Oakley had opened the large curtains in the living room the next morning. She could see everything that was happening down at the main house and barns. Just like Kayce had said, at eight o'clock on the dot, about seven sheriff trucks pulled up to the main house, along with four dark SUVs. Kayce had already been down there, waiting for them with Rip and the wranglers.
Tate was still with Oakley, still sleeping thankfully. The twins had been fed and would probably sleep for the next hour or so, so Oakley had a cup of coffee and decided to watch the action from afar.
That wasn't one hundred percent true...Oakley had been told she would be watching from afar.
Kayce and Oakley hadn't really spoken much since her little statement of him being scared of his father last night. He had gone into the twin's bedroom for a while and Oakley wasn't sure when he came back. But when she was woken up for the next feeding round, Kayce was on his side of the bed...about a foot in between them.
The only thing he told her when they both were in the kitchen earlier was to stay put and watch Tate. Oakley chose to simply nod her head instead of speaking, fearing she'd say something wrong again to Kayce and that's not what he needed right now.
She mentioned the investigation would come from the Attorney General's office, but Kayce had only nodded his head. Once his hat and coat were on, Kayce was gone. Oakley heard Tate's door open up and soon he was walking over to where she was sitting.
"Morning, Tot," Oakley let Tate crawl in next to her. "How did you sleep?"
"Good," Tate yawned. "Did Dad come home?"
"He did," Oakley nodded. "It was just really late...I was almost asleep even."
"Where is he?" Tate asked.
"He's down at the main house," Oakley sighed.
"With Grandpa?" Tate rubbed his eyes. "He's becoming governor today, right?"
Oakley honestly didn't know.
"Wait," Tate opened his eyes and looked up at Oakley. "What happened at Dad's office yesterday?"
Oakey brushed some of Tate's hair back.
"Tate...there's gonna be some deputies around the ranch for a little while," Oakley tried to figure out how to explain this to him. "They're gonna be looking into some things around here."
"Why?" Tate looked confused.
"Because someone thinks some really bad things happened here," Oakley said. "And since they said those things out loud...the state officials have to investigate all of them...does that make sense?"
"What kind of things?" Tate asked.
"Not good things," Oakley rubbed her thumb across his cheek. "But don't worry though...it'll all work out, okay?"
"Who said those things happened here?" Tate wondered.
"We don't know yet," Oakley shrugged. "But I bet we'll find out soon."
"Will Dad fix it?" Tate yawned again.
"I bet so," Oakley nodded. "He's good at that, huh?"
"The best," Tate's stomach grumbled, and he smiled at Oakley.
"Guess that means someone is hungry?" Oakley laughed, standing up and both of them headed into the kitchen.
Oakley was able to make Tate some pancakes before she heard the twins start to wake up. Oakley plated Tate's pancakes and handed him the syrup.
"I'm gonna go get the twins...you okay down here?" Oakley asked.
Tate nodded, biting into his pancakes. Oakley walked upstairs and down the hall, pushing open the door and smiling.
"Good morning," Oakley picked Lee, who was fully awake, up. "Hey, sweet boy."
Oakley pressed a few kisses to Lee's forehead as she bounced him in her arms. She walked over to the widow and looked out. This side of the house was just the wildland. Trees as far as Oakley could see and the mountain range in the distance. Lee gurgled for a bit while Oakley smiled at him. Walking over to the changing table, Oakley made quick work of Lee's diaper.
She eventually walked back downstairs with Lee, placing him in his little crib in the living room before venturing back upstairs. This time, Evelyn was awake and cooed when Oakley leaned her face down next to her.
"Hey baby girl," Oakley smiled, picking Evelyn up. "Long time no see?"
Once Evelyn was changed, Oakley walked down with her, seeing Tate looking at Lee when she got there.
"Babies are officially awake," Oakley smiled, leaning Evelyn down in the crib next to Lee. "But they've still got an hour until their next feed."
"Babies eat a lot," Tate looked up at Oakley.
"Ha...don't I know it," Oakley chuckled as she sat down on the couch.
"Does it hurt?" Tate asked, walking over to sit next to Oakley.
"Feeding them?" Oakley saw Tate nod. "No...sometimes it can be uncomfortable, but I'm lucky that it hasn't been painful for me."
"Why do moms have to be the ones to feed them?" Tate continued with his questions.
"Just the way we were made, baby," Oakley shrugged. "It's a way we get to connect to our babies though...so even when it's uncomfortable, I wouldn't give it up for the world."
"My mom didn't feed me," Tate reached for his glass of juice to finish.
"Sure, she did," Oakley eyed him. "You just don't remember 'cause you were little."
"Nope," Tate shook his head. "Mom told me that she couldn't feed me...she couldn't do it or something. Always said I went straight to the bottle."
