.: I did not want to have such a gap between updates, but I've just had things going on that have gotten in the way of my writing and motivation. First it was the holidays, next it was my social life, then it was a family member unexpectedly passing away, and finally I have started a new job. There's been a lot going on behind the scenes here that have caused me to not want to spend time writing at all. But I think things have calmed down and have become routine, so now I have free reign to continue this story. Something I have been struggling with regarding this arc is trying to make more than one conflict or subplot happen. I do not want everything focused on Aurilee because it will get boring fast. I'm also nervous that things I attempt will feel rushed and the end result will not feel natural. In addition, I am debating about inserting a backstory that will span a few chapters, but I am afraid that doing so will backfire on me. Of course, the other option would be to make a standalone story for it, which I am sort of planning on doing with other stories like Aurilee's father. There's just a lot going on in my head that needs more deliberation with myself. But hey, I'm not tied down with an update schedule purely because I cannot tap into my creativity with stress like that, so that's one less thing to worry about. :.

The Girl with A Half-Soul

Chapter 38:

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

The yawning became too much after a while. They called it a night and went their separate ways. Aurilee made her way back to the camp, where the fire had snuffed out and everyone was asleep. Apparently, it was normal for cowboys to sleep under the sky. It was too bad that it remained starless. At least the large quarter moon shone enough light for her to get a preview of what they had seen.

Garrett and Tonto were gone. Oakley slept with her head on Butler's chest – her favorite way. Somehow, Jen managed to stay close to Usopp and sort of spooned him. Luffy was passed out with his legs propped up against a saddle with all its gear in disarray. Nami stuck near Robin, and Zoro had Chopper loosely wrapped in his arms. Rip, Billy, and Ware were somewhere in the shadows with hats covering their faces.

Sanji kept his promise by holding a spot for her. There was a pillow and half of his blanket available. He lay on his side with a hand underneath his face. She took a moment to appreciate how cute he looked when he slept, and then realized she had to slip next to him without disturbing him. As carefully as she could, she lifted the blanket and settled next to him. The lack of reaction from him had her relieved and close her eyes.

But he was still awake. She was gone far longer than he expected, but now that she was accounted for, he had the desire to pull her close. He had it all planned out so she would never forget this night. Arms around her, chin resting on top of her cranium, and waiting until he felt a kiss against his Adam's apple. That would confirm she wanted more from him. The idea brought a pervy smile to his face.

He blinked his eyes open to begin with the cuddle, but things were not as he expected. Aurilee was sat up next to him while three pairs of Robin's hands effortlessly braided her hair. Everyone else was getting ready to begin a full day of riding by packing back up. When she noticed him sitting up and scratching his scalp, she slightly turned toward him. "Good morning," she greeted.

It was dawn?! But she just got here five minutes ago! Completely baffled and not understanding reality, he could feel the devastation hit him. "M-Morning," he replied with a crackle in his voice.

"Sleep well?"

Considering it felt too fast, he had to assume he was simply dreaming the whole time he fantasized. He was disappointed at how anticlimactic their first time sleeping together turned out to be. There was nothing to show for it. In other words, he failed miserably. "Yeah. You?"

"Pretty good." She felt the hands disappear from her shoulders and brushed her hands over her head to feel the bumps of her three braids knitted through her hair. "Thanks, Robin!" she said.

The archaeologist smiled at her and slipped on her sunglasses. Chopper was laying on the ground in front of her as he received a nice massage throughout his back and shoulders. "How are you holding up, Doctor?" she questioned him.

"I'm okay," he answered. "Other working animals have earned my respect."

Her fingers pressed deep into his fur as she tried to release the soreness from his muscles. Anyone who moved nonstop for as long as he had would have related. It had nothing to do with carrying Aurilee; her excess weight was not a big deal when he transformed into Walk Point. "Whenever you need a break, let us know and we can pick up the slack."

Although it was true that Aurilee had more options for traveling, Chopper preferred to be responsible for her. If an emergency arose, he could tend to it without any delay. This soreness was nothing. He could keep going. Besides, the soreness would go away eventually. He just needed to adjust to life on land.

Nami came over to him and fell to her knees. "Please tell me you have pain meds," she groaned.

"I do. What's wrong?" Chopper inquired.

"That time of month." She pulled open his backpack and found the jar of pills. If these cramps were not suppressed soon, she would be overcome with nausea. It seemed like Zoro purposely tried sabotaging her efforts, though, because suddenly his lasso wrapped her up and caused her to drop the bottle. "Hey!" she protested with annoyance.

"My bad, Nami," Zoro apologized, coming up behind her to free her from his missed aim.

Rip chuckled both at how Zoro's attempt had a mind of its own and how he managed to get Nami perfectly in the process. "Wrong heifer," he joked.

With his back turned because he was helping Oakley pack up her saddle bags, Butler snorted with a laugh.

Jen gathered Luffy and Usopp. They made a comment about wanting breakfast, and Sanji was not going to cook anything. Since they were foreigners, she knew she could not pass up the opportunity to blow their minds. "Y'all brought uh brown cow, raight?"

"Sure did," Luffy confirmed. "Can we milk them?"

"Do'ya know how ta milk uh cow?"

"Nope."

