Gracie Dutton

4

Gracie sat in her last class of the day: AP Computer Science Principles. She liked this class, although she did think it was kinda boring. In this class she analyzed and studied data, which she knew would be a good skill to have. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do for her future yet, but she knew the pressure would be on her to take a role in helping the ranch. She had always loved it, but now after the death of Lee and finding out the truth of her parentage, she was having some apprehensions. Gracie let out a relived sigh as the bell rang, signaling the end of her school day. She couldn't believe her father made her go back to school after the death and funeral of Lee, but John Dutton wanted Gracie away from the chaos ensuing on the ranch and thought it important to keep her on her usual schedule. Gracie loved Lee, but they were not close. The age difference between them made it hard for a relationship to flourish. She was grieving the loss of her uncle, but was definitely in a better position than John or the others. Gracie walked to her locker to grab her backpack when Ella came over to her.
"Hey! Sorry I didn't sit with you at lunch, I had to go retake that stupid math test." Gracie chuckled and looked at her best friend.
"It's fine. Jenna was back today. Are you still free tonight?" Gracie closed her locker and followed Ella to hers.
"Yeah but I wasn't going to say anything. I wasn't sure if you felt up to having a sleepover. You and your family have been through so much." Ella glanced over at her best friend before throwing in a few textbooks into her backpack.
"No, I could use the distraction. I'm still avoiding Beth and things just feel so tense. Please come over." Gracie gave her friend a pleading look. Ella closed her locker and the girls started walking towards the entrance of the school.
"Alright. I have to ask my mom still but I know she will say yes. I'll call you and see what she says." Ella had driven to school while Gracie got dropped off. John had been on protective mode and didn't want Gracie out and about by herself. Gracie spotted Rip's truck behind a few vehicles in line for pick up.
"Okay. Hopefully I see you later. Bye, El."
"Bye!"
Gracie walked over to the truck and opened the passenger door.
"Hey," Gracie greeted Rip as she took off her backpack.
"Hey, honey. Did you have a good day?" Rip watched Ella get in her car before Rip pulled out of line and left the school parking lot.
"Yeah it was fine. I think Ella is going to come over later. Is that a good idea or is the ranch a battle ground?" Rip shot her a look.
"The ranch is fine. Ain't nothing you need to worry about."
Gracie didn't reply and they sat in a comfortable silence until they got home. The truck pulled to a stop up at the lodge so Gracie could get out.
"Thanks for picking me up," She told him.
"You ain't gotta thank me, honey. I'll see you later. You have fun with Ella." Gracie nodded and grabbed her backpack. She walked up into the lodge and froze when she saw Beth in the lounge on her laptop. Beth looks over as she hears the front door open. She makes eye contact with Gracie. Beth felt her nerves instantly fray.
"Hey, baby," Beth greets cautiously. Gracie felt her heart twinge at the term of endearment. She cleared her throat before replying,
"Hi," she quietly said back.
Beth shut her laptop and set it on the coffee table in front of her.
"Did you have a good day at school?" Beth asked, unsure what else she should say, but not wanting this moment to end. Gracie took a few steps into the lounge before setting her backpack down against the side of the couch.
"Yeah, it was fine. Uh- how was your day?" Gracie could see the yearning look in Beth's eyes and felt the guilt bubbling at avoiding her mother intentionally.
"Nothing worth bragging about," Beth answered honestly. She didn't feel like telling Gracie she ripped into Jamie after he tried to ask for her advice pertaining to the autopsy report on Lee, where she instead gave him a piece of her mind on the subject of revealing her secret to her daughter. Gracie wasn't sure how to respond to that so she stood quietly and just gave a nod. She bent down to pick her backpack back up. Beth felt anxious when she noticed Gracie was about to walk away.
"Can you sit down for a second, please?" She quickly asked the teen. Gracie looked up at Beth before standing straight up, leaving her backpack on the ground. Gracie silently walked over to the couch Beth was on and took a seat beside her. Beth took a deep breath and wished she had a drink or a cigarette or both right about now.
