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If you're going through hell, keep going.
- Winston Churchill

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With the return of the cattle from the Reservation under the orders of Thomas Rainwater, John had the Cowboys working hard to round them up. After spending the night thinking things over, Arizona decided she needed to be more involved with the ranch. And so with that in mind, the twenty-four-year-old had decided to step into Lee's role working the ranch alongside the Cowboys while using the night to study her final year to become a vet. Her dark blue jeans adorned her long legs, her cowgirl boots holding them in place while the tank top she wore was covered by her Carhartt that she often wore when riding with the Cowboys.

Arizona grabbed her hat from her desk before fixing the ring on her finger, the lapis-lazuli stone and silver band was the only thing the girl had of her mother. She cleared her throat and put her hat on her head, walking down the stairs without greeting Beth or Jamie as she left out the door and spotted the Cowboys by Gator getting their breakfast before they head out. "You boys got room for another Cowboy?" Arizona asked gaining Rip's attention, he turned to her and noticed the set look in her eyes; the same he saw in Lee's every morning before a hard day's work. "Yeah, we could use the help," Rip told her before turning to Jimmy, "Get Flash tacked up, Jimmy!"

"You're having some breakfast before we go," Lloyd told her, she nodded her head and accepted his condition before moving to stand with Ryan and Colby. "It'll be nice to see more of you," Colby said with a wink making her laugh as Gator handed her a bowl. "It'll be nice to boss your lazy ass around," Arizona teased back making him and Ryan laugh. With breakfast done, Arizona mounted Flash and clicked her tongue; she had left Levi in the house knowing better than to take the pup out to the pasture with nervous cattle.

Arizona kept by Rip as they herded the cattle together and moved them from the pasture, she knew that the cattle were already nervous so she made sure to keep herself calm in order for Flash to be more comfortable. "Rip, you got stragglers in the timber," John informed Rip who nodded. "Yeah. We're coming at you," Rip replied through the walkie before turning to Jimmy, "We got stragglers in the trees. I want you to come with me. Zee, let's go." She nodded her head as Jimmy looked at Rip questionably. "I ain't asking your fucking permission, Jimmy, I'm telling you," Rip snapped out as Arizona moved ahead of them to the timber.

"Keep up, let's go," Rip ordered before moving forward. "I thought you said running the horses makes the cattle nervous?" Jimmy questioned him. "What do you think that chopper's doing? Now let's go, keep up. Come on," Rip replied before catching up to Arizona and Flash who were already beginning to herd up the cattle. Unfortunately, Jimmy had come off of his horse resulting in Arizona quickly moving to rope the beautiful creature so he wouldn't run off. "Get up, Jimmy," Arizona spoke as she had flash herd the cattle away from him so he wouldn't be trampled. "Easy, boy," Arizona cooed towards Jimmy's horse, he calmed as she brushed her fingers through his mane.

"Thanks, Ari," Jimmy breathed out. "Take the reins before removing the rope," Arizona advised, Jimmy following her words before letting her take the rope back. "At least you're starting to walk like a Cowboy," Lloyd spoke as he rode up next to Arizona and Jimmy. "I don't think I'm cut out for this," Jimmy told the two. "Nobody is, Jimmy," Lloyd spoke before Arizona did, "It's gotta be cut into you. Now, where's your hat?" Jimmy looked over to where his hat fell from his head. "Well, find it. Don't come back without it," Lloyd advised him before riding off to catch the others. "Come on, I'll help you look," Arizona offered, "Cause those boys will never let you live that down."

Arizona used Flash to lead Jimmy's horse, the two heading back to where Jimmy had lost his hat in the first place. "God, this hurts," Jimmy muttered. "It does for everyone. You should've seen what Jamie was like when he first started riding horses, you're doing better than him," Arizona expressed to Jimmy who looked at her. "Lee complained for about a week then never had a problem again. Kayce and I, it felt natural to be on a horse but the pain was there, just never bothered the two of us," Arizona continued with a fond smile, Jimmy smiled at the way she seemed to light up. "A lot of drifters come through, learn to ride and never get off the horse and others... they gave up too soon," Arizona finished off.