"I'll show ya'll. Come heer."

Luffy was intrigued and followed her closely while Usopp was more standoffish. He knew this girl was mischievous. She might do something stupid like squirt milk at them. But she grabbed a cup and headed for the brown cow specifically. She crouched for a minute as she extracted contents from the udders. Luffy tried to see the demonstration, but she stood back up before he could get a chance. "Taste it."

Luffy gladly took the cup and downed the milk in a single gulp. When he pulled it away, a brown mustache was spread across his upper lip. "It tastes like chocolate milk."

"That's because it is!" Jen ecstatically validated.

"What?" Usopp interjected. "That's impossible. Chocolate milk doesn't come from brown cows."

"Wail than you have a taste, too, Mr. Smarty Pants." She got a few more squirts of milk into the cup and handed it to him next.

The skepticism he had dissipated once the first drop touched his tongue. She could see it in his eyes. "Sanji! You lied to us all!" Usopp exclaimed.

"Did not," Sanji replied without paying attention to what was going on. He was too distracted by how a Lun'aecho warrior had inconspicuously slipped over to Aurilee. Sam was the name Sanji tried to remember correctly. He spent time eating dinner with them last night. Despite his little influence, his presence was received congenially by Aurilee. It was as if their connection was instantaneous.

"Are you riding with Chopper again?" Sam asked her, lowering himself to be eye-level with her.

"That's the plan," she replied contentedly while dipping her fingers into a white paste she made.

He watched her drag her fingertips down her cheek to mark it. Since she was not born in the same culture he was, he was surprised by her willingness to participate in that way. There was no reason to prevent her, so, he went ahead and traced that crescent moon back onto her forehead. Right between her parted curtain bangs and under where the white hair was trying to grow out again. Perfectly displayed for all to see.

"Do you have something else in mind?" she continued without making eye contact with him.

Three feathers were pulled from his sleeve. A hawk had been flying around while hunting for mice, and he shot it down to make her a headpiece like he wore. "It's a suggestion," he refined as he hooked the feathers into her center braid. "You're a Lun'aecho warrior now. We ride the bison. If you wanted to, I could help you tame one."

The idea roused her. Chopper deserved rest, and she knew she could handle a bison. How much more different could it be compared to riding on Luna's back? Her hands used to grip a mere scruff to lead. Using reins instead already sounded like an upgrade. "I'm not opposed to that," she agreed. "I just don't know how to tame a bison."

"I would offer to teach you, but I can't do that while we're traveling."

"So we'll do it on the fly, huh?"

"If that's how you want to put it, yes."

Sanji's teeth started grinding out of pure jealousy. He had this sinking feeling that this guy was up to something. He was too nice. The feathers were not his only gift, which only drove his suspicion further. The bow he pulled from around his torso had matching feathers from the same hawk and some of the skunk hide wrapped around the handle. The matching quiver was made completely from the skunk hide. Sam was setting her up for a long-term stay…like he wanted her to not leave the island at all.

"Oh my god, Sam," Aurilee gasped. "You actually got sleep, right?"

He chuckled at her concern. He had been making things like these since he was a child, so it took no time at all. Besides, the skunk was useful for more than just food. It had a lot of hide. Many people were taking back remnants to the tribal grounds. He decided that since the skunk was her kill, she should tittivate her gear as much as she could. If she thought the weapons were overkill with kindness, she was going to get flustered with the last item he had yet to show her.

"I got enough," he assured her, offering the new bow and quiver for her to take. "I saw that you carry a makeshift bow, so I thought you should have a new one."

She took it and immediately noticed how new its wood was. It was smooth to the touch and its elastic bowstring showed no signs of wear. "Thank you, Sam," she breathed while admiring his impeccable craftmanship.

"You're welcome."

Sanji let his jealousy get the better of him. The last thing he wanted was to go head-to-head with a guy he could not stand. But his instincts were squealing at him. There was some ulterior motive going on and seeing Aurilee as the target brought out overprotectiveness.

In an attempt to draw her attention away, Sanji grasped the bottoms of her loose braids and started securing them. Robin's work would be sustained. Luckily, there were ties in his shirt that he had at his disposal. Her hair was tethered with yellow ribbons when he was finished. "Three braids for three babies," he related, rubbing the ribbon between his fingers.

She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled, but she was interrupted by Luffy throwing himself at Sanji with a full cup of milk in his hand. He was shoved down with a hand pressed to his face. "Yes you did! Taste it for yourself!" he exclaimed with too much energy this early in the morning.

"Dammit, Luffy, get off me!" he demanded as he fought for his release.

Aurilee quickly moved away so they could hash it out and not involve her. That did not mean she did not find it funny, though. They were not brawling with the intention of harming each other. Luffy was just trying to force him to drink chocolate milk straight from a brown cow while Sanji wanted to not be pinned down by one of the male species. He was also sticking to his guns when it came to not wasting food because grabbing the cup from him seemed to be his priority in the midst of it.

Nami downed her painkillers and watched as the Lun'aecho started leaving the area. Their bison had saddles full of paraphernalia and they were not waiting on anyone. "Uh, are we being left behind?" she questioned.

"They're returning to the tribal grounds. Only a small group of us will take you to the Wendigo's canyon," Sam explained as he helped Aurilee up.

