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"All happy families are alike;
each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
― Leo Tolstoy

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Arizona drove into town intending to buy a dress at the request of her father who had asked for her to attend an important event alongside him; he was worried that the others would not attend for their own reasons. And so with her credit card in hand, Arizona went to the best boutique to buy a nice light blue dress that went down to her ankles, a halter dress that sat comfortably and conservatively; due to the kind of event, she figured it would be smarter to dress casual-formal. Plus, the longer dress allows her to hide her cowgirl boots underneath it better because she would not be wearing any heels for a long event.

Soon enough, with her bags in hand from shopping along with a milkshake from a store in town, Arizona returned to the Ranch. The Cowboys all whistled in her direction as Arizona usually dressed nice to go into town, she was sure to keep a casual appearance in the town for a good look on the Ranch rather than her day job clothes. She was wearing a black tight skirt with a band t-shirt tucked into it, her ankle boots clicking against the gravel. And of course, her hair was tied back in a bun to keep it out of her face but that sight was rare for the Wranglers and Ranch Hands who clearly were unafraid to show it.

"Alright!" Arizona shouted playfully with a wave, her eyes caught Ryan's who looked her up and down. He was more used to her being dressed for riding and a part of him preferred seeing her in jeans -- they shape better -- but Arizona Dutton in a skirt was something he was keen to see more of. "You boys better get to work," Arizona warned as she approached them, Colby chuckled at her words before nudging Ryan who had yet to take his eyes off of her. "That means you, Ryan," Arizona said lowly as she leaned towards him, an action she had never done before and Ryan was quick to notice the underlying flirting. "Maybe you should be a little less distracting, Darling," Ryan cooed back to her.

"The same could be said for you," Arizona replied with a wink before she turned and walked back towards the house, her hips swaying knowing that Ryan was watching her walk away. "Oh man, she got you wrapped around her finger," Walker spoke up from beside Colby. "She's had him from the moment he stepped onto this Ranch," Colby told Walker who looked at him with wide eyes. "That's some real dedication," Walker said, "I'll be sure to stay out of it." Ryan turned to him with a raised brow, "What is that supposed to mean?" Walker raised his hands in defence, "She's a pretty lass. But if you've been waiting that long, I ain't getting between it. I'm a smarter man than that." Ryan accepted that.

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Hanging her dress bag onto her walk-in closest door, pulling her hair free from its tight bun before turning to the door at the sound of a knock. "Get everything you need?" John asked her with a fond smile. "I sure did. New dress perfect to hide my boots," Arizona replied to him, John chuckled at that. "Well, I wouldn't wear heels, so I won't force you," John told her, the two sharing a laugh. "Just be ready by four, okay?" John requested. "Sure thing, Dad," Arizona answered him before watching him leave, closing the door behind him. Arizona decided that she would pamper and do an 'everything' shower before the event; it'd be worth the effort.

Arizona was dressed and ready before four, she made her way downstairs and noticed that her father was on the porch with his phone in hand. Arizona pulled her purse strap over her shoulder and headed out of the house, turning her eyes to her father who smiled at the sight of the blue halter dress however, he chuckled seeing her boots underneath with every step; however, she had polished the boots just in case they were spotted. "You look beautiful, Arizona," John complimented his daughter, she had curled her hair and left it flowing down her shoulders and back.

"I haven't been able to get in touch with Beth or Jamie," John told his daughter as he slipped his phone into his pocket. "I may have an idea for that," Arizona expressed as she spotted Ryan with Colby and Walker. "Okay, Sunshine," John said before moving to try and reach Beth again. Arizona lifted her dress so it wouldn't drag on the gravel or dirt and made her way towards the three Cowboys. Walker noticed her first and sent her a sweet smile, "Howdy." She nodded her head as Ryan and Colby turned to look at her, Colby smirked while Ryan stared in awe at the sight of Arizona all dolled up.

"You boys don't mind me stealing Ryan away for a moment, do you?" Arizona asked them, both shook their heads and moved away while Ryan stepped towards her. "You look... breathtaking, Darling," Ryan complimented her. "Thank you," Arizona replied before focusing, "I have a couple questions for you... do you have a suit? And would you like to go to a fancy dinner with me and my dad that will give you free food and drinks?" Ryan smirked hearing that, "Yes, I have a suit. And I would love to." Arizona let out a breath of relief hearing that, "Okay, bring your badge with you. And your personal phone, please?" Ryan handed her his phone and she put her personal number in it, sending herself a message so she had his.

"This is the address," Arizona told him as she sent it through, adding his number to her top contacts. "It doesn't start until six but dad and I are going early to make our usual rounds with familiar faces," Arizona informed him as she slipped her phone back into her clutch. "I owe you for this, Ryan," Arizona added before she leant up and kiss his cheek. "You owe me nothing, Darling. I finally got that number of yours," Ryan teased making her laugh and shake her head. "I'll see you there," Arizona told him before making her way over to the car, Ryan looked down at his phone before turning his gaze back to the woman, a large grin on his face.

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In the car, her father was driving when they came to an abrupt stop at the sight of a tourist bus and a crowd of foreigners standing in the field with a bear in the distance. "What the fuck?" John breathed out while Arizona rolled her eyes at the stupidity of people, fencing means no trespassing and a wild bear can snap in seconds. John grabbed his rifle as Arizona climbed out of her car, "Hey! What the fuck are you doing?" The tourists looked over at the shout while the woman leading the tourists looked over at them. "Call Rip and let him know about the bear," John told his daughter, she immediately complied while he dealt with the tourists on their land.

