The Other Sister

18

After eating a light meal and napping for a few hours, Lucy felt better. She had showered and got herself ready. She went downstairs and saw her family sitting in the office, Monica no where to be seen. Lucy walked in and sat by Beth. "Where's Monica?" She asked. Lucy was worried about her sister in law and couldn't imagine what she was going through. "In bed," Beth replied. Rip went up to Lucy and bent down to her level. "How are you feeling?" He asked worried. "Better," she replied and reached over to lay her hand over his. John looked over at his two daughters. "Girls, why don't you go check on Monica? I want to talk about some things with your brothers and Rip." Beth looked irritated upon hearing that. "Why can't we be here? Is this a men's only club?" Beth sneered. "What I am going to do, could be the end of us. I have to ensure that someone stays protected from this mess. So, you and your sister have to sit this out." Lucy stood up, not wanting to argue about it. "Come on. The more you fight him on it, the longer it takes them to get to Tate." Upon hearing that Beth stood up and followed her little sister out of the office.
***
Lucy was an impatient person. She trusted her family and knew they would get her nephew back, but the waiting was what she hated. Not to mention the thought's tormenting her over the problems that encircled her family's ranch. She had never thought about it until Tate got kidnapped, but she didn't want her baby subjected to this kind of life. She didn't care about her or Rip having to deal with it, but children are innocent. The last thing she wanted was for her baby to become a pawn in her father's games. "That brain of yours looks like it's thinking too hard," Rip said as he approached her. Lucy sighed and looked at him. "I can't get it to shut off," she told him. Rip looked at her worried. "What are you thinking about?" He asked and crouched down in front of her. "Our baby and the chaos that ensues on this ranch." She relaxed some as she felt Rip rest his hands on her lap. She quickly laid her hands over his. "I'm scared," she admitted and looked into his eyes. "I don't want our baby to go through what Tate is going through. I don't want our baby and future children to become pawns in whatever this is." Rip squeezed her hands lightly before bringing them to his lips. "I've thought about it too, honey. I hope you know that I will protect you and this baby and any other children we have. We'll get Tate back." Lucy nodded and felt her eyes tearing up. "I know," she said quietly. She hated being emotional. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Rip stood up and pulled her up with him. "Why don't you go lay down for a little bit? I'll come get you if I hear anymore." Lucy nodded and felt exhausted all of a sudden. Rip kissed her forehead and walked her over to the stairs.
***
She woke up to someone lightly shaking her. "Hmm?" She groaned and rolled over. "Wake up. Dad wants to talk to us." Lucy opened her eyes and looked at Beth. "About what?" She asked. "I don't know. He just told me to come and get you." Lucy sighed and got up. When she stood she felt the bile rising in her throat. She ran to her bathroom and threw up in the toilet. Beth followed after her. She pulled Lucy's hair back. "Are you okay?" She asked her sister. Lucy silently nodded and sat back, wiping her mouth. Beth helped her stand up. Ever since Beth found out about Lucy's baby, the topic has been a sore subject and Lucy makes sure to avoid it around her sister. The last thing Lucy wanted was to make her sister feel bad. "What did the doctor say?" Beth asked curiously. She pitied herself for not being able to have children, but instead of pushing Lucy away, Beth wanted to be closer to her. Live through her and let Lucy have a woman figure by her side, like she wished she had had. "He said everything looked good. Baby's healthy." Lucy glanced at her sister before she started to brush her teeth. Beth nodded and said a simple, "good" before leaving the room to wait for her downstairs. When Lucy came down, Beth and her walked outside to find their father down by the barn. He turned as they approached him. "Good. I want to talk to you two." He motioned for them to follow him and Lucy caught Jamie's eye. She shrugged at him, letting him know she had no idea what was going on. She walked a few feet away with her father and sister before he stopped and looked at them. He pulled out two envelopes. He handed one to Beth. "This is an amendment to the trust for the ranch. I want you to enact it." Beth nodded and took the envelope from him. Lucy looked at them confused on what this had to do with her. John then turned to Lucy and handed her the other envelope. "I have always known who is truly loyal to me. I want you to read what is in this envelope and do what it says." Lucy was still slightly confused, but she was piecing things together. Lucy held the envelope and looked at her father. She then opened the envelope and read over it. Her eyes became watery as she glanced up at her father. He pulled her