Gracie Dutton

8

Gracie felt anger and betrayal consume her at her father telling her about the buckle bunnies that spent the night in the bunkhouse. She felt such disappointment in herself knowing she truly loved him, gave her virginity to him, and for what? For him to toss her to the side when he was threw with her for some other girl? Gracie rolled her eyes knowing she had so much more to offer than just a body. She sighed. "It's alright. It's for the best. I don't need him." She stood up from the couch and checked the clock. "I gotta go meet Beth at the office. You care if I skip helping you for the rest of the week? I'd like to avoid Ryan for awhile." Rip sighed as he looked at his daughter. "Sure, honey. You want me to drive you?" He offered and stood up. Gracie shook her head as she slipped her jacket on. "I'll be fine." Rip nodded and told her to call him when she got there. Gracie got in her car and headed into town. She turned the radio, not wanting to be in silence and allow her mind to wander back to the events pertaining to Ryan last night. She sighed and pulled into a parking spot outside her favorite coffee shop. She grabbed her and Beth a coffee then headed for her office. "I was wondering what took you so long," Beth smiled as she walked over to her daughter to grab her coffee. "The coffee shop was very crowded for it being 11 o'clock in the morning. Here." Gracie held out the coffee towards Beth who took it and thanked her. "Did you use the card I gave you?" Beth asked as she went and took her seat back at her desk. "Yes. Although I don't know how buying coffee has anything to do with the ranch or business." Gracie sat down and sipped on her iced latte. Yesterday Beth had given her a copy of the ranch's business credit card, John having told Beth she needed one. Beth smirked at her daughter's attitude and was about to say something back when her phone started ringing. When she saw it was Rip, she answered. "Hello," she said. "Is Gracie there? I told her to call me and it's been over an hour. I called her and it went to voicemail." Beth smiled at his protectiveness over their daughter. "She's here. She stopped to grab us coffee." Rip sighed relieved. "Good. Tell her to answer her damn phone next time. I gotta go. I love you." "Okay. Love you too." Beth set her phone down and smiled at Gracie. "You didn't call Rip to tell him you got here okay. You had him all worried." Gracie looked down sheepishly and saw the notification of a missed call on her phone. "Oops?" Beth laughed and shook her head. "Turn your ringer on," she told her daughter then pulled out the file they were going over yesterday.
***
Gracie sighed as she leaned back in her chair. "Are we done yet?" She asked bored. It was after 9 at night, their day running longer than usual since Beth had a meeting with Bob that was not planned. "Yes. Just let me finish this." Gracie stood up to go grab her water but froze as she noticed two men walk into the office in all black, their heads adorned with ski masks. "Hey! You can't be in here!" Jason called out as he ran after them. Beth's head snapped up and took in the figures. She quickly sent a text to Rip for help before she stood up acting nonchalantly. "What a surprise! How can I help you?" Beth sneered sarcastically. She walked in front of Gracie, who was rooted to her spot in fear. "We were told to send a message," one of the men smirked and got very close to Beth. She had a paper open hidden in her hand. "Well, I'm not scared. You picked the wrong bitch." Beth quickly jammed the object into the man's neck. "Fuck!" He growled out and stumbled back. The other grabbed her in a chokehold, then threw her across the floor. Gracie jumped in fear and quickly walked backwards until she was backed into the wall, one of the men smirking under their mask. "Hi, Gracie," he whispered eerily and she felt her blood go cold. She had never been so scared before in her life. The mother daughter pair fought them off as best as they could, but the two and Jason ended up tied to chairs. Beth knew how terrified Gracie was, it was obvious. "Don't let them know you're scared," she quietly told her daughter. Gracie looked at her in disbelief. "How am I supposed to do that?!" She whisper yelled, on the brink of tears. "Like this," one of the men laughed and shot Jason in the head. Gracie let out a blood curdling scream and started sobbing. She had never witnessed someone die like that right in front of her. Beth's fear rose, realizing these men would go all the way and she prayed for Rip to get here faster. They walked over to them and untied them. One held Gracie up against the wall while the other had Beth on the table. He held a gun under Beth's chin. "Do it," she told him and Gracie's eyes widened. "No!" She cried out and shook her head. "Shut up!" The man yelled at Gracie and hit her in the head with the back of his gun. She whimpered in pain and slid down the wall as blood trickled down her face. "Leave her alone!" Beth told them. The men laughed as they had terrible things planned to do to them. "You a virgin?" The man who was with Gracie asked. She tried to move away from him, but he grabbed her by the leg, dragging her back. She groaned in pain and tried to kick him off. He pinned her down and hovered over her but before he could do anything else, the sound of glass breaking and gunshots filled the office. Gracie was screaming hysterically as she felt her predators dead body collapse on her. She quickly crawled out from under him and to a corner. She curled her knees up and held her head, hyperventilating as tears streamed down her face. Beth had screamed at the sound of the gunshots as well, Rip getting to her first since she was closest. "Where's Gracie?!" She cried into Rip and Rip's eyes darted across the office. His heart broke as he found her huddled in the corner. "Go to her. I need to call your dad." Rip felt the bullet in his side, but tried to push his pain away so he could focus on his girls. He called John and told him to get there with a doctor. Beth rushed over to Gracie, sitting down in front of her. "Gracie," she said gently and laid her hands on her arms. Gracie flinched and screamed before realizing who it was. Gracie started crying harder as she threw herself into Beth's arms. "Mom," she sobbed as she gripped Beth's clothing. Beth held her close, relieved that they were okay. She felt the tears fall at hearing Gracie call her mom. "I'm right here, baby," she whispered into Gracie's hair. Beth