Robin glanced around their area. Canyons were quite significant natural formations caused by tectonic activity. The most notorious results of tectonic activity were mountainous regions. So, if the canyon they were looking for was not located near mountains, then it was possible that they would stumble upon it while traveling the prairie and assuming a desert. "Where is the canyon?" she asked out of curiosity.

"Northwest from here," Sam answered, pointing in the correct direction.

She looked and squinted to see a faint outline in the distance. Purple mountains disrupted dawn's lightening sky.

"We'll arrive there by evening. Then, we should arrive at the canyon by the following evening."

A straight shot sounded simple enough, but it was already addressed that the journey would be hard. Tonto had to be clearer about what that entailed. He came over with his bison's reins in hand. "We'll stop at the sun's peak to eat, but we must move with haste to arrive at the mountains by sunfall," he said. "Stay aware of your surroundings. There are trespassers in our territory who try to take our animals. It is unlikely they will ambush us because we will know before they do, that we are crossing paths, but the more help, the better."

"Yeah, have yer guns ready just in case," Billy advised the Straw Hats.

"I can take care of trespassers with my bare hands!" Luffy opposed with enthusiasm for his indestructability.

Sanji finally kicked him away with his attention grabbed so that he could splat onto the ground. The cup of chocolate milk was in his grasp without any spillage to be seen. "Thanks for volunteering to be the shield," he rendered.

"Anything else we need to do, Sir?" Rip asked the chieftain.

"Just follow me. I will be leading," he replied.

They all finished packing up and began the next step of the journey. Tonto and Garrett stayed in the lead with Billy, Ware, and Rip behind them. The handful of Lun'aecho warriors accompanying them boarded the horses to help keep them congregated. In the back was everyone else. The walking did not last long because Tonto and Garrett started making their steeds gallop to cover ground faster. The dust cloud they stirred up was one of the only things that gave away their whereabouts.

It was understandable why the Navy wanted a quick replacement for their lost vessel. Purchasing supplies on a consistent basis meant time constraints had to be upheld. The only problem was that Roarke's ship was not a cargo ship. It did not have movable shipping containers on board or available room for the anticipated cargo. That part of this detour was very well known for the higherups, so they would be intercepted and pass on the cargo to a ship better suited.

The commander stood on the deck with his own thoughts. They had arrived at their destination last night and were set to receive the shipment this morning. His soldiers were down at the empty dock waiting for orders, or they were working inside the ship to get things as ready as they possibly could be. Roarke had a feeling they would be in "deep shit" as he honestly put it for his Marines.

The reason? They were dealing with animals.

He admired the landscape of Lone Star Island. The grass on the gentle rolling hills blew around with the breeze, almost looking like an extension of the sea. There was a dirt trail that cut through it, and a visible log house peered over at them. There was supposedly a massive ranch that was giving them horses. The payment had already been received. All they had to do was greet the person who owned the ranch and receive them.

This arrangement had been going on for many decades. The military used horses for many things. When older horses needed to retire, they paid for younger ones. When horses were injured in battles, they replaced them with healthy ones. This was one of the only places in the world where a demand of that scale could be met by a high percentage, and it just so happened to be in a place where the World Government could not grow roots.

Coming to terms with how he had no idea what he was doing in this situation, Roarke disappeared below deck just to reappear down on the dock. He lifted his hat momentarily so he could brush his golden locks flat. Then five of his best men followed him up the trail. Nobody had experience with this or knew what to expect. That meant that the highest ranked was to take initiative as usual. Not that he was nervous, but he was just as human as them! The rank he carried was simply for show. He had no reason to be arrogant. In fact, he was allowed to not look forward to this just as much as the rest of them.

When they came over the incline, it turned out that the log house was more like a miniature mansion. It had three levels, and surrounding it was impressive landscaping. About a hundred yards beyond it was a large barn with an adjoining building and a few metal fences next to it. The trail they were on led all the way to it and even past that, too. People were out working near the barn, and some horses and cows grazed in the open territory. Although the sight was impressive, Roarke had to admit he expected more from the biggest ranch on the island.

While the ones standing around him awed at how well-kept things looked, Roarke continued down the trail without waiting on them. It was obvious that the owner lived in the big fancy house. A woman with minor frizz in her wavy blonde hair was standing on the shaded porch with a cigarette going in and out of her mouth. She saw them coming and knew exactly why they were here, but she was not interested in going out of her way to greet them. That was not her job.

Regardless, she had to admit that the Marine wearing the tassels on his coat's shoulders was good-looking. He was young enough to walk with a swagger in his gait, but old enough to grow facial hair and keep it trimmed.

Roarke noticed her when approaching the steps and stopped with his foot lifted. Their presence did not faze her as she continued smoking. The blouse and blue jeans she wore were nice, which proved how she took care of herself with the prosperity of her family's business. "Morning, Ma'am," he greeted as he placed his foot back down.

"Mornin'," she replied indifferently. "You do realize what day it is, right?"

"Uh…Tuesday?"

"Exactly. It ain't Saturday."

The exchange was clearly going somewhere. "Were we supposed to be here Saturday?"

