The opening ceremony concluded with a fanfare, and the evening's events commenced under the bright arena lights. The air buzzed with excitement as competitors and spectators alike filled the stands, the scent of dust and sweat mingling with the aroma of concession stand snacks. The preliminary rounds marked the start of the rodeo, setting the stage for the main event the following night.
Isobel and Bella Rose found seats among the crowd, ready to watch the action unfold. The first barrel racer tore into the arena, her horse thundering through the pattern. Though her time was fast, a barrel toppled over, adding a costly five-second penalty. The next three racers executed flawless runs, their times echoing the dedication and skill of seasoned competitors.
Then, Polly galloped into the arena, her speed and precision evident. As she navigated the first two barrels with ease, Isobel couldn't help but feel a small thrill of schadenfreude when the final barrel teetered and fell, adding a penalty to Polly's otherwise impressive run.
Seven more racers followed, each showing varying degrees of skill and speed. When Bella Rose's turn arrived, Isobel's heart pounded with anticipation. Bella Rose and her buckskin gelding, Samson, burst into the arena. They turned the first barrel tightly, then the next, their movements synchronized in perfect harmony. The third barrel was taken with unmatched precision, and Samson sprinted across the timer line, clocking a time of 14.89 seconds—enough to take the lead.
Isobel leaped from her seat, clapping and cheering, her joy infectious. The crowd's applause was thunderous, Bella Rose's achievement celebrated by all. As the event continued, no rider managed to surpass Samson's time, securing Bella Rose's position at the top.
About thirty minutes after her run, Bella Rose returned to her seat beside Isobel, receiving congratulations from the surrounding spectators. Isobel jumped up, enveloping her friend in a hug.
The two chatted through the night, watching and cheering on the competitors. This new life had fully embraced Isobel; it was a world where she felt she truly belonged, unlike her teenage and college years where she always felt out of place. Here, amidst the dust and adrenaline, she found her home.
As the bull riding event approached, Isobel and Bella Rose settled back into their seats, the atmosphere growing tense. The bulls were herded into the chutes, their raw power and aggression palpable. Ryder, one of the first riders, stood on the platform, his safety vest strapped on.
Isobel's heart raced as she spotted him, pride swelling within her. Two riders went before Ryder, both lasting only a few seconds. She watched intently as Wren helped Ryder prepare, adjusting the bull strap, warming the rosin, and securing his hand. With everything set, Ryder lifted his free arm and nodded.
The chute gate flew open, and the bull exploded into the air. Gasps and cheers filled the stadium as the bull bucked and twisted, trying to throw Ryder off. But he held on, his movements fluid and controlled. The buzzer sounded, and the stadium erupted in cheers. Ryder dismounted, landing on his feet, and quickly climbed the nearest fence as the bull charged. Fellow cowboys pulled him to safety.
Once the bull was secured, Ryder knelt in the arena, his head bowed in a moment of silent gratitude. When his score of 92 was announced, he pumped his fist in the air, a triumphant smile on his face. His eyes found Isobel in the crowd, and he blew her a kiss, the connection between them electric.
"Folks, that is going to be one ride that's hard to beat," the announcer's voice boomed over the loudspeakers. "Hayes has been on fire this season, and I think we'll be seeing him in Vegas in a couple of months."
Ryder left the arena, his smile unwavering. He joined Wren, who was up next. The camaraderie among the competitors was evident as they helped each other prepare, even though they were rivals in the ring. It was one of the things Isobel loved about the sport—the sense of family and mutual support.
Wren's turn came, and he secured his rigging and gave the nod. The bull burst out of the chute, stumbling at first, then recovering with a fierce buck. To everyone's surprise, Wren stayed on, riding the bull to the eight-second mark. The stadium's cheers were deafening.
As the bull exited the arena, Wren removed his helmet and threw it into the air, turning to Bella Rose and pointing at her with a triumphant smile.
