The grizzly bear's corpse had been devoured by wolves, leaving little evidence for the Wildlife Services officer who replaced Scales. The investigation relied heavily on witness statements to determine if Rip's actions were illegal. Sheriff Donnie, the first on the scene, claimed no shell casings were found near the cliff, implying Rip was lying. John trusted Rip completely. He walked to the cliff edge, mimicked Rip's stance, and fired two shots. The shotgun shells landed on the grass beside him, not over the cliff—proving Donnie had framed Rip. John found the shells in Donnie's uniform pocket. Exposed, Donnie admitted he'd collected the shells from the actual site. The officer confirmed the shooting distance was only 13 meters from the bear, ruling it self-defense.
While Wildlife Services didn't handle police internal affairs, John discovered Donnie had a membership at an expensive athletic club—unaffordable on a sheriff's salary. John sensed the entire county was turning against him and vowed to take down Donnie and all who opposed the Duttons.
The next morning, John sat on the porch and discussed a matter with Beth as she emerged from her room. The ranch needed a new chief lawyer, and Beth would temporarily replace Jamie. John then headed to the club and confronted Governor Lynelle at breakfast, demanding Jamie withdraw from the race. Instead of supporting him, Lynelle urged John to resign from the Livestock Commission himself. His recent actions—sending men into the reservation, diverting the river, and facing lawsuits—were damaging government credibility.
Lynelle seemed to forget John had helped her become governor. With nothing left to say, John stood to leave. Passing a private room, he spotted Jamie and Christina laughing inside. The moment John entered, Jamie jumped up from the couch in fear. Christina screamed for help, drawing security and Lynelle. Seeing Jamie colluding with these politicians filled John with disappointment and rage.
Rip spent the morning training Walker and Jimmy in roping. Jimmy once again proved he wasn't ranch material. Returning to the stables, Rip found John shoveling manure—a chore from his youth that helped him think clearly amid crises. Recent events felt like smoke screens; he sensed a puppeteer but couldn't see who.
After cleaning the stables, John reached a decision. In the living room, Beth and her assistant Jason were monitoring Paradise Valley's stock. Shares had jumped from $3 to $9 at opening, forcing Beth to pause her buyout. John sent Jason away and solemnly asked Beth to hire a lawyer to place the ranch in a trust. As executor, she must prevent other siblings from selling their shares. It felt like a will, saddening Beth. But when John removed Jamie from the beneficiary list, she felt a secret thrill.
Beth went to the campaign headquarters and gleefully informed Jamie he was no longer family lawyer. He must return all family credit cards, bank cards, and car keys. After she left, Jamie felt both helpless and free. Then, an unassuming staffer named Kendall approached him. She revealed her real name was Sarah, a reporter and writer for New York Magazine's politics column. Undercover for weeks, she'd learned Jamie was a good man—unlike John. She would publish everything she'd seen, exposing the truth to the nation.
Sarah gave Jamie a choice: be the story's protagonist or an anonymous source. Christina pulled him aside, demanding to know what he'd done for John and what Sarah might uncover. If mishandled, Jamie's political career would end. But every sword had two edges: Sarah's article could portray Jamie as a new kind of politician bravely fighting his corrupt father. Used wisely, it could boost his campaign. After reflection, Jamie realized only by destroying his father's cowboy mindset could he protect his father's legacy. It was a difficult but necessary decision.
Back at the ranch, Beth reviewed the Broken Rock Tribe subpoenas and suggested hiring an environmental law expert. Mid-discussion, Rip entered. John asked Beth to leave—some matters weren't for her ears. Once alone, Rip played a recording from his old partner Avery, who'd eavesdropped on Daniel and Thomas at a hotel. They discussed building a casino, a large hotel on Paradise Valley land, and developing real estate along the ranch fence. Though their full plan was unclear, their alliance against John was confirmed.
A chill ran down John's spine. Thomas and Daniel had declared war, but his time was running out. His children weren't ready to protect the ranch. He resolved to end this threat permanently before he died, by any means necessary. Rip accepted the order and left, but Beth stopped him outside. She needed to know what was happening to help her father. Rip remained silent—this was beyond anyone's help.
True to his word, Rip gave Avery a real job as the ranch's new livestock handler. The cowboys were surprised and delighted by a young, vibrant woman with wild cowboy energy moving into the bunkhouse. Her blunt, masculine demeanor especially captivated the single men.
But another unexpected newcomer arrived soon after. Sheriff Donnie dropped off Kayce at the ranch after he'd beaten up a robber. Kayce didn't consider himself a Dutton and refused to stay in the main house. He joined the other cowboys in the bunkhouse, where Avery, drinking and gambling at the table, was instantly drawn to him.
The next day, Rip and trusted cowboys intercepted Daniel on the street. Kayce shoved him into a vehicle, and they sped off. In the wilderness, Daniel was forced onto a horse with a noose around his neck tied to a tree branch. Terrified and isolated, he confessed Thomas's entire plan. Hearing the malicious scheme, Kayce personally drove the horse away, leaving Daniel dangling and struggling. It felt like a return to the era when cowboy law ruled Yellowstone.
Note: This translation maintains the original narrative's tone and key details while adapting it for clarity and flow in English. The SEO elements are crafted to capture the essence of the storyline for potential readers or viewers.