The familiar sound of Rip groaning woke you from your sleep as your 4 year old daughter, Hallie, climbed on top of him. He picked her up and placed her between the two of you with a tired chuckle. It was early in the morning, but this was the normal routine between your little family. Hallie would wake up before either of you and always came into your shared room to wake you both up.

“The munchkin is up.” Rip chuckled in his gruff morning voice.

“Then we are to.” You said with a tired laugh as you sat up in bed.

Hallie was looking at you with those big hazel eyes that looked exactly like Rip’s. You smiled softly and picked her up to get out of bed, placing her on your hip as you stood up. Rip got up soon after and started getting ready for his work day, meeting you in the kitchen as you started making your daughter breakfast.

“Where is daddy going?” Hallie asked as she ran up to you.

“Daddy is going to work, munchkin. I gotta go help with the new horses” Rip told Hallie as he crouched down to get level with her, gently poking her nose with his finger.

“We can go see Daddy and the horses after you eat your breakfast, Sweetheart.” You responded after Rip looked at you for an answer.

Rip kissed Hallie’s forehead before sending her to the table. He fully stood up and made his way over to you, running his hands down your arms. He leaned down and left a kiss to your lips before he grabbed his cowboy hat and walked out the door to go to work.

You arrived with Hallie at the stables a little while later. Rip was standing outside of the round pen watching Ryan work with a horse. Hallie let go of your hand and ran to her dad, climbing up on the round pen to get a better look at the horse. You smiled softly when Rip put his hand on her back to keep her steady while he pointed at Ryan and the horse. As you watched Hallie giggling to Rip you felt someone come up next to you. You looked over and saw Lloyd the ranch hand that had been there since you were a baby, standing next to you, Kayce, your brother and John, your father, walking over.