"What a ride!" the announcer shouted. "I didn't think this was possible, but Hayes's score was just beat by his best friend. Coulter's score is 93."
Ryder cheered for his friend, pumping his arm in the air. He climbed into the chute and helped Wren over, hugging him tightly.
"What a ride, brother. That was amazing," Ryder said, patting Wren on the back.
"I don't know how I did that one," Wren laughed, still catching his breath.
"Skill, brother. Skill," Ryder replied, grinning widely.
Bella Rose and Isobel joined the guys by the chutes as the rodeo came to a close. Ryder and Wren were surrounded by several men, chatting and celebrating their win. A few small boys ran up to the pair, who responded with high fives. Isobel and Bella Rose both smiled, watching the interaction unfold.
Ryder and Wren then approached the women, grabbing them and spinning them around before kissing them. To an outsider, it might have seemed like a choreographed routine.
"Why don't you and Rose head over to the trailers," Ryder suggested, handing Isobel his keys. "Wren and I need to check tomorrow's lineup, and then we'll join you."
"Okay," she replied, giving him a quick kiss.
Bella Rose and Isobel began walking down the corridor that led to the parking lot; it was late, and only a few people were still milling about.
"I'm going to run to the horse pens quickly to feed Samson. I'll meet you over there in a bit," Bella Rose announced, not waiting for a reply before bounding down a hallway leading to another area of the stadium.
Isobel hummed softly to herself as she walked down the long hall. She was almost at the opening where she could see rows of trailers when a group of men stepped in front of her.
She froze as she looked at them, all clearly drunk and staggering.
"Hey there, honey. Looking for some fun?" one slurred.
"Excuse me," Isobel said firmly, attempting to push past them.
One of the men slipped behind her and began running his hands up and down her arms.
"Stop it!" Isobel shouted. "Let me go!" She tried again to push through but was blocked by the men surrounding her.
"Come on, baby. Give me a kiss," another man said, shoving himself against her while trying to kiss her lips.
Isobel clamped her lips shut and raised her arms defensively between herself and the man. She managed to push him away just enough to knee him hard in the groin, dropping him to his knees.
"You stupid bitch!" he yelled, clutching himself in pain.
The man behind her grabbed her arms and spun her around to face him. He pushed her against the wall, his hands roaming all over her body. He slid his hand between her legs, rubbing back and forth.
"Oh, you like that, don't you?" he taunted, running his tongue along her cheek and neck.
Isobel screamed desperately, "No! Help!"
The man clamped his hand over her mouth while he tore open her shirt with the other. "Mmmmm...look at those." He leaned in and started kissing the tops of her breasts. Tears streamed down her face as she bit the man's hand as hard as she could.
"Ouch!" he shouted before slapping Isobel across the face. He yanked at her bra, tearing it, and hungrily grabbed her breasts with both hands while kissing her neck. The other men, who had been watching from a distance, moved closer. Two of them seized her arms, holding her still as the first man continued his assault.
Isobel wailed and pleaded, "No, please. Let me go. I don't want this. Please, someone, help me." The man started to unbutton her jeans, his hand poised to invade further when suddenly someone grabbed him, spun him around, and delivered a punch that knocked him out cold. He crumpled to the ground.
Ryder swiftly took down the man holding Isobel's right arm with a single blow. Wren joined in, pummeling the man on her left until he fell beside his friend. The attacker whom Isobel had kneed swung at Ryder but missed. Ryder dodged and then struck back with a punch that sent him tumbling down again.
Ryder then turned back to the first man, the one who had violated Isobel most. Rolling him onto his back, Ryder pummeled him furiously until Wren pulled him away.
"Stop, Ryder! You'll kill him!" Wren yelled. Ryder paused, fury still in his eyes as he looked at Wren. "Go to Isobel."
Hearing her name seemed to bring Ryder back to reality. His expression softened as he rushed to her side. She was slumped against the wall, clutching her torn shirt with blood trickling from her lip.
