The Other Sister

19

Lucy knocked lightly on Kayce and Monica's bedroom door. Monica opened it. "Morning. I brought you two breakfast. Kayce had to go handle some stuff." Lucy held the plates out towards Monica. Monica looked exhausted and defeated. "Thank you. Actually, would you mind coming in? I-I can't get him to eat." Monica stepped to the side, allowing Lucy to walk into the room. "Where is he?" She asked quietly as she put the plates on the table they had in the room. "Under the bed. He won't come out." Lucy sighed and looked towards the bed. She gently walked over to it and sat on the ground. "Tate, baby, it's Aunt Lucy. Do you want some breakfast?" It was silent for a moment before she heard: "I want to eat under the bed." Lucy sighed and looked back at Monica. She held her hand out for the plate. Monica brought it to her. "You go eat. I got this." Monica looked at Lucy, grateful someone was coming to assist her. All Monica and Kayce had been doing was fighting over everything. "You can't eat some of this food under the bed, Tate. You don't want crumbs under there. Your parents can't clean up under the bed." Lucy held out a piece of bacon and Tate reached under and grabbed it. After a few minutes she gave him another piece. "I'm thirsty," he told her. "You have to sit out here to drink, Tate." She heard a whimper. "No," he whispered. "It's just me and your mom. Come out and get a drink and finish eating, then you can go back under. Besides, I have a secret to tell you and I can only tell you if you come out from under the bed." A few minutes passed before she saw Tate slide out from under. She smiled gently at him. Tate sat in front of her. Lucy gave him some water. Monica watched in shock that Lucy got him to come out. "Can I know the secret now, Aunt Lucy?" He asked quietly. Lucy gave him his plate of food. She smiled and said: "You are going to have a little cousin to play with soon. I'm having a baby." Tate looked up at her with wide eyes. "Really?" He asked in amazement. Lucy nodded. "But, you have to come out from under the bed in order to play with him or her." Tate became unsure. "I don't think I want to do that, Aunt Lucy..." he trailed off. "That's okay, Tate. You still have plenty of time before the baby comes." He nodded and finished eating. "Okay," he whispered. Tate crawled into Lucy's lap, giving her a hug. Lucy held him close. "I love you," she whispered to him. "I love you too." She kissed his head before he pulled away and crawled back under the bed. Lucy sighed and grabbed his empty plate. She stood up and turned towards Monica who stared at her in shock. "How'd you do that?" She asked, tears in her eyes. Lucy didn't know what to say. "I don't know," she confessed. "I'm sorry if I made you upset, I know I'm not his.." "Thank you," Monica said relieved. She stood up and hugged Lucy. "You don't have to thank me. I'm glad I helped." Lucy stepped back and after giving Monica a gentle smile, she left the room.
***
Lucy looked in confusion from her place on the couch when Jamie and Rip walked in, each carrying what looked like Jamie's belongings. "What's going on?" She asked curiously. "Dad told me to move back in. I've been name the new livestock commissioner." Lucy's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Really?" She asked. Jamie nodded and headed upstairs. "Do you think this a good idea?" She asked Rip who trailed behind. "I don't know," he sighed. "I'll be back down in a minute." He had followed her brother up to his room. Lucy looked back down at her book. Rip came back down and sat on the couch beside her. "I'm sorry I didn't come up for breakfast. It's been a long morning." Rip kissed the side of her head. "It's alright. I figured since Kayce wasn't at breakfast either. he was running out the door when he asked me to bring Tate and Monica up something to eat. I-uh was able to get Tate out from his hiding spot and eat." Rip looked at her surprised. Everyone was aware of Tate's hiding and his screams from his nightmares echoed across the ranch. "How did you manage to do that?" He asked and Lucy shrugged. "I don't know." A smile graced Rip's face and he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "You're gonna be a good mama," he whispered into her hair. Lucy melted into his side and briefly closed her eyes. "You're going to be a good dad, Rip." She reached over and held his hand that rested in his lap. "Did you spend the night at the cabin yet?" She asked curiously. "No. I was hoping you could go pick out some furniture and whatever else you think we'll need." Lucy smiled and looked at him. "We?" She asked. Rip nodded and looked a little nervous all of a sudden. "I was hoping you'd move in with me. Thought we would make it right for the baby and all. Plus, I don't want to be that far away from you." Lucy squeezed his hand. "I'd like nothing more," she whispered and pressed her lips against his. Rip pulled away and smirked down at her. "There is nothing I'd like more than to take you upstairs right now, but I got some work to go do with your brother. I'll see you later though?" Lucy sighed and nodded. "I'll be waiting," she told him. Rip laughed and kissed her once more before he headed out.
***
Beth walked into the house and spotted her sister on the couch curled up and reading. "Hey," she said. Lucy looked over at her sister. "Hi." She set her book down in her lap. "Got this for you. Housewarming gift." Beth held out the whiskey. "Funny, Beth. You know I can't drink." Lucy looked at her annoyed. "It ain't for you. Give it to Rip." Lucy eyed her sister strangely. Beth sat down next to her. "You decorate the place yet?" She asked and Lucy shook her head. She hadn't felt that good today, hence why she was on the couch for most of the day. "Rip asked me to go pick out some furniture and whatever else I want. Do you want to help? I don't feel like doing it alone." Beth smiled at her little sister. "Of course I do! I could use a distraction from all this shit going on." Lucy nodded and set her book on the coffee table and pulled the blanket off of her. "Let me go to the bathroom then we can go." Lucy slowly stood up and went up to her room. She sat in the bathroom for a minute, hoping the dizziness would go away. She freshened herself up and went back downstairs. "Ready," Lucy announced. Her and Beth got in Lucy's car. "I could have drove," Beth said. "No way. I think I'd be sick the whole time." They both shared a laugh. About ten minutes into the drive, Beth broke the silence. "There was a man fishing in our river on my way home. Said his family owns the ranch about five miles upstream." Lucy glanced at her. "Do you think he was up to no good?" She asked curiously. Beth shrugged. "I don't know. I've never seen him before and he didn't say his family's name. I imagined I would have known him since Dad practically knows everyone. Something tells me he isn't from around here though." Lucy sighed. "Hopefully it's nothing." The last thing their family needed was another battle after what they have just been through. They arrived in town and ordered some furniture and picked out some other things they'd need. "Thank you for coming with me. Rip would have been terrible company for this type of stuff." Beth laughed as they walked into the diner to grab something to eat.
***
Back at the ranch Lucy found out they were setting up for summer camp the next morning. She was upset that she wasn't going to get to go. Both her father, brothers, and Rip all quickly dismissed her request not wanting her on a horse or being out camping while pregnant. It pissed Lucy off to no end and she ignored Rip most of the night. "You are supposed to be on my side!" She cried out at him once they were in the cabin. Rip sighed. "Lucy, I am on your side, honey. The ride up to the sight is rough and long. I don't think you should be jostled around for that long on horseback. I'm thinking about the baby too." Lucy sighed defeated. "I just want to go with you," she whispered. Rip pulled her into his arms. "I'll stay here at night and can ride up in the mornings so you aren't alone, alright? This ain't for long, baby." Rip kissed her head.