"Yeah. You're a bit early." She then flicked soot from her cigarette and opened the front door. "Daddy. Your Marines are here."

Well, I'd rather be early than late, the commander said to himself. Was it really that big of a deal that they were ahead of schedule?

The man who emerged from his home wore a button-up shirt with a black vest over it. The name of his family's ranch was presented on the upper left quadrant. He was a man creeping up on his elderly years – evident from his age lines and thinning hair, but he could still work just as good as when he was Roarke's age. The sight of the group dumbfounded him. Never in his life had the Marines come early like this. They were very punctual, but this was a first. "Well, fellas, I don't have yer horses at the moment," he confessed as he leaned against the door frame. "My best cowboys are out retrieving them as we speak. You'll have to wait until Saturday."

A couple of the Marines behind him took the news as good. Having an opportunity to stay on the ship without much to do was rare. It was the closest thing to a vacation until time off requests were granted. Sure, they still had minor duties to the ship, but nothing backbreaking or strenuous.

Roarke had a better idea to their unplanned delay. His parted lips joined again so he could beam with excitement. Did he say cowboys?! He had heard of them and even read a book once about a heroic Marine who saved a country as one. He had no idea they were on this island! "In that case, you wanna give us a tour of the place?"

The Marines who had unwound from their assumed conclusions suddenly stiffened their stances to appear formal again.

The older man was amused in that moment. Nobody who came for his horses was ever interested in what happened behind the scenes to get enough horses, yet here was a starstruck commander who no longer had pupils. Instead, his eyes were sparkling. He did realize that this was not a vacation spot, right? "That's all you want? A tour?"

"I also wouldn't mind putting my men to work if you needed it."

His men suddenly had worried expressions. Their dream of free time was slipping through their fingers. Since Roarke's back was to them, they started shaking their palms and heads for him to decline. Please decline! Their commander may have been a workaholic, but not them!

The older man chuckled. "Sure, why not."

The Marines all slumped in defeat, but instantly returned to their stances right when Roarke moved. He pointed to the two who wanted free time the most and told them to gather everyone else to join them at the barn. The other four followed him and the ranch owner as they chatted.

What a strange Marine, the woman thought to herself.

He was cooped up in Boom Town for so long that he had nearly forgotten how beautiful Lone Star Island was. The mountains they were heading straight for were losing their distance haze as the hours ticked by. And riding side by side with the now leader of the Lun'aecho people proved to him that he succeeded at one thing. That one thing was so important. The Lun'aecho people were the heart of this land, so that was where they lived.

But since the drive had yet to run into gangs or bandits like Tonto warned them about, he knew the heart was sickly. What better place to hide than in the mountains where trees were bountiful, and valleys could gather souls safely. Tonto did not seem troubled by it, though. He had warriors handling intruders. It was never quick work. They had to nudge them out of the mountains before they could forcefully chase them out of the territory. It was dangerous, but they were taught how to do it. Casualties were minimal.

"How many will we encounter, Tonto?" Garrett questioned.

The chieftain stayed silent for a moment. Many of his people had to have physical contact with the ground to be able to determine an answer, but he was skilled enough to not need that. The presence of humans varied throughout the mountains. He could tell which were outsiders and Lun'aecho. "There are eight that are currently occupying the path we need to take, but they might move by tomorrow. The others are far enough away that we shouldn't confront them."

He looked down at him from Bessie's back. "I still don't understand how y'all do that."

Tonto laughed. "You didn't keep practicing like I told you to."

In truth, it was hard to practice without a partner. During their adventures together in their younger days, Tonto had him blindfolded and repeatedly whacked him. According to him, the goal was to have him correctly guess where the impending hit was coming from and do something to prevent it, but he failed too much for it to do any good. It felt so goofy, but clearly it took decades to get as good at it as he was. "In my defense, I don't have many friends and I never got hitched. You, on the other hand…" He glanced over his shoulder at the handsome young man that rode far behind them where the pirates were. Sam was the only child of Tonto's that joined the expedition, but he was sure there were more. He was evidence of Tonto finding a wife eventually. Surely it was not that hard for him. He had many good qualities.

"He takes more after his mother," Tonto revealed.

"She must be a lovely lady."

"She is, and she raised him well. He inherited her sense of devotion."

Considering Sam stayed in the vicinity of Aurilee, Garrett wondered what that so-called devotion implied. He was right when he thought she looked Lun'aecho. If Sam was keeping an eye on her because of her condition, he viewed it as virtuous despite the Straw Hats already doing that. But it could also be that he had a crush on her. Young love was something he remembered quite clearly. It was a whirlwind of emotions that hit all at once and quickly enveloped the mind. Nico Robin told him, though, that the whole point of them being here was to find her a way home. Sam realized she was leaving soon, right?

Meanwhile, the other one who liked Aurilee a lot was taking full advantage of not going separate ways. Sanji finally got an opportunity to ride with her. His joy about it was expressed with arms around her waist and his chin resting on her shoulder. It was the closest he ever felt to paradise. Of course, he asked permission first. She was one of the only women who was okay with him in that way. Now, with his eyes closed and his blushing smile, he savored every second of how comfortable he was. To make it better, he sometimes felt a baby kick.

