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When Rip Wheeler promises Beth Dutton he’s never lied to her and never will, we believe him. However, it’s only a matter of time before he confesses about moving a body from a shallow grave on their property to an abandoned mineshaft, much like a South Texas Train Station annex. That revelation isn’t happening today, though. In Episode 3 of Dutton Ranch, titled “Act of God Business,” Beth wakes to find Rip already up. He simply tells her he rose early. This moment highlights the couple’s enduring connection, effortlessly portrayed by Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly. Beth has a meeting in Dallas, but Rip playfully suggests a ride together, which she eagerly accepts. For now, they set aside troubles to enjoy a ride, taking pride in their herd.
In the nearby town of Rio Paloma, Buelah Jackson delivers a eulogy for a former lawman at the Methodist chapel, painting the place as one of outlaws and rustlers with her folksy recollections. Meanwhile, new Sheriff Handy Wade watches from the pews, later cautioning Buelah about the situation at her bunkhouse. Her response is a mix of charm and threat as she gently reminds him of her financial support during his election campaign.
Buelah seems to embody the town’s outlaw legacy, and without a mayor in sight, it appears she’s calling the shots. Meanwhile, the Dutton Ranch remains focused on preserving the quality of their herd. However, their efforts are constantly challenged by unforeseen obstacles, including a metaphorical “grizzly in Gucci.”
In Dallas, Beth visits a high-end steakhouse, carrying a cooler filled with premium, marbled steaks prepared by Claudio the butcher. These cuts symbolize the superior beef she and Rip are raising, showcasing cattle genetics refined over generations in Texas’s Winter Garden region. The restaurant manager is impressed by both the quality and Beth’s ranch-to-table pitch, showing a keen awareness of her family’s ranching legacy. Notably, he’s the first in the series to directly mention the Yellowstone Ranch.
Meanwhile, Carter continues to skip school, drawn further into the complexities of his relationship with Oreana, a member of the town’s most powerful family. Despite her tumultuous interactions with Hoyt, the arrogant steer rider, Carter is captivated. “Why date someone you hate so much?” he inquires after another of her episodes. Oreana simply smiles, teasingly replying, “Why don’t you save me?”
Back at the ranch, in Carter’s room, Oreana gets more comfortable. But she leaves her cowboy boots on, and pulls a sack of weed from one of them. They get close on Carter’s bed, kiss, and when it’s quiet, it’s clear she respects he’d even ask about her well-being. She acts out with purpose, loves being a junior local outlaw, ‘cause it gets under Grandma Buelah’s skin. But when there’s no one around to perform for, she feels safe and content with Carter. “He might be a keeper,” Oreana says out loud to herself. Carter’s on the way to having a girlfriend who has a boyfriend who has a domineering grandmother willing to destroy the Duttons or whoever. Good luck, buddy!
Veterinarian Everett McKinney is out at the ranch examining the steer Rip had to put down with his rifle. Foaming at the mouth, bloody hooves – it’s a dangerous case of foot-and-mouth disease, with the potential to rip through their entire herd. Rip, Everett, Azul, and Zachariah separate the animals and observe them in a new pasture overnight. This is serious, Rip is pissed – “There hasn’t been a case of FMD in decades” – and he is suspicious of how it just happened to show up here. While Everett mentions factors like anti-vaxxers, the proximity of the border, and general varmint activity, Rip looks at the steer he and Beth purchased at auction in Episode 2. “Or a new fucking bull.” Did someone plant a poisoned animal as a way to kill their livelihood?
This episode of Dutton Ranch also delves into why Zachariah Moss was doing time in the first place. A distraught woman drives onto the property waving a gun around, the mother of a local girl with whom Past Zachariah was in a secret relationship. It was an accident, those many years ago, but he was drunk, and she died. Zach sees the woman’s pistol and just kneels. (“I’m ready.”) But Rip takes charge. He disarms her, and gently but firmly explains how vengeance can only be more of a problem. And he considers his taciturn new hand, the cowboy who found God in prison. “Zachariah, your prayers better not be for show or I’ll shoot you myself.” We believe that about Rip, too.
The Beth Parts for Episode 3 of Dutton Ranch (“Act of God Business”):
- And what’s this? After the funeral service, Buelah shares a few kind words with Everett. Makes sense; we know they both grew up in town. But Everett grows cold and distant when she says “I’ve missed you” more softly, and straightens his bolo tie.
- And while she’s there Beth also has a “Yes, Chef!” moment. Understanding they are overworked and underpaid, Beth offers to fund a full dinner service tip-out for the Stillwell’s chef and her staff, in exchange for one perfectly-prepared Dutton Black Angus steak. Kelly Reilly should do a crossover cameo on The Bear as Beth Dutton, stepping in to run a Chicago restaurant. She’d probably bring her “Don’t be a shitass” Igloo cooler with her.
Johnny Loftus (@johnnyloftus.bsky.social) is a Chicago-based writer. A veteran of the alternative weekly trenches, his work has also appeared in Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork, The All Music Guide, and The Village Voice.