The youngest Dutton

The beginning

      Ashton Dutton stood on the front porch of the family home and sipped her coffee, she looked up and saw her dad walk up the steps. His head was bleeding and he looked pissed, "Daddy?!" Ashton put her cup on the railing and ran in after her dad "What the hell happened?" She waited until he sat down to look at his head "What did you do?" Ashton just looked at him when John said "Got into an accident." She sighed and sewed up her dad's head "Did we lose chestnut?" John looked at her, patted her waist, and got up, which gave her the answer. Her dad hated putting down horses, Ashton looked at her dad as he walked away "Im sorry Daddy." John turned around and looked at Ashton "I'm sorry too honey." Ashton walked back outside and finished her coffee, she saw Jamie pull up and she sighed "Daddy is inside, I sewed up his head he is already pissed. I would choose my words wisely." Jamie rolled his eyes and walked inside. 

      Ashton sat on the steps and played with her nails, she felt like she was always in the way. Beth hated her, Lee and Jamie loved her, and Kayce barely knew her. She stood up when John walked out of the house and patted her shoulder "Let's go sweetheart" Ashton got up and followed her dad to the helicopter, she got in first and sat beside her dad "Where are we going?" John patted her leg "Im going to fix your brother's mess, then we are going to the livestock show." Ashton nodded and watched the trees go by from above, she loved flying in the helicopter she felt like she was out of her crazy world for a while. When they landed John looked at her "You can get out, but stay near the helicopter." Ashton did as she was told and watched from afar, after a little while John came back "Go on honey." she got back in and looked at him "Is everything going to be ok?" He nodded "Everything is fine honey." He watched her for a little bit before texting Jamie, that they were close. 

      When Ashtion and John walked in a younger girl was singing the national anthem, Ashton took off her hat and followed her dad upstairs. She took a seat beside him and watched the cattle, Ashton loved the cattle. That was her favorite part about growing up on the ranch, when she was little she would feed them marshmallows until John told her to stop. She saw the governor come over and she stood up and smiled "Hello Governor." She let Lynnell take her seat and Ashton stood behind her dad. As they talked she felt a hand on her shoulder and heard Jamie "Let them talk, come with me." She looked at John and he waved her off as she followed her brother. Jamie sat at a table ordered water and got her a lemonade, "Why are you here with dad?" Ashton shrugged "Daddy told me to come with him, so I did." Jamie nodded "Well I know why he wanted you here instead of at home." Ashton frowned "Is something wrong?" Jamie sighed "Not wrong persay, but Beth is home." Ashton choked on her drink "Why is she here?! I thought she was living in Utah, away from everyone." Jamie shook his head "Dad asked her to come home, I'm not sure Ashton." 

      He looked at her "If she gives you too much shit come find me, or ask Lee if you can sleep on his couch. Keep your head up kiddo, don't let her get to you too badly."  Ashton nodded and heard John call her name "Im gonna go home with Dad, I'll see you at the house." Jamie got up and hugged her and kissed her head "If you need anything don't be afraid to ask okay?" Ashton nodded and left with their dad, on the way home she fell asleep on the window and was woken up by John "Sweetheart, you need to wake up, we are home." Ashton got up and followed her dad inside until he sat on the couch, she flopped on it laying her head on his lap. She fell back asleep feeling John run his fingers through her hair. She was woken up later by Beth's voice as she talked to their dad "You were right Daddy, they are building a city." She kissed John on the head and looked down at Ashton "Why do you baby her so much? She's twenty years old, you shouldn't be codling her." John rolled his eyes "Just like you she will always be my baby, she's just home more often than you." He heard her sigh and then say "Good night Daddy." He looked back at her "Good night sweetheart, good to have you home." John rubbed Ashton's back and picked her up carrying her upstairs and pulling the covers over her, he brushed the hair out of her eyes and kissed her head "Good night honey, see you in the morning."