Aurilee moved his hand to feel the baby in her lower right quadrant. "We got a case of the hiccups," she revealed.

He opened his eyes and focused on the subtle repetitive palpitations through the denim. "I didn't know they could do that."

"Their lungs are developing more," Chopper chimed in from under them. "You'll notice hiccups more often."

"It feels like a muscle spasm," Aurilee described. Sometimes she got those random bouts of twitching underneath her skin. They did not hurt, but they were strange.

Sanji relaxed again. That baby could hiccup all it wanted to. As long as it signified good health, he would hold his hand in place to feel it.

The hat he gifted her with dangled against the back of her neck while Sam's feathers did the same up along the length of her middle braid. The cook wanted to feel jealous, but he also noticed how his mademoiselle looked more Lun'aecho today than she did yesterday – willingly, at that. It was like she wanted to fit in with them better. "Hey, Aurilee."

"Yeah?"

"You know I will always find you the most beautiful no matter what, but I couldn't help but notice your style change today."

"I wanted to try something different. I think I owe it to my kid self."

"Why's that?"

"I didn't have friends when I was a kid. I just watched the tribe from a distance, so I wasn't allowed to be included with kids my age. I wanted to look like them but couldn't. The Lun'aecho did the opposite. They accepted me without hesitation. If I could tell my kid self about it, she'd probably be so happy and want to be Lun'aecho."

The little story was cute. Everyone probably had favors owed to their inner child. But he could not help but wonder if she was forgetting that the Straw Hats were actually the first to accept her without hesitation. "It looks good on you," he complimented.

"Aw, thanks."

Next to them, Sam was listening to their conversation. Sanji was getting up close and personal with Aurilee, yet there was no indication of them being in a romantic relationship together. Either it was like a sibling relationship, or they were simply platonic. The downside of only knowing her for less than twenty-four hours was that many aspects about her were still unknown to him. But since she was inclined to interact with him, he wanted to interpret that as there was no commitment to the pirate.

He scanned the surrounding area for a moment. If they were going to tame a bison for her, now would be a good time. The drive would stop soon to eat. They could depart and catch up to them easily. "Lunalee with the Silver Hair," he said to get her attention.

Both Aurilee and Sanji looked at him. Aurilee looked because she recognized the nickname, but Sanji looked because he was confused. Why did he get to call her a different name? Possessiveness was starting to brew involuntarily.

"Let's go tame your bison."

"Okay," she agreed with delight. When his bison turned away from the drive, she turned her head farther to address Sanji next. "Are you staying here or coming with us?"

"Where you go, I'll go, Aurilee my love," he answered with endearment.

"Alright. Let's go, Chopper."

The doctor turned away from the horse drive to follow Sam. According to his blue nose, there were no bison nearby at all. That did not stop them from galloping away.

"Where are they going?" Nami questioned as she rode alone on the tan cow they rented.

"I heard Sam offer to get Aurilee a bison while we were packing up," Robin explained. "Maybe that's what they're going to do."

"They better make it quick," Zoro stipulated as he sat behind Luffy on the black cow.

"Thail be fine," Oakley reassured him. "Lun'aecho warriors always find their way back."

"Why does she need a bison?" Usopp wondered out of curiosity.

"Maybay yer 'coon dawg frand fine'ly had anuff," Jen guessed.

"Hey! Chopper's a lot tougher than he looks!" Luffy defended.

"Sam probably just wants her to have the full Lun'aecho experience," Oakley reasoned. "I'd only start worrin' if it gets dark and they still ain't back."

"I'm not worried," Luffy stated confidently. "Sanji went, too."

Not much else needed to be said about it. The trio could handle themselves. The Straw Hats carried on with their day.

There was more to the ranch than Roarke thought there was. The barn was two floors tall and had a long length. It contained many stalls designed to keep cattle when weather or climate conditions were not favorable. Considering the ranch herded horses and sold them, the commander should have figured they used different animals while working. Cattle was not the first thing to come to mind.

Outside of the barn were a few pens that had tall metal fencing. Sometimes, when they brought a horse in from the wild, it needed to be tamed. The cowboys placed them in the pens to eventually get it to calm down enough and be able to trust humans. Then they released it to their lands so it could join a herd.

The ranch owned thousands of acres. Multiple herds of horses occupied different areas. They were being bred and growing until they made it back to where Roarke currently stood. They rarely had a horse that was deemed old, but sometimes they kept some around to keep the gene pool flowing as new horses entered the ranch from outside sources. Moving horses was routine, and no less than thirty cowboys were always employed. Luckily, not all of them lived in the bunkhouse together.

Some of the cowboys were married and had families. They lived in houses within the acres of wooden fence. The trade-off for sharing ranch land was helping with agriculture and farming other animals like chickens and pigs. Everyone in the ranch got to eat three square meals a day as a result. Cowboys were paid fairly, and their families got to live comfortably. Others either made money for themselves or sent their money off to their families who lived somewhere else on the island.

It was all so complex but yet so simple. Of course, the ranch owner profited the most, but he mostly tried setting up his children and grandchildren for success. He would retire soon and pass on ownership. For an island residing in the Grand Line, this place was the closest thing to paradise. Life had to be worked for, but it was easy and peaceful.

