The Other Sister

21

Lucy sighed as she sat at the kitchen table in the cabin with Beth and Rip. Beth had came down to the cabin to work, not wanting to be alone up at the lodge. "Beth, people have been saying for 150 years that we are going to lose this place. What makes now any different?" Lucy looked at her sister. "This is different, Lucy. We have never faced the things we are facing like we are now." Lucy rolled her eyes. "Wow could you talk anymore in riddles than you already are?" Lucy said indignantly. Rip sighed. "Lucy, leave it." Lucy glanced at Rip and sighed. She stood up and poured herself a cup of coffee. As she was doing that, Beth got a phone call from Lynelle's assistant informing her of the meeting market equities had with the governor. "I got to go," Beth announced after she hung up the phone. Lucy turned to look at her. "Why?" She asked confused. "Because they want to put a fucking airport in the middle of our land." Lucy's eyes widened. "Who does?" She asked and walked back over to the table. "Goddamnit," Rip muttered under his breath. "That man I told you about. His name is Roarke. His client is the company that wants to build the airport." Beth collected her laptop and purse. "I gotta go. I'll call you later." She kissed Lucy's cheek before slamming the front door behind her. Lucy looked down at Rip. "Should she go alone?" Lucy asked worried. "Trust me, baby, your sister is the last person you should worry about." Lucy sighed. Rip could sense her unease so he stood up and pulled her into his arms. Lucy relaxed and took a deep breath. "I hope she isn't right but at the same time, I'm terrified of raising a child here." Rip looked down at her worried. He cupped her face and looked at her. "Honey, everything is going to be okay. I don't want you getting worried about what's going on around here. You just focus on you and the baby. Let me and everyone else handle the rest, alright?" Lucy nodded. "I will. I just can't help but want to feel like I'm contributing too." Rip smiled sweetly at her. "Darlin, you are! You're growing a new generation of dutton descendants. Believe me that means everything to your father." Lucy laughed softly at hearing that. "I guess you're right." Rip kissed her softly. "Everyone is coming back from camp today. Should be here soon." "Let me go take a shower and get ready. I'm sure daddy will want us to be there for dinner." Rip nodded and told her he was going to go check on the new barn the wranglers built then he'd be back. When Lucy had finished getting ready she made her way up to the main lodge and sat on the porch, waiting for her family to arrive. She smiled as she saw them approaching and she stood to greet them. John walked up onto the porch first. "Hey, sweetheart." He rested his hands on Lucy's arms and leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead. "Hi, daddy. How was your break from reality?" He chuckled at her term for it and nodded. "Did some good. Especially for your nephew." Lucy smiled at hearing that and looked over at Kayce and his family walking over with Jamie and Rip. "Aunt Lucy!" Tate squealed in excitement and ran up to her, throwing his arms around her. "Tate! Easy!" Kayce reprimanded but Lucy waved her brother off. She wrapped her arms around the young boy. "I heard you had a good time," she said. Tate nodded. Lucy looked over at Jamie and noticed how wild his eyes looked. His composure seemed calm though. His eyes found hers and she gave him a curious look. Rip caught on and walked up onto the porch. He didn't trust Jamie and frankly wanted Lucy to keep her distance. That caused Lucy to look away from her older brother and to Rip. She offered him a small smile. "We're going to the rodeo tonight. Everyone be ready by six." John ordered before walking into the house. "Tate, honey, let's go get you properly cleaned up. You smell like a dog." Lucy laughed softly at Monica's statement and Tate moved away from her to follow his parents inside. Jamie walked up onto the porch to go inside but Lucy grabbed his arm. "What's wrong?" She asked him. He looked at her confused and cursed himself for having such an observant little sister. "Nothing. Just work stuff." He glanced over at Rip before walking inside, leaving Lucy and Rip alone on the porch. "Do you know what he's talking about?" She asked as she turned to face him. Rip shook his head. "Livestock commissioner's office is out of my jurisdiction, honey." Lucy sighed. "Everyone in this family has too many secrets." Rip looked at her curiously. "What are yours?" He asked. "I think I'm the only one without any," she told him honestly. "My issue is having to keep other people's."