Ryder gently pulled her shirt closed and lifted her into his arms, carrying her towards his trailer and leaving the unconscious men where they lay.
As Wren opened the door for them, Bella Rose ran up breathlessly. "What happened?"
Ryder glared at her and demanded fiercely, "Where were you?" before stepping into the trailer with Isobel held protectively against him.
"Some men attacked her," Wren explained while holding the door open for Bella Rose to follow inside.
Bella Rose hurried to Isobel's side; seeing her state made her heart ache. "Oh, Isobel. I'm so sorry."
Isobel sat on the couch, staring blankly ahead while clutching her shirt and rocking back and forth. Bella Rose knelt in front of her and placed soothing hands over Isobel's trembling ones. As their eyes met, Isobel began to sob harder; she clung tightly to her shirt with knuckles whitened by fear and distress while tremors wracked through her body.
Bella Rose stood and took Ryder's arm, steering him toward the door. "Ryder, could you both please wait outside? I'm going to try to get her into the shower and changed."
Ryder nodded and glanced back at Isobel, who hadn't moved.
Bella Rose lifted Isobel up and helped her remove her clothing. She tossed the shirt toward the door, intending to discard it later. Steadying Isobel, she guided her to the shower.
Fully clothed, Bella Rose stepped into the shower, helping Isobel wash her hair. Isobel then grabbed a washcloth and scrubbed her face, neck, and breasts until her skin was raw. Bella Rose pulled the cloth from her hand to stop her, and Isobel looked at her friend, tears flowing freely.
Bella Rose turned off the water, wrapped a large soft towel around Isobel, and pulled her tight against herself as she cried. Isobel's legs gave out, and Bella Rose lowered her to the floor of the small bathroom. She sat beside her, gently running her hand through Isobel's hair over and over.
A quiet knock came at the door before Ryder opened it slightly. "May I come in?"
Bella Rose made sure Isobel was covered before responding, "Yes."
Ryder stepped inside and saw Isobel sitting on the floor, lost in tears. He knelt in front of her and gently placed his hand on her knee. She flinched at first, but then looked up to see the pain in his eyes. Scrambling onto her knees with Bella Rose keeping the towel in place, she wrapped her arms around Ryder's neck and fell into his embrace.
Ryder held her tight as tears stung his eyes. He exchanged a worried glance with Bella Rose.
"She'll be okay with time," Bella Rose murmured softly.
Ryder lowered himself to the floor and sat back against the wall just outside the bathroom. He pulled Isobel onto his lap, holding her close in an attempt to make her feel safe. Bella Rose stepped over them, grabbed a throw blanket from the couch and draped it over Isobel for additional coverage before stepping outside with Wren to give them privacy.
"How is she?" Wren asked as Rose was closing the door.
"She's a bit beaten up. But I think she'll be okay with time."
"Thank God we arrived when we did; it could have been so much worse." Wren explained to Bella Rose what they had walked in on and what transpired afterward.
"Yes, it could have been far worse. She's fortunate. Let's head into the trailer for now; I need to change into some dry clothes."
Inside, Ryder ran his hand through Isobel's hair, trying to soothe away her pain and fear. He kissed the top of her head and tightened his embrace.
"I want to go to bed," whispered Isobel in a low, raspy voice.
"Alright, Isobel."
Ryder lifted her gently to her feet, never letting her go, and stood by her side. With his arm securely around her, he guided her to the bed and helped her up the steps. Once she was nestled on the bed, he pulled a large t-shirt from a cabinet and climbed onto the bed beside her.
"Here, let me help you with this."
Isobel sat up as Ryder held the towel around her while she slipped the shirt over her head.
This was Ryder's first clear look at her since the incident. She had a scrape on her back, bruises on both arms, and her lip was swollen, turning blue around her mouth. The sight made Ryder's stomach churn with anger at the men who had done this to her. He wanted nothing more than to finish what he had started with them.