The commander looked out at the open expanse full of lush grass and flowers. Some of the houses that were mentioned were visible. A trail connected them all. Children were seen playing around or working. Off in the far distance, a majestic range of mountains indicated a boundary of the ranch land. "Did you not want to deal with the mountains?" Roarke asked.

"It wasn't up for grabs," the ranch owner answered with his gravelly voice. "The fence goes around them a little bit, but it doesn't touch Lun'aecho land."

"Lun'aecho?"

"They're natives. They treat the land with respect, so they come and go as they please. Never had a problem with 'em. My Wild Westerners might even be paying a visit on their way back with your horses."

Roarke glanced at the old man to see he was admiring the scenery just as much as he was. The ranch had been built up over a couple centuries, but during his lifetime, it had flourished the most. It was so large that he could almost establish his own country if he wanted to. "How often do you get to ride out there these days?"

"Not as much as I'd like to, but I can still lead a drive every once in a while. Why?"

"I'd like to go for a ride. Sounds like fun."

He blew air from his nostrils to laugh. "Do'ya even know how to ride?"

"Not a cow, but how much different could it be?"

The lack of concern convinced him to take him up on the proposition. A man of his rank did not get it from being stupid. He had to be strong, yes, but also smart. Maybe even a quick learner. "You wanna be a cowboy, Commander?"

He laughed. "I'd be a real shitty one, but it sounds like fun."

"Fun," he repeated. Being a cowboy was no walk in the park unless you had ways to make it easier. That was exactly why his Wild Westerners were the best of the best. "Alright. Then let's go for a ride."

The agreement got Roarke to silently celebrate with fists clenched and his pearly whites showing wide. He followed the old man to the barn to get a cow saddled. He was going to regret wearing white pants by this evening, but he did not care. His fellow Marines looked confused when their commander waltzed out on the back of a black and white cow with reins in hand. "Don't forget to keep busy," he reminded them. "We're helping out until Saturday. It's the least we can do."

Look who was talking! How was going out for a ride with the ranch owner counting as work? He did not stick around to hear protests, though. Roarke stayed close to the ranch owner as they both departed to go explore a little bit. They would be back by dinnertime.

Bison were herd animals. Finding a herd was not hard since they could have as many as fifty individuals in one. Using bison for traveling was a practice that the Lun'aecho did not take lightly; taking one meant that it could never be returned. The herd will easily reject one, especially a calf. Bison were used until they reached old age, and then they were killed and eaten to honor its life.

Sam took all of this into consideration before offering to get Aurilee one. When she was done using it at the end of her journey here, the tribe would take it back and another warrior would become its new rider. The hardest part of it all rested on his shoulders, though. Normally, the warrior tamed the bison himself. There was a risk of being trampled or injured, so Aurilee was exempt.

When they found a herd, they all stood at the top of a small hill. Sam got his tools ready that he was going to need. A lasso for catching one, a whip to influence it away from the herd, and reins to get control of it. When he got everything in reach, he finally uncovered the biggest gift he had yet to show Aurilee. It was a brand-new saddle made from the giant skunk hide. The black and white hairs were woven and bunched to create a comfortable seat, and it also was the appropriate size to fit on the muscular hump of a bison's back.

He slipped it off the back of his bison and passed it to the pair. "Hold onto this," he told Sanji.

The cook hunched from the unexpected weight but quickly straightened up. The long straps dangled several feet to the ground. He looked up at Sam as he hopped back into his seat. "And what else?"

"You watch," he answered with a smile.

"Don't die," Aurilee told him as she stood next to Chopper with an arm draped over his neck. "That would be very bad."

"I can't die. Then you wouldn't have your bison." He rode down the hill with pace and they watched his figure shrink with the distance.

Something about the way he looked at her and tried to match her sarcasm with charm got Sanji's teeth grinding. It was so close to flirting. And seeing her accept it made him feel worse. The suspicion he was conjuring about him was starting to have evidence to support it, but not enough for him to voice it aloud.

Sam approached the herd with the intention of making a ruckus. He had to get them all to separate while simultaneously avoiding being gored by horns. The safety of his bison was just as important as his own. A good way to do it was using the whip. A lot of the bulky animals grunted and tried to get away when it cracked. Now that things were moving, he had to find one that would suit Aurilee with size and temperament. Some bison were too hotheaded to be tamed, usually the males. Luckily, those were the bigger ones, so his search was halved.

The struggle with finding a suitable female was making sure one had no calf or was expecting one. When separating the herd, it also separated mothers from their young. He did not want to leave a calf motherless because then it would die. His whip continued to crack a few times as he actively surveyed the options. When an angry bull charged him, he avoided it and moved to a different area to continue.

Eventually, there was a female who ran out that caught his attention. No calf followed her, and her underside did not swell. He pursued her for a couple minutes as she tried rejoining the herd as it regrouped, but he blocked her. Still no calf tried following her. This was going to be Aurilee's bison. She was submissive to his actions and did not try charging at him, so she could be tamed easily.

As Sam lassoed her, she panicked and ran faster over a hill that made the spectators lose sight of him. Aurilee wanted to hold her breath with apprehension. If he did not show up in three minutes, she was going to hop on Chopper and check on him. But it only took two minutes for him to return to their eyeshot; however, it was not graceful to behold. Sam was clinging to the cow's neck while he lay between her horns. He was trying to get the reins in her mouth. With the hunched back, it caused him to practically be upside down. And his own bison was not following.