"Well...some mothers can't," Oakley thought. "It's different for everyone."
Tate looked over at his siblings.
"I can't wait until they're bigger," He smiled.
"That thought scares me to death," Oakley laughed. "You three are gonna be the death of your daddy and me."
"Are you gonna have more?" Tate asked.
Oakley looked down at him, surprised. No one, not even her and Kayce, had talked about more children. Oakley didn't even have her own thoughts on the subject. She knew she had wanted a child with Kayce, he was always the one who said babies. Now they both had what they wanted.
"I don't know, Tate," Oakley shrugged. "If we do it won't be soon...but right now, I think three is enough for me."
"I like how it's just us," Tate nodded.
"You do?" Oakley asked.
"Yeah," Tate leaned back on the couch. "You, me, and the twins."
"Not your Dad?" Oakley smirked.
"Dad too," Tate nodded. "But it's like...we're a good little family, ya know?"
"How do you mean?" Oakley tilted her head, enjoying this conversation more and more.
"Well, you have the dad, mom, the older brother...that's me...and the babies," Tate counted on each finger as he went. "We're the perfect family right now."
Oakley decided to take a risk and see.
"Dad and mom?" She asked Tate.
"Yeah, Dad and you...Mom," Tate smiled at her.
Tears pricked Oakey's eyes as she nodded slowly down at Tate. The moment though was short-lived, as Kayce walked through the front door, making everyone look over at him as he didn't hide his frustration by slamming it shut.
"Dad!" Tate stood up and ran over to Kayce, hugging him briefly. "Oakley told me about the not good thing that did not happen here that someone is trying to get us in trouble for...but they did not happen."
"Uh..." Kayce tried to follow that. "Right, buddy...I'm gonna need you to stay inside for today, okay? And stick close to one of us no matter what, alright?"
"It's freezing," Tate shrugged. "I ain't going outside."
Tate walked back into his room as Kayce pulled his jacket and hat off and hung them up. Oakley hadn't moved, watching Kayce, and trying to gauge his attitude. But it was like magic as Kayce walked over, the twins perked up more. Kayce stopped next to them and smiled down, his hand resting on Evelyn as she cooed up at him.
"Hey babies," Kayce's voice was low as he spoke to them and all it did was make Oakley want to wrap him up in her arms.
"Can I ask how it's going?" Oakley said softly, making Kayce look over at her on the couch.
He moved with a sigh, sitting down next to her where Tate had just been. Kayce rubbed his temple in a circle before moving his fingers through his hair.
"That well, huh?" Oakley muttered, leaning back in her seat.
"They're just taking everything electronic we've got," Kayce said. "Laptops, hard drives, files and logs...and anything they can box up."
"They aren't gonna look through it here?" Oakley asked.
"Doesn't seem like it," Kayce shook his head. "They're interviewing everyone who's employed here too, starting this afternoon."
"That doesn't surprise me I guess," Oakley frowned. "Have you talked to anyone?"
"Just Rip and Lloyd," Kayce said. "They'll know what to do with the others. Beth and Dad are already in Helena...which I guess is a good thing."
"So...this afternoon is still happening?" Oakley asked. "He's being sworn in?"
"He's got to," Kayce glanced at her. "We've done nothing wrong...this is just someone's attempt to take Dad down, and he can't show that any of that's working right now. So yeah, he's gonna be sworn in today at two."
"Did you see him before he left?" Oakley picked at her nails.
"He left yesterday," Kayce told her. "So no, I didn't see him today."
"He left you to deal with all this?" Oakley tried to keep her tone even.
"Can we not right now?" Kayce took a deep breath. "I haven't needed him...so far, I haven't needed him."
Oakley nodded, agreeing that Kayce had done everything right so far and how she would probably have done it. She looked at his profile now, seeing the tired lines near Kayce's eye.
Sure, Oakley could badger and question Kayce until she was blue in the face. But what good would it do? All she could see that accomplishing was making Kayce more stressed and more annoyed with her.
"Would you like some coffee?" Oakley asked him.
"I'll get it here in a minute," Kayce sighed.
Oakley stood up, walked over to the kitchen, and grabbed a mug for Kayce. She knew he was watching her as she poured him a cup and walked back over. Kayce gently took the cup from her, his eyes watching her sit back down next to him.
"They're gonna interview you too," Kayce said, taking a sip.
"I figured," Oakley nodded.
"Anything you want clarification on?" Kayce asked.
"I don't know anything," Oakley looked at Kayce. "I ran cattle sales for the Dutton Ranch the last year. My logs are clean, my sales wholesome, the books are balanced...all of my signatures are correct and stamped with the date and time of the sales...if something else is being said happened, I'm not sure what that would be because I never saw anything of the sorts."