"Hey!" John shouted after he approached them, "Are you out of your mind? Get back." No one listened to his orders which angered Arizona as she made her way over to them having just gotten off the phone to Rip. "Get back before that thing eats somebody," John warned the people but the woman was clearly unbothered. "It seems friendly," The woman spoke making Arizona laugh. "A serial killer seems friendly, a lion seems friendly, we seem friendly. Does not mean any of them will be when they snap," Arizona warned her with a glare, the woman taking a step back at those words. "Okay, we won't get any closer," The woman spoke before turning back to the tourists.

"You see that fence? That's mine," John informed her, "That fucking fence down there, that's mine too." Arizona crossed her arms at the woman's eye roll. "Everything this side of that mountain, all the way over here, mine too," John continued focusing on the woman who clearly understood English. "You're trespassing," John added as he held up his badge. The woman translated his words for the tourists to understand, Arizona feeling irritated by this; if she were to walk into their homes, they would throw a fit, so what gave them the right to do it here. "They don't believe you," The woman said after the tourists spoke together.

"What do they want? The fucking papers?" Arizona snapped at her. One of the men began talking in Mandarin, not that Arizona or John could understand him. "What's he saying?" John asked the woman. "Says that it's wrong for one man to own all this," The woman said making Arizona scoff. "One man doesn't, his own family does. It's family generations of looking after this land, preventing a Four Seasons from destroying all of this," Arizona argued as she motioned to the sights, "So translate that to them and then get the fuck off of our land." The woman did translate it, the older man looked at her before looking away.

John, having had enough of this, raised his gun and fired off shots making Arizona laugh as the tourists scurried off of the land and into the bus. "Come on, we'll be late," Arizona encouraged her father, "Rip knows about the bear." John nodded before following Arizona out of the gate, they closed it and chained it before climbing back into the car. "What a day," Arizona breathed out, John placing his rifle back in place. "Tell me about it," John replied before they made they way to the dinner event. Arizona frowned, she hadn't heard from Kayce about Monica who had hit her head; she hoped the woman was okay.

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Arizona smiled at Ryan as he sat down at the table next to her, she turned her head to her father as he approached the podium. "Since 1886, every Dutton who died is buried three hundred yards from my back porch. From my great-great-grandfather, to my wife, and my oldest son," John spoke, his words made Arizona lowered her head slightly. "When a tree grows on my ranch, I know exactly what fed it, and that's the best we can hope for, because nothing we do is for today. Ranching is the only business where the goal is to break even," John continued, others agreeing with his words there.

"Survive another season. Last long enough for your children to continue the cycle, and maybe, just maybe, the land is still theirs when a tree sprouts from you," John's eyes landed on Arizona who smiled back at him. John removed his hat and everyone stood from their seats, "Lord God, give us rain and a little luck, and we'll do the rest. Amen." The event continued as normal, Arizona spoke with others while Ryan stayed by her side engaging in conversations as well. Arizona noticed her father sitting alone, "Excuse me." She squeezed Ryan's arm before making her way over to the man of the hour. "Are you alright, dad?" Arizona asked her.

"Just glad that one of my children honours my word," John replied to her before looking at Ryan who had glanced over, his eyes on Arizona. "You and Ryan seem to be good friends," John said with a small smirk noticing the way Arizona's cheeks flushed pink. "He has been quite a good friend and I'm wanting to... explore more," Arizona answered truthfully, "Unless you want me to honour the rule of keeping away from the Cowboys." John chuckled at that, "No, you are more than capable. Besides, I'm not blind to Rip and Beth. You deserve to find happiness too." Arizona kissed his cheek as Ryan walked over, "Would I be able to sneak in one dance?" Arizona accepted and he led her to the dance floor.

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Arizona had joined Ryan home as her father had requested to be alone for a change. "Thank you for tonight, Ryan," Arizona spoke, "I know my father appreciated having your words shared with everyone and though Jamie doesn't deserve it, he'll appreciate the added support to his campaign." Ryan brushed it off, "I didn't do it for any of them, Arizona." She turned her head to him, "You did that for me?" Ryan glanced at her with a nod, "I'd do anything for you, Darling. All you need to do is ask me." Arizona smiled at that, she felt her head skip a beat. "Well, if that is the case, I do have something to ask you," Arizona spoke.

"Am I gonna regret it?" Ryan asked her with a smirk. "I actually think you'll like this," Arizona said as she turned her head to him, "Dinner, me and you. Tomorrow night." Ryan pulled the truck into Yellowstone ranch and parked it before turning to look at her. "You serious?" Ryan asked her with a smile on his face. "I expect you to pick me up by six. I'll cover for you and I expect to be impressed," Arizona added before leaning across to kiss his cheek, her lips brushing the corner of his lips. "And if I'm impressed, you may just earn yourself a real kiss," Arizona whispered as the two look into one another's eyes. "It's a date, darling," Ryan promised.

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Rosemary Speaks. . .

Writing this chapter was a slight challenge... cause I kept getting distracted lmao

Anyway, excited for the date? I am!

Thoughts, Suggestions or Questions?

See you in the next chapter!