"Does he need help?" Aurilee questioned.

"Probably not," Sanji answered. "He looks to be controlling the situation."

If this was an example of control, it would have to be controlled chaos. He could easily lose his balance and topple over. Before that could happen, the bison ran back up the hill to disappear with him again. Three minutes passed. Then four. Then five. Aurilee was just about to go through with her bargain when he reappeared victorious. Sam was back in his own bison's saddle, and he guided the female by holding her reins and the lasso around her neck. They trotted over to formally introduce each other.

"I had to get her to submit before getting her near you," he explained. "Now there's no chance of her injuring you on purpose."

Aurilee approached with some reservation. It was much bigger than her, and she knew any hit she received would have an incredible amount of muscle power backing it up. "What do I do?" she asked, measuring the size of her head, and trying not to be nervous.

"You can touch her. Get her familiar with you."

The bison grunted, causing Chopper to come closer so he could translate. "She just asked if you're pregnant."

Aurilee giggled. "Yes. Very pregnant." Purposely turning to the side just in case, she slowly extended a hand to place it against the forehead. The fur was much longer and fluffier than the rest of the body. Then she dragged her fingers down between her eyes and made contact with her big wet nose. She simply huffed and stayed still.

Compared to Sam's bison, this one was shorter, slimmer, and did not have as thick of hair around her neck. But that could mean she was more agile. Sam walked over to her side to help guide her. "What do you want to name her?"

"Um…I don't know yet. But she's pretty."

Even if she has a beard, she mentally tittered.

"Her name is Amella," Chopper revealed.

"Amella," Aurilee repeated. "That's a good name."

As Chopper translated, she continued brushing her fur. Aurilee could see her new steed relax by the way she slowly closed her eyes and opened them back up.

Sanji gave Sam back the saddle, and they got it strapped in place and ready for riding. A little bit of assistance got Aurilee mounted. "How does it feel?" Sam asked.

She kept her back straight and held the reins. "You know how to make a good saddle. That's how it feels."

He laughed. "You can practice riding if you want to. We don't have to hurry back."

"Alright. Let's go for a walk, Amella," she prompted with a light tap of her heels against her sides. This was going to be a very different experience compared to riding Luna. She was much higher off the ground and had to see how the mechanics of a bison worked. They may have been herbivores, but they were still powerful creatures.

The two men watched her lumber away with a tamed bison. While Sanji was anxious to see her get bucked or thrown off, Sam was calm. He had confidence in her that the cook lacked. But Sanji just thought of a worst-case scenario and wanted to avoid it happening altogether. Although he had to admit, Sam got her a whole stylish setup and she was happy. Aurilee was in her element. The setting may have been unlike her home island, but things were still similar. It was like she was getting to live a life she always dreamed of.

To go on a ride through the ranch lands meant visiting the people who lived on them. All of them were women and mothers with children. Their houses were nicely built, and they had crops they were farming like corn and potatoes and animals they were raising for more food. The ranch owner introduced Roarke to them. It turned out most of them had never met a Marine before. The kids were either shy or interested in him. He gave out a lot of high fives and was glad to show them what a Marine should be like.

When they were not visiting, they were doing exactly what he wanted to do. Something about riding as fast as the cow could go felt so freeing. When the wind was blowing, his hat was off so his hair could get the full treatment. It was refreshing.

The cow had enough of the constant galloping and started slowing down despite him trying to keep it going. The ranch owner was not keen on catching up yet, so Roarke found himself alone for a moment. He decided to pull a transponder snail from the inside of his coat and make a call back to the G-9 base.

"Yes?" a male voice with an accent that raised vowels answered.

"Hey, Vice Admiral. Just thought I'd give you an update."

He chuckled, already aware of the situation that the higher up put his subordinate in. "You got horses yet?"

"No, not yet. We won't until Saturday, so we're a little stuck. But guess what I'm doing right now."

"You finally got aye girlfriend?"

He stammered upon the roast. Sure, he was young, single, and a little annoying at times because of it, but he was in no hurry to settle down soon. "U-Uh no, sir."

Rico laughed from the other end. He liked messing with Roarke just to get reactions like that. "I'm keeddin'. What are you doin'?"

"I'm on a cow."

"Yeah? I used to be on one, too. Then she left me."

Roarke busted out laughing at the unexpected sarcastic comment. Vice Admiral Rico was not one to be funny most of the time, so finding that he was able to give him a window of opportunity was funny. "My cow 'moo's'," he clarified. "I haven't ridden anything in so long. I almost forgot how fun it is. Wind in the hair and all this space to explore, you know?"

Rico stifled another laugh. The choice of words was definitely intentional. Unlike Roarke with his healthy locks, Rico was bald against his will. So, no, he could not relate to that at all. "You just had to bring that up, did you, boy?"

He giggled at how immature he was. "Sorry."

"You called me just to rub it in my face?"