close and kissed her forehead. "Thank you," she whispered. He nodded and gave her arm a gentle squeeze before walking back to the house. Jamie approached the sisters. "What did he give you two?" He asked. Lucy shook her head and walked away, not interested in hearing Beth's smartass remark. Lucy went to find Rip. He was inside one of the stalls with Lloyd discussing the horse that used to be her mother's. Lloyd stopped talking once he saw Lucy. "Everything okay?" He asked her. She nodded silently. "Who is it?" Rip asked him. "Lucy," Lloyd said and Rip quickly walked out of the stall. He took Lucy in and noticed the envelope in her hands and worry consumed him. "Do you have a minute?" She asked him. He quickly nodded and followed after her. She had been walking for about ten minutes and he started to get worried. "Darlin', where exactly are we going?" He asked. "We are almost there," she told him. They walked for a little longer before the cabin appeared in the distance. Rip looked at Lucy curiously and she gave him a smile. "Lucy, what is this?" He asked confused. She walked up the porch stairs. "Your new home," she told him and he just froze and stared at her. Lucy gave him a watery smile. "Come on," she encouraged and held her hand out to him. He looked at her confused. She sat down on the porch steps and patted beside her, him following suit. "There is something I want to read to you," Lucy said gently as she peeled the letter out from the envelope. "My great grandfather had a dream: all of his sons on the same ranch. I thought that dream was going go die with me. I didn't have enough sons. They kept dying or quiting. But, not too long ago, I realized I have enough sons after all." Lucy set the letter down and looked at Rip. He looked at Lucy. "I dont understand, Lucy." Lucy gave him a watery smile. "He's saying it's yours," she said gently. Rip looked at her with an expression she couldn't read. She handed Rip the key for the cabin. He stood up and pulled her up with him. She stood on the porch while he opened the cabin and stepped inside. Lucy had never seen him so emotional before. He walked back over to her. "Mine?" He asked and she nodded. "Your's, baby." Rip's jaw clenched as he tried to keep his emotions in check. Lucy rubbed his arms slowly. "Can I see the letter?" He asked. Lucy gave it to him. "He called me a son," he whispered. Lucy felt a few tears of her own fall as she nodded. Rip pulled her into his arms. "I love you," he whispered. She felt his body lightly shake from crying and she held him close. "I love you more," she whispered back.
***
Lucy and Beth sat anxiously with Monica in the den. Lucy was staring off into the fire when Beth sat down next to her with a glass of whiskey in her hand. "I'd offer you a drink, but.." Lucy looked over at her sister and rolled her eyes. "Thanks." Monica looked at the sisters confused. "Why can't you drink?" Monica asked Lucy. Lucy looked at her sister in law unsure if she should tell her about the baby right now when her own was in danger. Monica picked up on the hesitation from Lucy. "Are you pregnant?" She asked. Lucy nodded. "I just found out about a werk ago," Lucy said. Monica smiled at Lucy. "Congratulations! After everything going on, this is good news, Luce." Lucy reached over and grabbed Monica's hand. "They will bring him home safe," she tried to assure her sister in law. Monica just nodded and squeezed Lucy's hand. Lucy wanted to move the subject away from the baby, not wanting Beth to have to sit and listen to them talk about something she will never have. After a few more hours, they heard the truck engines pulling up and the women went out onto the porch. Lucy felt relieved to see them all back and okay. Tate's head was shaved and he seemed exhausted. Lucy walked up to Rip and pulled him to her. "I'm okay," he told her as he wrapped his arms around her. "We are going to lose this place, even after everything we went through," Beth says. Lucy turns and looks at her sister, who stood on the porch smoking a cigarette. Kayce and Monica had already taken Tate inside. Lucy shook her head. "No we won't." Beth scoffed and threw out her cigarette, going back into the house. After reading the letter her father wrote, she felt confident that her and Rip would continue her family's legacy. However, a part of her still feared for her children to be subjected to the dangers of the ranch. She could see the way Beth's words affected her father and Lucy knew she couldn't share that fear with her father. Rip kissed Lucy on the head, "go to him," he whispered to her. She walked up to him. "Daddy," she said gently. John just shook his head as he failed to hold back his tears. Lucy quickly wrapped her arms around him. "Daddy, everything is okay. Tate is home, everyone is fine. You won't lose the ranch. Rip and I won't let that happen. Tate and your future grandchildren will have the ranch." John just held his little girl close. "Don't ever change that mindset," he begged. Lucy looked up at her father. "Never, daddy." He kissed her forehead. "Your mother would be proud of you."