"And me?" Jimmy asked her as they slowed their pace. "You've done better than most, Jimmy. Those boys are hard on you, especially Rip because that's how it works. Everyone goes through it... and due to your case being slightly different to other drifters and you carrying the brand, they're harder on you," Arizona told him as she dropped off of her horse and picked up his hat, holding it out to him, "It'll be worth it. You just gotta prove that you can stand your ground. I got your back Jimmy, we all do." Arizona pulled her tank aside to show the Yellowstone brand scarred into her skin like his own, he hadn't expected it but he felt eased having her on his side.

The two were about to leave when they found two calves, the two shared a look before moving towards them. "Oh man," Arizona breathed out, "Help me with this, Jimmy." He nodded and climbed down from his horse, walking over with Arizona so they could grab the two calves. "Gentle with them, Jimmy. They're not so happy right now," Arizona encouraged before looking them over, "Not hurt. Just scared, so let's them back to their Mumma's." Jimmy nodded as he settled one of them over his horse while Arizona did the same with the other one, both of them made their way back to the others, talking a bit more.

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The two newly established friends had caught up to the others with the two calves as the Cowboys were working through the herd, she and Jimmy were talking and laughing when Rip looked over with Ryan and Colby seeing the two enjoying themselves; a proper smile on Jimmy's face since he arrived. "Look who decided to show up," Fred spoke as he looked at Jimmy, "Have a nice ride, Jimmy." Arizona glared at the cocky Cowboy, "Open the fucking gate, Fred." The Cowboy obeying her words immediately, he knew better than to toy with the boss' daughter. "Wonder which ones their momma," Jimmy spoke.

"Gee, I fucking wonder, Jimmy," Rip replied while Arizona giggled, she moved to place the calf she had into the pen with Jimmy following her. "Oh, some of the things you say greatly amuse me, Jimmy," Arizona teased making him bite back a smile. "Shut up," Jimmy replied before the two laughed. "That's as Cowboy as it gets, right there, Jimmy," Lloyd told Jimmy before following after Rip bringing a smile to Jimmy's face. "See, I told you, didn't I?" Arizona said to Jimmy before the two left the calves with their herd. "I guess I oughta listen to you more often, Cowboy Princess," Jimmy expressed making Arizona laugh fondly, nodding in agreement.

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Arizona looked over to see Fred trip Jimmy, she immediately closed the pen behind her before making her way over as Jimmy shoved the bigger man. "You feeling saucy, boy?" Fred asked Jimmy who threw punches at the bigger man as Ryan and Colby turned around to watch them. Fred punched Jimmy in the face causing the lanky man to hit the ground along with a few more hits each time he got back up, Arizona was pissed as she pushed through Ryan and Colby before swinging a hit harshly into Fred's face. The unexpected punch sent the man stumbling back, "You wanna fight someone, Fred, fucking fight me instead." Arizona pulled her Carhartt off which revealed some of the brand, Fred spotting it straight away.

Jimmy moved towards Fred but Arizona turned to him with a single look, he raised his hands and stepped back. "He started it and I'm gonna finish it," Jimmy said but Arizona shook her head, "No fighting. That's the fucking rule around here." She turned back to Fred, "So if you wanna fight someone, me or Rip. Take a fucking choice or get the fuck off the ranch." Fred glared at her, he wouldn't snap back at the sunshine of the Dutton's, he'd never see the sunrise ever again if he did. Rip walked over seeing the tense air, he spotted the bruise already forming on Fred's face and put the pieces together at the stance that Arizona was in.

"You causing me problems Fred?" Rip asked with a growl, he stood near Arizona who turned to check on Jimmy. "He didn't start it, it was me," Jimmy spoke up, Arizona went to disagree but he silenced her as Rip turned to him. Rip walked over to Jimmy and pulled the man out of Arizona and Ryan's hands, pulling his shirt down to reveal the brand. "You see this?" Rip said looking at Ryan and Colby before turning to Fred, "You know what this means? This means 'Don't fucking touch', Fred!" Arizona crossed her arms but she could see Ryan looking at the brand peaking under her tank top strap in the corner of her eyes, the curiosity in his eyes.

