The Other Sister

3

Lucy had a long day at work and all she wanted to do was go see her horse, Chip. She parked her car outside of the barn and she could hear voices coming from inside. She walked into the barn and saw Jamie punch Beth in the face. Lucy gasped in horror. "Jamie!" She said in disbelief and Jamie froze, staring at his little sister. Beth chuckled. "I'm alright, Lucy." Beth looked at Jamie and sneered out, "a real man would have walked away." Beth turned and walked to Lucy who quickly inspected her sister's face, a bruise already forming. "You need to ice that," Lucy said seriously and looked into her sister's eyes. Beth just smiled gently and nodded, exiting the barn. Lucy then turned her gaze to her older brother. "What happened?" She asked and walked over to him. Jamie explained the situation and Lucy shook her head. "She didn't kill mom. You shouldn't have said that, Jamie. You know it was an accident." Lucy looked at the few bruises on his face and noticed his eyes watering. A part of her did feel bad for Jamie. She knew he tried to do his best to get their father's approval, but he was somehow always lacking in something. "Come on," she told Jamie and they got in her car. Lucy knew what happened between Beth and Jamie when they were kids and she swore she would never tell a soul. They walked in the house and John stalked right up to Jamie, slamming him into the wall. "Hit your sister again and I will put your head through the goddamn wall, you understand me?!" Jamie just nodded quickly, too afraid to say anything. Lucy sighed and looked over at her sister sitting on the couch with a glass of whiskey in her hand, a smirk plastered across her face. "This fucking family," Lucy muttered and made her way upstairs.
***
A smile spread across Lucy's face as she saw Rip waiting on the porch for her. "Morning, Cowboy," she greeted and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Good morning, honey." Rip leaned down and kissed her gently. "Your father said you were going to come wrangle some cows with us?" Lucy grinned and nodded. "Alright, then let's go." Lucy and Rip walked down to the barn together to see Jimmy already saddled her horse for her. She thanked him and got up on Chip. Soon they were all off to wrangle the cows. Lucy loved it, loved this life. Rip couldn't help but watch how free and happy she seemed out in the open riding Chip. Lucy had noticed Jimmy struggling with riding his horse and he got bucked off. Rip was giving him an earful over it. Lucy sighed. "Jimmy, you better find your hat. If you come back without it no one is going to be happy with you," she told him. Jimmy looked up at her with sad eyes. He nodded and went to go find it. Lucy felt bad for him, but knew he had potential. She raced Ryan and Colby back to the barn. She laughed heartily as she won. "You know, for someone who doesn't ride regularly, this sure ain't fair!" Colby complained. Lucy just grinned and dismounted her horse. "I have an unfair advantage. This ranch runs in my blood." The proud look in her eyes made Rip's heart swell. Lucy was beginning to realize how much this place meant to her, especially now that there were threats lurking about.
***
Lucy had no plans of helping load the cattle into the trucks so she hid in Chip's stall, brushing him and giving him treats. She didn't even notice her father or Emmett walk in until she heard them begin talking. She froze when she heard Emmett ask if John was still up to the task of being livestock commissioner, hinting that there was something John was hiding. Lucy felt her world come to a halt as she heard her father confess that he had cancer but not anymore. She covered her mouth as she felt tears cloud her vision. She knew that no one knew and she didn't understand why he would keep that a secret, especially from her who was a nurse and could have helped him. Soon she hears Kayce and Tate and then the barn goes silent, signaling she was alone. Lucy walked out of the barn in a daze. Lloyd saw her and looked at her worried. "Rip!" Lloyd got his attention and motioned his head towards Lucy. Rip looked at her and worry filled his chest. He told the wranglers to keep working and he rushed over to Lucy. "Lucy," he said but she just stood there in a state of shock. He said her name again and cupped her face. She broke out of her daze and looked at Rip. "I gotta talk to you," she whispered urgently. Rip was concerned and guided her away to behind the barn. "You're worrying me, darlin," he told her. Lucy shook her head. "Did you know my dad had cancer?" She asked and looked him in the eye. Rip looked at her confused. "What are you talking about?" He asked her. Lucy explained the conversation she overheard in the barn. Rip sighed and took his hat off, obviously stressed upon hearing this. "Why didn't he come to me?! I could have helped! Made sure he saw the right people and did the right things!" She cried angrily and Rip just pulled her into his arms. He didn't know what to say. He knew John was a stubborn man, but he didn't think that the older man realized how bad this news would hurt his little girl.
***
After their conversation, Lucy and Rip begin to walk back over to the group. As they round the corner of the barn they see Fred beating Jimny up. Lucy's eyes widened and Rip ran over, throwing Fred into the side of the barn. She stood in silence and watched as Rip put Fred in his place. He sent the other wranglers off and mentioned to Lloyd about dropping Fred off at the train station. Lucy was confused and didn't even know there was a train station nearby, but she didn't question it. She walked back towards the house when Kayce ran down to her. "Have you seen them?!" He asked her worried. "Seen who?" She asked confused. "Dad and Tate. They went fishing and aren't back yet." Lucy looked at her brother worried. She ran to the barn and quickly saddled Chip. Rip noticed her and Kayce run and he ran after them. "Dad and Tate aren't back yet," she told him worried. He gave her a look and they silently exchanged a fear that something had happened to John now knowing what they knew. They all mounted their horses and took off. About 5 minutes in they saw John and Tate approaching. Lucy let out her breath in relief but worry consumed her again as she saw Tate's head bleeding and her father looking weary. "I fell in the river and Grandpa saved me!" Tate exclaimed smiling. Kayce was pissed. "What the hell was my son doing near the river, Dad?!" Kayce pulled Tate onto his horse. Lucy looked at Tate's head. "Take him up to the house. I'll stitch up the gash." Kayce looked at his little sister and nodded, relaxing knowing his sister could help the situation. They rode off and Lucy looked at her father. She was so angry with him, but she knew now wasn't the time. "Are you okay?" She asked him worried. "Yeah. I didn't mean for him to fall in. He was looking for some wood for our fire." John tried to explain. Lucy noticed her father shifting uncomfortably in his saddle and she knew he was in pain. "It's alright, Daddy. Accidents happen. You saved him and he's okay. That's all that matters." She swallowed hard and rode up to the house to tend to Tate.
***
Rip told Lucy he had some shit to take care of that night so she decided to go join her sister at the bar. Lord knows Lucy needed a drink after the day she had. She walked in and smiled when she saw her sister. "Lucy!" She exclaimed and smiled. Lucy walked over to her and sat beside her on the bar stool. "How was breaking Dan?" Lucy asked and ordered herself a gin and tonic. Beth told her what happened and Lucy couldn't help but be impressed at how good her sister was with destroying men. Lucy knew Rip was busy so she had Ryan come pick them up and bring them home. Beth and Lucy slept in Beth's room, watching a movie and talking about random things. Lucy had missed this with her older sister and hoped that things could stay like this instead of them being enstranged.