the barn. "I'm alright, sir." John nodded. "I wanted to thank you for saving Beth," he said. Lucy watched her father. "You don't need to thank me, sir." This ranch was Rip's home and he saw the Dutton's as his family. He would do anything to protect them and their home. "Yes I do. I just want you to know that what you do around here does not go unnoticed." Lucy smiled gently at her father's words. Rip nodded and shifted on his feet, waiting for his pain medicine to kick in that he took with his lunch. "Thank you," Rip told him. John nodded and looked at his daughter. She smiled at him, grateful her father was giving the credit where it was due. "I gotta go find your brother," John told Lucy who nodded. He glanced at Rip. "Take it easy," he told him seriously and Rip let out a chuckle and nodded. John walked off from the pair. Lucy noticed Beth approaching them. "Have you seen Jamie?" She asked Lucy. "He's mucking stalls," Lucy said and gave her sister an apprehensive look. "Why?" She questioned but Rip laid his hand on her arm, not wanting her involved in her siblings rivalry. "Just want to talk," she shrugged and Lucy started laughing. "I find that hard to believe. Last time you two were in a barn alone together you both walked away with bruised faces and dad was ready to throw Jamie through the wall." Beth smirked remembering Lucy walking in on that. "It'll be fine," she assured her little sister. Lucy didn't believe her for a minute. "Whatever, Beth." Lucy started walking away, not caring about it anymore. Beth watched her sister until she was out of earshot, then looked over at Rip. "Has she told you?" Beth asked him quietly. He shook his head before following after Lucy. Beth sighed and walked into the barn. Rip followed Lucy up to the house. "Let me change your bandages," she told him as she closed her bedroom door. Rip sat down on the edge of the bed and took off his shirt while Lucy got the supplies she needed. "Are you in pain?" She asked him as she took the bandage off. "The medicine helps. It's more discomfort than pain." Lucy nodded and started to clean the area, being careful to not cause him any pain. Rip watched her, a content look on his face. "Thank you for taking care of me," he told her. Lucy smiled. "You don't have to thank me. I love you. I'll always take care of you." She reapplied a fresh bandage then helped him get his shirt back on. She bent down to grab the old bandage to throw away. As she came back up, she had to reach out and hold onto the bed as she felt lightheaded from getting up too fast. Rip instantly grabbed her arm. "Lucy," he said worried. "I'm alright." She blinked a few times and felt herself coming back to normal. She pulled her arm away and threw the bandage away. "What's going on? You passed out last night and almost did again." Rip was worried and wanted her to let him in on her secret so he could help her more. "I probably just am run down or something," she shrugged and didn't look him in the eye. "I promise, I'm okay." She gave him a reassuring smile and went to go take a bath.