"I was seventeen when I found out I was pregnant. Rip and I were not serious, we more or less just used each other. Well, more like I used him. Anyways, I was a senior and had plans to go away for school. I was good with numbers and my father wanted me to go into finance as it would be beneficial for the ranch. Rip was still fairly new on the ranch. I was terrified that my dad was going to kill Rip for finding out he got me pregnant. I went to Jamie for help. He tried to take me to a clinic on the reservation for an abortion, but Rip had found out that they sterilize you there. Rip wanted me to have the baby, to have you. My mother died when I was young and she wasn't a very good mother to me, she favored my brothers. I didn't know how to be a mother. Jamie told my father and he branded Rip for it. I don't know how much you know about the brand...but that's not important to the story. Rip loved me, he always has. He was willing to do anything to get me to stay, for us to be a family, but I couldn't do it. I was terrified. After things calmed down, my dad wanted me to have you as well. Jamie was in school to become a lawyer. He and dad came up with the idea of adoption. It seemed like the best option. I could see you grow up, but didn't have to bear the responsibility of being a mother. I know it's selfish that I didn't want you to find out, but I thought it was best for you. I stayed away because it hurt to come back- to see something that I couldn't have. You've grown into a beautiful young woman and you have your whole future ahead of you. I can't take back what I did, but I hope you can forgive me. I never wanted to hurt you. I wanted to give you your best chance, even if it wasn't with me." Beth was holding back tears as she finished her speech. Gracie let out a long breath as she stared ahead into the fireplace. She felt bad for feeling angry towards Beth, although Gracie does know she had every right to feel that way. She turned to look over at Beth and realized she couldn't have imagined everything her mother had gone through.
"I'm sorry you had to go through what you went through," she said honestly. Beth shook her head as she regained her composure.
"You don't need to apologize. What I went through was worth it to have you and I'd do it again if I had to, just differently. I love you. I want you to know that I never stopped thinking of you while I was away. But, I'm back now and I don't see myself leaving anytime soon." Gracie nodded and watched Beth get up and walk over to the bar, pouring herself a hefty glass of Tito's. Gracie stood up as well and went to grab her backpack.
"I think I'm gonna go down to the barn for a little bit. Can you tell Dad that's where I'm at if he asks?" Beth gives a nod, unaware that John was already down there, and watches her daughter retreat upstairs to her room. Beth took a deep breath as she felt a weight lift off of her.
Gracie quickly put her backpack away before she changed into a sweatshirt, jeans, boots, and threw her hat on. She headed down to the barn and saw John and Rip standing outside a corral and someone on a horse inside of it. She stood beside John and looked at the unfamiliar wrangler on the horse. "Who is that?" She asked curiously. "A future cowboy," John replied. Gracie looked at the "future cowboy" curiously. He didn't look too much older than her and boy was he handsome. He was built with a good frame, toned muscles, gorgeous green eyes, a well kept beard and thick dark hair. Rip caught the way she took Austin in and instantly didn't like it. He walked over to his daughter and shook his head.
"Oh no, don't start drooling. Get in the barn and take care of your horse."
Gracie looked up at Rip startled. "What are you talking about? I'm not drooling!"
John stifled a laugh, but stayed serious. "Gracie girl, you know the rules. You ain't messing with any of my men."
"I didn't do anything!" She argued back, clearly offended.
Austin was watching the scene unfold and couldn't wipe the smirk off his face. He gazed his eyes over Gracie and couldn't deny that she was one beautiful girl. She caught his gaze and her cheeks quickly reddened, embarrassed that John and Rip made a scene like that in front of him. She stormed off into the barn and went to Dolly's stall.
"Hey, girl," She smiled and began brushing her down.
After a few minutes she looked up to see the new wrangler leaning against the doorframe of Dolly's stall.
"I just wanted to let you know I don't mind if you've got a drooling problem."
Gracie's eyes widened in embarrassment.
"What? I-I don't have a problem. I-uh listen whatever your name is, I don't owe you anything." Gracie was flustered. She had never had a boyfriend before. Sure, she had some crushes and boys constantly wanted to take her out, but John usually disapproved and Rip and some of the wranglers would scare them off.
"My name is Austin and I think you're pretty as a peach, Gracie Girl."
Gracie felt her jaw slack at hearing the nickname roll off his tongue. He was smooth, very smooth and Gracie succumbed to his charm. She looked down at her boots, her cheeks blushing furiously.
    "Thank you," she said softly. He was forward and she didn't know if that was a good thing or not. She also was aware that the men that worked here didn't always have the brightest pasts. Austin shot Gracie a smile before walking away, satisfied at their introduction.
Gracie broke out of her reverie when she heard her phone ringing. It was Ella.
"Hey," Gracie answered. Ella was letting her know that she was able to come spend the night and she would be over in an hour. Gracie finished taking care of Dolly before heading back up to the house to shower. She noticed Beth and Rip talking but she didn't pay any attention to it.
"Take me on a date suitable to my personality," Beth told Rip.
He sighed and suggested getting drunk and watching the wolves hunt elk in the park. Beth instantly agreed.
"I spoke to her, Rip. I think she understands now. And I think she will learn to forgive me. I told her I loved her." Beth admitting how she felt out loud was a big deal and in that moment Rip couldn't be more proud of her.
"You were so worried about being a mother, but, honey, I never doubted your capability for a minute."
Ella had shown up at the time she said she would be there. The girls ordered pizza for dinner, did their homework, and Gracie filled her best friend in on the handsome new cowboy she met today.