looked over at Rip worried when she saw him clutching his side. "Rip," she said concerned. "I'm alright. Is she okay?" Beth nodded and didn't take her eyes off of him. She had never seem him hurt before and it scared her. He was supposed to be invincible. Time passed and John, Kayce, Lloyd, and the doctor show up. "Holy shit," Kayce breathed out as he took in the scene before him. The doctor rushed over to Rip, who was now postered up on Beth's office sofa. John looked between Beth, Rip, and Gracie. Beth was sitting in a chair behind the couch, Gracie sitting beside her. Gracie hadn't let go of her, her body still slightly shaking from the fear and adrenaline. "What happened?" John asked as he crouched down beside Gracie, inspecting the gash on the side of her face. "The Beck brothers," Beth said and looked at her father. "They wanted to send a message." Gracie's bottom lip quivered from the pain and she looked at John. "I want to go home," she whispered. John sighed and kissed her head. "I've got to get him to my office so I can cauterize his wound," the doctor announced. Kayce and Lloyd helped the doctor get Rip into the truck. "Beth, they didn't do anything did they?" He asked her worried. "I'm going with Rip," she told him. John nodded. "I'll take Gracie home," he told her. Beth looked at her daughter and sighed. She kissed Gracie's forehead then followed after the men. Gracie looked around the office then at John. He put his jacket around her and walked her outside. "Is he going to be okay?" She asked worried about Rip. "He's gonna be fine, honey." He helped Gracie into the truck. She fell asleep on the way back to the ranch. When they got there he carefully woke her up and helped her inside. "How are you feeling?" He asked her. "Like my head is going to explode," she replied. John was worried she might have a concussion, seeing as her face was pretty banged up and the gash on her temple didn't look too good. He sat her down at the kitchen counter and grabbed her some water. His heart ached seeing her like this. "I'm sorry," he whispered as he carefully cupped her face. She looked up at him with sad eyes. "It's not your fault," she said back. John kissed her forehead. Gracie felt safe being back on the ranch and with John, but she still felt fear that these brothers weren't done yet. She also was worried about rip and wanted her parents back home. After another hour or so, they got back. The doctor was with them, John telling him to come so he can check the wound on Gracie's head in case it needed stitches. Beth was stubborn and refused to get looked at. Gracie and John were on the couch waiting for them. When they walked inside, Rip looked exhausted, Kayce helping him walk. Gracie watched them and Rip noticed her on the couch. "I'm okay," he told her, his voice laced with fatigue. Gracie didn't believe him for a moment. She slowly stood up, ignoring the pounding in her head and walked over to them. Beth pulled her into her arms and held her. "Let me see your head," Beth said and cupped Gracie's chin. Gracie looked up and tilted her head so she could see. The doctor walked up behind Beth. "Yep, needs stitches," he remarked and guided Gracie to sit down. "Go up to Rip. I've got her." John told his daughter. Beth hesitated before going upstairs. Gracie stayed stoic, not showing emotion as the doctor stitched her up. Her body felt numb as her brain couldn't comprehend what she had just been through the past 3 hours. Beth and Rip laid in their bed. "I couldn't protect her," Beth whispered. Rip looked over at her. "You did protect her, Beth. You got it worse than she did. This ain't your fault, honey. Gracie will be alright." Rip reached over and grabbed Beth's hand. "Come here," he urged. She snuggled into his side, being mindful of his bandaged torso. "Thank you for saving us. It would have been worse if you didn't make it when you did. T-they would have killed us." Beth covered her mouth and cried. It was hard to scare Beth, but tonight terrified her. To watch her daughter get beat and thrown around and not be able to stop it or to let different scenarios play through her head of what those men would have done to them if nobody stopped them. She didn't think she would ever forgive herself if they did something to Gracie. Rip held her as she cried. "You're safe. Both of you are and I won't ever let anyone hurt either of you again." Rip whispered into her hair. Meanwhile John walked the doctor out then went back to Gracie. "Let's head up, honey. You need to rest." He helped Gracie stand up and brought her to her bedroom. "Will you be okay alone or do you want me to stay?" He asked. Gracie looked around her bedroom before she shook her head. "I'll be okay," she whispered. John was unsure, but he listened to her. "Okay. I'm just down the hall if you need me." He kissed her cheek then left the room. Gracie walked over to her bed and sat down. She took her shoes off and winced at the pain in her ribs she didn't notice until now. She sighed and laid back on her bed staring at the ceiling until her eyes couldn't stay open any longer.
***
Beth shot up at the sound of screams. She scurried out of bed and out of the bedroom, rushing to get to Gracie's room. "No! No!" Gracie thrashed in her sheets. "Gracie!" Beth said as she approached the bed and grabbed Gracie's arms, shaking her gently. "Grace!" With one last scream, Gracie's eyes flew open. Her head whipped around as she took in the surroundings around her. "You're safe," Beth told her. Gracie's gaze landed on Beth and her shoulders slumped. "He was going to hurt me," she whimpered and held her head. Beth pulled her daughter into her arms. "You're safe," Beth repeated. Gracie relaxed in her mother's embrace. She didn't say anything. John came into the room. "Everything okay?" He asked worried after hearing Gracie's screams. "Nightmare," Beth said as she rubbed Gracie's back. "You need anything?" John asked and Beth shook her head. He nodded and left the room. "Do you want to come sleep in my bed?" Beth asked gently. "Yes," Gracie whispered. "I don't want to be alone." With that Gracie and Beth went back to her room and laid in bed. "Everything okay?" Rip asked worried as he saw their daughter lay down on the other side of Beth. "She had a nightmare." Rip sighed and kissed Beth's head. "It'll be alright," he whispered. Little did they know that it wasn't going to be alright. Malcolm had his eyes set on Gracie and he was going to have her. This was just the beginning.