They heard a truck approach and two doors slam shut. Isobel and Bella Rose stepped out of the house and headed toward the barn, while Ryder and Wren walked across the yard to meet them, with a small puppy trailing behind. Wren scooped up Rose, twirled her around, and planted a kiss on her lips before setting her back down.
"Who's this little guy?" Bella Rose asked, picking up the puppy.
"That's my new buddy," Wren replied. "His name is Ruff."
"He's adorable!" Bella Rose exclaimed.
Ruff responded by licking Bella Rose's face.
"Is he a blue heeler?" Rose inquired.
"Yes," Wren said, scratching Ruff behind his ears.
Lost in each other, Ryder and Isobel didn't notice the others. Ryder wrapped his arms around Isobel's waist and pulled her close.
"Good morning, Isobel," Ryder said softly.
Isobel beamed, stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him. "Good morning, Ryder," she whispered after a lingering kiss. "Did Wren get a new puppy?"
"Yes, he just brought him home yesterday."
Isobel walked over to pet Ruff and was showered with puppy kisses in return.
"Are you guys ready to ride?" Rose asked while still playing with Ruff.
Ryder took Isobel's hand as they walked toward his truck and trailer to unload Harley and Duke. Wren and Ryder led the horses into the barn and tied them in the aisle. Bella Rose and Isobel soon joined them, securing their own horses.
Ryder couldn't take his eyes off Isobel as she groomed her horse. He watched intently as she picked up a saddle pad and placed it on the horse's back. He was about to reach for the saddle when he saw Isobel lifting it herself. She carefully placed it onto the horse's back, then reached under to grab the cinch strap, threading it through with practiced ease.
Just as she finished tightening the strap, Ryder approached from behind and whispered in her ear. "I see you've learned quite a bit since our last ride."
Isobel jumped at first but then smiled warmly and nodded. "A few things," she replied with a grin.
The group finished saddling their horses, swapped halters for bridles, and led their mounts outside, with little Tuff playfully weaving around their legs.
As Wren and Isobel mounted their horses, Bella Rose sidled up to Ryder, signaling for him to bend down. She whispered sternly in his ear, "If you ever hurt her, I will personally castrate you." To emphasize her point, she made a clicking sound with her mouth, pointed toward his groin, then mimed scissors cutting.
Ryder chuckled softly, "I'll keep that in mind, Rose."
With Wren beside her, Bella Rose led the group towards a trailhead that wound through the forest lining her property. Ryder and Isobel rode alongside each other behind them. As the path grew narrower, they formed a single file line, with Bella Rose in front and Ryder bringing up the rear. Ruff followed closely behind Harley.
As they rode, their conversation naturally shifted to upcoming rodeo schedules. Bella Rose, having taken a few weeks off, was eager to return and compete for the rest of summer. Ryder was also coming back full-time, so they planned their summer to coincide at all the same rodeos.
Despite her nerves for Ryder and Wren's safety, Isobel felt a thrill of excitement at the thought of watching them all ride again. Although her first rodeo experience ended poorly, she felt prepared this time and eager to fully immerse herself in the experience.
When the trail widened, Wren moved up next to Rose while Ryder guided Harley alongside Isobel. He steered Harley closer to her and extended his hand. They rode side by side, hand in hand, enjoying the rustling leaves, chirping birds, and the sound of Wren and Bella Rose chatting about their evening plans.
Ruff had trotted up to walk next to Wren. Wren dismounted Duke briefly to scoop Ruff up before remounting with Ruff seated in front of him. Initially nervous, Ruff straightened up and eagerly took in his new vantage point.
"Why don't you have a dog, Ryder?" Isobel asked.
"I did for a while," Ryder replied. "After Dad passed away, I took his dog in. She stayed with me for another six years until she got a tumor and died. I couldn't bring myself to get another one."
"I'm sorry, Ryder. I didn't know," Isobel said softly.
"Isobel, there's no need for apologies," Ryder assured her. "If you have questions, please ask."
The group arrived at a broad water crossing where Bella Rose led the way. Without hesitation, Samson waded into the belly-deep water and began crossing. Wren and Duke followed, then Isobel on Jagger, and finally Ryder on Harley. They allowed their horses to drink from the cool water as Ruff barked excitedly at a floating branch.
Once their horses were refreshed, they continued along the trail through the dense forest for another two hours before returning to the barn to unsaddle.
Walking out of the barn hand in hand, Ryder and Isobel smiled as Tuff ran up to Isobel and jumped excitedly at her feet. She knelt down to pet him and was rewarded with enthusiastic kisses.
"He's adorable," she said as she scooped him up.
Ryder stroked Ruff's head. "He sure is." Then he gazed into Isobel's eyes before leaning in for a kiss. "And so are you," he added with a smile. "Maybe it's about time I got another one."
"Really?" Isobel beamed. "What breed?"
"I'm not sure, but I've always had a soft spot for Australian Shepherds."
"Oh, I love them! Our neighbor had one when I was a kid. I played with her constantly."
As they gathered around the firepit, Wren and Bella Rose joined the conversation. They hammered out their plans for the weekend's rodeo in Oklahoma; Ryder would drive his truck and haul his trailer for himself and Wren to sleep in, whereas Bella Rose would tow her trailer for herself and Isobel.
"So, we'll rendezvous at the truck stop by the interstate at 5 tomorrow night?" Ryder inquired.
"Absolutely, sounds perfect," Bella Rose replied.
"Good afternoon, Dr. Brown," Ryder greeted as he settled into his regular spot.
"Good afternoon, Ryder. How was your week?"
"It was excellent," Ryder responded with a smile.
"That's great to hear. Would you like to share more about it?" Dr. Brown inquired.
"Isobel finally came over to see me. She forgave me."
"That's fantastic news, Ryder. So, what's next?"
"We're...together now. Dating," Ryder said, a hint of joy in his voice.
"How's that going so far?" Dr. Brown asked with genuine interest.
"Really well, actually."
"So far? Are you worried it won't last?" Dr. Brown probed gently.
"I hope it does, but who can say for sure?"
"Ryder, you can't live your life always waiting for the other shoe to drop. If you do, you'll miss out on all the wonderful things happening in the present. Yes, bad things will occur; it's part of life. But you can't spend your days waiting for them to happen. Enjoy what you have now, work on maintaining it, and face challenges as they come—not before."
Ryder nodded thoughtfully, absorbing her words.
"I think you're doing wonderfully, Ryder. You've made significant progress in improving your life by confronting your fears and doing the hard work. I don't think you need to come here every week anymore unless you want to. Let's meet again in a couple of weeks and reassess."
Ryder beamed, "That sounds perfect."
"Now that you've seen the results of your efforts, you'll continue finding coping mechanisms that suit you."
"Absolutely. Thank you so much, Dr. Brown; I really appreciate everything you've done for me."
"That's why I'm here. And remember, Ryder, don't hesitate to call if you feel you need an earlier session."
"I will, thank you."