"What about your husband?" Kayce took another sip.
"My husband is the Livestock Commissioner for the State of Montana," Oakley shrugged. "When he's not doing that full-time job, he's here with me and our children...he took over operations for the ranch three-four days ago now. My husband is an honest man, whose morals drive him to do what's right for his family, sometimes That means he has to protect our home...but that's his right as a land owner."
"And your father-in-law?" Kayce raised an eyebrow.
"John Dutton has run the biggest ranch in Montana since he took over from his father," Oakley nodded. "He's a simple cattle rancher who danced with politics when it was appropriate. Since running for governor, I'm sure he built up enemies...this seems like just some political crap from the bigger cities we don't need out here in our Montana."
Kayce seemed impressed with Oakley's answer.
"They might talk to Tate too," Kayce ran his fingers through his hair.
"I'd like to see them try," Oakley mumbled, making Kayce give her a look. "As long as you or I are with him. He's a minor so they can't talk to him alone without our permission."
"Depends," Kayce said. "They already hate me so."
"I also know Kayce's wife can sometimes say stupid things when she's tired and scared," Oakley continued. "So, she did want to say she was sorry for that."
"What you said wasn't stupid," Kayce shook his head. "And I'm sorry that you got scared last night."
"I don't think you're scared of your father, Kayce," Oakley frowned. "I just hate how sometimes I feel like he uses other people to protect himself...and sometimes I feel like he uses you because he knows you love him enough to do things for him."
"He didn't put me in charge because he knew this was coming," Kayce reached over and patted Oakley's thigh, leaving his hand there. "He didn't know anything about this...that's why he was so scattered yesterday."
"But there's a little part of me that thinks if push came to shove," Oakley rested her hand on top of Kayce's. "He'd use you to protect himself...he'd make you the enemy for others to take down."
"Thought you once said I was his favorite kid?" Kayce asked.
"I think that might be the reason why he'd do that to you," Oakley lowered her voice some. "Because he knows you'll...you'll protect him in the end."
Kayce looked at Oakley for a few seconds.
"If push comes to shove, I will always choose my family over my father," Kayce said. "That means you, Tate, Lee, and Evie...y'all are who I protect now and for the rest of my life."
"But who's protecting you, Kayce?" Oakley asked, the fear creeping back into her chest. "And don't tell me you don't need someone, because you do."
"I've got you," Kayce smiled. "And Tate...Lee and Evie."
Oakley sighed, knowing that was all she would probably get from him right now. She scooted closer to Kayce, snuggling into his chest while he finished his coffee. Kayce wrapped his arm around Oakley's back and rubbed her side. It was quiet in the house except for the small sound of Tate's television coming from his room and the occasional gurgle from one of the twins.
"I think Tate called me mom this morning," Oakley mentioned.
"Like...as his mom?" Kayce asked.
"I think so," Oakley said. "I don't know, maybe that I was like a mom to him and the twins...you sort of came barging through right after and put a pause on it."
"Sorry, baby," Kayce pressed a long kiss to Oakley's forehead. "I need to get back down there."
Oakey tightened her hold on him, making Kayce chuckle as he patted her side lovingly. Oakley then loosened her hold, knowing she couldn't do anything about him leaving.
"Do you need me?" Oakley looked up as Kayce stood up.
"You know what I need from you," Kayce smiled down at her.
"Take care of the babies," Oakley nodded.
Kayce walked over to the door and put his coat and hat on.
"Wait," Oakley stood up and walked over to him.
Kayce turned around while Oakley reached up behind his neck with her hands. Leaning up on her toes, Oakley kissed Kayce's lips deeply.
"I love you," Oakley lowered back on her heels.
"I love you too, baby," Kayce rubbed her hip.
One of the twins started to make some noise behind Oakley. She saw Kayce's eyes dance back to them, a longing mixed with the golden colors. She cupped his cheek with her palm.
"Maybe tonight we can all pile in the bed together and just relax some?" Oakley offered. "I'd even let Tate eat in the bed with all that's going on."
"Sounds like heaven," Kayce leaned in and pressed a kiss to Oakley's forehead before walking out the door. "Bye, babe."
Oakley pushed down her fear of Kayce not agreeing with her or promising to do just that tonight. But she also knew where he was walking into. Oakley shut the door once Kayce had driven off and walked over to Evelyn who was sniffling, picking her up.
"You sad your Daddy left," Oakley asked, kissing Evelyn's cheeks. "Me too."
Oakley walked back over to the window and bounced Evelyn in her arms for a few minutes. She could see Kayce's truck pull up to the main house, but it was too blurry to see individual people from where she stood.
"Tate!" Oakey called out. "Let's go over your spelling!"