"No. I just can't help but think she'd really like it out here." The comprehension that his most trusted partner was not out here sharing the experience with him hit him hard all of a sudden. He was supposed to see her this week after a few months of being away. He kind of wished he had the time to run back to base to get her and bring her here. "How's she doing, by the way?"

"She's good. Still not on active duty, but she's up and moving more than she used to be."

He smiled. There was light at the end of the tunnel. "You think I could talk to her?"

"She's not in dee room, but she's around."

Roarke deflated, but he understood.

The Vice Admiral could already see the depression on his Commander's face and in his posture. He decided to console him like he would a son. "You'll see her in a few days. Finish dee assignment and get your butt over here."

"Yes, sir," he replied with some rekindled embers in his spirit.

"Have fun with your cow." Then he hung up.

"I will," he said despite knowing he wouldn't hear it. He held the receiver in his hand for a moment longer as he took in the view. He knew for a few months that he was going to be out in the field by himself, but he did not feel lonely until now. It was such a weird feeling that he did not enjoy. The only reason he pulled the reins to meet back up with the ranch owner was to distract himself. He and his men could enjoy a nice meal and do real work tomorrow.

It was official. Sanji was third wheeling now. He rode on Chopper behind the two bison carrying Lun'aecho warriors. They were just talking and not including him as he heard everything. Apparently Sam was very interested in Aurilee's life travels. The world was big, and she spent years going around the Grand Line. She may have been a chore girl going through a lot of trauma, but there were still stories to tell.

Sanji sighed to himself. He loved listening to Aurilee talk, but this was not the same. Her attention was on another man. They were only a few feet apart, but he felt like miles separated them.

The reason why Sam was so interested in the world outside of Lun'aecho territory was all because of his late wife. One particular memory stayed at the front of his mind. They were laying in the grass together one night, stargazing at a starless sky. They were the type of couple who enjoyed each other's company in silence during such peaceful times.

"What do you think is past the sky?" she asked him.

He turned his head for a moment to look at her. When she heard the grass scrunch, she also turned her head. She had beautiful brown eyes and one of those sweet faces that was more triangular but with flawless cheekbones. All he could think about other than her question was how he could not wait until they were parents together.

"Heaven," he answered.

"That's all?"

"What else could there be?"

She smiled and turned her head back so she could continue stargazing. "I think there's a place…no, many places, where people live above the stars like how we live under them. There might be people doing what we're doing now, wondering what lies beneath them."

"People that live in the sky," he summarized.

She sat up with dry grass sticking to her back and hair. "And if there's people up there, what's to say there aren't people out there?"

He also sat up to share her perspective. They were out in the fields where the sheer size of the land outgrew what their eyes should see. It always seemed endless to them. They had no idea how big the world was.

"Would you go with me if I went?" she asked innocently.

"Of course, I would," he assured her. Because wherever she went, he would join.

Except she ended up going to a place he could not follow. Their hopes and dreams abruptly died with her. Now, when he turned his head in that same direction, he was met with another set of beautiful eyes and a sweet new face that was round with a smile that never seemed to falter when he was around. The curiosity his late wife possessed was answered by Aurilee's experiences. The desire to be a parent was personified by her, too. Why did Sam feel like he was slowly coming back to life the longer he was with her?

His senses alerted him that they were starting to catch up with the group again. They had stopped while they were moving. There was a way to arrive faster. "You wanna race?" he proposed.

"Race? Oh, you're on," Aurilee agreed. She wanted to see if her hypothesis about Amella was correct. "What's the endpoint?"

"Get in front of the drive."

"Sounds good to me. You wanna race, too, Chopper?"

He looked at how small he was compared to the bison and quickly shook his head. "No, thanks."

"Three, two…" Sanji counted down for them. "One. Go."

The two warriors immediately kicked the sides of the bison while also whisking their reins. They were gone in the blink of an eye with dust clouds in their wakes.

"Please be careful!" Sanji called after Aurilee.

Chopper started trotting after them so they did not lose them completely, but they were moving unbelievably fast. Bison were amazing. Aurilee could feel her core repeatedly bend and straighten with the constant up and down. Her kids were probably wondering what the heck was going on, but they were held in place securely by the rubber band underneath her belly.

She had not felt so close to home until this moment. Her and Luna would traverse through the forest as fast as they could. The harsh breeze made her eyes water, but she did not care. Instead of one of her parents riding alongside her, she saw Sam. His gorgeous hair splayed behind him, and his braids bounced around his face. He, too, felt the thrill of the race. It was like he had not had one in a few years.

That did not mean she would give him the win. He had to work for it. As the drive came into their view, the endpoint also approached. Amella had only a few seconds to prove herself. Aurilee excitedly urging her to go faster was a fruitless effort. So, she decided to give her full control. The reins were released, and she raised her arms to accept her fate.

And Amella started pulling ahead slightly.

Chopper slowed down when he noticed, and he watched the two finish their race. "She dropped her reins," he told Sanji with a hint of concern.

The cook could see nothing but a mutual celebration to be had. The onlookers in the horse drive were confused for why they were in such a hurry. But Aurilee just regained her balance as her yellow ribbons harshly swayed with her feathers. She snatched her hat from around her neck and lifted it above her head victoriously.

"No," Sanji corrected. Sam circled her before stopping next to her, probably commending her for the win. "She let them go."