"Don't fucking touch," Rip repeated as he held Jimmy's jacket, turning to the others as he spoke again, "Now you guys can go get the supper that you didn't earn." Rip looked at Ryan and Colby, "Get out of here." Both Cowboys moved to walk away while Arizona held Jimmy's face, "You good?" He nodded his head but he was clearly still in pain. "Go ice your hand, Zee. I got this," Rip assured her, she shook her head and grabbed her Carhartt from Lloyd who had picked it up for her. "I didn't start it, he said it," Fred argued, Lloyd used his whip to strike Fred in the face. Rip throwing another punch into the man's stomach before holding him against the wall of the Bunkhouse.

"If you ever hit a branded man again, I'll kill you, Fred," Rip threatened before tossing him to the ground, "I'll kill you, Fred." Arizona looked back at the sight, she gritted her teeth wanting to punch the bastard herself again. "These guys, they just work here, Jimmy. You'll see a thousand of them come and go. But not us. We die here. This is your family. We're your family. All right, let Zee look you over," Rip told him, Arizona reached out to Jimmy's arm and pulled him over to her. "Jimmy's no longer cleaning the stalls, Fred. That's your job," Rip ordered the man. "No. No, I ain't cleaning no goddamn stall," Fred argued back.

"Lloyd?" Rip began as he stepped closer to Fred, "Give this man his week's wages, and get this piece of shit off the ranch." Arizona smirked hearing that, she moved Jimmy's head to look at the bruise appearing on the side of his face. "Get to the fuckin' Bunkhouse," Lloyd ordered Fred, he would escort the drifter from the ranch himself. "Listen to me, Jimmy, you're gonna go have your supper--" Arizona was cut off by Jimmy, "I gotta wash up." Arizona shook her head, "No, you're gonna make them look at you. Now go on." He was hesitant for a moment but trusted Arizona, she watched him walk away as Rip stepped up next to her.

"Nice work," Rip told her, she smirked up at him. "Figured it was time to go from Cowboy Princess to the damn Hurricane like Lee," Arizona replied to him. "As long as you stay true to yourself in the process," Rip told her. Kayce walked up to the two of them catching their full attention, Arizona sent him a smile but he seemed to be a wreck. "What do you want?" Rip asked him. "I need a horse. They ain't back yet," Kayce told Rip, Arizona knew he was talking about their father and Tate who had gone down to the river to hang out. "Let's go then," Arizona said as she moved to get a horse ready for Kayce.

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Later that night, Arizona walked downstairs to see her father by the fireplace. He was drying out his clothes after he had saved Tate who had fallen into the river. "You could have lost him," John muttered to himself. "Stupid... boy by the river... just like--" He was cut off by Arizona, "We bounce back, Pops. It'll be an experience he won't forget because he was saved. Kids do stupid shit, you can only protect so much." She knelt down and helped him with his wallet, putting the items and money back where they belong. "How's your side?" Arizona asked, she was the only one of the children who knew about the cancer. "It's fine, sweetheart," John assured her.

"Dad," Arizona spoke softly, "I'm gonna work hard around here. Pick up on the things that Lee left behind. I'm gonna work damn fucking hard for this place cause it's my home." John looked into his daughter's eyes seeing the determination in them, the same way Lee held his but ultimately, the same eyes that his wife had. "We've got your back. Me and Rip, we have your back through everything," Arizona assured him before kissing the side of his head. "Kayce will forgive you, just give him time," Arizona whispered before leaving her father to his thoughts. Her words a bound promise, she would die for the ranch; she'd kill for it too.

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Rosemary Speaks. . .

Not gonna lie, I like Hurricane Arizona, don't you?

Were you expecting her to be carrying the brand, huh?

Thoughts, Suggestions or Questions?

See you in the next chapter!