Once Isobel had settled the shirt in place, Ryder removed the damp towel from around her and tossed it onto the floor. She reclined against the pillow as he pulled the bedspread over her. He began to slide off the bed when she reached out and grabbed his arm.
"Where are you going?"
"I'll sleep on the couch. You can have the bed."
She tugged his arm toward her, "Please stay."
"Okay." Ryder moved back up next to her as she snuggled tightly against him. He wrapped his arm around her and drew her close.
The warmth of his body and his familiar cologne eased Isobel's anxiety. For the last hour, all she could smell was the liquor-soured breath and sweat of those vile men. She couldn't shake it from her senses. But now, in Ryder's protective embrace, she felt safe enough to drift off to sleep.
In the dead of night, Isobel woke up screaming. As she opened her eyes, she found Ryder sitting up in front of her, speaking to her in soothing tones. She began to cry, and Ryder pulled her into his embrace, lying back down with her nestled beside him. At some point after Isobel had drifted off to sleep, Ryder had removed his rodeo shirt, leaving him in just his jeans.
He kissed her forehead tenderly, prompting Isobel to tilt her face toward his and initiate a kiss. Her urgency caught Ryder off guard as she began to run her hand along his bare chest. Initially, he responded in kind but then drew back.
"Isobel, what are you doing?"
"Please, Ryder. Kiss me. Touch me."
She straddled him and kissed him more fervently, her tongue exploring his mouth.
"Isobel, not like this," he said, gently pushing her back.
"Please, Ryder. All I can feel are their hands all over me. I need it to stop. I need to feel you."
She leaned down and kissed him even harder. Unable to resist any longer, Ryder returned her kisses with equal intensity. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. His hand reached for the hem of her shirt, but Isobel sat up and yanked it over her head herself.
Ryder's eyes roamed over her as he took in the sight before him. His hands found their way to her waist, relishing the feel of her soft skin. He pulled her down against him once more, their bare chests pressed together as his hands moved up and down her back.
Ryder's skin grew damp with sweat—so did hers. She felt his hardness against her and reached for the waistband of his jeans.
Suddenly, Ryder grabbed her wrists and held them firmly as he looked into her eyes.
"Isobel, you don't want this right now. You're upset and scared—I understand that. But I don't want you to regret this in the morning or hate me."
Isobel resisted his hold and kissed him again desperately. "I want you, Ryder. Please."
Ryder released her wrists but placed his hands on either side of her face gently. "Isobel, no—not like this." He kissed her softly on the lips. "I love you and I desire you so much, but not under these circumstances—you'll end up regretting it."
"But I won't regret it! I love you, Ryder."
"You will, Isobel. Please wait until morning—see how you feel then." He pulled her down to lie beside him once more and covered her with the bedspread.
"I'm sorry," Isobel whispered, voice fraught with emotion.
Ryder gazed down at her, "Sorry for what?"
"For letting this happen."
Ryder shifted onto his side, propping himself up on his elbow, and tenderly brushed her hair from her face with his free hand. "You have absolutely nothing to apologize for. Never think that. You did nothing wrong. In fact, you did everything right. I'm the one who should be sorry. I should have never let you go alone. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you."
"But you were. You saved me from those...monsters." Isobel's tears were flowing more freely now.
Ryder reclined back and drew her close against him. "I should have been there sooner," he whispered into her hair.
Isobel draped her arm across Ryder's still bare chest, nestling her head against his shoulder. Ryder could still feel the warmth of her skin against his and closed his eyes, seeking a distraction in anything but their reality. Yet with his eyes shut, all he could see was that man touching and violating Isobel.
He reopened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. The trailer lights remained on because Isobel didn't want him to leave her side, so they had slept with them on. Ryder counted the rivets along the ceiling seam, trying to keep his mind occupied.
He noticed Isobel's breathing slow and knew she had fallen asleep. Gently running his fingers along her arm, he continued counting until sleep finally claimed him as well.