The youngest Dutton

Keeping the secret

      Ashton drove back to the ranch and sat in her car. She rubbed her face and stopped the tears. She wiped her face and walked in. She groaned when John and Jamie walked towards her. "Why did you leave so suddenly?" "What happened, honey?" Ashton shook her head "Nothing happened, the doctor called. I just have a cold, he gave me some medication." John nodded and rubbed her shoulder "If you want to go lay down you can honey, let us know if you need anything." Ashton nodded and walked upstairs and saw Beth standing at her bedroom door "What STD do you have this time?" Ashton rolled her eyes "Fuck you, Bethany." Beth growled and pushed Ashton into the wall and held her face "You don't tell me to fuck off, just because your daddy favorite doesn't mean you can do what you want." She let her go and stepped back "You are a leach, you don't do anything and you get everything. I worked my ass off for years for just a nibble of his approval and all you do is sit on your ass give him your puppy eyes and he hands you the world. You're pathetic." 

      Ashton stumbled back and watched Beth go downstairs, she walked into her bedroom and slammed the door. She sat on her bed and cried, she didn't know how to tell her dad what she had been told. How do you tell your dad you have cancer? It's not like when you are pregnant, there's not a card that says "I have cancer!" Ashton rubbed her knee and felt tears fall, she was terrified for what was to come. Her dad had already lost his wife and a son, and now his daughter has fucking cancer. Ashton laid down and covered herself up, she wanted to be left alone. But in this house, you are never alone. Ashton heard a knock and she saw John walk in with a bowl of soup and crackers "Gater made you some soup, he said it was his grandmother's recipe. It should help you feel better honey." He rubbed her leg and smiled when she started eating "Are you doing ok honey? Other than not feeling well, I haven't seen you out of your room much." Ashton sighed "It's just been hard. Beth doesn't make it any easier." John nodded and rubbed his chin "What if you took Lee's cabin? You would have your own space and wouldn't have to see your sister as much." Ashton looked at him "Are you sure? No one has been in there since." She stopped and cleared her throat "If you want me to, I will take it. Gives me time to myself to write anyway." 

      When John gave her a look she gave him a small smile "Im writing a book, about our family, about the ranch." John smiled  "Do you have a computer?" Ashton shook her head "It broke last year, I didn't think I needed a new one since I didn't go to college." John stood up "What are you writing in?" Ashton pointed to the notebooks "In there." John leaned down and kissed her head "I'll buy you a new computer tomorrow honey. You should have something to make it easier." Ashton smiled "Thank you, Daddy." After John left Ashton sitting on the edge of the bed and rubbed her knee, it started bothering her. The doctor gave her some pain meds but she was afraid to take them. Ashton grabbed the numbing cream and rubbed it into her skin, laid back down rolled over onto her side, and rubbed her stuffed cow. "Good night buddy." The next morning she got up and started to walk when her knee went out "Fuck!" She crawled to the bathroom rubbed her knee and felt tears fall how the hell was she going to keep this a secret? She dug around in her old sports bag and found her knee brace, she slipped it on and slowly stood up. Ashton looked at the pain medication and took one, she pulled on her jeans and grabbed her pink pullover and carheart vest. She slowly walked downstairs and sat next to her dad, she looked up and didn't see Beth "Where is she this morning?" 

      John ate his breakfast "I sent her to town, I didn't want her mouthing off while we were getting you moved." Ashton nodded and ate her eggs "I got my bathroom stuff packed this morning, I just have to put my stuff from my room in a box and grab my clothes from the closet." She sighed and drank her juice "Daddy?" He looked at her, she should tell him. She could tell him now "Uh, can I keep Lee's clothes in the closet? I don't want to move them." John looked at her "Of course we can honey, we can do whatever you want." They finished breakfast in silence Ashton got the rest of her things packed and smiled when John and Jamie helped her get her clothes moved. They walked in and she set the box down "You can put the clothes on the bed, I'll put them up soon." Jamie nodded and walked out, John walked over and hugged her "Call me if you need anything. Lock your door, Beth should be home soon." He kissed her head and shut the door, she locked the door and started to unpack her stuff. She was about halfway done when her knee completely gave out on her, she sat on the bed and rubbed her knee. She took another pill and laid down on the bed, she rolled over and looked at the picture of Lee and John. "I love you, big brother. Wish you were here."