***
Lucy stood outside the lodge waiting for Rip to drive up. "Honey, are you sure you don't want to ride with me?" Her father spoke as he walked up behind her. Lucy turned to look at him. "I'm sure, daddy. Rip said he would take me." Just as John nodded, Rip was pulling up. He parked and got out of the truck, walking over to them. "Ready to go?" He asked. Lucy nodded her head. "I'll see you two there." John kissed Lucy's head before walking over to his own truck where Beth sat inside waiting for him. Rip opened Lucy's door for her then got in on his side. He reached over and grabbed her hand. "You look beautiful, honey." Lucy was wearing a black dress that accentuated her small baby bump with a pair of boots and sunglasses on her head. Lucy gave him a smile. "Thank you." She squeezed his hand gently. He squeezed back before letting go and placing his hand over her bump. Lucy relaxed and rubbed his arm gently as she looked out at the scenery while he drove. When they arrived, Rip went and got himself a beer. Lucy smiled as she saw the wranglers were very eager to get one as well. "Did you know Jimmy is competing?" Ryan asked her as she stood with the group. She looked at him surprised. "Really? I'm glad he's finding something he's good at. It's a dangerous thing though." Ryan nodded and took a sip of his beer. "Hopefully he stays lucky." Lucy hummed in agreement before Rip walked back over to her. She shot her eyebrows up in surprise. "You're drinking two beers?" She asked him. Rip chuckled and shook his head. "One is for your dad." She nodded and they made their way up to where her father was sitting. Rip kept a careful eye on Lucy, not wanting her to trip and get hurt. Rip handed John his beer and sat down beside him. "Thanks, Rip." Lucy sat on the other side of Rip and her sister quickly took the seat next to her before Ryan could. Lucy sighed content as the last of the warm sun descended upon them. Tate came bounding up with Kayce and Monica trailing behind. "I got cotton candy!" He exclaimed and everyone chuckled at his excitement. They went and sat with Jamie down on the other side of John. John took in the crowd around him and felt at peace going out and doing things with his family. "How do you think Jimmy is going to do?" Lucy asked Rip curiously. "I don't know, honey. Lloyd tells me he has been doing pretty damn good." He took a sip of his beer and reached over and held her hand. Lucy's curiosity is piqued when she hears the announcer say the governor was attending and sure enough Lucy sees Lynelle making her way up the stairs where her family sat. She looked over at her father and brothers confused before Beth grabbed her arm and asked harshly what she was doing here. Lucy just shrugged in response and gave Lynelle a smile which she returned, Lucy the only Dutton offspring she liked completely. Lynelle took a seat on the other side of John. Lucy sighed wondering how this night was going to go. Rip sensed her sudden unease and placed his hand on her back. "You alright?" He asked under hushed tones. Lucy nodded before looking at him. "Do you know why she is here?" She asked. "No. You'll have to ask your father." Lucy nodded and looked back out at the rodeo. "Hey, Jimmy is next!" Ryan announced and everyone made sure their attention was on the arena. The gate was released and the horse came out wildly bucking. It seemed as if Jimmy's attention was elsewhere and the next thing that could be seen was Jimmy thrown violently off of the horse and soon the crowd let out a frightened gasp. "Oh my god," Lucy breathed out. John quickly stood up. "Goddamn it," he muttered. Lucy stood up and started going down there. "Lucy!" John called after her and Rip was quickly following her. Lucy rushed through the crowd to get to him. Lloyd found her and brought her to Jimmy's unconscious body. She knelt down in the dirt and checked his pulse. She felt his arms and legs for any breaks. Soon she could hear the sound of the ambulance. "Come on, honey." Rip stood her up and held her back against him. Paramedics rushed over. "What happened?" One asked. "He was thrown off the horse. His pulse is good and so is his oxygen. I'm worried about a possible concussion and head or neck injury. He's been unconscious since I got to him." The paramedics knew Lucy and didn't question her. They carefully moved him onto a stretcher and Lloyd looked over at Lucy. "Go," she urged him. Lloyd got in the ambulance and left to take Jimmy to the hospital. She sighed and shook her head. "You alright?" Rip asked worried. "I'm fine. It's just always something. People constantly getting hurt." Rip pulled her back into his arms. "Honey, what happened to Jimmy was an accident. He's gonna be alright." Rip kissed her head. John finally made it down to them. "How bad was it?" He asked his daughter. She shrugged. "He was unconscious the whole time. They took him to the hospital. I told the paramedics I was worried about a concussion and a possible head or neck injury. He could have even messed up his back. They'll have to examine him more in depth than I could have." John nodded and puffed out some air. "So much for having a nice night out as a family. I'll be at the hospital." John placed a kiss on Lucy's forehead. Lucy and Rip walked over towards the exit where the rest of the group was waiting. Lucy approached Beth. "Do you want to come home with us? Dad is going to the hospital." Beth nodded and everyone got in their trucks to head back home. They dropped Beth off at the main house before going to their cabin. Lucy felt exhaustion consume her and her eyes felt heavy as she walked into the bathroom. She turned the shower on and stripped from her dress. She looked her body over in the mirror, her hand going down to the swell of her abdomen. She then ran her fingers through her hair as a yawn escaped between her lips. Rip walked into the bathroom and smiled at her in just her bra and underwear. He walked up behind her and rested his hands on her bump. "Looks like someone is making themselves known," Rip whispered into her shoulder as he admired her in the mirror. Lucy sunk back into him and smiled. "It sure does." She spun around in his arms. "Will you shower with me?" She asked and Rip nodded. They both undressed before getting in the shower. Once they got out, Lucy threw on one of Rip's shirts and climbed in bed. Her eyes immediately closed, sleep cascading towards her. Rip climbed into bed and laid behind her, pulling her body back against him. "Get some sleep, darlin." He kissed her head and laid his hand protectively over her bump. Lucy covered his hand with her own before falling into a dreamless sleep.